Latest news with #SarosZ70
Digital Trends
27-05-2025
- General
- Digital Trends
How to use the robotic arm of the Roborock Saros Z70
While the Roborock Saros Z70 didn't exactly live up to the hype, there's no denying its robotic arm is still a cool piece of technology. Capable of picking up small objects in its path, moving them to a new location, then continuing its cleaning process, the Saros Z70 and its robotic arm might be the coolest feature we've ever seen in a robot vacuum. But how exactly does it work? And what are the robotic arm's limitations? Recommended Videos Here's a closer look at how to use the robotic arm of the Roborock Saros Z70 and ways you can improve its performance. Limitations of the Roborock Saros Z70's robotic arm Before you send this robot vacuum out to pick up all the objects littering your floor, it's important to know its limitations. It's also important to note that Roborock is constantly updating the Saros Z70 software — meaning new and improved functionality is always around the corner. Here are the current limitations that will dictate how well your robotic arm performs. The robot has difficulty recognizing objects on carpet The robot will not cross thresholds if the arm has hold of an object The robotic arm is known to move slowly while in operation The arm is limited to objects 300 grams or less Some low-lying objects may not be detected Reflective objects are difficult for the robot to detect Some of these are restrictions based on the hardware and cannot be improved. Others might be improved in the coming months via software updates. Tips and tricks for using the Saros Z70's robotic arm The Saros Z70's arm is deactivated by default. You can enable it in the Robotic Arm Settings menu, which requires you to be near the robot and make a few manual inputs. Once that's done, check out the other options in the Robotic Arm Settings menu. This includes the following: Follow-Up Cleaning Automatic Sorting Manual Sorting Remote Control to Pick Up We'd recommend enabling Follow-Up Cleaning and Automatic Sorting, then tinkering with additional options from there. You can also use the Remote Control to Pick Up feature, which allows you to manually navigate the robot toward an object, then start the 'pick up' process. Beyond that, much of the robotic arm's capabilities are automated. When it stumbles upon an item it can pick up, it'll do so automatically and return it to a designated spot in your home. However, there are a few things you can do to improve its performance. Don't leave objects on carpet. The Saros Z70 has difficulty finding objects are carpet, and during our testing, it only managed to pick up objects left on hard floors. The Saros Z70 has difficulty finding objects are carpet, and during our testing, it only managed to pick up objects left on hard floors. Be patient. It's not uncommon for the robotic arm to grab, then subsequently drop an object. The arm is far from perfect, so expect it to take a few attempts (and several minutes) to properly pick up various objects. It's not uncommon for the robotic arm to grab, then subsequently drop an object. The arm is far from perfect, so expect it to take a few attempts (and several minutes) to properly pick up various objects. Place the storage box in an accessible location. Leave three sides open to the robot. That is, don't place it in a corner, and if you do put it near a wall, make sure the robot has enough space to reach all the other edges. Leave three sides open to the robot. That is, don't place it in a corner, and if you do put it near a wall, make sure the robot has enough space to reach all the other edges. Expect the best results for socks, small towels, papers, and slippers. Objects beyond this may or may not be recognized by the robot. Also, objects over 300 grams exceed the arm's weight limit. This means you should clean up heavy obstacles and items beyond the few above. Doing so will improve the odds of your entire home being cleaned. Objects beyond this may or may not be recognized by the robot. Also, objects over 300 grams exceed the arm's weight limit. This means you should clean up heavy obstacles and items beyond the few above. Doing so will improve the odds of your entire home being cleaned. Try manual operation. Using the Remote Control to Pick Up option, you can take manual control of the arm. You can try using this to pick up difficult objects, and it's also a fun way to show off the robot to guests.
Gizmodo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Gizmodo
Roborock Saros Z70 Review: This Robovac's Robotic Arm Is a Swing and a Miss
Coming out of CES 2025, there wasn't a single product that generated more buzz than Roborock's Saros Z70 robot vacuum and mop, aka the one with the robotic arm. Anybody who's used a modern robovac knows you need to tidy up before the robot can go in and take care of the little bits. The Saros Z70 promised to change that. With a robotic arm that emerges from the top of the vacuum, it's supposed to move pieces of garbage into a box and sort your loose slippers over into a dedicated zone. Unfortunately, not only does it fail to do that nearly every time, but it takes a step backward in its cleaning abilities, too. Not great, especially when we're talking about the most expensive robovac on the market ($2,600), by a lot. At its core, the Saros Z70 is very similar to the Saros 10 and Saros 10R, the latter of which is currently our highest-rated robot vacuum. It boasts a whopping 22,000 Pa of suction power, which puts it at the top of robovacs. It has dual spinning mop pads (one of which can extend away from its body to get right up against walls), which can automatically detach and reattach in the base, depending on whether they're needed. There's a sweeper arm that extends off the side of it to get into corners. The Saros Z70 can vault itself over thresholds up to 4 centimeters (1.58 inches) tall. The base has two large water tanks, a small tank for floor cleaning liquid, and a disposable bag where all the dust and debris get collected. The mop pads are washed with 80-degree Celsius water (176 degrees Fahrenheit) and dried with hot air. Like the 10R, the Z70 doesn't have a 360-degree LIDAR turret on top, but it does have LIDAR beaming out from the front, in addition to cameras and other sensors. Roborock Saros Z70 Putting a robotic arm inside a robovac is great idea, but the Roborock Saros Z70 comes up short in execution. Maybe version 2.0 will work properly. Pros Genuinely cool and innovative robot arm Genuinely cool and innovative robot arm Excellent, maintenance-free dock lasts for weeks Excellent, maintenance-free dock lasts for weeks Intuitive setup and customizable app Cons Robot arm fails to sort items as promised Robot arm fails to sort items as promised Cleans worse than last-gen Roborocks Cleans worse than last-gen Roborocks Buggy Buggy Most expensive robovac by about $1,000 But of course, the main point of differentiation between the Z70 and any other robovac we've seen is the arm, which Roborock calls the OmniGrip. When the robot encounters an object that it recognizes as something it can clear, it announces, 'Sorting item,' and then a plastic panel on top opens up, and an articulating arm with a pincer pops out. The arm is then supposed to grab the object and sort it. The Saros Z70 comes with a small cardboard box with QR codes printed on all sides of it. You set the location of that box inside of a companion app, and the robovac is supposed to carry small items (like balls of paper or socks) over to the box and drop them in. If the Saros Z70 detects a slipper, it's supposed to pick it up and bring it to a footwear zone that you designated in the app. Currently, it's limited to recognizing slippers, socks, and balls of paper, but Roborock says it will be adding to those capabilities in future updates. You'll notice I said 'supposed to' a couple of times. That's intentional. Unfortunately, the Saros Z70's performance was absolutely abysmal when it came to doing its special tricks. It actually did a fairly good job recognizing and picking up balls of paper (though it often failed to see them on my patterned rug), and in the odd cases that it missed, it would make a second attempt and grab it. The problem is in the sorting. I ran more than 40 tests with paper balls and the occasional sock, and it only managed to put a ball of paper into the sorting box once. Once! I worked with Roborock on this, experimented with different box placements, placed the zone in the app differently, and remapped my entire apartment. It was going so badly that Roborock sent me a replacement unit just to make sure that there was nothing wrong with mine. Nope. Each time, the robot would pick up a ball of paper, take it somewhere near the box, and drop it on the floor, usually within 18 inches of the box. It would look right at the box, then turn at the last minute and drop it on the floor. It was maddening. Performance with slippers was even worse. In most of my tests, even though I could see in the app that the Z70 correctly identified them as slippers/footwear, the robovac would just bump into them and nudge them around. A few times, the arm would emerge and it would pick up the slipper, but then it would look around for a second and put the slipper right back down where it was. I tried it with three types of slippers and a shoe on both hardwood floors and carpet, and it had a zero-percent success rate. This is tremendously disappointing. It seems that Roborock is aware of these issues and has already issued a statement about fixes planned for June and July firmware updates, but I can only review this product as I'm testing it, and unfortunately, my reservations about the Z70 extend beyond the arm (no pun intended). One of the key differences between the Z70 and previous Roborocks that we have loved is a new vacuum brush design. Units like the Saros 10R, Saros 10, and Qrevo Curv all feature a roller brush that's split in two in the middle, and the system did exceptionally well at picking up debris large and small, as well as remaining tangle-free even when dealing with long hair. The Saros Z70 has a brush that is just one single roller with a smaller diameter, I'm guessing to make more room for the arm that lives in the robot's body. Unfortunately, the new brush simply doesn't work as well. In my Snack Gauntlet Test (patent pending!), it was more prone to crushing Goldfish Crackers and Cheerios and leaving crumbs behind, whereas the previous units slurped them up with little difficulty. It did even worse with pistachio shells. While that's a tougher challenge, the units with the split brush design still managed to choke them down. With the Z70, they just got pinned between the brush and the floor, preventing the roller from spinning at all. It just dragged them around and made a horrible sound until I came and rescued it. I also found that the Z70's mops were more prone to dripping and streaking than previous Roborocks I tested. The Saros Z70 also appears to have more difficulty with navigation than previous Roborocks we've tested. It often takes slow, inexplicable routes. One time, I used the voice command (which works with Google Home, Alexa, and Apple Home, but also has its own mic and works independently), 'Hello Rocky, clean the kitchen,' and it only cleaned the front two-thirds of my kitchen. When I used the app to have it try again, it also only cleaned the front part. This is after it had no issue cleaning my kitchen more than a dozen times over the last two weeks. I had to command it to clean a special zone at the back, and even then, it didn't get nearly as close to the corner or the edges of the wall as it's supposed to. The Z70 was also pretty hit and miss when it came to avoiding power cords. This is personal preference, but I think the dock is a bit more of an eyesore than it was on the Qrevo Curv or Saros 10 (though it's effectively the same as the 10R). The water tanks at the top aren't covered, and it's just a bit more visually obtrusive. I've also noticed that the Z70 tends to bump into and grind along walls a bit more, which has created some white marks on its front bumpers where paint has rubbed off onto it—I don't love that. The Z70 is supposed to have 'Intelligent Dirt Detection,' which will cause it to go back and re-clean an area that it senses as particularly dirty, but I never saw this happen, and it often left messes in its wake, then returned to the base declaring itself finished. There is a first-person view remote control mode, which you can use to manually pick items up and move them around, which is fun, but ultimately it feels like a novelty. It's so slow that it's not something you'd ever really use when you're home. The real nail in the coffin here is the price. The Z70 was set to debut at $2,000 dollars, which would already make it the most expensive robovac on the planet. But between the initial announcement and the actual availability, Trump's tariffs hit, and boy did they hit hard. As a response, Roborock raised the price of the Saros Z70 to a staggering $2,600. That is a full thousand dollars more expensive than the Saros 10R, and it doesn't do basic cleaning as thoroughly based on my tests. I have a hunch that the engineering team spent so much time trying to get the OmniGrip working that it didn't have the resources dedicated to make sure it got the fundamentals right. If it sounds like I'm disappointed, it's only because I'm really, really disappointed. Robovacs are suffering from sameness. They're all practically clones of each other these days, so I was excited to see something so different finally come through. The Saros Z70 was a huge swing, and I love it when companies do that, especially when it could represent a lot of added convenience for the consumer. Unfortunately, Roborock's first attempt is a swing and a miss. There's potential there if the bot really can improve via software updates, and I hope that it does (though I still have concerns about the new roller brush), but as it is right now, I can only say that the Saros Z70 massively underdelivers on its promises.
Digital Trends
23-05-2025
- Digital Trends
Roborock Saros Z70 review: an innovative robot vacuum with a robotic arm that just can't get a grip
Roborock Saros Z70 review: an innovative robot vacuum with a robotic arm that just can't get a grip MSRP $2,600.00 Score Details 'The Roborock Saros Z70 is a powerful robot vacuum and mop, but its robotic arm isn't quite ready for the spotlight.' Pros 22,000 Pa suction Auto-detaching mopping pads Reliable navigation Slim profile Robotic arm is cool (when it works) Cons Robotic arm functionality isn't great Expensive 'Why you can trust Digital Trends – We have a 20-year history of testing, reviewing, and rating products, services and apps to help you make a sound buying decision. Find out more about how we test and score products.' Recommended Videos The Roborock Saros Z70 is the most innovative robot vacuum I've ever tested. Along with the ability to vacuum and mop, this unique gadget is equipped with a robotic arm. As it cruises around your home, it'll pick up objects left on the ground, move them to a designated area, then continue with its cleaning routine. Or rather, that's what it's supposed to do. In reality, things are a bit of a mixed bag. First and foremost — the Saros Z70 does an excellent job of cleaning all types of floors. With heaps of suction and a premium spinning mop setup, it's designed to tackle spills and debris with ease. But the robotic arm is the big selling point here, and it doesn't do enough to justify its eye-watering price tag of $2,600 (inflated from the original price of $1,900 due to tariffs). Roborock offers products at a much lower price point capable of cleaning just as well as the Saros Z70. And because the robotic arm isn't quite ready for the modern household environment, it's hard to recommend to anyone except those who need to be on the cutting edge of the robot vacuum industry — which is a pretty niche crowd. Still, I'm excited to see where the technology goes. The Saros Z70 might not be ready for the spotlight just yet, but its successors will most definitely learn from its mistakes. It's all about the arm The Roborock Saros Z70 can automatically vacuum, mop, detach and reinstall its mopping pads, empty its dustbin, and wash itself — but the reason you're even thinking about spending $2,600 is because of its wild robotic arm. No other robot vacuum on the market offers this functionality. One of the biggest limitations of current robot vacuums is that they must clean around your mess. Forget to pick up a sock, shoe, or other object, and that portion of your home will be missed. The Saros Z70 attempts to fix this pinch point. Forget to pick up your dirty socks? It'll pick them up for you, then return them to a specified point in your home. This should, in theory, result in a more comprehensive clean, as it doesn't have to work around your mess — instead, it'll simply clean up for you. It's a remarkable idea for a robot vacuum, and the Saros Z70 is a fine first attempt at bringing this idea to life. Much like any new technology, it's quite rough around the edges, but the proof of concept is there. It successfully picked up socks, slippers, and crumpled paper left out in my home. It would then bring them to a designated spot before continuing with its cleaning routine. When it works, it's one of the coolest things you'll ever see in the world of robot vacuums. But the successes of the robotic arm are overshadowed by its limitations. To be clear, Roborock is quite transparent with its restrictions. For example, detection doesn't work very well (or at all, in some cases) on carpet. The grip is only capable of picking up items of 300 grams or less. If the robot detects furniture above it, the arm won't fully deploy — protecting itself and your belongings from a collision. This means you're essentially limited to picking up small, lightweight objects like socks and slippers from hard surfaces. Even if the robot detects something it should, theoretically, be able to handle, the grip often struggles. Designed as a set of prongs that reach down to lift objects, it frequently misses the object or grabs it awkwardly and later drops it. Simply put, the system takes way too long to be an effective solution for your home. When not in use, the arm stows away into a chamber at the front of the robot vacuum. This results in a streamlined footprint capable of slinking under most furniture for a robust cleaning. The entire system looks nice (as is par for the course with Roborock), though the functionality of the robotic arm leaves much to be desired. Mopping and vacuuming While the robotic arm is a bit of a letdown, this isn't the case for the rest of the Roborock Saros Z70. It's essentially a superpowered version of the fantastic Saros 10R, featuring 22,000 Pa of suction, the accurate StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 for navigation, an anti-tangle system to keep brushes free of debris, and detachable mops that can automatically be left behind in the dock while vacuuming. Several secondary features are bundled in for added convenience, such as the ability to check in on the device remotely via video calls and a child lock to prevent curious kids from meddling with the expensive robot. Toss in a side brush capable of rotating outward for enhanced coverage and a mopping pad capable of the same, and you've got a robot well-suited for providing one of the best cleans on the market — plus a few fun extras. Verdict As innovative as the Roborock Saros Z70 is, it's not the right fit for most customers. Its combination of price and lackluster robotic arm performance means it's just not capable of living up to expectations, and you'd be better off with the Roborock Saros 10 or Saros 10R. Both products provide similar cleanings at a fraction of the price. Having said all that, the Saros Z70 is still an exciting product. The first time its robotic arm deployed to pick up a sock, I literally shouted in excitement. It's hard to overstate how cool this technology is — and how it could seriously revolutionize robot vacuums. The Saros Z70 is (hopefully) the first step on a much longer journey, and I can't wait to see where Roborock takes us.
CNET
20-05-2025
- CNET
I Dreamed of a Robot That Sorted My Socks, But This $2,600 Vacuum Isn't It (Yet)
The Saros Z70 is priced at $2,599, making it one of the most expensive robot vacuums I've seen. You can buy two robot vacuums for this price. The most notable feature is the OmniGrip mechanical arm designed to pick up and sort items. It also has strong vacuuming and mopping capabilities, excellent mapping, and the ability to cross thresholds. The mechanical arm has several issues, including difficulties picking up objects, navigation problems, and software bugs. There were also connectivity issues during setup. Cleaning my hardwood and carpet. Ajay Kumar Pros Good vacuuming on hardwood Brush roller does not get tangled with dog hair Very low profile and fits under pretty much everything Quiet operation Works well with pets Chassis lift prevents it from getting stuck most of the time Cons Dust bin is too small Water tank is too small Mopping performance isn't great Obstacle avoidance needs some improvement Roborock I wanted to love the Roborock Saros Z70. Never before have we seen a robot vacuum with a mechanical arm meant to pick up objects and help you clean before it vacuums and mops. As someone who has three cats, I found this incredibly appealing. I test and write about vacuums for a living. When we first saw the Roborock Saros Z70 at CES earlier this year, we all knew we were witnessing something special. CNET even chose it as one of our best of CES awards. I spent several hours with it in New York City during a demo, giving me fairly high hopes for its time and labor-saving potential. I tested it at my cluttered apartment for the better part of a month and so did my colleague and lead lab tester, Jared Hannah at his home. The reality is, the Saros Z70 certainly has a lot of promise. It vacuums and mops like a champ, can cross thresholds and obstacles as effectively as the Dreame X50 Ultra, and has great mapping and pet recognition in my home. The OmniGrip arm picking up my wife's sock. Ajay Kumar However, when it comes to its signature feature -- the robot arm -- we found it's still not ready for showtime. Right now, the Saros Z70 is fairly limited in its ability to pick up very small objects like pet toys and kid's toys. On occasion, it did recognize and attempt to pick up cat toys it found scattered around my home, but it was never able to succeed at that. Often, it would deploy the arm, then detect my cat or some other object nearby and freeze, blaring 'Error 69,' forcing me to manually reset the arm. At one point, it even tried to pick up my standing desk mat before realizing it wasn't a compatible object and giving up. Roborock tells us they are aware of the issues and are actively working on software fixes that will roll out in June and July. Here are my impressions after a month of testing and whether it's worth its $2,600 price tag. Roborock My experience with Saros Z70 We tested the Saros Z70 at CES 2025, at a live demo, at our New York City Office space, at CNET's testing lab in Louisville KY and most recently at my home. My biggest takeaway from my real-world home test versus my other experiences with this robot vacuum is the various issues with the mechanical arm, its struggle to pick up objects, navigation problems, and software bugs. It cleaned great as a regular robot vacuum and mop, but I couldn't rely on the arm's sorting capabilities. 'Yeah, it seems like it's basically a beta version of the arm,' said Hannah, who was testing the Z70 at the same time as me. 'They should do a bit more development before it's ready for the masses. I would get the error if the arm bumped something while moving an object. It sensed that there was too much resistance, so I think it was doing what it was supposed to, but it seems like that would end up being a common occurrence.' The Saros Z70 got scratched up after trying to clean under the desk chair. Ajay Kumar Vacuuming and mopping: Strong performance, good sand/litter/hair pickup; mopping with clean/dirty tanks and hot air drying is effective. Strong performance, good sand/litter/hair pickup; mopping with clean/dirty tanks and hot air drying is effective. Special features: The OmniGrip arm is the standout special feature, though currently unreliable. I found operational issues during my home testing. It struggled to pick up certain objects, especially pet toys, but I had much better luck with socks. Not only was the Saros Z70 able to identify my wife's purple socks and pick them up off the hardwood floor in the bedroom, but it also began to transport them to my designated shoe-drop-off area that's set up in the foyer. The problem was that partway on this journey, it gave up somewhere between the hallway and the kitchen, dropping the sock, acting like the job was complete, and continuing its regular cleaning cycle. The OmniGrip arm is the standout special feature, though currently unreliable. I found operational issues during my home testing. It struggled to pick up certain objects, especially pet toys, but I had much better luck with socks. Not only was the Saros Z70 able to identify my wife's purple socks and pick them up off the hardwood floor in the bedroom, but it also began to transport them to my designated shoe-drop-off area that's set up in the foyer. The problem was that partway on this journey, it gave up somewhere between the hallway and the kitchen, dropping the sock, acting like the job was complete, and continuing its regular cleaning cycle. Mapping and navigation: It generated a 2D and 3D map of my space, automatically tagging the rooms (bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen), flooring type (hard surface and carpet) and identifying certain pieces of furniture like my couch, TV stand and bed. It also marked notable thresholds in my space where extra effort would be required to cross. You can remap it or tell it to remap a specific room if you're not happy with the result, but it did a great job for me the first time around. It generated a 2D and 3D map of my space, automatically tagging the rooms (bedroom, bathroom, living room and kitchen), flooring type (hard surface and carpet) and identifying certain pieces of furniture like my couch, TV stand and bed. It also marked notable thresholds in my space where extra effort would be required to cross. You can remap it or tell it to remap a specific room if you're not happy with the result, but it did a great job for me the first time around. Software and app: The app isn't the most straightforward tool to use, with a profusion of settings and nested menus that allow you to adjust just about everything the robot can do, from the dustbin emptying and mop washing frequency, to cleaning patterns, obstacle photos, enabling the robotic arm and more. Just about everything the robot can do is customizable, but I wish all these features and settings were a bit more front and center rather than tucked away in the lengthy settings menu. The app isn't the most straightforward tool to use, with a profusion of settings and nested menus that allow you to adjust just about everything the robot can do, from the dustbin emptying and mop washing frequency, to cleaning patterns, obstacle photos, enabling the robotic arm and more. Just about everything the robot can do is customizable, but I wish all these features and settings were a bit more front and center rather than tucked away in the lengthy settings menu. Design and aesthetics: Low-profile design, good for fitting under furniture, but can lead to scratches. Low-profile design, good for fitting under furniture, but can lead to scratches. Ease of use: Setup had connectivity issues; once set up, basic functions are easy, but advanced settings are complex. Roborock The specs Price: $2,599 $2,599 Object weight limit (OmniGrip Arm): 300 grams rated load; approximately 700 grams actual load capacity during our testing. 300 grams rated load; approximately 700 grams actual load capacity during our testing. Threshold crossing height: Capable of crossing thresholds up to approximately two inches. Capable of crossing thresholds up to approximately two inches. Cleaning time: (Ajay's apartment, 850 sq ft): 1.5 to 2 hours for a full vacuum and mop session. (Ajay's apartment, 850 sq ft): 1.5 to 2 hours for a full vacuum and mop session. Cleaning time: (Jared's house, 1,200 square feet) : 2.5 to 3 hours for a full vacuum and mop session on the main level. (Jared's house, 1,200 square feet) 2.5 to 3 hours for a full vacuum and mop session on the main level. Mapping time (Ajay's apartment, 850 sq ft): 16 to 18 minutes for initial mapping. (Ajay's apartment, 850 sq ft): 16 to 18 minutes for initial mapping. Sand pickup performance on hardwood: 82.46%, this is excellent hardwood performance, falling just shy of our best overall, the Ecovacs Deeboth T30S Combo (85%). 82.46%, this is excellent hardwood performance, falling just shy of our best overall, the Ecovacs Deeboth T30S Combo (85%). Sand pickup performance on carpet (Midpile): 51.77%, this surpasses the Dreame X50 Ultra (44% mid-pile) 51.77%, this surpasses the Dreame X50 Ultra (44% mid-pile) Sand pickup performance on carpet (Low-Pile): 51.06%, which comes close to matching the Shark Power Detect NeverTouch Pro (54.5%). 51.06%, which comes close to matching the Shark Power Detect NeverTouch Pro (54.5%). Voice command compatibility: The app can be connected to Amazon Alexa for voice commands. The app can be connected to Amazon Alexa for voice commands. Customizable: The app allows for a wide range of customization, including dustbin emptying frequency, mop washing frequency, cleaning patterns, obstacle photos, and enabling/disabling the robotic arm. The app allows for a wide range of customization, including dustbin emptying frequency, mop washing frequency, cleaning patterns, obstacle photos, and enabling/disabling the robotic arm. Mapping features: The app displays the 2D and 3D maps generated by the robot, allows for room tagging, furniture identification, and setting "no-go" zones. It also identifies pet areas and allows for "Pet Area Cleaning." The app displays the 2D and 3D maps generated by the robot, allows for room tagging, furniture identification, and setting "no-go" zones. It also identifies pet areas and allows for "Pet Area Cleaning." Wi-Fi connectivity: The robot needs to connect to Wi-Fi for setup and app control. The robot needs to connect to Wi-Fi for setup and app control. Dual spinning mopping pads: The robot uses a pair of dual spinning mopping pads that attach and detach from the docking station. The robot uses a pair of dual spinning mopping pads that attach and detach from the docking station. Clean and dirty water system: Uses clean water for mopping and collects dirty water in a separate tank, ensuring cleaner mopping. Uses clean water for mopping and collects dirty water in a separate tank, ensuring cleaner mopping. Mopping pad cleaning and drying: Mopping pads are washed and hot-air dried at the base station between cleaning sessions. Mopping pads are washed and hot-air dried at the base station between cleaning sessions. Mopping modes: The "Vacuum+Mop" mode vacuums first and then mops the entire space. There are options for Deep cleaning, Pet Area and an AI-powered SmartPlan. Saros Z70 docked Ajay Kumar CNET's buying advice For the time being, I am holding off on scoring, rating or recommending the Saros Z70. While it excels at vacuuming, mopping, and navigation, the core feature – the OmniGrip arm – is not yet reliable enough for me to fully give an opinion on this product as a whole. Roborock told CNET it plans to roll out software updates in June and July that are expected to positively change my experience. Some of the anticipated improvements include improved grab point optimization, smarter sorting optimization, and new pickup categories like sports shoes. It is hard to ignore the $2,599 price tag. I argue that for the price, you could purchase two or three excellent standard robot vacuums and mops, like the Yeedi M12 Pro+, or a comparable high-performing model such as the Dreame X50 Ultra -- both on CNET's best robot vacuums best list. If all you care about is strong vacuuming, mopping and obstacle avoidance: The Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo is currently CNET's "best overall robot vacuum. Roborock Without a fully operational and reliable OmniGrip arm, I can't justify its value for the cost at this time. 'The arm is a neat feature to watch, but I personally don't find it very useful,' said Hannah. ' I feel like if the robot is smart enough to avoid obstacles such as shoes and socks, I don't need it to try and pick them up and move them. As long as the robot doesn't get stuck on anything during its cleaning cycle, that's good enough for me.' If the OmniGrip arm is your primary reason for considering the Saros Z70, I recommend you wait for future software updates or consider alternatives until that feature is more refined.
Forbes
20-05-2025
- Forbes
Roborock Saros Z70 Is Here To Grab Shoes, Socks, Your Wallet
Saros Z70 sports a robotic arm for tidying up Roborock With the launch of the Saros Z70, Roborock's roll out of its robovac evolution is complete. It started back in January with the Saros 10R, which introduced a slimmer, more powerful vacuum that didn't rely on a radar hump. The Saros 10 came after that, a less expensive model that has the ability to lower its LIDAR tower to achieve a similar thin profile when needed. Now the slim profile and StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 are back in the Saros Z70, but with the addition of one very important feature. Yes, your vacuum now has a robot arm. The "Omnigrip Mechanical Arm" is a five-axis robotic arm that folds away into the vacuum when not in use. It can deploy the arm to pick up light obstacles (300g or around 10 oz.) and organize shoes. It can also use the camera in the arm to patrol your home and seek out and monitor pets. The gripper of the arm is surprisingly nimble. I was able to remotely direct it to pick up and carry a slipper back to my closet. I also saw it grabbing sandals around the house…usually on the first try. The operation is fairly plodding but then this is a tiny robot arm packed into a vacuum, speed isn't the main feature. At launch, the Omnigrip arm is an interesting, but not exactly a revolutionary leap. Mostly, the Saros Z70 does what all Roborock vacuums do—it uses its 22,000 Pa suction power and dual-mopping pads to clean your floor. Then, every once in a while, it will deploy the arm to move a shoe or maybe a sock. I say maybe because Roborock has admitted that socks on carpet are extremely difficult to recognize. So difficult, in fact, that they list it as a limitation they won't be trying to overcome. Matic is the only company I know of that's actively tackling this problem and they're only able to do it because they have a wildly different tech stack (but more on them next week). Arm stowed Roborock So socks on carpeting will still likely be avoided entirely instead of being picked up (which is still better than being sucked up and clogging the robovac). However, socks on hard floors the Z70 can identify. I heard the distinctive whirring of the arm operating in my daughter's room, the place where many a robovac is defeated, and was delighted to find the Z70 was busy lifting a balled-up sock out of its way and placing it behind it so it could continue cleaning. As the Z70 got familiar with my home, I started to notice evidence of its tidying all over. Cat toys had been shifted, shoes had been moved to a new spot (though not the spot I'd designated on the map for shoes). While the Omnigrip arm might be used sparingly, the bot puts it to good use, making sure it has a clear path to accomplish its main task, cleaning your floors. Roborock is aware of the limitations of the Z70's Omnigrip arm at launch and is working to improve its utility over the next couple of months. Over the summer the company is adding support for things like sneakers, optimizing sorting routines, and giving users more control over the types of obstacles to identify. In addition to the arm, the Roborock Z70 comes with everything you'd expect from a flagship robovac model. It has more suction than the similarly outfitted Saros 10R, dual mopping pads, a tangle-free roller and side brush, and the ability to lift and boost itself over thresholds. As I mentioned at the top, the Z70 uses Roborock's latest AI algorithm and advanced visual sensors so that it can easily avoid common household obstacles, including things like bundled cords. By ditching LIDAR, the Z70 has an extremely slim profile as well. Able to reach places other bots can't Roborock The app continues to improve as well, using AI pathing to determine the most logical cleaning plans, automatically increasing or decreasing suction and water volume depending on floor type, and automatically washing the mops after it cleans high-dirt areas like bathrooms and kitchens. The app is also where you can remotely control the bot and use the Call & Cruise function for checking on your pet. A fully functional dock is part of the Z70 package Roborock It comes with the latest Multifunctional Dock that adds fast charging, hot mop washing, auto-emptying, and enables the robot to leave the mops behind so as to avoid cross-contamination. Altogether, it makes the Saros Z70 the most advanced robovac the company has produced. But that arm is going to cost you. The Saros Z70 costs $1,000 more than the similar, non-armed Saros 10R. At $2,599, it's one of the most expensive robot vacuums on the market. While it may not achieve the dream of a robotic butler, the Z70 does put its arm to good use and Roborock has dedicated itself to improving functionality over time. You can find out more on the Roborock site.
