Roborock Saros Z70 review: a groundbreaking robot vacuum featuring a robotic arm that struggles to grasp objects.

      Roborock Saros Z70 Review: An Innovative Robot Vacuum with a Robotic Arm That Struggles to Perform

      MSRP: $2,600.00

      “The Roborock Saros Z70 is a powerful vacuum and mop, but the robotic arm isn’t quite ready for prime time.”

      Pros

      - 22,000 Pa suction

      - Auto-detaching mopping pads

      - Reliable navigation

      - Slim profile

      - Robotic arm has potential (when effective)

      Cons

      - Robotic arm functionality is lacking

      - High cost

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      The Roborock Saros Z70 stands out as the most innovative robot vacuum I’ve tested. Beyond its vacuuming and mopping abilities, it features a robotic arm. As it navigates your home, it aims to pick up items left on the floor and transport them to a designated location before resuming its cleaning. However, the actual performance is somewhat inconsistent.

      Firstly, the Saros Z70 excels at cleaning various types of flooring. With significant suction power and a high-quality spinning mop system, it easily handles spills and debris. Yet the robotic arm, which is the main highlight, fails to provide enough functionality to justify its steep price of $2,600 (which has increased from an initial price of $1,900 due to tariffs).

      Roborock offers less expensive alternatives that clean as effectively as the Saros Z70. Given that the robotic arm isn't yet adequately suited for typical household situations, it's challenging to recommend this model except to those who wish to be at the forefront of robot vacuum technology — a fairly specific audience.

      That said, I’m eager to see how this technology develops. While the Saros Z70 may not be fully ready for the limelight, future iterations will likely learn from its shortcomings.

      Focus on the Arm

      The Roborock Saros Z70 can autonomously vacuum, mop, remove and replace its mopping pads, empty its dustbin, and self-clean — but the real reason you might consider spending $2,600 is its innovative robotic arm. This functionality is unique among robot vacuums.

      A major drawback of current robot vacuums is their inability to manage obstructions in their cleaning path. If you forget to pick up a sock, shoe, or other item, that area will remain uncleaned. The Saros Z70 tries to address this issue. Forgot to pick up your dirty socks? It will retrieve them for you and return them to a designated spot in your home. Theoretically, this should result in a more thorough cleaning, as it can eliminate the need to work around your clutter.

      It's an impressive concept for a robot vacuum, and the Saros Z70 is a commendable initial effort to implement this idea. Like any emerging technology, it has its rough spots, but the basic concept works. It successfully picked up socks, slippers, and crumpled paper in my home, moving them to a designated spot before continuing its cleaning. When it operates correctly, it can be one of the most fascinating advancements in robot vacuum technology.

      However, the robotic arm's successes are overshadowed by its limitations. Roborock is transparent about these drawbacks. For instance, the detection capabilities don't function well (or at all, in some cases) on carpet. The grip is limited to items weighing 300 grams or less. If the robot detects overhead furniture, the arm won't fully extend, thus preventing potential collisions.

      As a result, you are mostly limited to retrieving small, lightweight items like socks and slippers from hard surfaces. Even when it identifies an object it should be able to handle, the grip often struggles, either failing to pick up the item or awkwardly grabbing it and dropping it later. In short, the system takes too long to be a practical solution for everyday use.

      When not in action, the arm retracts into a compartment at the front of the vacuum, allowing for a sleek design that can fit under most furniture for effective cleaning. The entire unit looks appealing (as expected from Roborock), but the functionality of the robotic arm leaves much to be desired.

      Mopping and Vacuuming

      While the robotic arm may disappoint, the rest of the Roborock Saros Z70 impresses. It can be seen as a turbocharged version of the excellent Saros 10R, featuring 22,000 Pa of suction, the precise StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 for navigation, an anti-tangle feature to keep brushes clear of debris, and detachable mops that can automatically be left in the docking station during vacuuming.

      Additional features enhance convenience, such as remote monitoring through video calls and a child lock to prevent curious kids from tampering with the pricey robot. With a side