This past week, a plethora of smart technology was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), but one piece of tech truly stood out, prompting spontaneous applause: the Roborock Saros Z70. The moment it revealed its robotic arm, capable of delicately lifting shoes, socks, or toys from its path and placing them where directed, was astonishing.

For over a year and a half, Roborock’s robot vacuums and mops have been favorites of many tech enthusiasts, especially the high-end variants like the S8 MaxV Ultra and the QRevo MaxV, along with the QRevo Curv. They have built a loyal following due to their superior autonomy; they are less prone to getting stuck or unable to navigate effectively like many competitors, leading to cleaner floors overall.

Roborock has acknowledged the challenges posed by the wide range of models and is introducing a new streamlined naming strategy called Saros. The Z70 will serve as the flagship model, taking the lead after the earlier launches of the Saros 10 and 10R.

The robotic arm, known as the OmniGrip, has the capacity to pick up about six different items concurrently, from socks to small toys. Once the AI identifies these objects, it will automatically place them in a specified location. Presently, this model can recognize 108 items, and users will have the opportunity to teach it about an additional 50 objects through an open-source AI model. Imagine asking the robot about the location of a misplaced shoe!

For those apprehensive about a robotic arm emerging from their vacuum, it’s worth noting that this feature requires setup before it becomes active. A significant advantage of the OmniGrip is its potential for software-based upgrades in the future. While it currently lacks the ability to extricate the robot from difficult spots, possibilities for such enhancements may arise with forthcoming updates.

In addition to the impressive arm, the Z70 boasts other enhancements. Despite many brands boasting about “the highest suction power,” Roborock is elevating expectations with an astounding 22,000Pa suction capability. To contextualize, many models tested recently performed commendably with less than half that suction power. A critical question remains: how does increased suction really benefit the removal of larger debris without causing blockages?

The Z70 integrates technology first seen in the QRevo Curv, utilizing a chassis that can elevate its front to overcome obstacles such as cords or edges of rugs. Now, it will also apply greater pressure to its rear, where the spinning mop brushes are located—something that’s been lacking in previous robotic vacuums. This may lead to true breakthroughs in cleaning hard-to-reach areas, including tile depressions and grout lines.

Roborock is transitioning away from the conventional LiDAR navigation that has dominated the last few years, moving instead toward AI-assisted camera navigation via the Starsight Autonomous System 2.0. Equipping the Saros with dual cameras—on both the robot and the OmniGrip—enhances its navigation capabilities by accurately measuring distances in both vertical and horizontal axes. This new system is designed to offer more precision, while the additional Vertibeam technology allows the robot to navigate around obstacles like power cords seamlessly.

Measuring just over three inches in height, the Saros Z70 is compact enough to access the space beneath most furniture. It retains fan-favorite features from previous models, such as substantial water tanks and quick recharge capabilities (achieving a full charge in a mere 2.5 hours). However, the continuation of the onboard voice assistant, Rocky, raises some concerns. Many find his capabilities lacking as he sometimes misinterprets commands and frequently responds to sounds from the television.