At Vacuum Wars, we’ve tested over a hundred robot vacuums and seen the industry evolve in exciting ways—but every so often, a product redefines what’s possible. That’s why we’re awarding the Roborock Saros Z70 our title of Most Innovative Robot Vacuum – Mid 2025.
The Roborock Saros Z70 earned our Most Innovative award for Mid-2025 thanks to its groundbreaking OmniGrip mechanical arm—the first of its kind to autonomously stow small objects into a user-defined compartment—alongside industry-leading mopping performance, near-flawless 3D Time-of-Flight obstacle avoidance, and a multifunction dock that washes, dries, and dispenses detergent for its mop pads. It also features ultra-quiet cleaning mode with noise levels as low as 50 dB, precision edge-cleaning brushes for skirting boards, customizable multi-floor mapping with auto-switch profiles, an extended 6,400 mAh battery delivering up to 300 minutes of runtime, and an AI-powered app that offers real-time cleaning reports and self-updating firmware. While its five-axis arm worked only about half the time in our tests, no other robot this year has pushed the boundaries of home robotics quite like the Z70. See additional info
Price as of December 29, 2025
Auto Empty Station: Self Empties Debris | Washes Mop Pad | Washes Mop Pad with Hot Water | Dries Mop Pad | Dries Mop Pad with Heated Air| Self Cleaning | Dirty Water Sensor
Mopping: Lifts Mop Pads on Carpets | Extending Mop Pad for Hard to Reach Areas | Can Leave Pads at Base while Vacuuming
Hardware: Auto Extending Side Brush for Hard to Reach Areas | 40mm Threshold Crossing | Removes Hair from Brush Roll | OmniGrip Five-Axis Mechanical Arm
Performance: Carpet Boost Settings
Mapping / Navigation: Multi Level Maps | Virtual Barriers and No Go Zones
Obstacle Avoidance: 108 Objects Recognized
Pet Features: Live Video Monitoring | Pet Checkup
Controls: Virtual Assistant Options
| Scores | Roborock Saros Z70 | Average Robot Vacuum Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum Wars Overall | 3.30 | 2.58 |
| Features | 4.17 | 3.28 |
| Mopping Performance | 3.62 | 2.39 |
| Obstacle Avoidance | 4.59 | 3.41 |
| Pet | 4.11 | 3.42 |
| Navigation | 3.31 | 3.21 |
| Battery | 2.58 | 2.56 |
| Performance | 2.93 | 3.56 |
| Official Battery Life: 180 Minutes | Navigation Type: 3D ToF LiDAR |
| Official Suction Power: 22000 Pa | Dust Bin Size: 180ml |
| Obstacle Avoidance Type: VertiBeam Lateral | Objects Recognized: 108 |
| Multi Level Maps: Yes | Virtual Barriers: Yes |
| Detergent Capacity: 590ml | Disposable Bag: 2.7L |
Vacuum Wars tests robot vacuums using a rigorous 100+ point inspection process. All products are purchased independently and reviewed without sponsorships of any kind, making our results some of the most trusted in the industry.
Why It Won
Innovation isn’t just about adding features—it’s about pushing boundaries. The Roborock Saros Z70 does exactly that with the debut of the first-ever OmniGrip mechanical arm, a five-axis system designed to pick up clutter as it vacuums. While not without its limitations, this technology marks a significant leap forward in home robotics.
A Robot Vacuum with a Robotic Arm?
Yes—really. The OmniGrip arm extends from the top of the unit, using dual cameras and 3D object recognition to locate and gently relocate items like socks, tissues, and slide-style slippers. The app allows users to set target zones for where these items should be moved, and Roborock even includes a container to hold them.
See our guide: How to Use the Roborock Saros Z70 OminGrip Arm
In our evaluations, the OmniGrip arm was a mixed bag. The system was hit or miss, sometimes successfully recognizing and relocating items into the designated area, and other times missing the mark. Its object library is currently limited to a few categories, and performance with untrained items was inconsistent. Still, the concept is groundbreaking, and the tech behind it is promising. For early adopters and smart-home enthusiasts, this is a glimpse into the future of clutter-free automation.
Advanced (and Advancing) Obstacle Avoidance
Using Roborock’s new StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 with 3D Time-of-Flight sensors, the Z70 was among the top performers in our obstacle avoidance tests, scoring a remarkable 22 out of 24.
While slightly below the Saros 10R’s perfect score, the difference was negligible and could be within the margin of testing variance.
Advanced Docking and Cleaning Automation
Mopping: Among the Best We’ve Tested
If the arm is the Z70’s attention-grabber, its mopping system is where it truly shines. With dual spinning mop pads that automatically lift 22 mm to avoid carpets and that extend for edge cleaning, in our multiple evaluations the Saros Z70 scored a combined mopping Mopping Test Score of 269—beating the Saros 10R.
The multi-functional dock rounds out the Z70’s high-tech mopping system, with a feature-rich suite of water and mop pad management features:
- Washes mop pads and self cleans with 176°F hot water
- Dries mop pads with 131°F 1heated air
- Refills water tanks
- Dispenses detergent from an onboard reservoir
It’s a flagship experience with minimal manual effort.
A Solid Build with Modern Hardware
With a slim 3.14-inch profile, the Z70 can glide under more furniture than most 4-inch competitors. The new Free-Flow main brush and automatically extending side brush were effective in our tests, and the overall debris pickup from the surface of hard floors was carpet was excellent.
It also features Roborock’s AdaptiLift chassis, enabling it to clear thresholds up to 40 mm in height.
App Experience and Smart Features
Roborock continues to lead with one of the best apps in the industry. The Z70 includes:
- Virtual boundaries and multi-floor mapping
- Pet-friendly features like “Cruise” and live video calls
- Smart Plan 2.0 for adaptive scheduling
- Remote access to every vacuum and dock setting
The app is highly customizable, polished, and user-friendly—enhancing the experience for tech-savvy users.
Mid-2025 Most Innovative Robot Vacuum Winner
The Roborock Saros Z70 represents a bold step forward in robot vacuum design. While its mechanical arm isn’t yet the revolution it aims to be, its presence marks a serious advancement in autonomous home robotics. Add to that its industry-leading mopping performance, excellent obstacle avoidance, and premium docking experience, and you have a product that stands out in a crowded field.
For these reasons, Vacuum Wars is proud to name the Roborock Saros Z70 our Most Innovative Robot Vacuum – Mid 2025.
Want full story about the Roborock Saros Z70’s performance, specs, and overall pros and cons? Read our full review of the Roborock Saros Z70.
The Results Are In!
See the full lineup of standout performers in the Vacuum Wars Best Robot Vacuum Awards – Mid-2025!
