Today’s robot vacuums aren’t the same Roomba your parents first bought. The earliest versions had little to no navigation, barely managed to vacuum and got stuck on just about everything.If you’ve been holding off on buying a robot vacuum as you don’t trust it to do the job well — things have changed. Robot vacuums now have more capable mapping and improved cleaning features, meaning they can do more than just vacuum: They can also mop help you sort items, overcome obstacles and even climb stairs.
Together, our Louisville testing lab and I have tested more than 100 robot and cordless vacuums, giving us a solid pulse on the latest trends in the vacuum industry. I’ve watched vacuum technology innovate and grow over the past few years — and at CES 2026 I predict it’ll be a robot vacuum showdown in the race to become the ultimate home helper.
Read more: CNET is choosing the Best of CES 2026 Awards
What I expect in the coming year — and at CES — is even more acceleration and innovation. Big names like Eufy, Dreame, Ecovacs and Roborock, along with lesser-known brands like SwitchBot, 3i and Yeedi, are al
The Stair Problem Is Finally Being Solved for Robot Vacuums
What I like to call “the stair problem” has existed for robot vacuums since the first model was released in 2001. If you live in a multi-story home with steps or stairs, your only recourse has been to physically carry it up and down the stairs or shell out for a second or third unit. For many people with multi-level homes, I suspect the answer is to choose not to buy a robot vacuum at all. That’s set to change in 2026 and beyond. I expect to see the first robot vacuum that can climb stairs at CES this year and come to market in 2026.
We saw previews of stair-climbing capabilities at CES last year, with the Saros Z70 and X50 Ultra able to cross dual thresholds up to around two inches high. That wasn’t quite the same as climbing stairs, though, as both robovacs still need human assistance if you want them to climb a flight.
That changed at IFA Berlin in September 2025, where we saw two separate demonstrations from the Eufy Marswalker and Dreame’s Cyber X concept.
## Roborock Saros Z70: A Robot Vacuum With a Robotic Arm – Is It Worth It?
The idea of a robot vacuum that can not only clean your floors but also pick up clutter is undeniably appealing. roborock Saros Z70 demonstrate it at CES 2025. As then, it’s appeared on the Dreame Cyber10 Ultra, and there’s been rumblings about other manufacturers adopting the feature. But so far, no others have brought it to market. Yet.
When I tested the Saros Z70 earlier this year, my main takeaway was that the OmniGrip arm, while a neat feature, only worked correctly some of the time. Most notably, the Z70 would often begin sorting but give up halfway through. Adding multiple pets (I have three cats) made things even more complicated, as the robot struggled to navigate around them and couldn’t handle my biggest use case: pet toys.
I also expect to see more robot vacuums with object recognition capabilities. The ability to train robotic arms to recognize and grasp common household clutter like pet toys,children’s toys and clothing.That kind of advanced object recognition can benefit robot vacuums even without arms, and that’s what I expect to see more of at CES 2026. As for the robotic arm itself? I don’t think it’ll go mainstream for a few more years.
The L40s lineup brings more premium features from the X50 Ultra to more affordable vacuums.Ajay Kumar/CNET## This Robot Vacuum Can Make Water From Air to Avoid Refilling
Robot vacuums are getting smarter,and increasingly,more self-sufficient. The latest innovation? Recycling wastewater to avoid constant refills. While still an emerging technology, the 3i S10 Ultra offers a glimpse into the future of floor cleaning.
The 3i S10 Ultra boasts a large base station equipped with a water recycling system. This system distills and reuses dirty wastewater by heating and condensing it, potentially allowing the robot to pull water from the air and significantly reduce how often you need to manually refill the tank.
However, this advanced functionality comes at a cost – size. The base station is ample, measuring 18 inches wide, 18 inches deep, and nearly 24 inches high, with a weight of 50 pounds (80 pounds total). This makes it a less-than-ideal choice for those with limited space.
A more practical alternative is the 3i’s S10 Ultra, a water recycling robot vacuum. For now, expect all-in-one base stations that charge, empty dustbins, and offer cleaning/sanitizing features for mopping to become more commonplace. But dealing with the sheer size of these stations, and potentially needing the assistance of a plumber to install them, is something to consider.
Robot vacuums Are Getting More Affordable, and That’s Good News
Roborock president Quan Gang believes focusing solely on the premium robot vacuum market would be a mistake. “If we only focus on the premium segment, other than being the best robotic vacuum cleaner company in the world, we will have nothing,” he said in a translation by CNBC. His point? Lowering the price of high-end features will encourage wider adoption.
currently, the US robot vacuum adoption rate sits at just 22%, despite being the second-largest market. China, with a much larger population, has an even lower rate of 5.6%.
Fortunately, this trend toward affordability is already happening. Our current midprice and budget robot recommendations – costing between $500 and $700 – offer around 90% of the features found in premium models. These include self-emptying docking stations, mopping capabilities, effective mapping, and improved obstacle avoidance.
robovac Prices are Falling While Capabilities Increase
Robovac prices are becoming more affordable even as their features become more advanced. It’s increasingly common to find robovacs offering both vacuuming and mopping capabilities,and less common to find basic models without mopping functionality. Such as, the Eufy RoboVac 25C is frequently available at Walmart for $150 or less.
This trend is expected to continue through 2026, with prices for premium features – including obstacle-avoidance systems and robotic arms for object sorting – continuing to fall below $500. This mirrors the recent trend seen with cordless vacuums, where some of the best performers in terms of suction and battery life are also among the more affordable options.
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