Roborock Saros Z70: not only cleans, but also picks up things from the floor! The first robot vacuum cleaner with a mechanical arm!

Hello to all readers of robovac.washerhouse.com! This review will examine the much-hyped flagship robot vacuum cleaner, the Roborock Saros Z70. Its key feature is its extendable arm, which allows the robot to pick up items from the floor and place them in designated areas during cleaning. This means the Z70 not only vacuums and mops the floor, but also removes any unwanted items in its path, which is especially important when you have children or pets at home. Additionally, this new product boasts increased suction power of 22,000 Pa, a new turbo brush with blades, a slim 8 cm body, and a multifunctional all-in-one station. For such a complete package, you'll have to pay around $2,000. Below, I'll thoroughly test the Roborock Saros Z70, highlight its pros and cons based on my test results, and then share my personal opinion. Let's get started!

Equipment

The robot vacuum cleaner arrived in a branded box like this:

In addition to the robot and station, the delivery kit includes:

1. Power adapter.
2. Spare bag for the station.
3. A branded basket for storing items collected by the robot.
4. And the operating instructions translated into Russian.

Appearance

Now let's take a look at the Roborock Saros Z70's design. Let's start with the robot vacuum itself. It's available in two colors: black-gray and black. Its body is round and measures 7.98 cm tall.

The robot doesn't have the usual lidar tower. Its navigation relies on a system of cameras and sensors on the bumper. The technology is called StarSight Autonomous System 2.0, the same as the previously released Roborock Saros 10R.

A feature for recognizing objects on the floor has been implemented. Moreover, thanks to the backlight, the robot can recognize objects even in complete darkness. Cameras are installed not only at the front and sides, but also at the top, which is necessary for the robot to assess whether the arm can extend beyond its body.

I'll add that the front camera is used not only for navigation, but also for remote monitoring of the home via a smartphone.

Continuing with the sensors, the robot is equipped with a wall sensor, 6 fall protection sensors and a carpet sensor.

On the top of the body there are two mechanical control buttons, three speakers for the built-in “Hello, Rocky” assistant, and a separate emergency stop button for the robot.

The dust collector is located under the top cover. Next to it is a QR code for connecting the robot to a Wi-Fi network.

The waste container capacity is small, approximately 180 ml. The filtration system is HEPA-only. The water tank is hidden inside the body and holds approximately 70 ml. Water is pumped in automatically through the station.

The robot's highlight is its OmniGrip mechanical arm. It is neatly stored inside the body and extends automatically or manually.

Interestingly, this hand has a built-in camera with a backlight, which you can use to monitor your home. Having the camera in your hand allows you to better track the details you need. You can even look at the ceiling if needed.

The arm is equipped with a rubberized grip. It can lift objects weighing up to 300 grams. These can include slippers, toys, or large debris. You can set specific zones in the app where the robot will move the picked-up objects, but I'll explain that in more detail later.

The cleaning module consists of a dual-beam side brush that extends into corners, a central brush with blades, and two round microfiber cloths. The central brush unit not only floats but also lifts up during floor cleaning mode and when the robot returns to its home station.

The central brush is made of bristles and petals. Inside, blades are installed to cut through tangled hair and fur. This solution isn't unique, but it has already proven its effectiveness. Roborock calls this technology FreeFlow.

Behind the central brush there are two rotating round cloths, one of which moves towards the baseboard during wet cleaning.

There is also an automatic lifting of napkins and automatic removal of napkin holders at the station.

The robot can release its holders for full dry cleaning and carpet cleaning, after which it itself attaches them back.

The robot's body lift also deserves special attention. The entire body automatically rises when the robot detects tall obstacles or medium-pile carpets. This allows the robot vacuum to clear thresholds up to 4 cm high. This technology is called AdaptLift.

The Roborock Saros Z70's station automatically empties its dust bin, washes its cleaning cloths with hot water, dries them with warm air, self-cleans the station's bottom with scrapers, automatically mixes detergent, and pumps water into the robot's tank. It also features a quick charge of just 2.5 hours and automatic soiling detection for cleaning cloths, allowing for re-washing when needed.

Roborock offers a separate low-profile docking station for connecting to sewer and water lines. However, this robotic vacuum cleaner will not be sold in the domestic market, at least for now, so Russian consumers are unfortunately still deprived of this luxurious option.

Let's look at each station component separately. The ramp for the robot's entry is removable. The wipes' washing tray is also removable.

It consists of a removable module with combs for cleaning the wipes, a tray with scrapers, and a coarse filter for dirty water. It traps large debris. Interestingly, the station self-cleans the tray with hot water, reaching a record-breaking 80 degrees Celsius. The wipes themselves are washed at the same temperature. After washing, when the cleaning process is complete, the wipes are dried with air heated to 55 degrees Celsius.

A 2.5-liter waste bag is located under the lid at the front. Next to it is a reservoir for automatically mixing detergent with clean water. This reservoir holds 590 ml.

The water tanks are located on top. They are quite capacious, holding approximately 4 liters each. The clean water tank contains a cartridge for water disinfection.

All the pros and cons of the design will be discussed during the final review. Let's move on!

Technical specifications

The main characteristics of the Roborock Saros Z70, as stated by the manufacturer:

Robot vacuum cleaner:

• Battery 6400 mAh.
• Suction power up to 22,000 Pa.
• Dust collector capacity ≈180 ml.
• Water tank capacity is ≈70 ml.
• Obstacle clearance up to 40 mm.
• Robot dimensions: 353*80 mm.

Station:

• Clean water tank: 4 l.
• Dirty water tank: 4 l.
• Bag in the station: 2.5 l.
• Station dimensions: 381*475*488 mm.

The suction power has changed, which will be verified in tests. The other parameters remain unchanged.

Functional capabilities

Speaking of features, the robot vacuum cleaner is controlled via the proprietary Roborock app. Connection is simple and convenient, the interface is in Russian, and the Russian version of the robot itself even has voice notifications in Russian. The global version doesn't have a Russian voice package, which is important to keep in mind.

The main functions of the Roborock Saros Z70 are displayed on the screen:

• Self-cleaning of the dust collector at the station.
• Washing napkins at the station with hot water.
• Drying napkins with warm air.
• Side brush extension in corners.
• Moving the holder with a napkin to the baseboard.
• Refilling the robot's water tank via the station.
• Automatic mixing of detergent.
• Removing napkin holders at the station.
• Recognizing objects on the floor.
• Remote home monitoring via camera.
• Manual control of a mechanical arm.
• Saving multiple cleaning maps in memory.
• Automatic zoning of premises into rooms.
• Selecting areas and rooms for cleaning.
• Virtual walls and no-go zones (and for wet cleaning mode).
• Suction power adjustment.
• Adjusting the degree of wetting of the napkin.
• User mode.
• Cleaning log.
• Setting up cleaning according to a schedule.
• Automatic power increase on carpet.
• Carpet cleaning in wet cleaning mode.
• Lifting napkins when driving onto carpets.
• Raising the turbo brushes in wet cleaning mode.
• Raising the body when overcoming obstacles.
• Hello Rocky support.
• Voice notifications in Russian.
• Yandex.Alice support.

The robot's control via the proprietary "Hello Rocky" voice assistant deserves special attention. You simply give the robot a command by voice, and it carries it out. No third-party devices are required. Very cool! However, in the global version, phrases are perceived in English, which is not very convenient.

As mentioned earlier, you can remotely monitor your home from your smartphone via the robot's camera. You can even switch between the camera on the bumper and the camera in the robot's hand.

It's also cool that you can manually control the mechanical arm to move objects. This mode is interesting and can be used for entertainment. I'm sure not only children but also adults will appreciate it.

It's also worth noting that Roborock has added a feature that disables the side brush's rotation on carpets. This is a good thing, as cleaning performance on carpets is poor without the side brush rotating.

Testing

A detailed video review with tests has already been prepared and published on the channel:

Navigation

And finally, let's move on to the tests! First, we'll test the Roborock Saros Z70's navigation in a room with obstacles. The robot vacuum first navigates the room's perimeter, then cleans the entire accessible area in a serpentine pattern. The mirror introduced an error in the map. It first attempted to climb onto the legs of the dryer, then carefully circled around it, then circled around the legs of the table and the box, before returning to its base.

Speaking of navigating around the home, the Roborock Saros Z70 cleans room by room, first along the perimeter, then in a serpentine pattern. After a selected time interval or after each room, the robot vacuum returns to the station and rinses its cleaning pads, then returns to clean where it left off. There are no uncleaned areas, the cleaning speed is high, and this model has excellent navigation!

Passing under low furniture

I also tested the minimum clearance height of the Roborock Saros Z70. I was able to create a clearance of 85 mm, and the robot navigated it without any problems. So, I actually believe it can pass under furniture up to 8 cm thick, as stated in the promotional materials.

Autonomy

I also tested the battery life when running the robot at maximum power with wet cleaning enabled. It lasted 109 minutes, cleaning 76 square meters of usable space. In reality, that's nearly two full cleanings of a 70 square meter two-bedroom apartment. It also features a resume cleaning mode after recharging at the base, so this model is capable of cleaning larger areas.

Recognizing objects on the floor

As for the object avoidance system, in good lighting, the robot was able to accurately navigate around all six objects on the floor, correctly identifying five of them. It only failed to identify a toy. However, it not only recognized the sock but also placed it in the bin.

The robot managed to carefully go around 3 out of 3 socks, but only recognized 2 out of 3, moving them to the basket.

For some reason, the robot vacuum didn't recognize any of the four wires, although it did manage to carefully avoid three. The fourth one jammed a few times, but didn't go wrong.

Of the six simulated pet surprises, the robot managed to safely navigate around only five, two of which it recognized. It didn't recognize one trap and chewed it, after which it encountered an error due to a blocked central brush.

In complete darkness, the robot navigated four of the six objects: a sock, a cord, a shoe, and a toy. It moved the sock toward the basket but couldn't place it, leaving it next to it. It also moved the shoe next to the sock, into a designated area on the map. It didn't recognize the simulated pet surprise and drove through it several times. It also didn't recognize it and hit the scale.

As with good lighting, I carefully circled all three socks, recognizing two and moving them to the basket.

Of the four wires, it only managed to avoid two, recognizing one. The robot chewed up the other two.

However, the robot performed poorly when avoiding simulated feces. It was only able to safely navigate around two of the six traps, and it recognized three of them as mines.

In general, as before, the system for recognizing and avoiding objects requires improvement.

Regarding floor stain recognition, the robot vacuum detected the stain while cleaning, turned off suction, and cleaned the stained area in spot cleaning mode with a double pass. Interestingly, in spot cleaning mode, it presses the back of the cleaning pads down using AdaptLift technology. This increases the pressure of the pads on the floor, improving stain removal. However, the robot didn't remove the stain; after a double pass, it returned to the cleaning station, washed the pads, and continued cleaning.

The algorithm still needs some refinement. A better approach would be to re-evaluate the stained area and scrub it until the stain is completely removed.

Hand test

I tested some of the hand's features separately. I'll start by saying that it's really easy to use, thanks in part to the dedicated grip zone and the ability to adjust the direction of movement along each axis.

But I was wondering if the protection system would work if there wasn't enough clearance above the arm. For example, if the object being moved were detected under a bed or closet. In this case, the overhead camera signals the robot that there's no clearance above it for the arm to operate. The arm doesn't extend, and the robot returns to the station. I even placed the object under a transparent glass table. The robot didn't detect the glass, but after one attempt, it realized it wouldn't be able to grasp it, and it notified me in the app. So, in my opinion, the arm's protection from accidents is well implemented.

It's fun to play with. The only thing is, I'm not sure it's a good idea to pick up your pet's toys unnecessarily. I have a feeling the dog will snatch that hand away to discourage touching someone else's without permission. It would be interesting to hear feedback from Z70 owners about how their pets react to the hand in your situation.

Cleaning behind the curtains

I also checked whether the proprietary navigation system can clean behind curtains and drapes, something most lidar robots can't do. No, this robot, like its siblings in the line, doesn't clean behind curtains.

Suction power

The power test that interested me most was the power test. In Silent mode, the Roborock Saros Z70 was only able to clean debris from a 2 mm gap. In Balance mode, it significantly improved cleaning performance in the 2 mm gap. In Turbo mode, it only partially cleared the 4 mm gap. In Maximum mode, the robot partially cleaned the 10 mm gap. And in Max+ mode, it improved cleaning performance in the 4 and 10 mm gaps, and also partially cleaned the 6 mm gap.

So, in reality, the robot has high suction power and aerodynamic losses are less than its predecessors. Saros 10R and S9 MaxV Ultra.

Dry cleaning

The collection quality of various types of debris on laminate floors is good, but there's a caveat. Large debris, such as litter pellets and pet food in my case, clogs the turbo brush, causing the robot to malfunction. Without large debris, cleaning performance is good, and the robot can even sweep debris into corners thanks to its side brush extension.

We see that the central brush has wrapped itself in hair and wool, and the knives have failed to cope with the task.

Anti-tangle Hair Protection

I also tested how the brush's built-in blades handled self-cleaning of hair and pet hair. I laid hair of varying lengths on the floor. The robot picked it up, and we saw that the turbo brush had tangled the hairs tightly around itself, failing to cut through them.

In my opinion, the design isn't very effective, but to be fair, the blades do their job in a domestic environment. The turbo brush is clean after a week of cleaning with the robot, and it's worth noting that I have a constantly shedding dog and two girls in the house.

Carpet cleaning

The robot vacuum does a good job of cleaning carpets, both low-pile and fluffy ones. Incidentally, the center brush got blocked again due to food.

Self-cleaning

Immediately after the "dirty tests," I checked the robot vacuum's self-cleaning performance. We saw that the dust bin was completely full. We returned the robot to the station and started the self-cleaning cycle. The results were good. The dust bin was completely empty.

But I didn't like the fact that the HEPA filter gets clogged with debris due to the lack of a mesh screen in front of it. Engineers should fix this!

Wet cleaning and carpets

When it comes to wet cleaning on carpeted floors, the robot offers several different modes of interaction. It can carefully navigate around the carpet in wet cleaning mode, or it can enter and touch the carpet with the cleaning pad if you want to clean it with the robot. It can also clean carpets during wet cleaning, automatically lifting the cleaning pads and even the robot body when entering the carpet. It can also automatically remove the cleaning pads at the cleaning station and clean the carpets without them, completely eliminating any contact between the wet cleaning pads and the carpet pile. The last two options are the most efficient.

Wiping off dirt

The cleaning performance is excellent. The wipes press firmly against the floor and absorb dirt. There's no narrow area along the baseboard, thanks to the wipes extending up to the baseboard. That's a plus!

Removing difficult stains

When it came to removing tough stains, the robot was able to remove even dried-on coffee and sauce stains. And not on the first try. On the sixth try, to be exact. And that's an excellent result! And no detergent was used, as none was included. The test was a success!

Washing quality of napkins

I'd like to immediately talk about the effectiveness of the station itself. Let's start with the cleaning quality of the wipes. Even after extensive testing, the wipes look significantly better after washing at the station. The water heating feature certainly improves the cleaning efficiency. The wipes are indeed very hot after leaving the station. In everyday use, after washing the floor, the wipes are washed well at the station. Dirt isn't washed away by the pressure of warm water. That's a plus.

I decided to check the temperature myself – in my case, the peak reading in the drain area was 54.9 degrees. Measurement errors cannot be ruled out, depending on the sensor's installation location and the accuracy of the sensor itself, but after washing, the wipes were indeed hot. I even checked the temperature of the wipes themselves, and it was over 46 degrees.

The drying temperature is high – the sensor showed above 52 degrees and this is a good result!

Station maintenance

As for maintenance, the tray actually requires virtually no intervention. The bottom itself stays clean thanks to the self-cleaning function, which uses scrapers and hot water rinses. In my case, after a week of use, only a small amount of hair remained, trapped in the filter. But everything is easily removed, rinsed, and returned.

Obstacle clearance

An interesting point is crossing thresholds. The Roborock Saros Z70 can easily cross a 2 cm threshold, which seems obvious. However, the robot vacuum has difficulty crossing a 3 cm threshold.

The robot vacuum cleaner couldn't clear the 4 cm threshold, or to be more precise, the 38 mm threshold, no matter how much it lifted its body or at what angles it tried to enter. I installed a two-level threshold, as stated in the promotional materials, 3 cm + 1 cm high.

So, the robot managed to climb it, but it froze and crashed. So, theoretically, it can climb over a 3+1 cm threshold, but it all depends on the depth of the steps. The deeper they are, the better the chances. In my opinion, the real cross-country ability is still 3 cm.

Driving on black surfaces

Driving over black carpets is no problem. The robot glides over the black carpet as if nothing had happened.

Noise level

As for the noise level, it ranges from 55 to 71.3 dB, which is standard. The station's noise level during self-cleaning is around 72.5 dB, which is also a good result.

Personal opinion

The Roborock Saros Z70 robot vacuum cleaner has been thoroughly reviewed and tested. According to our rating system, it scored 247 points, getting very close to the leader of the rating Dreame X50 Ultra CompleteThe robot was just a little short of taking over overall rating and all because of a number of small comments.

First, about the pros. I liked the following:

1. First and foremost, the Roborock Saros Z70 is the world's first mass-produced robot vacuum cleaner with a mechanical arm for floor cleaning. This represents a new level of automated cleaning for the home. The arm performs its primary function quite well, and the app indicates that the algorithms will be further refined, creating new types of object movement zones. Currently, only socks and shoes are supported, but I'm sure other object types and interaction options will be added.
2. The robot is lower than lidar models, without compromising navigation. It can enter areas that robots with a lidar tower mounted on the body cannot.
3. In reality, it has high suction power, which has been confirmed in tests.

4. High-quality wet cleaning over large areas. The cloths press harder on the floor, removing tough stains faster. Plus, the cloth extends to the baseboard, and the cloths rise up on carpets and can even be dropped off at a station for a full dry cleaning.
5. A backlit object recognition system that works effectively in good lighting conditions.
6. The presence of an all-in-one station for self-cleaning the dust collector, washing and drying wipes.
7. The updated station is highly efficient. It features high-quality self-cleaning, super-hot water cleaning of wipes, full-fledged drying of wipes with warm air, scrapers in the tray for easy maintenance, spacious tanks, and an automatic detergent dispenser. In short, it's a complete system that does its job perfectly.
8. A system has been implemented to prevent the brushes from tangling with hair and fur. The side brush performs its job almost perfectly, while the main brush still requires some improvement, but has demonstrated good self-cleaning results in everyday use.
9. Improved maneuverability thanks to the raised body. The robot vacuum cleaner can overcome thresholds over 3 cm high, a feat that most similar robots cannot.
10. The retractable side brush completely sweeps away debris from corners.
11. Raising the turbo brush and side brush in wet cleaning mode.
12. A large number of functions in the application.
13. Full Russification in the version for the Russian market.
14. Remote home monitoring by connecting to the robot's camera via smartphone. A second camera on the arm has been added, allowing you to change the camera's viewing angle and view more complex areas.
15. Control via the proprietary voice assistant Hello Rocky.
16. The robot vacuum cleaner is not afraid of black surfaces.
17. High-quality assembly and high brand authority.
18. Availability of warranty and service.

As for the disadvantages, they are as follows:

1. There's still no version of the robot on the market with a station for connecting to sewer and water pipes. By 2025 standards, this is unforgivable for an A-brand flagship, in my opinion.
2. The central brush gets blocked by large household debris. During testing, which lasted over two weeks, the robot encountered a turbo brush blockage error five times in various situations. This is because the clearance between the brush and the body is very small.
3. The object recognition system needs some improvement, especially in complete darkness.
4. The blades built into the turbo brush aren't very effective. In my opinion, the blades on the Xiaomi and Dreame do a better job of cutting hair off the brush.
5. Small dust collector.
6. The HEPA filter quickly becomes clogged with debris. There's not enough mesh in front of it.
7. The robot vacuum cleaner is unable to clean behind curtains and drapes, which could easily be implemented by analogy with solutions from competing brands.
8. High price.

So what's the bottom line? The bottom line, even despite all the criticism, is that the Roborock Saros Z70 is absolutely fantastic! The last time I had such a positive experience with a Roborock was way back in 2020, when the market launched with the most accurate and intelligent robot at that time, the Saros Z70, in terms of object recognition. Roborock S6 MaxVJust like five years ago, Roborock has shaken up the robot vacuum market by offering a fundamentally new approach to cleaning. The robotic arm is an effective and unexpected development, allowing the robot to clean in places where a conventional robot is physically incapable. This means the Z70 won't just pick up toys, socks, or shoes, it will also clean the area where they were stored. Bravo, Roborock engineers!