Until recently, robot vacuum cleaners were expensive, fun toys for pets who loved to ride them.
Low cleaning quality due to low suction power, lack of navigation, poor obstacle avoidance, short operating time on a single charge and small on-board dust collector capacity radically limited their popularity. Over the course of several years, developers have successfully solved all the problems, turning them into a virtually completely autonomous cleaning system. Modern models support auto-charging, mapping, navigation and successfully overcome obstacles. In addition, they lift the mop above the carpet, use vibration and retractable brushes. Finally, their docking stations provide self-emptying of on-board dust collectors, washing and drying the mop, etc.
Main innovations 2025
Of course, evolution does not stop and companies annually present models whose innovative solutions amaze the imagination. 2025 was no exception. New models offer:
– advanced AI (Dreame X50 Ultra, Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni and Roborock Qrevo Curv);
– improved mopping with roller-style mops (Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni);
– retractable brushes (FlexiArm system in Roborock Qrevo Curv);
– improved navigation and obstacle avoidance with 3D vision and Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors;
– overcoming thresholds – Dreame X50 Ultra’s ProLeap climbing system increases the max height to 6 cm;
– improved self-emptying / cleaning docks.
But perhaps the OmniGrip mechanical lever in the Roborock Saros Z70 and the WaterRecycle System in the 3i S10 Ultra were the most sensational innovations.
5-axis OmniGrip robotic arm of Roborock Saros Z70 unfolds, extends, rotates horizontally and vertically. It can lift and carry into the special container any objects in its path weighing up to 300 grams (0.7 lbs).
The WaterRecycle system in the 3i S10 Ultra condenses water from the surrounding air. It also purifies dirty water after reuse.
In fact, without connecting to a water supply and sewerage system, it frees the owner from the need to manually refill the station’s container with clean water and empty the container with dirty water into the sewer.
Unfortunately, any innovative techology increases the price and these models are no exception. Their launch prices reached $ 1,900 (3i S10 Ultra) and $ 2,600 (Roborock Saros Z70). However, after the traditional price’s correction, they dropped to $ 1,200 and $ 2,000, respectively. Today they are quite competitive with other flagships, and their comparison may be interesting for progressists.
Roborock Saros Z70 vs 3i S10 Ultra
– $ 2,000 vs $ 1,200;
– OmniGrip mechanical arm vs WaterRecycle system;
– Power Suction – 22000Pa vs 13000Pa;
– height – 7.98cm / 3.14 inch vs 11.2cm / 4,41 inch;
– Multi-functional Dock 4.0 vs WaterRecycle Station;
– FlexiArm side & FreeFlow main brush with anti-tangle vs dual anti-tangle design main brush & retractable UltraReach roller mop.
– battery – both provide 180 minutes battery life, square feet per charge – 1115 ft² vs 1784 ft², battery efficiency – 1,5 vs 2,04 mins per %;
– navigation efficiency (coverage speed and thoroughness) – 0.7 m² vs 1.8 m² per min (3i’s operation speed is reduced in mopping mode);
– StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 vs Advanced AI algorithms, LiDAR, ToF and Dual 3D Structured Light.
The Roborock’s StarSight Autonomous system is a 3D mapping and obstacle avoidance system. It uses dual-transmitter LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) and 3D Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors to recognize low-profile obstacles.
Components:
– AI-Based Object Recognition (over 100 different types of objects);
– Vertical Light Beam (Lateral Obstacle Avoidance);
– Rear Sensor (additional surroundings data).
3i S10 Ultra navigation uses ApexVision dToF LiDAR, Dual 3D Structured Light, AI algorithms (creating accurate 3D maps) and DirtScan Cleaning mode.
Components:
– AI Obstacle Recognition / ApexVision (over 100 different types of objects);
– Dual 3D Structured Light (low-profile obstacles recognition);
– AI-Powered DirtScan (cleaning optimization).
But despite identical components (ToF sensors + cameras + dual 3D structured light / vertical light beam), testing demonstrates a significant advantage of the Roborock Z70. Its Obstacle Avoidance score according to the methodology of the authoritative resource Vacuum Wars is 22 vs 16. This may be due to more efficient algorithms of the StarSight Autonomous system.
Water Recycling system & OmniGrip
The innovative water recycling system uses two main components, including clean water replenishing system and Waste Recycle circuit.
In fact, the first system is a built-in dehumidifier. It extracts moisture from the air and directs it into the water tank. The second component distills dirty water, directing residual solid matter into the dust bag.
In testing, the replenishing system filled the container almost completely overnight in medium humidity conditions. The time and duration of this function are adjusted via the app depending on the average air humidity. When it decreases to ~ 30%, the efficiency drops significantly.
In essence, the system frees the user from filling a container with clean water and emptying a container with dirty water manually. Some flagships offer this option by connecting to the water supply and sewerage system. But, firstly, this is troublesome, and secondly, it radically limits the choice of dock-station location.
OmniGrip
Depending on the app settings, detected items are placed in a programmed area, which can be used with or without Roborock’s included container.
Saros Z70 can identify clumps, fabrics, and shoes (only ‘slides’) under 300 g. But in the future the company promises to expand this list.
To be fair, during testing the robot sometimes missed some objects. However, this is normal for the first version.
Roborock also offers a less extravagant but perhaps more useful front lifting mechanism called AdaptiLift Chasis to clear high thresholds. It provides up to 40 mm if the threshold is tiered or around 30 mm if it’s not.
Conclusions
Roborock Saros Z70 is more powerful (22000 Pa vs 13000 Pa), lower (7.98cm vs 11.2cm), better at overcoming obstacles and thresholds. The first bonus provides better carpet cleaning. Of course, it’s unlikely to perfectly clean a long-pile carpet, but for other surfaces its suction power is even excessive. Low height is important for cleaning under low-profile furniture. As known, cleaning hard-to-reach places is one of the main advantages of robot vacuums.
3i S10 Ultra is cheaper ($ 1,200 vs $ 2,000), has a retractable, better battery efficiency (1.5 vs 2.04 mins per %) and navigation efficiency (1.8 m² vs 0.7 m² per min). In principle, the price difference is quite adequate for the Roborock Saros Z70 bonuses. In general, it’s better for rooms with carpets, but the 3i S10 Ultra is ideal for mopping with the WaterRecycle system and retractable roller mop.
Compared to other competitors, the 3i S10 Ultra looks great. At $ 1,200, which is currently average for the premium segment, the model offers a useful innovative feature that significantly improves its price-quality ratio. Indeed, the automated filling of the water container with condensation without connecting to the water supply, and cleaning a dirty water clearly increases the overall automation level. OmniGrip has excellent potential, and it will probably one day be able to retrieve a can of beer from the fridge and bring it to its owner. However, for now, its use cases are very limited. Therefore, despite the superb specs, the Roborock Saros Z70 must justify a fairly high price.
This video introduces the world’s first 3i S10 Ultra robot vacuum with WaterRecycle technology.