A lot of fun has rightfully been poked at tech companies rushing to either add AI features to their products without adding any actual value to the owner experience, or to relabel existing features as AI. Robocleaners have been cited as one of many examples.
But the new Roborock Saros 20 demonstrates that, applied thoughtfully, AI can make a genuinely meaningful difference to the its owners. The new machine sits at the top of the company’s lineup at CES 2026, and pet owners especially will want to check it out.
True intelligence
The most basic use of AI in a robot cleaner is to identify objects in order to avoid things like getting tangled up in cables, and to assess the results of its cleaning to judge when additional passes were needed on more stubborn dirt.
But Roborock had a much more ambitious goal with the AI system included in the Saros 20. The company said it wanted the device to be able to make intelligent judgments about not only these things but also more strategic decisions about when it should clean and when it should remain in its dock.
Roborock said its goal was to make Saros 20 a trusted household assistant rather than just a somewhat smarter robot cleaner. The device aims to make accurate assessments in order to make the right decisions in constantly changing home environments.
Its SmartPlan 3.0 feature automatically recognizes room types, learns your cleaning habits, and selects the optimal cleaning strategy for you – boosting suction when needed, rewashing the mop as required, and lowering power to reduce noise during periods when it knows you don’t want to be disturbed.
There’s a built-in voice assistant for Hello Rocky commands, and the cleaner offers support for the Matter standard in order to integrate with Alexa, Siri, and Google Home.
Finally, none of this intelligence infringes on your privacy. The Saros 20 has been certified for privacy and data protection.
Pet-friendly intelligence
If you have pets in your home, the Saros 20 will automatically recognize them in order to adjust its path to avoid startling your furry friends. It will map their locations on the map in the app so you know where they are, and even take cute photos of them as it cleans!
If a pet or person has blocked the cleaner’s access to an area of your home, it will automatically log and return to those areas once they are free. In this way, no part of your home goes uncleaned.
You can even use the Saros 20 to locate and video call your pets when you’re away from home!
StarSight advanced navigation
The StarSight Autonomous System 2.0 uses the most advanced solid-state LiDAR on the market to create the most detailed 3D images of your home in order to seamlessly navigate around and under furniture.
It’s equipped with an unrivaled 21,600 sensor points and a sampling frequency 21 times higher than the standard tech.
This enables it to combine the most precise localization, comprehensive mapping and reliable object recognition. It can cope with everything from loose cables to irregular walls and furniture.
Lifting chassis and zero-tangle systems
The Saros 20 hardware is as advanced as the software.
The AdaptiLift Chassis 3.0 allows for the device to move freely between different surface types, like wooden flooring and carpets, and can even climb some steps to pass between rooms. The latest version can climb a combination of 4.5cm and 4.3cm high thresholds.
The Dual Anti-Tangle System guarantees zero tangles. This includes an omnidirectional wheel with its own brush to clean it as it operates. Both the main brush and flexible side brush are equipped with zero-tangle systems to make them suitable for homes with long-haired pets.
With unrivalled cleaning power
Of course, none of this impressive technology would be any good without the best cleaning performance.
The Saros 20 is equipped with an incredibly powerful 36,000Pa motor with 200rpm dual spinning mops. These have the ability to increase downward pressure when tough stains are detected. This is achieved by lifting its omni wheels to press the mops harder into the flooring, allowing the cleaner to apply 13N of downward pressure compared to 8N as standard.
The Flexiarm side brush and side mop reach into hard to clean crevices and wall edges, offering 100% edge and corner coverage.
Save $210 for a limited time
The Saros 20 sells for $1,599.99 but is currently available to 9to5Mac readers for a deal price of $1,389.99 – a saving of $210. Claim your discount from Roborock’s official website or Amazon.
Additionally, the Saros 20X is available at Best Buy and Target. This deluxe bundle includes the standard Saros 20, along with an extra pair of mop cloths and a 200ml cleaning solution. The promotion runs from March 23 through March 29, dropping the price from its $1,599.99 MSRP to $1,399.99. That’s a $200 discount, with the added value of the included accessories.
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