I just watched Roborock’s newest robot vacuum walk up stairs, and honestly, CES 2026 may have peaked early

Last year at CES, Roborock grabbed attention with a robot vacuum that had a retractable arm capable of picking up small objects. This year, the company somehow topped that by giving its latest vacuum legs. The new Roborock Saros Rover comes equipped with two wheel-based legs that let it climb stairs, roll over uneven thresholds, and generally move through a home like no robot vacuum before it.

To pull off these surprisingly complex moves, the Saros Rover relies on a mix of AI, motion sensors, and 3D spatial mapping. Each leg can move independently, allowing the vacuum to keep itself level while navigating obstacles. That precision shows up in how smoothly it handles sudden stops, turns, and directional changes.

During a pre-CES demo, I watched the Saros Rover climb an actual staircase, cleaning each step as it went. Roborock says it can handle all kinds of stairs, including curved and carpeted ones, which is something most robot vacuums wouldn’t even attempt.

Stairs weren’t the only trick on display. The Saros Rover also navigated a steep slope, carefully controlling its speed on the way up and down, and even spinning mid-slope without tipping over. While the engineering here is undeniably impressive, the real-world usefulness is a bit questionable—most homes don’t exactly have indoor hills that need vacuuming.

Then came the most unexpected feature of all: the Saros Rover can jump. According to Roborock, this helps when descending steps, crossing uneven thresholds, and improving overall stability. Is it essential for a floor-cleaning appliance? Probably not. But seeing a robot vacuum briefly leave the ground is equal parts unnecessary and amazing.

More from Roborock at CES 2026

The stair-climbing vacuum wasn’t Roborock’s only announcement this year. The company also revealed updates to its Saros lineup, including the Saros 20, which adds a spinning mop, and the Saros 20 Sonic, which uses sonic vibrations for deeper cleaning. Both models promise better navigation, more power, and upgraded docks.

Another standout was the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow, an update to one of our favorite robot mops. It keeps the stylish curved dock that blends well with modern interiors, while adding stronger suction and smarter AI performance.

Personally, though, I’m most intrigued by Roborock’s move into lawn care. The brand announced three upcoming robotic lawn mowers: the RockMow X1 LiDAR, RockMow X1, and the entry-level RockNeo Q1. The higher-end models feature four-wheel drive and dynamic suspension, and all three use AI and safety systems to avoid obstacles like garden tools—or curious animals wandering through your yard.

Roborock products you can buy now

There’s no release date yet for the Saros Rover, and most of the newly announced products are expected to launch later this year. That said, Roborock already has plenty of impressive robot vacuums and mops available now, including several top-tested models that prove the brand isn’t just experimenting—it’s leading the charge.