With iOS 18.4, Apple added assist for robotic vacuums to HomeKit, and a number of the firms that make robotic vacuums have began providing merchandise with Matter integration. Matter-compatible robotic vacuums may be added to HomeKit and managed through Siri voice instructions and the Residence app.
Roborock is likely one of the firms that is adopting Matter, and the Roborock Saros 10R now works with HomeKit. The Saros 10R is one in all Roborock’s flagship vacuums and it is comparatively new, so like most of those Matter-enabled vacuum choices, it doesn’t come low cost. It is $1,600, however it does have Roborock’s most superior function set.
Design and Measurement
The Saros 10R is simply over three inches tall, so it is compact sufficient to suit below all of my furnishings. I’ve a TV stand that is about 4 inches {that a} completely different robotic vacuum is not in a position to match beneath, however I have not run into that downside with the Saros 10R.
There are loads of parts in robotic vacuums, so the skinny construct is a feat of engineering, and having a robotic that may get below all of my furnishings is a significant plus. Once I manually vacuum with a Dyson stick, I can not attain all the areas that the Saros 10R can, so my home finally ends up cleaner when the robotic handles the vacuuming and mopping.
Whereas the Saros 10R is skinny, it is nonetheless on the bigger aspect, measuring in at round 13 inches. In case you have a smaller house with loads of furnishings, it may be too giant to successfully clear, however I have been impressed with the slender areas it could actually maneuver by means of. Because it’s spherical, it could actually get itself into and out of some tight suits.
I principally use the app to ship the Saros 10R off to scrub or to renew cleansing after a pause, however there are buttons on the system itself. The facility button turns it on or sends it to scrub if it is already on, and the dock button sends it residence. A protracted press on the dock button prompts a spot cleansing function.
The entire robotic vacuums have base stations, and the Saros 10R base station is pretty giant, however it form of blends into the background, like a vacuum or a mop may. The bottom station is black plastic and it contains a number of parts. There is a mud bag that collects the mud and hair the robotic picks up, a clear water bin for wetting and washing the mop, a piece for ground cleansing answer, a unclean water bin for amassing the water used to scrub the mop, a dryer for drying the mop, and a ramp that helps the robotic rise up onto the bottom to cost.
The dock weighs round 25 kilos, so it is most likely not one thing you are going to need to cart round if in case you have a number of flooring in your house. I am unsure if individuals who have multi-story properties buy a couple of vacuum, however carrying the robotic and base station upstairs can be a exercise. The dock has an LED on it that turns purple if there’s an issue or white when the robotic is charging, and it must be positioned on a tough floor with about two toes round it to verify there’s house for the robotic to dock itself.
The mud bin within the Saros 10R the place mud and particles gather. It empties into the dock
Roborock says to make use of its proprietary cleansing answer as a result of different options can harm the internals of the vacuum. Some firms like Bona make cleansing options particularly for robotic vacuums, and I did not have a problem utilizing that form of cleansing fluid.
There are rubber wheels on the backside of the robotic, and so they come out far sufficient to assist it recover from thresholds and to carry it over carpets. I’ve a threshold that is about an inch in a single spot, and it is in a position to navigate it nice. The mops are in a position to carry up sufficient that it could actually vacuum rugs whereas mopping with out getting the rugs moist.
Navigation
The Saros 10R has what Roborock calls its “StarSight” autonomous system, which is mainly a number of sensors. It has a entrance digital camera and sensor for detecting obstacles, and it has a wall sensor for figuring out the place partitions are positioned.
The primary cleansing with the Saros 10R begins off with a mapping function the place the robotic maps all the rooms that it is ready to entry, after which whereas cleansing, it regularly scans for and identifies pet messes, pets, cords, furnishings that is exhausting to navigate, and different obstacles. You may choose in to have the robotic take an image every time it encounters an impediment, so you’ll be able to see what it is avoiding.
Its sensors do a very good job mapping out a room and even figuring out the furnishings within the room, which helps it decide what a room is. If it sees a eating desk, for instance, it will label that room as a eating room.
It is in a position to establish pet messes in order that it does not drag a large number across the whole home, and it is also wonderful at detecting cables that needs to be averted, so it does not get snarled. It does not run into partitions or furnishings, and the extending mops and the aspect brush let it get into nooks, crannies, corners, and the edges of partitions when cleansing even because it’s avoiding obstacles.
Cleansing Options
Many of the robotic vacuums have the identical common vacuuming options, with variations in suction and the curler bar design. The Saros 10R has what Roborock calls a “DuoDivide” anti-tangle brush, and I have not seen it get tangled. I’ve wooden floors, 4 cats, and two folks with lengthy hair, and there hasn’t been clogging or tangling. Hair and fuzz can get wrapped across the bearings of the rubber wheels on the underside and that is not enjoyable to take away, however it hasn’t stopped the vacuum from functioning.
As for suction, it picks up each speck of mud and cat hair from my flooring, that are wooden. It hasn’t broken my wooden floors, which is at all times a priority with a vacuum, and it does a very good job retaining them virtually spotless. It additionally does properly with my giant rugs, however it could actually battle with smaller rugs that get caught. It is by no means been completely tripped up by a rug in contrast to my different robotic vacuum from a unique model, so it is not an issue that requires my interference. There’s a aspect brush that is in a position to sweep mud from corners, curves, round furnishings, and alongside partitions in order that it may be vacuumed up, and it is efficient.
Of observe, I’ve one giant rug that sheds regularly and the robotic can maintain it clear. My Dyson vacuum has a tough time with this rug as a result of the fluff clogs it up. I’ve one other rug in my laundry room that could be a lint and fur magnet. The usual exhausting ground attachment on my Dyson that I take advantage of 99 p.c of the time cannot clear it, however the Saros 10R sucks up all of the lint that is change into one with the rug with no downside. It is not less than on par with my Dyson (a V15 Detect), and higher for some areas.
I need to level out that I’ve all exhausting flooring with simply rugs and no rooms with carpet, so I have not examined the vacuum on carpet. In case you have carpet, take a look at different opinions too, as a result of I do not need to communicate to its carpet efficiency with simply rugs to check with.
The Saros 10R does not simply vacuum, it additionally mops, and the mopping features are what distinguish robotic vacuums from each other. Roborock is utilizing a set of twin spinning mops for the Saros 10R, every of which is about-palm sized. The 2 mops work in unison, and the robotic can cowl a very good quantity of ground house with no actual gaps, offering a radical clear.
The mud bag that mud from the vacuum empties into. I’ve had the robotic a few months now, however it hasn’t crammed up but.
The mops can clear properly round chair legs and different furnishings, as a result of they will lengthen out from the robotic considerably for a more in-depth clear. Dried on stains like ketchup can take a number of passes, however the whole lot else comes up instantly. The Saros 10R goes again to the bottom station to scrub the mop, and the default time is quarter-hour.
Noise Ranges
The Saros 10R is quiet when mopping, however when it is vacuuming, it appears like a vacuum. You are not going to need to run it when you’re making an attempt to work or watch TV, however noise cancelling headphones just like the AirPods Professional block it out sufficient to run it when you’re residence.
Roborock App
Robotic vacuums appear to have apps with countless settings, and the Roborock app is not any exception. Setup is easy, and the app walks you thru the steps (mainly simply connecting to Wi-Fi), and thru the mapping, cleansing, and upkeep course of.
The built-in sensors within the Saros 10R can map all accessible areas, and also can detect furnishings to find out room kind. There are additionally settings that enable it to detect objects on the bottom and snap pictures, so you’ll be able to see what it is avoiding and the way the AI is working. After a map has been accomplished, the Saros 10R is able to clear. There are a number of cleansing modes that mix vacuuming and mopping, and you may choose completely different suction settings for the vacuum and water settings for the mopping. There are additionally modes for fast, customary, and deep cleansing.
You may comply with alongside on the map to see the place the robotic has cleaned, the sample it used, and areas that it might need skipped because of obstacles. It is tremendous detailed, and the function to indicate photos of what the robotic observed and skipped is helpful. It detects pets (and may keep away from them), cables, furnishings the place it could actually change into trapped, pet messes, material, additional soiled areas, and extra. I’ve not often had a problem with the Saros 10R getting itself caught as a result of the AI to keep away from cables and different obstacles is great.
The Map created by the robotic may be edited, so if it does not do a terrific job separating out rooms, it is potential to manually repair it. I’ve an open ground plan, so I went in and sectioned issues out in order that I might have it clear particular rooms. In case you have a number of flooring, you’ll be able to create a couple of map. You may add areas, take away areas, and block areas for custom-made cleansing.
There’s an possibility within the app to observe the Saros 10R digital camera dwell so you’ll be able to see what it is doing and examine in on pets. I did not have many situations the place there have been points, but when it does catch a wire or one thing, the app sends an alert so it may be addressed.
The app helps establishing a cleansing schedule, so I’ve assigned it to scrub completely different areas on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, which splits up the cleansing so it does not have to be working for hours a day. I even have completely different cleansing situations that group rooms along with variable cleansing parameters that change components like suction energy for rooms with out rugs.
HomeKit Integration
Due to Matter assist, the Roborock Saros 10R may be added to HomeKit and it exhibits up within the Residence app. It may be managed with the Residence app, or with Siri voice instructions.
HomeKit is extra restricted than what’s potential with the Roborock app, however Siri integration has confirmed extra helpful than anticipated. When the kitchen is messy after consuming, I can say “Hey Siri, clear the kitchen,” and the Saros 10R is in a position to do this primarily based on the rooms I setup within the Roborock app.
Within the Residence app, there’s assist for automations that depend on different HomeKit merchandise. If for some motive I need the Saros 10R to hoover once I activate a light-weight, I can set that up. The Residence app may also be used to have the robotic clear at particular occasions, when a sensor detects one thing, or when folks depart the house, which is probably probably the most helpful possibility.
For beginning a random cleansing, the Residence app is much less helpful. It does not embrace all the numerous cleansing modes and settings, however you’ll be able to select to hoover, mop, or vacuum and mop. You may have the robotic clear your entire home or particular rooms.
Upkeep
The Saros 10R is an advanced piece of equipment that does require some upkeep, although it hasn’t been too overwhelming but. Up to now, I’ve needed to empty the soiled water tank, fill the clear water tank, exchange cleansing fluid, clear the sensors, and clear the bottom.
The underside of the Saros 10R after 61 complete hours of operation. I have not cleaned it.
Finally I will want to interchange the filter and the mud bag (which needs to be executed as soon as a month), and swap in new mop heads. There are estimated lifespans for a number of the {hardware} just like the aspect brush, whereas others counsel changing on an as-needed foundation. The mop and bristles of the assorted brushes can put on out over time, with replacements out there from Roborock.
Battery and Cleansing Time
The Saros 10R cannot clear my whole home on a single cost, and it sometimes must cost not less than as soon as if I am not splitting up the cleansing by room. Cleansing time can range primarily based on settings, corresponding to suction energy and whether or not it is set to “deep” clear with a number of passes, however listed below are a few situations.
Cleansing 1
Began at 12:30, full cleansing. 150 sq. meters complete.
Ran out of battery at 14:47 and needed to cost.
Resumed cleansing at 16:59.
Completed at 20:07. Whole cleansing time: 244 minutes, 1 cost.
Cleansing 2
Began at 10:31. Deep clear, 199 sq. meters.
Ran out of battery at 13:21, and needed to recharge.
Resumed at 15:32, completed at 17:49. Whole cleansing time: 291 minutes.
Cleansing 3
Began at 18:23, three foremost rooms, 81 sq. meters. Commonplace clear.
Completed at 21:49. Whole cleansing time: 133 minutes.
Cleansing 4
Began at 10:00 on schedule. Full clear, 101 sq. meters.
Completed at 14:38. Whole cleansing time: 164 minutes.
The Saros 10R is just not fast except I’ve it within the fast mode that leaves more room between passes. It takes a big period of time for a clear, and it could actually and can run virtually all day if I set it to scrub your entire home and it must cost. Cleansing in sections means it does not have to cost as usually.
It takes round 2.5 hours for it to cost up, however it’ll at all times resume when it runs out of battery.
Backside Line
The Saros 10R is one in all Roborock’s latest cleansing bots, and of the few that I’ve tried, it is probably the most spectacular. My ground seems and feels a lot cleaner, and it takes virtually no interplay from me. There have been a number of situations the place the robotic will get itself tangled in cords and loses a mop, however the impediment avoidance is nice sufficient that it avoids loads of cable points, stays away from any pet messes, and is aware of to not get itself trapped in furnishings that is exhausting to navigate. It does not battle with my rugs, or the thresholds between rooms.
It is probably the most hands-off cleansing expertise that I’ve had, and that has worth. I haven’t got to spend over an hour per week vacuuming and extra once I mop, I haven’t got to fuss with the robotic, and the ground is clear all through the week. I do want the battery lasted longer as a result of it could actually’t get by means of the home on a single cost when it is vacuuming and mopping, however that is manageable by splitting up the areas cleaned every day.
At this value, a robotic vacuum must be basically good, and in a position to maintain as much as longterm day by day use. I examined the Saros 10R by utilizing it day by day for a little bit over two months, as a result of I wished to provide it extra time than I’d the common evaluate. It is so far held up and continues to work properly, however I will maintain utilizing it to provide updates on its longevity.
It undoubtedly cleans tremendous properly, navigates virtually completely, and is straightforward to make use of, however I anticipate one thing priced this excessive to work for a very long time, and that is not a metric I can decide simply but.
Find out how to Purchase
The Saros 10R may be bought from the Roborock web site or from Amazon for $1,600.
Observe: Roborock offered MacRumors with a Saros 10R for the aim of this evaluate. No different compensation was acquired.
