Roborock Saros 10 vs. 10R: I narrowly topped a winner after head-to-head testing at dwelling

One Roborock Saros robotic vacuum, the Saros Z70 that has a mechanical arm, has gone barely viral on the web. But it surely’s not even the Saros mannequin that most individuals must be contemplating.

The actual Roborock showdown of 2025 is definitely between the Roborock Saros 10 and Saros 10R — the 2 extra sensible CES 2025 releases which have robotic vacuum threads on Reddit in a chokehold.

After testing each of them in my house for 3 months, I will say this: Roborock made two of the greatest robotic vacuums of the yr right here, however completely fumbled naming them. The addition of a single letter to an in any other case equivalent title virtually insinuates that one is the weight loss plan model of the opposite, and that is removed from the case. If you happen to’re confused concerning the distinction between them, that is legitimate. They’ve the very same $1,599.99 value, in any case.

After testing each in my house on a near-daily foundation for 3 months, listed below are my ideas on the Roborock Saros 10 vs. Saros 10R debate.

Saros 10 vs. 10R: Design

Roborock was impressively in a position to squeeze an entire lot of brains into these super-slim robotic vacuums. Each the Saros 10 and Saros 10R are barely greater than three inches tall, and might match beneath low-hanging home equipment just like the fridge and extra low-clearance furnishings than thicker robotic vacuums I’ve examined.

Beneath, although, the Saros 10 and 10R have one big distinction: the mopping pad scenario. And this ended up being my deciding issue between the 2.

Winner: Saros 10R

Saros 10 vs. 10R: Vacuuming expertise

The Roborock Saros 10 and 10R are two of probably the most highly effective robotic vacuums in 2025. The Saros 10R hits 20,000 Pa, whereas the Saros 10 cranks it as much as 22,000 Pa. To be actual, each of these figures are depraved — only some different robotic vacuums available on the market match 20,000 Pa. So that you’re getting a reasonably top-notch clear with both mannequin.

I personally do not suppose the Saros 10’s further 2,000 Pa of suction energy makes that a lot of a distinction. It did provide barely higher pet hair pick-up on just a few rugs, as confirmed by a self-emptying Shark stick vacuum that begins each cleansing session with an empty mud bin. As soon as a robotic vacuum has completed cleansing a rug, I run the super-strong Shark over it to see how a lot cat hair the vacuum missed. The Saros 10 fared barely higher on this check than the Saros 10R did.

Different particles on rugs, like crumbs in the lounge or spilled rice on the kitchen runner, was hardly ever left behind by both vacuum.

The Saros 10 and 10R share the identical divided brush roll system, and it is a completely stellar design for stopping tangling. As an alternative of 1 lengthy brush roll throughout the underside of the vacuum, a gap in the midst of two smaller brush rolls offers pet hair and lengthy human hairs someplace to go earlier than they’ll get tangled across the brush. I have not ever needed to take scissors to a nest of hair constructed up beneath both vacuum.

On onerous flooring, each the Saros 10 and 10R decide up between 90 and 95 % of the particles, together with the mess in entrance of two litter bins, unfastened kibble by the meals bowls, crumbs from totally different snacks, dust, and mud bunnies. Roborock’s FlexiArm can also be current on each Saros fashions, which extends out from beneath every vacuum to push hidden edge particles into the cleansing path extra deliberately than a conventional stationary aspect brush.

However the Saros 10R’s edge precision constantly boosts its total particles pickup fee on onerous flooring. In an unfair approach, the Saros 10R’s mopping pad design makes it a greater vacuumer. Its hinged spinning aspect mop slides out to lap up mud and tremendous particles (like salt pushed off the counter) that the Saros 10’s pure drive alone cannot suck up, particularly towards a wall.

On a number of events, I despatched the Saros 10R right into a room that the Saros 10 had simply been in — the Saros 10R reliably scooped up virtually the entire rogue crumbs or items of kitty litter that the Saros 10 left within the edges of the room. You probably have totally carpeted rooms, it will clearly not be as useful.

Winner: On paper? The Saros 10. In my expertise? Saros 10 on pet hair, Saros 10R on dry particles

Saros 10 vs. 10 R: Mopping expertise

The Saros 10R is inarguably higher at mopping than the Saros 10.

The Saros 10’s one massive, pressurized mopping pad simply would not present the identical depth of bodily agitation because the Saros 10R’s twin spinning mopping pads. In my testing, the rotating design was much less more likely to depart streaks of spills like wine or ranch dressing behind — it type of mimics the motion of a hand scrubbing with a sponge moderately than the singular wipe that solely magically works in paper towel commercials.

Although the Saros 10’s vibrating pad is not precisely stationary, the scrubbing diameter continues to be restricted to the circumference of the robotic vacuum. That makes the Saros 10 (frustratingly) miss numerous mud and droplets near wall edges or in corners. The tiny round pad that Roborock added as a complement to the massive pad is comically small — like the scale of 1 / 4 — and borderline nugatory.

In the meantime, the Saros 10R has utterly mastered nook mopping and edge mopping. When a nook or onerous edge is sensed, a kind of spinning mopping pads flexes out on a hinge to clean previous the place the spherical fringe of the vacuum can attain. I am speaking practically two inches of additional protection in comparison with the quarter-sized spinning pad on the Saros 10.

Winner: Saros 10R

Saros 10 vs. 10R: Sensible mapping and navigation

The kind of small impediment avoidance know-how is one other predominant distinction between the Roborock Saros 10 and 10R. The Saros 10 makes use of Roborock’s established Reactive AI know-how, which acknowledges and steers away from objects in actual time. The Saros 10R will get slightly fancier utilizing StarSight 2.0, which makes use of know-how that collects extra knowledge factors from across the room and permits for extra predictive impediment avoidance.

The extent of element the Saros 10 and 10R achieved within the map of my house is wild. They know {that a} shoe is a shoe and a twine is a twine — they may even differentiate between a litter field, a cat tree, and different assorted items of furnishings, and routinely label the whole lot as such within the app.

I do not suppose the Saros 10R’s system is any higher at avoiding obstacles than the Saros 10’s. Socks and hand towels had been secure one hundred pc of the time round these two vacuums, with pet toys like stuffed mice and crinkle balls coming in round 85 %. Skinny white cords, like iPhone or laptop computer chargers, had been eaten most of the time, sadly.

However each are mild years forward of any robotic vacuums that get caught in desk legs or beneath a mattress. The Saros 10 and 10R are tremendous nimble round furnishings and easily know the place they are going, making the probabilities of coming dwelling to a misplaced or caught botvac slim to none.

My larger gripe navigationally stems from the room restrict that the Saros 10R randomly imposes on the house map. Opposite to the whole lot Imply Ladies taught me, the restrict does exist, and it is annoying.

Certain, this may be a non-issue in small areas with only a handful of rooms. However in bigger one-story properties or multi-bedroom and toilet residences like mine, it is so clutch to have the ability to break up up and label rooms in keeping with your most well-liked cleansing schedule — it is type of the entire level of sensible mapping and particular room cleansing.

At any fee, the Saros and the Saros 10R each have an impeccable sense of path. Neither bought misplaced in any respect throughout my testing and at all times made it to the room or zone I chosen within the app.

The Saros 10 and 10R each have a digicam that may livestream the whole lot the robotic vacuum sees within the Roborock app — a characteristic that sounds comically further till you are away from dwelling and questioning what your pets are doing. (No, actually, the Saros robotic vacuums have a “Search for the pet” characteristic.) You can too “call” somebody at dwelling from the Roborock app.

Winner: Saros 10 (narrowly)

Saros 10 vs. 10R: Dock

The Saros 10 and 10R charging docks are, functionally, practically equivalent. Each auto-empty the mud bins, wash and dry the mops, and routinely dispense detergent. Each have a clear water tank for refilling the onboard tank, and a unclean water tank to carry the gross water rinsed out of the soiled mopping pad. In comparison with another eardrum bursters I’ve examined, the auto-emptying noise of each Saros fashions is fairly tolerable.

However aesthetically, I would moderately have the Saros 10 out within the open in my dwelling. I respect that its water tanks are coated by a lid — this makes the Saros 10 dock flat on high in case you wish to beautify it a bit. I do not even care that it’s important to transfer that vase or stack of books for a second when the tanks should be crammed or refilled.

However, the uncovered water tanks of the Saros 10R are simply rounded sufficient for decor to doubtlessly slide off. Although the mirrored exterior of the Saros 10R has a ton of curb enchantment, the seen tank scenario simply loses stylish factors.

Roborock additionally made an odd resolution with shade selection right here. The Saros 10 is accessible in black and white, however the Saros 10R is just accessible in black. That finally did not sway my resolution, however I am unable to say that the dearth of a white Saros 10R possibility would not bitter my decide a bit. Once you hire an house that totally performs into the entire “minimalist all white everything” design, a robotic vacuum in the midst of the room is far much less abrasive when it blends in with the partitions.

Winner: Saros 10

Saros 10 vs. 10R: Price

The Roborock Saros 10 and 10R each value $1,599.99 — unsure if that makes your resolution simpler or tougher. The scales may tip if one will get its first huge low cost earlier than the opposite.

Winner: Tie

Our winner: Roborock Saros 10R

If you happen to’re actually going to make me decide between them, I’d decide the Saros 10R over the Saros 10. On the finish of the day, if I wanted a vacuum to reliably clear up the litter field space or cope with a moist or dry spill close to the kitchen counter, I would ship the Saros 10R each time.

The slight edge that the Saros 10 has in suction energy is not practically as game-changing as the sting that the Saros 10R has in mopping. If you happen to’re a finicky clear freak like I’m, the Saros 10R goes to get your flooring to a extra comforting degree of barefoot-ready, together with the nasty edges and corners that preserve you awake at evening.

You are in good palms both approach — the Saros 10 and Saros 10R are two of the most effective robotic vacuums I’ve ever examined. They’re retaining some respect on the Saros legacy amid the Saros Z70’s flop of a launch. If Roborock properly combines the most effective options of the Saros 10 and 10R subsequent yr, that beast shall be onerous to beat. However as of mid-2025, both is a improbable selection — and a greater worth than the Saros Z70 by an extended shot.