The robot vacuum category has spent the better part of a decade converging on a familiar formula: a disc-shaped device that navigates your floor plan, sucks up dust and debris, and, in the premium tier, mops hard surfaces before returning to a self-cleaning dock. The Roborock Saros Z70, released in 2025, attempts to break that mold by adding something no mainstream competitor has shipped before: a stowable mechanical arm.
Before you get excited about the prospect of never bending over to pick up a sock again, it is worth understanding exactly what this arm — called OmniGrip — is designed to do, and just as importantly, what it is not designed to do. The arm is a small claw that unfurls from the robot’s body. Its intended job is to grab small items that would otherwise obstruct the vacuum’s cleaning path or cause it to get stuck. Think socks, tissues, and slippers. In theory, this means the robot can clear the floor of small obstructions on its own, then proceed to clean the now-unobstructed area more thoroughly. In practice, as multiple reviewers have found, the reality is more nuanced.
The first thing to look for — and the first thing you will encounter when you set up the device — is the activation step. The OmniGrip does not work out of the box. You have to explicitly enable it in the Roborock app. Until you acknowledge its presence and switch it on, the arm will remain dormant. This is not a minor detail; it is a deliberate design choice that affects how you will experience the product from day one. If you skip this step, you might assume the feature is broken or missing entirely.
The second thing to look for is the list of items the arm is authorized to handle at launch. According to the manufacturer, the OmniGrip is currently limited to three categories: tissues, sandals or slippers, and socks. And even within those categories, only certain types are recognized. This is a significant constraint. It means the arm is not a general-purpose picker-upper. It will not grab snack wrappers, charger cables, or the miscellaneous debris that accumulates in a busy household. At least, not yet. Roborock has stated that more item types will be recognized in future updates, but as of the initial release, the scope is narrow.
This raises a practical question: what is the point of a robotic arm that can only handle three types of items, and only some of those? The manufacturer’s stated optimism is that this will help tidy up socks left near closets and tissues that missed the trash can. Those are plausible use cases, but they are also fairly specific. If your household does not generate a steady supply of floor-level socks, slippers, and tissues, you may find the arm’s utility limited.
The third thing to look for is how the arm actually performs. Independent testing has been mixed, and it is worth being clear-eyed about this before you commit to a purchase. In one review, the arm was given several chances to pick up a normal mess left by a dog and a young child. It managed to grab only about a quarter of the items. That is a low success rate by any measure. The reviewer noted that they had to manufacture test scenarios because the items the arm can handle are so limited. Without artificially dropping balls of tissues on the floor, the arm would rarely have an opportunity to demonstrate its capability.
That said, the Saros Z70 is not just a robot with an arm. It is also a fully featured vacuum-mop combo with several other notable characteristics. The robot has no lidar bump on top, which allows it to squeeze under toe kicks and other low-clearance fixtures. This is a meaningful design improvement for coverage. It is also loaded with extra sensors that help it avoid running into obstacles. One reviewer, who has tested many robots, noted that this was the first bot they had tested that did not get stuck on anything — at least during their testing period. That is a notable achievement, and it suggests that the base cleaning platform is strong even if the arm’s reliability is questionable.
So what should you look for if you are considering the Saros Z70? First, look for the activation step in the app and make sure you complete it. Second, look at the list of supported item types and ask yourself whether those match the messes in your home. Third, look at the arm’s success rate in real-world testing and set your expectations accordingly. Fourth, look at the robot’s other features — the low-profile design, the obstacle avoidance, the vacuum-mop combo — and weigh those against the arm’s limitations. The arm is a headline feature, but it is not the only feature.
Practical steps
If you decide to move forward with the Saros Z70, there are several practical steps you should take to get the most out of the device — and to avoid disappointment.
Step one: enable the OmniGrip in the app. This is non-negotiable. The arm will not function by default. You must open the Roborock app, find the OmniGrip settings, and turn it on. The app will likely ask you to acknowledge the feature’s presence and confirm that you understand what it does. Take the time to read the on-screen instructions. This is not just a formality; it is the first step in making the arm operational.
Step two: understand the item limitations. The arm is authorized to pick up tissues, sandals or slippers, and socks — but only certain types of each. This means you should not expect it to handle every sock in your house. Some socks may be too thick, too thin, too dark, or too crumpled for the arm to recognize. The same goes for tissues and slippers. Before you rely on the arm, test it with the specific items you want it to pick up. Drop a few items on the floor and see how the robot responds. This will give you a realistic sense of its capabilities.
Step three: use the manual control feature. The app allows you to manually control the robot to pick up small tissues, socks, and slippers. This is a useful fallback when the robot’s autonomous mode fails to recognize an item or fails to grab it on the first attempt. If you see something on the floor that you want the robot to pick up, you can guide it to the item and trigger the arm manually. This is not as convenient as fully autonomous operation, but it gives you more control over the outcome.
Step four: manage your expectations about the arm’s success rate. In testing, the arm has grabbed only about a quarter of the items it was given. That means you should not expect the arm to clear your floor of all small items in a single pass. You may need to run multiple cleaning cycles, or you may need to pick up some items yourself. The arm is best viewed as a supplementary feature that can occasionally help, not as a replacement for your own tidying habits.
Step five: take advantage of the robot’s other features. The Saros Z70 is not just an arm on wheels. It is a vacuum-mop combo with a low-profile design that lets it fit under toe kicks and other low-clearance furniture. It also has extra sensors that help it avoid obstacles. In testing, it has not gotten stuck on anything — a notable achievement. Use these features to your advantage. Let the robot clean the areas it can reach, and use the arm as an occasional helper rather than the primary reason for the purchase.
Step six: keep the robot’s limitations in mind when setting up your home. The arm can only handle a narrow range of items. If you have a lot of clutter on the floor — cables, toys, papers, food wrappers — the robot will not be able to clear it all. You will still need to do some pre-cleaning before the robot runs. This is true of most robot vacuums, but it is especially true of the Saros Z70 given the arm’s limited item recognition.
Step seven: stay informed about future updates. Roborock has said that more items beyond socks and shoes will be recognizable in the future. This suggests that the arm’s capabilities may expand over time through software updates. If you are an early adopter, you may see improvements in the arm’s item recognition and success rate. Keep an eye on the app for updates and new features.
Common mistakes to avoid
The Saros Z70 is a complex device, and there are several common mistakes that owners and prospective buyers should avoid.
Mistake one: assuming the arm works out of the box. As noted, the OmniGrip must be explicitly activated in the app. If you skip this step, the arm will not function. You might think the feature is broken or that you received a defective unit. In reality, you simply need to enable it. Always check the app settings first.
Mistake two: expecting the arm to pick up everything. The arm is limited to tissues, sandals or slippers, and socks — and only certain types of each. It will not pick up snack wrappers, charger cables, or other common floor debris. If you expect the arm to be a general-purpose picker-upper, you will be disappointed. Set your expectations based on the manufacturer’s stated limitations.
Mistake three: relying on the arm for complete tidiness. Testing has shown that the arm grabs only about a quarter of the items it is given. This is a low success rate. If you rely on the arm to clear your floor of all small items, you will likely find that many items are left behind. The arm is best used as a supplementary feature, not a primary cleaning method.
Mistake four: ignoring the manual control option. The app allows you to manually control the robot to pick up specific items. This is a useful feature when the autonomous mode fails. Many users may not realize this option exists, or they may not use it because they expect the robot to handle everything on its own. Take the time to learn the manual control feature and use it when needed.
Mistake five: overlooking the robot’s other strengths. The Saros Z70 has several notable features beyond the arm. Its low-profile design allows it to fit under toe kicks and other low-clearance fixtures. Its extra sensors help it avoid obstacles. In testing, it has not gotten stuck on anything. These features make it a strong cleaning platform even if the arm underperforms. Do not let the arm’s limitations overshadow the robot’s other capabilities.
Mistake six: assuming the arm will improve immediately. Roborock has said that more items will be recognizable in the future, but this is a promise, not a guarantee. The timeline for these updates is not disclosed in the available information. Do not buy the Saros Z70 based solely on the promise of future capabilities. Buy it for what it can do today, and treat future updates as a bonus.
Mistake seven: failing to test the arm with your own items. The arm’s item recognition is limited, and not all socks, tissues, or slippers will be recognized. Before you rely on the arm, test it with the specific items in your home. Drop a few items on the floor and see how the robot responds. This will give you a realistic sense of its capabilities and help you avoid disappointment later.
Mistake eight: expecting the arm to be fast. The arm is a mechanical device that must extend, grab, and retract. This takes time. The robot’s cleaning cycle will be longer when the arm is in use. If you are used to a robot vacuum that quickly sweeps through a room, the Saros Z70 may feel slower when the arm is active. This is a trade-off you should be aware of.
Mistake nine: ignoring the cost. The Saros Z70 is a premium device, and the price reflects that. The arm is an innovative feature, but it is not yet a reliable one. Before you spend the money, ask yourself whether the arm’s current limitations are worth the premium. If you are primarily interested in a vacuum-mop combo with strong obstacle avoidance and a low-profile design, the Saros Z70 may be worth it. If you are buying it solely for the arm, you may want to wait for future generations that are likely to improve on the concept.
Mistake ten: forgetting that this is a first-generation feature. The mechanical arm is a fresh idea, and as with many fresh ideas, it will probably take a few generations to truly nail down the practicality and speed. The Saros Z70 is an early attempt at a concept that could become more refined over time. If you are an early adopter, you are essentially paying to test a new technology. That is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is worth being aware of.
Sources
https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/home/roborock-saros-z70-preview-2025-4
Published by Vigla Media OÜ (Estonia).