After testing several robot vacuums over the past 12 months, this is the model I

I’ve been testing vacuum cleaners of all kinds for almost a decade, including robot vacuums from different brands. And while I love the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller that I’m currently using, there’s another one that I’d definitely be willing to spend top dollar on.

This is the Roborock Saros 10R, which received a 26% discount in Amazon’s Big Smile sale and is down to AU$1,687 from a much higher price of AU$2,299. I know that’s still a very high price to pay for a robot vacuum these days, but hear me when I say that it’s great for many potential users.

The first reason I would go for the Saros 10R is of course its reduced price. Considering its specs and features, this is a very premium robot vacuum that’s competitively priced at the full RRP, but that 26% price drop makes it excellent value for money considering those same specs and features.

And that brings me to the other reasons why I would spend my own money on the Saros 10R.

I have mixed flooring in my house: medium pile carpet in the bedroom and tile everywhere else. And while the 22,000 Pa suction of the Roborock Saros 10 would be better for the carpet, I think the 20,000 Pa of the Saros 10R would be sufficient because the bedroom carpet has now been trampled to almost level, so there is less hair tangling in the fibers.

While I much prefer roller mops these days, I would definitely want two spinning mop pads (like in the Saros 10R) over the one in the Saros 10. Call it bias, but I just feel like it would be a more efficient clean.

Like my Dreame Aqua10 Ultra, the side brush also automatically lifts, a feature I love because it can reduce scatter and minimize hair tangling. Even the wheels are designed to prevent hair from getting caught around the axles.

But more importantly, the lack of a navigation puck (or turret) is very attractive. I’ve had older robot vacuums where, after a few years, the moving washer was damaged and stopped working. The Dreame I’m currently using has a LiDAR puck that moves up and down and I still expect it to get stuck one day – something I wouldn’t have to worry about with the Saros 10R.

Our reviewer found that the Saros 10R Dock wasn’t as good at handling pet hair and dander as the Saros 10, which isn’t a concern for me since I don’t have a four-legged friend at home.

So, if you are in a similar situation to me, going for the Saros 10R would be a good thing when determining which robot vacuum to choose, provided you have the budget available. That said, the Saros 10 costs the same, so you won’t lose anything either way.

Note that Roborock is selling a refurbished Saros 10R for AU$1,099 on its website, which might well be worth considering to save a little more money.

Other robot vacuum offers on Amazon

If you are on a tight budget, you may want to consider other Robovacs. Many high-end models have had deep discounts of up to 70%, and I’ve listed a few below.

• Ecovacs Deebot T30S Pro: was AU$1,999 now AU$599
• Roborock Qrevo L: was AU$1,699 now AU$649
• Ecovacs Deebot T50 Pro Omni: was AU$1,499 now AU$748
• Dreame X40 Ultra: was AU$2,799 now AU$1,199
• Ecovacs Deebot X8 Pro Omni: was AU$2,499 now AU$1,378

Although she’s happiest with a camera in hand, Sharmishta’s main priority is being TechRadar’s APAC editor, looking after the day-to-day running of the site’s Australian, New Zealand and Singapore editions, handling everything from news and reviews to e-commerce content like deals and discount codes. Although she enjoys reviewing cameras and lenses when she can, she is also an avid reader and has become an expert on E Ink e-readers and writing tablets, having appeared on Singapore radio to talk about these underrated devices. In addition to her role at TechRadar, she is also the editor-in-chief of the Australian edition of Digital Camera World and writes for Tom’s Guide and T3.