Robot vacuum and mop: the criteria to check before buying

A robot that only mops, or one that vacuums too

Some robots only mop. According to its 2016 press release, iRobot launched the Braava jet that year, a mopping-only robot with no suction, from $199 in the United States and Canada. You then need a second device for dust.

At the other end, combined models do both jobs. The Verge presents the Roomba Max 875 Combo as iRobot’s latest high-end robot vacuum and mop, at $1,199. These two prices come from different periods (2016 for the Braava jet) and say nothing about mopping quality.

The dock: what it automates

On a combined model, the dock determines how much upkeep is left to you. For the Roborock Saros 20, Roborock describes a dock that washes the mop pads with hot water up to 212 °F (100 °C), dries them with hot air at 131 °F (about 55 °C), dispenses detergent, empties the dust bin, refills the water automatically and cleans itself. These are the manufacturer’s claims.

The useful criterion is the list of tasks handed off: washing the mop pads, drying, detergent dosing, emptying, refilling, cleaning the dock itself. Compare that list from one model to the next.

Carpet and rugs

According to Roborock, the Saros 20 detaches its mop pads on carpet and lifts its chassis so as not to wet it. It also adjusts its height for rugs with a pile of up to 1.18 inches (about 3 cm). In mop mode, again according to the manufacturer, the brush is raised and the mop pads are lowered so that dust is not put back down.

If your home mixes hard floors and textiles, ask each manufacturer: what happens to the mop pad on a rug, and up to what pile height? The Verge describes the Roomba Duo as a robot that vacuums and washes carpet, navigating with a mix of LiDAR and cameras. Our sources do not detail its method.

Manufacturer figures that cannot be compared

For the Saros 20, Roborock quotes a suction force of 36,000 Pa and a mop pressure of up to 13 N. The brand also says a system detects very dirty areas, then re-mops and goes over them again automatically. Vuntum has not measured any of these figures.

They are Roborock’s own figures and cannot be compared directly between brands. A higher value on a spec sheet does not, on its own, tell you how a robot cleans a real room.

Navigation: LiDAR, camera, or both

Our listings show a LiDAR for the Roborock Saros 20 Flow, the Roborock Qrevo 2 Pro, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete and the Ecovacs DEEBOT X2 OMNI, whose commercial status is "discontinued". Our listing for the Roomba Duo, mentioned above, also shows a LiDAR.

Other listings mention a camera, alone or in addition: Dreame X50 Ultra, Dreame X60 Pro Ultra Complete and Narwal Flow, whose obstacle avoidance is processed on a local chip. We have no test comparing the two approaches, so we do not pick a side.

Clearance under furniture, and price

Roborock presents the Saros 20 Flow as one of the slimmest roller mop vacuums with a full LiDAR, at 3.54 inches (9 cm) tall. According to the brand, its retractable LiDAR lets it pass under low furniture. Measure the clearance under your furniture and compare it with the stated height.

The prices below come from sources consulted on 9 October 2026 and are not benchmarks. Our listing gives the Saros 20 Flow a price of $1,699.99 in the United States. Futura Sciences spotted the Qrevo 2 Pro from €499.99 at Amazon.fr, instead of €699.99 (29% off), on 2 October 2026, ahead of Prime Day: a one-off promotional price, not a list price.

What we do not know, and what to check

We consult no independent measurement of mopping quality, mop pad lifespan or noise. On these three points, nothing in this guide allows models to be told apart.

Prices and availability vary by country and by week: check them with a retailer in your country. With the manufacturer, check the tasks the dock automates, the behaviour on your rugs and their pile height, the robot’s height against your furniture, and the commercial status of the model you have in mind.