I recently tested the $2,599 Roborock robot vacuum equipped with a robotic arm, which proved to be just as gimmicky as it sounds. As the self-appointed Carrie Bradshaw of robot vacuum reporting, I pondered: Are we running out of ideas to enhance the best robot vacuums?

I don’t believe robot vacuum manufacturers have exhausted their creativity for innovation. However, they ought to prioritize practicality for the typical household instead of promoting high-tech fantasies.

Certain household devices are designed to be entertaining. Robot vacuums are not among them.

When evaluating a robot vacuum — an appliance intended to simplify home life — I constantly reflect on how many homes genuinely require a feature in relation to the vacuum’s price. A robotic arm that retrieves socks makes for an enjoyable Instagram clip, but it wasn’t practical in reality.

The Saros Z70’s “virtual claw machine” idea is more complicated than it’s worth.

I don’t assess every household appliance solely through a utilitarian perspective.

For instance, kitchen gadgets can be amusing and excessive. Does anyone really need a countertop soft serve ice cream machine or a frozen drink maker? Probably not, but the Ninja Swirl and Ninja Slushi gained popularity because cooking and dining foster connections, justifying expenditure on innovative ways to facilitate that.

Robot vacuums don’t provide a significant experience like that. Cleaning is a task people typically want to conclude swiftly to engage in other pursuits, such as making desserts with family. If a robot vacuum is packed with numerous fancy features that hinder it from merely alleviating the chore from the to-do list, we have deviated from the essence of automated cleaning.

Where can robot vacuum features evolve from here?

Attributes like self-emptying dust bins and docks that automatically clean and dry mopping pads were revolutionary for the robotic vacuum market. However, they are no longer novel — that degree of automated upkeep is now an expectation. Brands can introduce minor enhancements, such as the “self-emptying” Roomba that compacts dust internally to conserve space. Yet, it feels as though we’ve reached a limit in the self-cleaning arena for the time being.

Robot vacuum brands will continually strive to enhance suction efficiency or mopping effectiveness. Beyond that, the aim is to discover new methods for a robot vacuum to address cleaning challenges without overextending. The ideal new features would come across as accessible and practical to the average individual — not so far-fetched that they sound ridiculous.

To be fair, Roborock was heading in the right direction with the arm — its intent was to expedite tidying up a messy floor. The issue lay in its limited capability to pick up objects, and even then, it wasn’t dependable. Although I’ve appreciated other Roborock vacuums without robotic arms, their obstacle navigation isn’t flawless yet. Shouldn’t we prioritize that first?

Convertible robot vacuums seem to be the logical next step.

There are successful instances of robot vacuums addressing multiple needs in a single purchase.

Eufy is thriving in this domain. Some of its 2025 models merge several floor cleaning functions into one device: The Eufy E28 features a portable carpet cleaner for stains that a vacuum can’t handle, and the Eufy E20 can transform into a full-sized cordless stick vacuum or a handheld vacuum. I haven’t yet tried the E28, but I was impressed by the E20’s versatility in my apartment — so much so that I’ve dubbed it the most underrated vacuum of 2025 thus far.

Stick vacuums and carpet cleaners are familiar tools that people often wish they had. Eufy smartly integrated them into a robot vacuum purchase without complicating the transition process. The next advancement appears to be a robot vacuum that can clean carpets independently.

While I am critical of the arm, I still regard Roborock as one of the most intelligent robot vacuum brands. I was thrilled the first time I saw a Roborock vacuum swing a spinning mopping pad into a corner and along my kitchen counter. I had never witnessed such meticulous corner mopping with a D-shaped mopping pad beneath the vacuum. That’s the kind of straightforward innovation I’m referring to.

People value visible cleaning performance. A transparent dust bin, for instance: One of my favorite cordless vacuums self-empties when I place it on the charger, starting each session with a clean slate. I can observe how much dust is gathered from a single room. It would be impressive if robot vacuum docks had a transparent window to showcase progress or if the app offered information on debris weight from a space.

Proof of a clean floor is a genuine selling point. This is why the dust-highlighting laser on Dyson vacuums resonated with consumers, despite initially appearing extravagant. That would be a smart addition to the next Dyson robot vacuum.