Month: January 2025
Roborock’s new robovacs are determined to get under your sofa – here’s how
The new Saros 10 and 10R are ready to bust dust in places other bots can’t go.
Roborock has launched 3 new robot vacuums at CES 2025
All have slimline designs that let them clean under low furniture
The Saros 10 has a navigation puck that pops up and down
Roborock has launched a new fleet of robovacs at CES 2025. The Saros 10, Saros 10R and Saros Z70 are being pitched as joint flagship models, and all sport the latest-and-greatest robot vacuum tech the brand has to offer.
The one that’ll probably turn the most heads is the Saros Z70, because it has a big robotic pincer arm attached, but I’d like to also turn your attention to the Saros 10 and 10R. Neither are quite as flashy (a robovac with limbs is a high bar), but both sport some quietly innovative features of their own – and perhaps of the kind that are more immediately useful to more people.
Specifically: neither has the the fixed, raised central puck that you’ll find on most of today’s best robot vacuums. That means they both have a relatively short profile and thus can clean places that are off-limits to those other, taller robots. The most obvious example is the space underneath low-sitting furniture, which tends to go unvacuumed and as a result, can be a bit of a dust and dirt hotspot.
Let me back up a bit. The most popular methods of robot vacuum navigation requires a raised puck in the center of the machine. For most bots, this is for LiDAR, but in Roborock’s case, it’s used for a system called LDS (Laser Distance Sensors). In both cases, the puck helps the bots to ‘see’ a more complete view of their surroundings. But it also adds height.
The Saros 10 has a navigation puck that can pop up and down (Image credit: Roborock)
The means by which Roborock has achieved this low-profile design is completely different on the 10R and the 10. The 10R still uses the tried-and-tested LDS system for mapping, and in fact it still has a central puck – except this time, it’s retractable.
The puck is designed to sense when it’s entering a reduced-height area, retreat back inside the bot (taking it down to a slimline height of a smidge under 8cm), and then pop right out again when height permits. The LDR puck, meanwhile, has an upward ToF (time-of-flight) sensor that emits an extra laser beam to detect the height of low spaces. It also houses a wide-angle vision module that Roborock says helps with accuracy of mapping and means the robovac is much less likely to get lost when the puck is in its hidden, shy-turtle state.
Overall, the brand promises a bot with excellent spatial awareness, which can “navigate complex environments with ease”. And that includes confidently venturing into the dusty depths beneath your sofa.
Starry eyed
The Saros 10R doesn’t have a puck at all – popup or no – and that’s because it doesn’t use LDS. Instead, it makes use of an entirely new type of navigation called StarSight, and it made its debut on the Roborock Qrevo Slim, which was announced at IFA 2024. It’s the same height as a puck-down Saros 10 robot vacuum – 7.98cm.
Exactly how StarSight works remains something of a mystery to me – like many robovac navigation systems, it relies on sensors and cameras, and this time it’s combined with an added helping of AI for accurate object identification and avoidance. The key to the precise mapping and navigation here is that is uses a sampling frequency that’s 21x higher than LDS uses.
The Saros 10 uses a new method of navigation, which doesn’t require a raised puck (Image credit: Roborock)
Flagship specs
The navigation method is the key difference between the Saros 10R and the 10, which otherwise are extremely similar. In fact, they’re also very similar to the Saros Z70, with the exception of that big robotic arm.
Other special features on both Saros bots include a frankly stupid 22,000Pa of suction, which I’d estimate is roughly enough to suck up my whole flat, and a rubber roller that’s split in the middle, to allow hair to escape through the gap and into the trash. These features alone have me eyeing these models up for a potential spot on our best robot vacuums for pet hair list.
At time of writing, pricing details haven’t been released, but Roborock says both bots will cost exactly the same. That means the customer can make their own call as to whether they prefer the tried-and-tested LDS navigation – which, it should be noted, has performed consistently well on all the Roborock robot vacuums we’ve tried it on – or the newer, fancier, altogether more appealingly named StarSight.
TechRadar will be extensively covering this year’s CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.
And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!
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Elon Musk: ‘We’re Going Straight to Mars. The Moon is a Distraction.’
“We’re going straight to Mars. The Moon is a distraction,” Elon Musk posted Thursday on X.com.
Ars Technica’s senior space editor points out that “These are definitive statements that directly contradict NASA’s plans to send a series of human missions to the lunar south pole later this decade and establish a sustainable base of operations there with the Artemis Program.” And “It would be one thing if Musk was just expressing his opinion as a private citizen…” but Musk “has assumed an important advisory role for the incoming administration. He was also partly responsible for the expected nomination of private astronaut [and former SpaceX flight commander] Jared Isaacman to become the next administrator of NASA. Although Musk is not directing US space policy, he certainly has a meaningful say in what happens.”
So what does this mean for Artemis? The fate of Artemis is an important question not just for NASA but for the US commercial space industry, the European Space Agency, and other international partners who have aligned with the return of humans to the Moon. With Artemis, the United States is in competition with China to establish a meaningful presence on the surface of the Moon. Based upon conversations with people involved in developing space policy for the Trump administration, I can make some educated guesses about how to interpret Musk’s comments. None of these people, for example, would disagree with Musk’s assertion that “the Artemis architecture is extremely inefficient” and that some changes are warranted.
With that said, the Artemis Program is probably not going away. After all, it was the first Trump administration that created the program about five years ago. However, it may be less well-remembered that the first Trump White House pushed for more significant changes, including a “major course correction” at NASA… To a large extent, NASA resisted this change during the remainder of the Trump administration, keeping its core group of major contractors, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, in place. It had help from key US Senators, including Richard Shelby, the now-retired Republican from Alabama. But this time, the push for change is likely to be more concerted, especially with key elements of NASA’s architecture, including the Space Launch System rocket, being bypassed by privately developed rockets such as SpaceX’s Starship vehicle and Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.
In all likelihood, NASA will adopt a new “Artemis” plan that involves initiatives to both the Moon and Mars. When Musk said “we’re going straight to Mars,” he may have meant that this will be the thrust of SpaceX, with support from NASA. That does not preclude a separate initiative, possibly led by Blue Origin with help from NASA, to develop lunar return plans.
One month ago in a post on X.com, incoming NASA administrator Isaacman described himself as “passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history…”
And he also added that Americans “will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
“We’re going straight to Mars. The Moon is a distraction,” Elon Musk posted Thursday on X.com.
Ars Technica’s senior space editor points out that “These are definitive statements that directly contradict NASA’s plans to send a series of human missions to the lunar south pole later this decade and establish a sustainable base of operations there with the Artemis Program.” And “It would be one thing if Musk was just expressing his opinion as a private citizen…” but Musk “has assumed an important advisory role for the incoming administration. He was also partly responsible for the expected nomination of private astronaut [and former SpaceX flight commander] Jared Isaacman to become the next administrator of NASA. Although Musk is not directing US space policy, he certainly has a meaningful say in what happens.”
So what does this mean for Artemis? The fate of Artemis is an important question not just for NASA but for the US commercial space industry, the European Space Agency, and other international partners who have aligned with the return of humans to the Moon. With Artemis, the United States is in competition with China to establish a meaningful presence on the surface of the Moon. Based upon conversations with people involved in developing space policy for the Trump administration, I can make some educated guesses about how to interpret Musk’s comments. None of these people, for example, would disagree with Musk’s assertion that “the Artemis architecture is extremely inefficient” and that some changes are warranted.
With that said, the Artemis Program is probably not going away. After all, it was the first Trump administration that created the program about five years ago. However, it may be less well-remembered that the first Trump White House pushed for more significant changes, including a “major course correction” at NASA… To a large extent, NASA resisted this change during the remainder of the Trump administration, keeping its core group of major contractors, such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin, in place. It had help from key US Senators, including Richard Shelby, the now-retired Republican from Alabama. But this time, the push for change is likely to be more concerted, especially with key elements of NASA’s architecture, including the Space Launch System rocket, being bypassed by privately developed rockets such as SpaceX’s Starship vehicle and Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.
In all likelihood, NASA will adopt a new “Artemis” plan that involves initiatives to both the Moon and Mars. When Musk said “we’re going straight to Mars,” he may have meant that this will be the thrust of SpaceX, with support from NASA. That does not preclude a separate initiative, possibly led by Blue Origin with help from NASA, to develop lunar return plans.
One month ago in a post on X.com, incoming NASA administrator Isaacman described himself as “passionate about America leading the most incredible adventure in human history…”
And he also added that Americans “will walk on the Moon and Mars and in doing so, we will make life better here on Earth.”
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
OnePlus confirms a key upgrade for the upcoming OnePlus 13 global launch
OnePlus will beat most of its rivals with an IP68/IP69 phone when the OnePlus 13 is available worldwide.
The OnePlus 13 will be IP68/IP69 rated worldwide
OnePlus has confirmed the spec ahead of a full launch
It’s a significant upgrade over the OnePlus 12
We’re a little bit in limbo when it comes to the OnePlus 13, as it’s been unveiled in China but won’t launch globally until next week. That means some specs of the international version are yet to be confirmed, but OnePlus has now announced one key feature.
OnePlus has now confirmed to Android Authority that all global variants of the flagship phone will have the dual IP68 and IP69-level protection against water and dust that the Chinese version of the OnePlus 13 offers.
As we reported when the handset launched in China, that dual rating means the handset will survive immersion in water, and can also withstand high-pressure jets of water. A vacuum seal, meanwhile, ensures no dust can get in at all.
In fact, the OnePlus 13 will be the first phone to go as high as IP69 outside of China and the other Asian markets. The exact details of how long the phone can last underwater and at what depth are set by the manufacturer and vary from device to device, but in terms of the official rating this is as good as it gets.
An important upgrade
The OnePlus 12 didn’t offer an IP68/IP69 rating (Image credit: Future)
OnePlus has always approached waterproofing and dustproofing somewhat differently to everyone else: sometimes these ratings have varied between regions, and sometimes there haven’t been ratings at all (even if the phones have been waterproof).
As our OnePlus 12 review will tell you, the lack of IP68 and IP69 support was one of our major complaints about the current handset, which became available internationally in January 2024 – almost a full year ago.
It’s therefore a welcome upgrade that we’re getting for 2025, and which puts the OnePlus 13 ahead of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL when it comes to protection against the elements.
We will of course bring you all the official news from the international launch of the OnePlus 13, which is scheduled for Tuesday, January 7. Everything gets underway from 7.30am PT / 10.30am ET / 3.30pm BST, which works out as Wednesday, January 8 at 2.30am AET for those in Australia.
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Belkin’s new accessory is a magnetic power bank and camera grip rolled into one
Belkin has a new phone accessory at CES 2025 that somehow brings something fresh to the crowded field of magnetic charging accessories (in other words, MagSafe and non-Apple-certified alternatives). The company’s Stage PowerGrip is a wireless power bank, camera-like grip and stand rolled into one. It even has a little screen and comes in several fun colors.
Belkin pitches the PowerGrip as an accessory for creators and travelers. While modern smartphones are all most people need for photography, holding a candy-bar-shaped handset in landscape mode for long periods doesn’t feel as comfortable or natural as the heartier grip of a dedicated camera. This accessory remedies that with a thick bulge similar to what you’d find on a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Belkin
Inside that lump is its 10,000mAh battery, which offers 7.5W magnetic wireless charging. An LED on its backside gives you a quick way to check its battery level. And a retractable USB-C cable is tucked inside the accessory, so you don’t need to remember to throw a separate one in your bag.
Belkin says the PowerGrip will be available in powder blue, sandbox, fresh yellow, pepper and lavender (the company’s press images show a sixth black option, too). It’s scheduled to ship this May. Unfortunately, Belkin hasn’t yet announced pricing.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/belkins-new-accessory-is-a-magnetic-power-bank-and-camera-grip-rolled-into-one-170057685.html?src=rss
Belkin has a new phone accessory at CES 2025 that somehow brings something fresh to the crowded field of magnetic charging accessories (in other words, MagSafe and non-Apple-certified alternatives). The company’s Stage PowerGrip is a wireless power bank, camera-like grip and stand rolled into one. It even has a little screen and comes in several fun colors.
Belkin pitches the PowerGrip as an accessory for creators and travelers. While modern smartphones are all most people need for photography, holding a candy-bar-shaped handset in landscape mode for long periods doesn’t feel as comfortable or natural as the heartier grip of a dedicated camera. This accessory remedies that with a thick bulge similar to what you’d find on a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
Inside that lump is its 10,000mAh battery, which offers 7.5W magnetic wireless charging. An LED on its backside gives you a quick way to check its battery level. And a retractable USB-C cable is tucked inside the accessory, so you don’t need to remember to throw a separate one in your bag.
Belkin says the PowerGrip will be available in powder blue, sandbox, fresh yellow, pepper and lavender (the company’s press images show a sixth black option, too). It’s scheduled to ship this May. Unfortunately, Belkin hasn’t yet announced pricing.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/belkins-new-accessory-is-a-magnetic-power-bank-and-camera-grip-rolled-into-one-170057685.html?src=rss
Roborock’s new flagship robot vacuum has an arm that can grab small objects
Robot vacuums can remove the dust and dirt on your floor, but you still have to pick up stray socks and and any item strewn about your home. Now Roborock, a Chinese company that manufactures robot vacuums and other household cleaning appliances, has unveiled a new model that can pick up small objects so you don’t have to. The Roborock Saros Z70 has a foldable robotic arms that the company calls the “OmniGrip.” It has five axis and can lift objects under 300 grams like socks, light sandals and small dog toys to put them away.
Apparently, the AI-powered vacuum marks objects it can lift while going about cleaning the floor and then circles back to pick them up when it’s done. It then cleans the areas underneath the objects during its second pass. The OmniGrip uses its equipped precision sensors, camera and LED light to determine its position and whether an item is too heavy to pick up. Before you can use it, you will have to activate the arm through the Roborock app, where you can also set what kind of objects it can interact with and where they should be placed. While not quite Rosey the Robot, Saros Z70 has the potential to make tidying up a lot easier. And it’s not just a prototype — Roborock is planning to make it available for purchase this year.
In addition to Saros 270, Roborock has also launched two more robot vacuums, a lineup of handheld wetdry vacuum cleaners, as well as three all-in-one washer-dryers. It will be showcasing its home cleaning products at CES this year. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/roborocks-new-flagship-robot-vacuum-has-an-arm-that-can-grab-small-objects-170020390.html?src=rss
Robot vacuums can remove the dust and dirt on your floor, but you still have to pick up stray socks and and any item strewn about your home. Now Roborock, a Chinese company that manufactures robot vacuums and other household cleaning appliances, has unveiled a new model that can pick up small objects so you don’t have to. The Roborock Saros Z70 has a foldable robotic arms that the company calls the “OmniGrip.” It has five axis and can lift objects under 300 grams like socks, light sandals and small dog toys to put them away.
Apparently, the AI-powered vacuum marks objects it can lift while going about cleaning the floor and then circles back to pick them up when it’s done. It then cleans the areas underneath the objects during its second pass. The OmniGrip uses its equipped precision sensors, camera and LED light to determine its position and whether an item is too heavy to pick up. Before you can use it, you will have to activate the arm through the Roborock app, where you can also set what kind of objects it can interact with and where they should be placed. While not quite Rosey the Robot, Saros Z70 has the potential to make tidying up a lot easier. And it’s not just a prototype — Roborock is planning to make it available for purchase this year.
In addition to Saros 270, Roborock has also launched two more robot vacuums, a lineup of handheld wetdry vacuum cleaners, as well as three all-in-one washer-dryers. It will be showcasing its home cleaning products at CES this year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/roborocks-new-flagship-robot-vacuum-has-an-arm-that-can-grab-small-objects-170020390.html?src=rss