Today’s robot vacuums aren’t the same Roomba your parents first bought. The earliest versions had little to no navigation, barely managed to vacuum and got stuck on just about everything. If you’ve been holding off on buying a robot vacuum because you don’t trust it to do the job well -- things have changed. Robot vacuums now have more capable mapping and improved cleaning features, meaning they can do more than just vacuum: They can also mop, help you sort items, overcome obstacles and even climb stairs.
Together, our Louisville testing lab and I have tested more than 100 robot and cordless vacuums, giving us a solid pulse on the latest trends in the vacuum industry. I’ve watched vacuum technology innovate and grow over the past few years -- and at CES 2026, I predict it'll be a robot vacuum showdown in the race to become the ultimate home helper.
Read more: CNET is Choosing the Best of CES 2026 Awards
What I expect in the coming year -- and at CES -- is even more acceleration and innovation. Big names like Eufy, Dreame, Ecovacs and Roborock, along with lesser-known brands like SwitchBot, 3i and Yeedi, are all competing to be the top robot vac with premium features. These brands are working hard to deliver what we, the consumers, really want: true automated cleaning. That means better vacuuming, smarter mopping, genuine stair climbing ability, auto-refilling water systems and even evaporative water recycling, all while we humans don’t lift a finger.
Here’s what I think consumers will see at CES 2026, and in our homes, in the next few years.
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My robot vacuum predictions for CES 2026:
Successful stair-climbing capabilities Robotic arms with improved object recognition True hands-free robot vacuums with all-in-one base stations Market prices to come down for premium features
We’ll see at least one robot vacuum successfully climb a flight of stairs
PCMag, CNET’s sister site, got a firsthand look at the Cyber X in action -- watching the robot climb stairs. Andrew Gebhart/PCMag
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