After reviewing several robot vacuums in the last 12 months, this is the model I'd buy — and it's got a significant price drop too

I've been testing vacuums of all kinds of nearly a decade now, including robot vacuums from different brands. And while I love the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller that I currently use, there's one other I would definitely be willing to spend top dollar on.

That's the Roborock Saros 10R, which has been discounted by 26% on Amazon's Big Smile Sale and is down to AU$1,687 from a much more premium price tag of AU$2,299. I know that's still a very high price to pay for a robot vacuum these days, but hear me out when I say it's great for many potential users.

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Save 26% (AU$601)

Roborock Saros 10R: was AU$2,288 now AU$1,687 at Amazon

This is the robovac I would consider buying if I didn't already have a high-end Dreame machine that's been cleaning my home like... a dream. This Roborock is slimlined to crawl under furniture (no navigation puck here), and can raise not just its mop pads, but its side brush to avoid scattering and excessive tangling. Its headline act, however, has to be its cleaning prowess — our Roborock Saros 10R review didn't score 4.5 stars for nothing!

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The first reason I'd opt for the Saros 10R is, of course, the discounted price. Given its specs and features, this is a very premium robot vacuum and is competitively priced at full RRP, but this 26% price drop makes it excellent value given those same specs and features.

And that brings me to the other reasons I'd spend my own cash on the Saros 10R.

I have mixed flooring in my home — mid-pile carpet in the bedroom and tiles everywhere else. And while the 22,000Pa suction on the Roborock Saros 10 would be better for the carpet, I think the 20,000Pa of the Saros 10R would be plenty because the carpet in the bedroom has now been trampled down to being nearly low-pile, so there's less tangling of hair in the fibres.

While I much prefer roller mops these days, I would definitely want two rotating mop pads (as in the Saros 10R) compared to just the one on the Saros 10. Call it a bias, but it just feels like it would be a more efficient clean.

Like my Dreame Aqua10 Ultra, the side brush also raises itself automatically, a feature I adore because it can reduce scattering and minimise hair tangling. Even the wheels are designed to avoid hair getting caught around the axles.

Most importantly, though, the lack of a navigation puck (or turret) is very enticing. I've had older robot vacuums where, after a few years, the movable puck got damaged and stopped working. The Dreame I currently use has a LiDAR puck that moves up and down and I keep expecting it to get stuck some 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 fur and dander compared to the Saros 10, which isn't a concern for me as I don't have a furry friend at home.

So, if you're in a similar situation as me, opting for the Saros 10R would be good when considering which robot vacuum you should choose, provided you have the budget to spare. That said, the Saros 10 costs the same, so you won't lose out either way.

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

Other robot vacuum deals on Amazon

If you're on a tight budget, there are other robovacs you can consider. Many top models have received significant 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