I love my robot vacuum, but I’d ditch it in a second for one that climbs stairs. At CES 2026, two of the most hyped stair-climbing robot vacuums were the RoboRock Saros Rover and the Dreame Cyber X—and the conversation quickly turned into RoboRock Saros Rover vs. Dreame Cyber X. Both tackle stairs, but they do so in completely different ways. That’s why they’ve sparked so much buzz.

RoboRock’s Saros Rover practically sprouts AI-powered legs. Its wheel-leg system balances the vacuum and moves independently, rather than using treads or external climbing attachments. This lets the Saros Rover step its way up staircases, cleaning each stair as it goes.

Dreame’s Cyber X, on the other hand, takes a more mechanical, transport-focused approach. Built around a tracked chassis, it climbs tall staircases and continues cleaning on the next level; without human help

Together, these two robots try to solve one of the biggest limitations in robotic cleaning. Let’s take a closer look at RoboRock Saros Rover vs. Dreame Cyber X, comparing their designs, capabilities, and adaptability to modern homes.

RoboRock Saros Rover vs. Dreame Cyber X: How They Climb Stairs

Stairs have long been the nemesis of robot vacuums, preventing them from automatically accessing different levels of a home without human help. The RoboRock Saros Rover and Dreame Cyber X aim to tackle them but work in completely different ways.

RoboRock Saros Rover

The Saros Rover takes a biomimicry-inspired approach with its AI-powered wheel-leg system. Each leg can lift, balance, and reposition independently, allowing the robot to step carefully onto each stair and clean as it goes. Meanwhile, the Saros Rover moves with surprising control, even on curved or carpeted steps. It can even handle ramps and multi-level thresholds without tipping or losing balance.

Dreame Cyber X

The Cyber X, on the other hand, relies on a track-based system that transports the robot up a flight of stairs. Its thick treads grip the stair edges, while 3D visual mapping and multiple braking systems ensure safe, controlled climbs. The Cyber X doesn’t clean your stairs, but focuses on moving between floors efficiently. That way, it can handle entire multi-level homes without human intervention.

Put simply, the Saros Rover climbs like a creature navigating its environment, while the Cyber X is a machine built to overcome obstacles. Both are impressive in their own right, but which style best fits most homes?

RoboRock Saros Rover vs. Dreame Cyber X: Cleaning Performance and Real-World Usability

Climbing stairs is impressive, but how well do these CES 2026 robot vacuums clean? The RoboRock Saros Rover, for one, is nothing if not precise. Its wheel-leg system allows it to pause, adjust, and scrub each stair individually. Then, its AI-driven navigation lets it adapt to different surfaces and tackle thresholds and small ramps. The trade-off, though, is speed: step-by-step cleaning takes time, so if you’re in a hurry, the Rover isn’t the fastest climber.

The Dreame Cyber X, on the other hand, prioritizes efficiency. Its tracked chassis and smart 3D mapping allow it to climb taller stairs quickly and safely. It moves between floors with minimal human intervention. While it doesn’t clean stairs, it covers large, multi-level areas in a single pass, which is great for homes with several floors. The braking and traction systems also reduce the risk of slips or falls.

In short, the Saros Rover excels at meticulous, stair-by-stair cleaning, while the Cyber X delivers hands-free, whole-home coverage.

Features and Adaptability: Smarts vs. Scale

Beyond stair climbing, both the RoboRock Saros Rover and Dreame Cyber X have their own unique features that show each brand’s approach to smart cleaning.

An AI-Driven Robot Vacuum

The RoboRock Saros Rover is all about AI. Its wheel-leg system works in tandem with motion sensors and 3D spatial mapping, allowing it to adapt in real time to obstacles, thresholds, and uneven surfaces. During demos, it even adjusted its movement to avoid collisions and navigate around clutter, which hints at how it might handle pets, toys, or unexpected spills in a real home. The Rover’s design also emphasizes precise mopping capabilities on its multi-surface legs. Every step is an opportunity for cleaning rather than just a transport mechanism.

A stair-climbing robot with vision

The Dreame Cyber X focuses on multi-floor coverage and reliability. Its Smart 3D Adapt Vision maps staircases before it moves, giving it an efficient path for climbing and descending. While it doesn’t clean each stair individually, its large water tank and continuous mopping system mean it can keep floors clean across multiple levels of your home. For me, its a different kind of “smart.” One that prioritizes coverage over micromanaged cleaning.

Both vacuums show that the next generation of robot vacuums is no longer limited to flat floors—but how they’ll tackle the challenge is still up for grabs.

Availability: When (or If) You Can Buy Them

One of the biggest questions around these hyped stair‑climbing robots is simple: can you actually buy one yet? As cool as both the RoboRock Saros Rover and the Dreame Cyber X look in demos, the short answer, as of early 2026, is not yet.

The RoboRock Saros Rover made a splash at CES 2026, but that excitement hasn’t yet translated into a retail release. Roborock has confirmed that the Rover is a real product in development, but there’s still no official launch date, price, or availability window announced. That means you can’t preorder it or find it on store shelves — yet.

The Dreame Cyber X is in a similar spot. It appeared at both IFA 2025 and CES 2026 as a concept product, but the company hasn’t shared any concrete plans for a consumer launch or pricing either. Like the Rover, the Cyber X is one to watch — and may set a new benchmark once (or if) it enters the market.

In other words, both robots are exciting prototypes, not products you can buy today. If you’re dreaming of a robot vacuum that handles stairs on its own, these are the best glimpses yet of what might be possible — but for now, they’re future tech rather than in‑hand reality.