Freedom at Home: How Intelligent Craft Is Reclaiming Modern Living - Time Magazine

At CES 2026, the promise of the "smart home" is finally being fulfilled. Roborock is leading the charge with a vision where technology isn't just connected—it's capable, autonomous, and designed to give you your life back.

For decades, the concept of the "home of the future" was defined by gadgets: lights that responded to voice commands and fridges that knew the weather. Yet, for many homeowners, this interconnectedness often added complexity rather than removing it. In 2026, the narrative is shifting. The true luxury of the modern age is no longer just connectivity; it is freedom. The freedom to reclaim time from the mundane maintenance of daily life.

This shift is not theoretical—it is a rapidly accelerating reality. In North America alone, more than 1.7 million Roborock devices are actively in use, a staggering 546% increase compared to 2023. This isn't just adoption; it is a fundamental change in how people live. In a single two-week period, Roborock users in North America reclaimed 499 million minutes of their time, outsourcing the cleaning of nearly 74,000 football fields worth of floor space to intelligent algorithms.

This January at CES 2026, Roborock is capturing this societal pivot with a powerful idea: the true value of innovation is the freedom it creates. This vision comes to life in Roborock’s theme, "The Greatest Meeting the Greatest," where intelligent craft converges with modern living. This vision positions the smart home not as a collection of devices, but as a cohesive ecosystem designed to support lifestyle freedom. From floors to lawns, Roborock's new lineup of devices serves as a blueprint for future-home infrastructure where autonomous systems quietly manage the complexities of modern living so people don’t have to.

The Flagship of Freedom: Redefining AutonomyAt the center of this new era is the Saros 20, a device that challenges the very definition of a flagship robot vacuum. In the past, robot vacuums were often viewed as supplementary helpers requiring supervision. The Saros 20 is designed to be a primary, self-sufficient custodian that reflects what freedom looks like in practice for households: less oversight and more time and mental space.

Navigating the complex, clutter-filled reality of North American homes requires more than just sensors; it requires intelligence. The Saros 20 is equipped with advanced 3D TOF vision capable of recognizing over 300 distinct objects, allowing it to interpret a room with human-like understanding. Whether it’s a discarded sock or a delicate antique, the Saros 20 adapts instantly. 

This intelligence is housed within an ultra-slim body (Min. Clearance Height: 79.5mm; Body Height: 79.8mm), engineered to glide effortlessly into low-clearance spaces beneath sofas and beds—the "hidden" areas where dust accumulates unnoticed. Coupled with an Adaptive Chassis 3.0 for superior handling of thresholds and a massive 36,000Pa of suction power, the Saros 20 delivers a level of deep cleaning that reclaims mental space as effectively as it reclaims physical floor space.

Precision Engineering for the "One-Pass" LifeWhile AI drives autonomy, the physical reality of cleaning demands specialized force. Homeowners know that some messes require more than a generalist approach. Recognizing this, Roborock is introducing the Qrevo Curv 2 Flow, a "one-pass floor care specialist" designed for efficiency and hygiene.

Engineered for the busy household, it features a 10.6-inch (270 mm) extra-wide roller and a Roller Shield system that protects carpets while delivering deep scrubbing action. The philosophy here is "flow"—integrating seamlessly into a home without becoming a maintenance burden itself. With anti-tangle architecture specifically designed for pet owners, it ensures that the time saved vacuuming isn't lost to cleaning the machine.

For the most demanding culinary spaces and high-traffic areas, the F25 Ace Pro redefines wet-dry cleaning. This flagship washer utilizes a FoamJet™ pre-wash system to chemically break down stains before its high-pressure scrubbers engage, mimicking the thoroughness of a manual deep clean. With high-temperature self-cleaning and intelligent drying, it ensures that freedom at home includes peace of mind to deliver a level of cleanliness that is not only visible, but deeply felt.

Beyond the Back Door: The Ecosystem ExpandsThe concept of "home" has never been confined by four walls, and neither is Roborock’s vision. Expanding its ecosystem beyond indoor cleaning, its new RockMow X1 LiDAR brings the same level of precision autonomy to the outdoors—extending the promise of freedom to spaces that traditionally demand the most time and effort. 

Lawns in North America present a unique set of challenges—slopes, trees, and expansive acreage. The RockMow X1 tackles this with a True AWD (All-Wheel Drive) system and a 360° mechanical LiDAR fusion that provides autonomous vehicle-grade environmental sensing. Capable of managing estates up to 2 acres, it transforms lawn care from a weekend chore into a fully automated process that returns the most precious of modern luxuries to homeowners: time. What once consumed Saturday mornings becomes effortlessly handled in the background, freeing time for the moments in life that matter far more than lawn maintenance.

With lawn care joining floor care, Roborock is building toward a unified approach to home robotics that manages the full landscape of the modern home.

The Future Is NowAs we look toward the rest of the decade, the distinction between "tech" and "home" will continue to blur. With 2.1 million registered app users in North America, unit sales in the region climbing 52% year-on-year, and a customer satisfaction score of 91%, Roborock’s momentum is undeniable. We are shifting from standalone devices to whole-home intelligent systems that think, adapt, and actively support us in the rhythm of daily life—and Roborock is emerging as a visionary leader shaping this new era.

Roborock’s presence at CES 2026 is more than a showcase of specs; it is an invitation to rethink what smart living should deliver. By combining human-centric craft with category-breaking innovation, Roborock is proving that when the greatest technology meets the greatest aspirations for living, the result is the ultimate luxury: the freedom to live more fully.

Ready to experience the next era of intelligent living? Explore the full CES 2026 lineup and define your new standard of home at Roborock's Official Site.