Finally! A robot vacuum that can climb stairs (well, kind of)

As ZDNET's Maria Diaz reported, the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas revealed some interesting innovations in the realm of robot vacuums. Roborock's new flagship model, for example, has a robotic arm that uses precision sensors and a camera to pick up socks.

Also: CES 2025: The most impressive products so far

According to Dreame, its new flagship model, the X50 Ultra, can "literally climb stairs." That marketing claim is technically accurate -- if the stairs are less than two inches tall.

A step forward for robot vacuums

It's surely a step forward in robot vacuum engineering, but let's not envision a bot that can clean your ground-level living space, empty itself, clean your staircase, and then continue sweeping your bedrooms on the second floor. Not just yet.

Still, the X50 Ultra's ability to cross harmlessly over cords and more efficiently surmount ...