A glimpse into Roborock's upcoming premium robot vacuum cleaner

As anticipation builds for this week's CES event, Roborock is expected to unveil one or two high-end robot vacuum cleaners, thanks to several tantalizing leaks. All fingers point towards a shift in design, with a new mop and potentially a new name. The upcoming device is speculated to rival the Dreametech Bot W10 Self-Cleaning, boasting a revamped self-cleaning station and ditching the flat mop.

The mystery remains whether this product will be christened the Roborock S8, or if it heralds an entirely new series of robot vacuum cleaners. If the latter is true, the name Roborock X7 WashVac would align it with the current generation of Roborock devices, including the S7, S7 MaxV, Q7, and Q7 Max. There's also the chance that Roborock could announce both the X7 WashVac and the S8, a possibility that's not entirely off the table.

Unravelling the Roborock S8 or X7 WashVac enigma

One striking feature of this upcoming robot vacuum cleaner, whether it's the Roborock S8 or X7 WashVac, is the move away from the traditional round shape, embracing the D shape that many other brands have adopted. This design evolution makes room for the innovative DyadPower roller mop.

For those not in the know, the Roborock Dyad is an existing handheld wet/dry vacuum cleaner. The term DyadPower seemingly refers to the mop roller shared by both the Roborock Dyad and the Roborock X7 WashVac. In addition to the new shape, the device retains familiar design elements from Roborock, such as a small pod housing the LiDAR sensor for mapping, and three buttons for sending the vacuum home, initiating vacuum cleaning, or starting the mopping process.

A step back for the Roborock X7 WashVac?

In a surprising twist, the Roborock X7 WashVac, which was anticipated to be an upgrade to the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, seems to lack the much-appreciated auto-emptying feature. Leaked manuals reveal the presence of two water tanks – one for clean water and another for dirty water – but no mention of an auto-emptying function.

The FCC documents do refer to two docks, the CDZ18RR and CDZ19RR, but it's likely that these cater to different regions rather than offering distinct functionalities.

A visual tour of the Roborock X7 WashVac

The leaked images of the Roborock X7 WashVac provide a comprehensive view of the robot vacuum cleaner from various angles – top, bottom, and sides. Interestingly, the device seems to boast a smaller footprint compared to other Roborock models, perhaps making it a more space-conscious choice for potential buyers.

Unravelling the enigma: Roborock S8's sensor and dock

A tantalizing glimpse into Roborock's future offerings comes in the form of a leaked teaser image, showcasing a sensor cover strikingly similar to the one found on the Roborock S7 MaxV. Curiously, this sensor is conspicuously absent from the Roborock X7 WashVac's manual and leaked images. It's safe to say that this sensor doesn't quite align with the one situated on the WashVac X7's front.

The plot thickens with a cryptic image of a dock shared by Roborock on Twitter. A little digital detective work in Photoshop unveils what lies beneath the shadows. One thing is certain: this dock is not designed for the Roborock X7 WashVac. The three-chambered structure and the distinct light and logo are a far cry from the leaked images.

Instead, the dock bears a striking resemblance to the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra's counterpart, with one subtle difference – the containers on this new dock are enclosed, rather than exposed. Could these enigmatic hints point towards the imminent launch of the Roborock S8? For now, we'll have to bide our time and let the mystery unfold.