So you thought your new robot vacuum with its self-emptying bin and LiDAR navigation was state of the art? Robot vacuum technology has grown by leaps and bounds over the past year alone. Besides simply emptying their own bins and mapping your rooms with lasers (that's so 2022), the latest robot vacuums can hoist themselves over door thresholds, extend robotic arms to reach dust particles tucked in corners, apply elbow grease to stubborn floor stains, and more. Ever watch your robot vacuum struggle to crest a door threshold that's barely an inch tall? It's a sad sight, not to mention a barrier (literally) to achieving total vacuum coverage for your floors.

Roborock's S4 Max is an evolution and replacement of its S4 robot vacuum, the company's first model to not include a wet-mopping function. "MAX" might seem to promise some grand upgrades, but the vacuum offers mostly small, but effective refinements on its predecessor. Cosmetically, the S4 Max looks identical to the S4. On top is a pair of rubberized buttons that activate auto cleaning and docking, a turret housing the vacuum's laser sensor, and a 460ml dustbin concealed beneath a lid. The vacuum has an attractive matte black finish, setting it apart from its mostly glossy competitors.