On September 4, IFA 2026 officially opened in Berlin, Germany. As one of the world’s three premier consumer electronics trade shows, this year’s IFA attracted over 1,900 exhibitors from 49 countries and regions, with the theme “The Future is Now”—the future has already arrived. LeiTech (ID: LeiTech) deployed its “LeiTech IFA26 Reporting Team” to Berlin for on-the-ground, multi-dimensional, and first-hand coverage of IFA 2026.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

After touring cleaning-related booths, LeiTech’s reporter observed a major shift: the robotic vacuum cleaner—a category that fiercely competed on specs at past IFA editions—has now expanded beyond floor cleaning. Nearly all Chinese cleaning equipment manufacturers are broadening their product lines into mowing, pool cleaning, stair climbing, and garment care—aiming for true “full-scenario” coverage.

“Moving beyond floors” has become the core new trend across the intelligent cleaning industry.

High-Temperature Steam Becomes Standard for Floor Washers; Top Brands Roll Out New Strategies

This year’s most prominent keyword in indoor cleaning is “steam.” While previous years focused on suction power and self-cleaning capabilities, leading brands—including Roborock, Ecovacs, Tineco, and Dreame—have now elevated high-temperature steam as the defining feature of their flagship floor washers. The rationale is straightforward: oil stains, dried sauce residues, and stubborn kitchen-floor grime simply cannot be removed effectively with cold water alone. High-temperature steam first softens these contaminants, making subsequent cleaning significantly easier.

For instance, Dreame’s Aqua20 Pro Ultra delivers steam at up to 180°C, paired with 40 kPa suction, emphasizing “steam mopping.” In essence, it first softens tough stains with high-heat steam, then removes them effortlessly with powerful suction—eliminating oil stains and dried sauces in a single pass. The T16 Pro Steam packs even more into an ultra-slim 9.85 cm chassis: 200°C steam, 90°C hot-water roller cleaning, and 30,000 Pa suction—designed for thorough, no-blind-spot cleaning in low-clearance spaces.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Tineco’s FLOOR ONE S11 Artist Fusion Steam pushes steam temperature to an extraordinary 230°C and features HyperSteam dual-steam self-cleaning, claiming end-to-end sterilization and odor elimination. With rapid 30-second steam generation, 35 kPa suction, 110-minute runtime, 180° lay-flat capability, and a FlexExtend telescoping handle for reaching under furniture, it incorporates virtually every desirable feature available today.

Roborock’s F25 Ultra Steam Gen 2 adopts a dual-path approach—combining steam and hot water: 180°C VaporFlow 2.0 high-temp steam + 90°C hot-water roller cleaning + 25,000 Pa suction + 450 rpm high-speed roller.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

After reviewing the exhibits, LeiTech found that high-temperature steam implementations across brands show few distinguishing design or spec differences. Real-world performance variations will be covered in forthcoming hands-on reviews by LeiTech’s reporting team after returning home.

From 2D Floors to 3D Operations: Robotic Vacuums Go Multidimensional

After years of competing on technical specifications, robotic vacuums have finally pivoted—moving beyond flat-floor operation into true 3D, multidimensional cleaning.

Dreame’s Cyber X stair-climbing robot, drawing massive crowds at its booth, uses a six-legged, three-segmented track system capable of ascending slopes up to 42°. Though it debuted last year at IFA as a concept unit, Dreame has now finalized its pricing at €1,199, with European launch expected in September. Previously, even the most advanced robotic vacuums were confined to “crawling” across floors—Dreame has now brought full 3D cleaning into the spotlight.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Rather than competing on suction power alone, Ecovacs’ flagship DEEBOT X11 OmniCyclone differentiates itself via a unique combination: visual recognition + fresh-water mopping + whole-home voice control. First, cameras enable real-time mapping and obstacle avoidance—allowing the robot to “see” its path and navigate around barriers. Next, its roller simultaneously sprays clean water and recovers dirty water, ensuring consistently fresh rinse water. Finally, voice activation streamlines user interaction—simply speaking a command initiates full cleaning, including sweeping, mopping, sterilization, self-cleaning, and automatic dust collection.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Roborock’s Saros 20 Flow and Qrevo Edge 3 Pro robotic vacuums both deliver peak suction of 36,000 Pa, supported by upgraded AdaptiLift chassis enabling traversal over double thresholds up to 8.8 cm tall. Its G30 Space Explorer—the industry’s first five-axis folding biomimetic robotic arm—adds genuine object-grasping capability to a robotic vacuum. Meanwhile, the ultra-thin G30S Ultra and P30 Pro vacuums, along with the compact Z1 Mini Pro washer-dryer and F25 Ultra Steam Gen 2 floor washer, collectively demonstrate a complete “sweep, wash, care, dry” household automation suite.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

What Happens When Physics-Aware AI Meets Robotic Vacuums?

Longtime IFA participant CloudNail skipped a traditional exhibition booth this year and instead hosted its own Global Autumn Brand Launch in Berlin on September 3—the day before IFA opened—unveiling its entire new product lineup: the Xiaoyao 003 series, the 10th Anniversary JX model, the S3 Steam floor washer, the V50 cordless vacuum, and the U50 Cube anti-mite device. CloudNail’s highlight offerings are the Xiaoyao 003 series and the limited-edition JX, both powered by NarMind™ Full Intelligent Scene Perception System 2.0—featuring dual RGB cameras and automotive-grade AI processing chips.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

In simple terms, CloudNail aims to evolve robotic vacuums from merely “seeing objects” to truly “understanding scenes”: automatically avoiding pet messes, reducing noise when children are present, and intelligently selecting optimal cleaning strategies based on stain type. LeiTech believes this direction is correct—the next stage of robotic vacuum development hinges not on raw suction power, but on how well the device “understands how to clean your home,” requiring physics-aware AI.

Like CloudNail, relocating a brand launch outside the main exhibition hall—either hosting a standalone event nearby or setting up a satellite booth to tap into IFA’s foot traffic—is an increasingly popular new strategy. Lenovo has adopted similar tactics at IFA and CES in recent years: though not participating in the official exhibition, it holds press events during the show to debut new products—a lightweight, yet highly effective, approach to participation. CloudNail avoids competing for attention in Hall 9 alongside hundreds of other brands, instead commanding exclusive media focus through its dedicated launch. Rather than being diluted among dozens of competitors, it builds anticipation and audience engagement on its own terms.

Could iRobot’s “Mother-Daughter Robot” Concept Become the Next Trend?

iRobot—the original pioneer and true founding brand of robotic vacuums—debuted its Roomba Duo in Hall 9 this year, pursuing a modular, two-in-one design. Normally shaped like a large white drum, it handles routine cleaning plus boasts 35 mm climbing and obstacle-negotiation capability. When confronted with extremely low-clearance areas where the main unit can’t maneuver, users detach a smaller secondary unit. This independent sub-unit is noticeably smaller than conventional robotic vacuums, with a compact roller brush designed specifically to access tight gaps and height-restricted zones—with extended cleaning reach up to 31 mm.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

LeiTech finds this concept promising—but upon closer inspection, two drawbacks emerge: first, the increased weight and height of the main unit significantly reduce its battery life; second, while the smaller unit excels at accessing narrow spaces, its cleaning performance inevitably lags behind mainstream robotic vacuums. Thus, LeiTech concludes this model is unlikely to generate significant market impact.

The collective expansion by Chinese manufacturers stands in stark contrast to the retreat of established Western brands. Ten years ago, iRobot was the first brand many people associated with robotic vacuums; today at IFA, the busiest booths are overwhelmingly dominated by Chinese brands.

The industry is undergoing a leadership transition—and a strategic overhaul. Yet don’t fixate solely on indoor solutions: what truly impressed LeiTech at this year’s IFA were the machines stepping outdoors.

Collective “Dive into Water”: Solar Power Joins the Mix

If steam represents “mature-market competition” indoors, then robotic lawn mowers and pool cleaners are undoubtedly this year’s IFA headliners: nearly every Chinese robotic vacuum manufacturer has launched corresponding outdoor models. The logic is clear: navigation, mapping, obstacle avoidance, and self-cleaning technologies developed for robotic vacuums translate almost directly to mowing and pool-cleaning applications—precisely matching the needs of Europe’s vast residential garden and private-pool markets.

Starting with pool robots: Roborock’s globally launched RockAqua P1 adapts seamlessly to irregularly shaped pools, thoroughly cleaning pool floors, walls, and waterlines—even shallow platforms as low as 15 cm. With 6,800 gallons/hour suction capacity, a 4-liter debris basket, dual filtration (180 µm + 70 µm), and up to 3.5 hours of runtime and charging time, it sets a new benchmark.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Roborock’s ambitions extend far beyond water: adding the G-Rover wheeled-and-legged robot (capable of stair navigation) and the RockMax Z1 L800 robotic mower, Roborock presents a comprehensive “indoor + garden + pool” cleaning ecosystem at its booth—justifying its bold “World NO.1” claim displayed prominently on its main screen.

Ecovacs’ ULTRAMARINE expands cleaning scenarios from 2D land to full 3D underwater environments.

LeiTech’s advance reporting team captured detailed images of this pool robot—including one noteworthy innovation worth highlighting separately. Since Wi-Fi and Bluetooth fail underwater, Ecovacs equips ULTRAMARINE with a solar-powered floating relay to ensure uninterrupted connectivity; underwater obstacle avoidance relies on laser-based sensing. Lidar operation underwater has long been considered a “century-old challenge”—and Ecovacs has now solved it. Such technological leadership will undoubtedly attract European consumers.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Yuan Ding’s Scuba V3 Ultra and Wangyuan’s Wybotics are also vying for dominance in the essential home-pool-cleaning segment. Traditionally, pool cleaning required either manual labor or expensive legacy Western brands—often costing over €1,000. Now Chinese manufacturers, leveraging navigation and mapping expertise honed on robotic vacuums, have entered the market—offering comparable performance at roughly half the price. Unsurprisingly, this has become IFA 2026’s hottest emerging category.

Lawn Mowers Get Robotic Arms

Segway’s H5 Pro introduces an innovative retractable EdgeMaestro robotic arm, achieving true “zero-edge-gap” mowing—eliminating the frustrating final 50 cm of manual trimming that plagues traditional mowers.

MOVA’s LiDAX Vector AWD all-terrain, three-wheeled mower also integrates a robotic arm, while NexLawn showcased its own lawn-care solutions in the same zone. Hanyang Technology’s Yarbo offers a modular, multi-functional yard robot—switching modules allows it to clear snow, making it ideal for markets with harsh, prolonged winters. Yuan Ding’s Aiper launched its wireless Scuba V3 Ultra pool cleaner, smart irrigation systems, and a four-wheel-drive mower—all built on the philosophy of “one machine, one property.” Roborock likewise introduced its RockMax Z1 L800 mower, sharing the same navigation platform as its robotic vacuums.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Beyond these players, domestic manufacturers including Anker, Ledong, Baima, Changyao, Muxin, and Laimou have all unveiled relevant products. To LeiTech—long accustomed to seeing only robotic vacuums—it felt like entering a parallel universe: same wheels and algorithms, but the cleaning scenario shifted entirely from floors to lawns.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Ultimately, the surge in robotic mowers and pool cleaners reflects a unified strategy: Chinese manufacturers are treating their mature robotic-vacuum technologies—navigation, obstacle avoidance, mapping, and self-cleaning—as a reusable “technology baseplate,” deploying it wherever dirt appears. Dirty floors? Mount it on a vacuum. Overgrown lawns? Install it on a mower. Murky pools? Integrate it into an underwater robot. This “one technology, multiple applications” approach is precisely what empowers China’s cleaning industry to dominate so many categories simultaneously at IFA.

Three Approaches to Full-Scenario Cleaning: The “Big Three”

By this point in the tour, LeiTech noticed an interesting divergence: although Roborock, Dreame, and Ecovacs all began as cleaning-focused companies and are aggressively promoting full-home-scenario solutions at this IFA, their strategic paths have grown markedly distinct.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Roborock’s strategy centers on “product categories + proprietary technology foundation.”

LeiTech’s IFA reporting team observed that overseas visitors showed strong interest—not only in familiar products like robotic vacuums and floor washers—but especially in specialized overseas-market offerings such as pool-bottom cleaners and robotic mowers.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Strategically, Roborock’s answer is a cross-environment, cross-medium full-scenario product matrix: robotic vacuums, floor washers, robotic mowers, pool robots, wheeled-and-legged G-Rover, and compact Z1 Mini Pro washer-dryers—covering virtually every surface in a home prone to getting dirty. This expansive vision rests on Roborock’s remarkable sales performance: per IDC data, Roborock ranked #1 globally in both shipment volume and revenue for robotic vacuums in H1 2026. Having achieved category leadership, Roborock transfers its proven navigation, mapping, and debris-handling technologies to underwater and lawn applications. This is Roborock’s signature approach: dominate one category first, then replicate those market-validated technologies across adjacent categories—maximizing cost efficiency and market acceptance.

Dreame’s strategy is “full-scenario ecosystem.” This year, Dreame occupied two entire halls, showcasing over 100 products spanning 16+ categories, unifying its four core business pillars—smart home, outdoor yard, smart mobility, and embodied AI—for the first time.

LeiTech also noted an intriguing visitor distribution pattern at Dreame’s booth: unexpectedly large crowds gathered around refrigerators and washing machines in the home appliance section, and small kitchen appliances like coffee makers proved equally popular. In contrast, camera and 3D printing sections saw comparatively lighter foot traffic.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

The undisputed “crowd favorite” remained Dreame’s core competency—cordless handheld vacuums and robotic vacuums—drawing the largest audiences. Outdoor zones featuring robotic mowers also attracted substantial attention. Dreame also allocated a sizable personal-care section, displaying diverse hair dryers and providing interactive demo stations. LeiTech’s prior reviews confirm Dreame’s personal-care products—especially its Pocket hair dryer—are exceptionally compelling.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

What Dreame truly aims to showcase is its integration of accumulated expertise into three foundational technology pillars: “Omni-Perception System + Home Universal Model + Intelligent Control System.” In plain terms: Dreame wants you to know it’s no longer just a “robotic vacuum company”—it’s a full-scenario robotics company centered on the home.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

From robotic vacuums to robotic mowers—and even its in-development ECHO humanoid robot—Dreame envisions robots performing far more than just mopping floors. Yet LeiTech also observed that compared to its expansive presence at CES and AWE, Dreame’s IFA 2026 footprint appears notably more focused—indicating that, following a period of aggressive exploration in early 2026, Dreame is now refocusing on its core businesses.

Ecovacs takes a sharper focus on “cleaning” itself, championing “full-scenario cleaning”—but with a distinct interpretation. Rather than overwhelming visitors with dozens of product categories, Ecovacs anchors its strategy firmly around cleaning robots, extending outward to lawn and pool cleaning—and most critically, back to its core robotic vacuums and floor washers.

Ecovacs’ confidence stems from eleven years of end-to-end R&D leadership: its robotic vacuums have held the #1 position in China’s market for 11 consecutive years, are sold in over 180 countries and regions, and have served more than 38 million households globally—with international revenue approaching half its total.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Ecovacs’ booth featured several eye-catching novelties: fabric cleaners safely applying water and immediately suctioning it back—ideal for notoriously difficult-to-clean carpets; window cleaners also drew large crowds. And introducing a new category: the AI companion robot “Mao Tuan Er”—leveraging hybrid cloud-and-edge AI to interpret human intent and emotions through integrated vision, audio, and touch sensing—requiring no command memorization, responding instantly to touch, and growing increasingly intuitive with prolonged use.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

During IFA, Ecovacs also executed a major marketing campaign: bringing its flagship Winbot W2S window cleaner to Sony Center at Berlin’s iconic Potsdam Square—demonstrating its exceptional cleaning power and endurance live on-site. Notably, rain was falling in Berlin throughout the demonstration—yet the W2S kept cleaning continuously, attracting numerous passersby to watch and take photos.

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Ecovacs’ answer to full-scenario cleaning is refreshingly direct: rather than spreading across countless categories, it prioritizes perfecting the experience of “how one robot serves one home” comprehensively.

Clearly, the “Big Three” have diverged sharply in their full-scenario approaches: Roborock follows “excel first, then replicate”; Dreame pursues “ecosystem breadth, exploring embodied AI”; and Ecovacs focuses on “deep cleaning excellence centered on the home, delivering unparalleled user experience.”

From “One Machine Cleans Floors” to “One Robot Manages the Entire Home”

Looking back at this year’s IFA intelligent cleaning landscape, LeiTech identifies the most profound shift: cleaning robots are evolving from mere “tools” into true “home managers.”

(Photography credit: LeiTech IFA Reporting Team)

Once confined solely to floor cleaning, robotic vacuums now aim to manage the entire home—from floors and gardens to pools and staircases. Fundamentally, all are pursuing the same goal: expanding “cleaning” from a single floor surface into a holistic, full-home-living experience. After years of effort, Chinese intelligent cleaning brands are no longer apprentices learning from iRobot—they’re now seated at the table, actively shaping industry rules.

From September 4–8, the world’s largest consumer electronics and home appliance exhibition—IWA 2026—takes place in Berlin.

As the “most influential IFA reporting new media outlet,” acclaimed globally for its AI-focused coverage, LeiTech deployed its largest and highest-caliber reporting team ever to Berlin. Utilizing a “2+N” model—two live hosts, multiple on-site editors, and multiple remote editors—LeiTech delivers immersive, multi-dimensional, first-hand IFA 2026 coverage. Key focus areas include AI agents integrated with home appliances and hardware, robotics technology fused with home-life scenarios, emerging digital lifestyle trends across home, car, and personal domains, and Chinese brands’ global-stage presentations.

LeiTech’s IFA 2026 Reporting Team is currently conducting intensive on-site coverage in Berlin—stay tuned!