(Credit: Andrew Gebhart/PCMag)
If you've ever wanted to ask Siri to vacuum your house, you're in luck because that's one of the new features baked into the iOS 18.4 update that started rolling out yesterday.
The updated mobile OS (which also includes iPadOS 18.4) adds support for robot vacuums in the Apple Home app thanks to the Matter smart home standard. Once manufacturers implement it, robo vac owners can use the Home app to automate cleaning routines, customize cleaning areas, and set up hands-free Siri control, Apple says.
"We worked with top brands like Ecovacs, iRobot, and Roborock...to ensure seamless integration and exceptional results," an Apple spokesperson says.
Roborock says it will roll out a firmware update over the next 10 days for seven of its products, including the S8 MaxV Ultra and the Roborock Saros Z70, which features a fully retractable mechanical arm capable of recognizing objects, picking them up, and putting them away.
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- Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
- Roborock Saros Z70
- Roborock Saros 10
- Roborock Saros 10R
- Roborock Qrevo Curv
- Roborock Qrevo Edge
- Roborock Qrevo Master
Notably absent on the list are the Roborock S8 Max Ultra and the Qrevo Slim. Roborock says Matter updates for those are in the works and will release "in the upcoming weeks and months, with more models coming soon."
Ecovacs is also getting in on the action with a Matter firmware update rolling out now for the Deebot X2, X2 Combo, T50, T50 Max, and X8, an Ecovacs spokesperson confirms.
Also on tap for the update is iRobot’s Roomba Combo 10 Max robot + AutoWash
Robot vacuums have been supported by Matter since version 1.2, which was released in 2023, but it takes time for companies to adopt new standards. Major smart home manufacturers are looking to speed up the process, however. Earlier this year, Apple, Google, and Samsung agreed to put more trust in the Matter smart home standard and its interoperability testing results, which could mean faster product development cycles.