New York – October 29, 2026 -- The ECOVACS WINBOT W3 OMNI window-cleaning robot has made TIME's Best Inventions of 2026 list, praised for making floor-to-ceiling window cleaning far more effortless.
Vortex Wash removes the chore of hand-washing dirty pads
The W3 OMNI ships with a station built around Vortex Wash, which ECOVACS calls the industry's first contact-free wiping pad washing system. It is designed to end hand-washing of dirty pads. The TruEdge scrubber adds edge-to-edge cleaning with millimeter-level accuracy, for a more hands-off result.
TIME judged the robot on originality, efficacy, ambition and impact
TIME's Best Inventions list has recognized innovations with the potential to change how people live, work and play for more than two decades. Products are chosen through an editorial process.
ECOVACS shipped about 1.075 million window cleaners in six months
The company says it shipped roughly 1.075 million robotic window cleaners in the first half of 2026. It also says it held over 50% of the global robotic window cleaner market in 2025.
ECOVACS reports more than 3,100 granted patents and over RMB 5.2 billion invested in R&D since 2018. It says this expertise in robotics, sensing, algorithms and intelligent manufacturing feeds directly into WINBOT development.
Beyond window cleaning, the ECOVACS lineup spans indoor floor care, outdoor pool cleaning and lawn maintenance.