Roborock S7 vs S6 vs S5 vs S4 vs S5 Max vs S6 MaxV and the rest

Roborock is one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of robot vacuum cleaners. The company was founded in 2014 and has since become a member of Xiaomi’s technological ecosystem.

Roborock robot vacuum cleaners are known for their advanced mapping and navigation skills, the presence of sensors to avoid obstacles, and the fact that they perform vacuum and mopping actions.

Roborock has recently released the newest of its amazing Robotic Vacuum products, the Roborock S7 at the RRP (Recommended Retail Price) of $649. Along with their previous model, the Roborock S6 MaxV, these two gadgets represent some of the best devices of their kind on the market.

To coincide with the latest launch, we’ve compiled information on all Roborock robot vacuum cleaners for a comparative review. In this article — Roborock S7 vs. S6 MaxV vs. S6 vs. S5 Max vs. S5 vs. S4 vs. E2 vs. E3 — we compare all the Roborock vacuum cleaners.

All the Roborock Robot Vacuum Models

As of now, Roborock has released the following models of robot vacuum cleaners:

• Roborock Xiaowa E2
• Roborock Xiaowa E3
• Roborock S4
• Roborock S5
• Roborock S5 Max
• Roborock S6
• Roborock S6 Pure 
• Roborock S6 MaxV
• Roborock S7

Before we discuss the specific features of these various Roborock vacuum cleaners, we should clear a few things out.

People are often confused about the names of Roborock vacuum cleaners. When you purchase Roborock vacuum cleaners from different sellers, you’ll see names like S50, S551, etc. Please note that there are no functional differences between these Roborock vacuum cleaners. All of these names refer to the same vacuum cleaner — Roborock S5. The numbers that follow the primary ‘S5’, such as ‘S550’ or ‘S51’ refer to different colors of plug types. As such, you should only focus on the first number in the name, i.e., Roborock S4, S5, S5, S6, etc.

Other than the Roborock S series, Roborock also released another series of vacuum cleaners in 2018 — Roborock Xiaowa series. In 2018, they had released Roborock Xiaowa Lite, a budget-friendly robot vacuum cleaner that has powerful suction and random cleaning patterns. But they discontinued that model and released the Roborock Xiaowa series as we know it now, i.e., Roborock Xiaowa E2 and E3. The Roborock Xiaowa series also follows the same numbering issues as the S series. The primary numbers E2 and E3 refer to the generations of models. But you’ll also find models with numbers like ‘E20’, ‘E30’, ‘E25’, etc. The additional digits refer to different colors and plug types of the same Roborock vacuum cleaner model.

The primary difference between the Roborock S series and Roborock Xiaowa series is the navigation style. Roborock S series uses LDS (laser distance sensor or Lidar) for navigation while the Roborock Xiaowa series uses dual-gyroscope positioning for navigation.

Now that you have a basic understanding of the concepts behind the Roborock vacuum cleaners, let’s compare all the Roborock vacuum cleaners to the newly released Roborock S7 and the previous model, the Roborock S6 MaxV.

Roborock Vacuum Cleaner Comparison Table

If you’re in a hurry and don’t have the time to read the entire article, please go through this comparison table. In this table, we’ve compiled a comparative overview of all the Roborock robot vacuum cleaners. You should still read our detailed comparative notes because different vacuum cleaners implement the features in different ways. But this comparative table should give you a basic understanding of the differences between Roborock S7 and its predecessors.

Roborock S7 vs. S6 MaxV vs. S6 vs. S5 Max vs. S5 vs. S4 vs. E2 vs. E3: Summary of Differences

Let’s start with a brief summary of the most significant differences between Roborock S7 and the S6 MaxV along with the other Roborock robot vacuum cleaners.

• Mapping Technology: Roborock Xiaowa E2 and E3 use dual-gyroscope and LED motion tracking sensors to identify which areas of the house have been cleaned. The Roborock S series uses LDS (laser distance sensor or Lidar), which gives them a superior ability to create smart maps and avoid obstacles. The Roborock S6 MaxV has one of the most advanced mapping technologies, ReactiveAI, which uses stereo cameras to identify and avoid the smallest of obstacles. Even the S7 uses the same Lidar technology of other generations. If clutter is common in your home, the S6 MaxV will perform better in terms of navigation than the S7.
• Mopping Ability: Roborock S4 is the only robot vacuum cleaner without mopping capabilities. All other Roborock vacuum cleaners also include a water tank and spring-loaded mop. The Roborock S7 and Roborock S6 MaxV are the best at mopping because you can set up No-Mop Zones and schedule mopping. The S7 actually introduces sonic mopping technology to increase the efficiency when cleaning deep-seated dirt.
• Suction Force: Roborock Xiaowa E2 has the weakest suction force of 1800Pa. Roborock S6 MaxV and Roborock S7 have the strongest suction force of 2500Pa. All other Roborock vacuum cleaners have the same suction force of 2000Pa.
• Virtual Boundaries: All Roborock S series vacuum cleaners can establish virtual boundaries through the smartphone app. The Roborock Xiaowa vacuum cleaners can’t set virtual boundaries.
• Zone Cleaning: With Roborock S series vacuum cleaners, you can create specific zones or rooms that need to be cleaner. There are no zone cleaning customizations for Roborock Xiaowa vacuum cleaners.
• Multi-Level Cleaning: Both the Roborock S7 and Roborock S6 MaxV allows you to set 10 different No-Mop Zones, No-Go Zones, and No-Go Lines for up to 4 levels of your home. The other Roborock S6 vacuum cleaners can set up fewer zones. Roborock Xiaowa vacuum cleaners can’t set multi-level zone cleaning.
• Battery Life: Roborock Xiaowa E2 has the weakest battery with a runtime of 100 minutes. Roborock S6 MaxV and the Roborock S7 has the best batteries with a runtime of 180 minutes. All other Roborock vacuum cleaners have a runtime of 150 minutes.

Roborock S7 vs. S6 MaxV vs. S6 vs. S5 Max vs. S5 vs. S4 vs. E2 vs. E3: Detailed Review of Differences

In this section of the article, we’ll have a detailed discussion in which we compare the Roborock S7 and Roborock S6 MaxV to all other Roborock vacuum cleaners. During this comparative discussion, we’ll discuss the robot vacuum cleaners’ design, mapping technologies, mopping functions, and general performance.

Design Differences

Underneath the body, most of the Roborock vacuum cleaners have the same essential design. All of them feature a side brush, a cleaning brush, a variety of bristles and rubber, along with two large wheels. Furthermore, all the Roborock vacuum cleaners also include a washable E11 HEPA filter, which helps filter the air of pollutants and allergens.

The Roborock Xiaowa vacuum cleaners feature three buttons on top for spot cleaning, start/stop, and returning to dock. They also include a 640ml dustbin with the HEPA filter under the lid. Roborock Xiaowa E2 and E3 are available in two colors — black and white.

The Roborock S series vacuum cleaners have a “head” with the LDS navigation in the center, along with three buttons for spot cleaning, recharging, and start/stop. All of the Roborock vacuum cleaners have a cleaning brush on the side that ensures tangle-free operation. Roborock S5 Max and Roborock S6 series also include a side brush made of rubber that makes it easier to detangle hair and protects them from bumps. The new Roborock S7 shares this design as it adopts the same navigation system of the previous S series.

Roborock S6 MaxV looks slightly different from the other Roborock S series vacuum cleaners because it includes two cameras on the front. The front face of Roborock S6 MaxV features a stereo camera, which is a crucial component of its ReactiveAI navigation feature, allowing it to identify and avoid small objects.

Roborock S4 is also slightly different from the other robot vacuum cleaners because it has a semi-transparent lid. As such, you can see the dustbin and HEPA filter through the lid. While that doesn’t make for the most aesthetically-appealing sight, it helps you determine when the dustbin is full.

Battery & Recharge Differences

Roborock Xiaowa E2 has a 2600mAh battery while all other Roborock vacuum cleaners have a 5200mAh battery. As such, Roborock Xiaowa E2 has a total runtime of 100 minutes, while the other Roborock vacuum cleaners have a runtime of 150 minutes. Both the Roborock S7 and the Roborock S6 MaxV has the best overall runtime of 180 minutes.

All Roborock vacuum cleaners have the "Recharge and Resume” feature. As such, if the total area is too large for a single cleaning session, the robot vacuum cleaner returns to its charging dock, recharges, and then resumes cleaning the rest of the area. However, while all Roborock vacuum cleaners have the Recharge and Resume feature, they incorporate it differently.

The Roborock S7, Roborock S6 MaxV, S6, and S5 Max have intelligent recharging capabilities. If the battery is about to run out without cleaning the entire area, these robot vacuum cleaners will calculate exactly how much charge they need to complete the cleaning session. Let’s say they have 10% of the cleaning area left, and they need 25% battery to complete that. In that case, the robot vacuum cleaner will only charge enough to complete cleaning the rest of your home, before returning to its dock.

The other Roborock vacuum cleaners have a relatively less sophisticated Recharge and Resume feature. When they return to the dock to charge, they charge up to 80% battery before resuming the cleaning session. As such, these robot vacuum cleaners may spend several hours recharging before completing the cleaning task, even if only 10% of the cleaning area is still left.

As such, Roborock S7, S6 MaxV, S6, and S5 Max have the best battery and recharging features. And Roborock Xiaowa E2 has the weakest battery.

Mapping & Navigation Differences

When it comes to mapping technologies and navigation, the Roborock S series differs greatly from the Roborock Xiaowa series. However, despite their differences in mapping technologies, all Roborock robot vacuum cleaners remember your floor plan and clean in a systematic path rather than randomized patterns.

Roborock Xiaowa E2 and E3 navigate with dual-gyroscope positioning and navigation system, also known as Inertial Navigation. These vacuum cleaners function in a straight zig-zag line with edge cleaning. While Inertial mapping and navigation aren’t as powerful or accurate as LDS navigation, it’s better than random cleaning because it doesn’t miss any spots.

The Roborock S series uses LDS (laser distance sensor or Lidar) navigation, which allows the robot vacuum cleaner to scan the surroundings and build an accurate map of your home. After creating a map of your home’s layout, the vacuum cleaner calculates the most efficient path with which to clean your entire home without missing a single spot.

Roborock S6 MaxV has the best mapping technology out of all the Roborock S series, even when compared to the latest model, the S7cleaners as well. Roborock S6 MaxV also uses LDS navigation, but in combination with a stereo camera, i.e., two cameras on the front face of the robot. Together, LDS navigation and stereo camera are known as ReactiveAI. With ReactiveAI, Roborock S6 MaxV can accurately detect objects as small as 5cm wide and 3cm high, such as toys, pet waste, and pedestals.

ReactiveAI is the most powerful navigation system. LDS navigation is a close second, and it’s twice as powerful as a gyroscope, and up to four times as powerful as randomized cleaning. As such, Roborock S6 MaxV has the best mapping technology, followed by the Roborock S7, the other Roborock S6 vacuum cleaners, and finally the Roborock Xiaowa series.

Customized Cleaning Differences

The Roborock Xiaowa vacuum cleaners can’t perform customized cleaning, such as selective room cleaning or zone cleaning. Once the Roborock Xiaowa vacuum cleaners have mapped your home, they will follow the complete path, and you can’t set up different schedules and zones based on different parts of your home.

The Roborock S series vacuum cleaners are capable of zone cleaning, selective room cleaning, and multi-level zoning. With the Roborock S series vacuum cleaners, you can set up virtual boundaries and ‘zones’ using your smartphone app. For example, if you don’t want your Roborock to go to certain rooms, you can set up virtual boundaries using your app, and the robot won’t go to those areas.

Roborock S5 Max, S6 MaxV, and the S7 can also create no-mop zones. As such, the robot vacuum cleaner will go through these areas but without using the wet mop. No-mop zones are particularly useful in carpeted areas. With the Roborock S7 and S6 MaxV, you can also set up four different levels for your home with up to 10 different no-go zones, no-go lines, and no-mop zones each.

In addition to establishing which zones these Roborock vacuum cleaners can or can’t go to, you can also set schedules. For example, you can schedule the Roborock to clean the living room at a different time from the bedroom. Or you can schedule the Roborock to clean the carpet at a specific time and mop the rest of your home at a different time.

All things considered, both the Roborock S7 and the S6 MaxV allows the greatest degree of customization. The Roborock S5 Max, S6 MaxV and S7 offer the best customization for mopping capabilities and carpeted homes. The other Roborock S series vacuum cleaners can also create no-go zones and specific room cleaning schedules. And the Roborock Xiaowa vacuum cleaners aren’t compatible with any such customizations and specifications.

Mopping Differences

Roborock S4 is the only Roborock vacuum cleaner without a water tank or wet mopping feature. All other Roborock robot vacuum cleaners have a water tank, which means they have both vacuuming and mopping features. You have to fill the water tank with water, attach the mopping cloth, and insert the water tank. Once you do that, your Roborock vacuum cleaners can sweep mop, or sweep and mop.

Roborock E2, E3, S5, and S6 have water tanks of 140ml. Roborock S6 Pure has a water tank of 180ml. Roborock S5 Max and Roborock S6 MaxV are the best mopping robots because they have the largest water tanks, measuring 280ml and 300ml, respectively. As such, Roborock S5 Max and Roborock S6 MaxV can mop the largest surface without needing a refill.

Most Roborock vacuum cleaners — Roborock E2, E3, and S5 — can only turn on or turn off the mopping feature. As such, they’re not perfect for carpeted homes because you’ll have to be mindful of the surface and turn mopping off when they’re about to clean the carpets. Roborock S6 has a little more advanced mopping feature because you can change the amount of water used for mopping, but you still have to be mindful of carpeted surfaces.

The Roborock S5 Max, Roborock S6 MaxV, and Roborock S7 have the best mopping features because they’re designed primarily as mopping robots. Each model allows you to control the level of water and set up no-mop zones. With no-mop zones, you can demarcate areas in which the robot shouldn’t mop at all, such as carpets. As such, Roborock S5 Max, S6 MaxV, and the S7 allow you to automate the mopping feature.

A great leap for mopping technology has been introduced by the Roborock S7 in the form of the Sonic Vibration technology. This feature allows the mop to scrub for up to 3,000 cycles per minute to eliminate the most stubborn of dirt spots.

All things considered, the Roborock S7 has the best mopping features, followed closely by the Roborock S5 Max and S6 MaxV. The Roborock S6 comes in fourth place. Roborock E2, E3, and S5 have mopping capabilities, but they’re not perfected. Roborock S4 can’t mop at all.

Suction Power Differences

Roborock Xiaowa E2 has the weakest vacuum amongst all the other Roborock vacuum cleaners, with an 1800Pa suction force. Roborock E3, S4, S5, S5 Max, S6, and S6 Pure have a suction force of 2000Pa, which is one of the highest in the industry. However, the latest Roborock S7 and the previous S6 MaxV have the strongest and most powerful vacuum with a suction force of 2500Pa.

The Upcoming Auto-Empty Dock

Roborock has announced that they will be releasing an auto-empty dock device that will allow your Roborock vacuum to empty its dustbin on its own. This peripheral will reduce hands-on maintenance and increase the overall convenience of your Roborock Vacuum. The only drawback is that this dock will only be compatible with the S7 model and new Roborock models going forward. There has been no announcement from the company to make the dock backwards compatible to its other models.

Which Roborock Vacuum Cleaner Should I Buy?

In the previous section, we provided a detailed comparison of all the Roborock vacuum cleaners based on a variety of functions, such as mopping, suction force, design, etc. However, you may be confused about which of those Roborock vacuum cleaners is ideal for your specific needs. In this section of the article, we discuss what each of the Roborock vacuum cleaners is ideal for.

Roborock Xiaowa E2 is Suitable for…

• People living in small homes, because it has a battery runtime of only 100 minutes.
• Pet owners, because it has a large dustbin that can store a lot of waste and fur.
• People who want a robot vacuum cleaner that effectively navigates without a random pattern.
• People who want mopping capability at a low price.
• Individuals and families on a tight budget.

Roborock Xiaowa E3 is Suitable for…

• People living in medium-sized or large homes, because it has a battery runtime of 150 minutes.
• Pet owners with several furry pets that shed a lot, because it has a strong suction force.
• People who need mopping for their bare floors.
• People who need advanced navigation and mopping features on a budget.

Roborock S4 is Suitable for…

• People who don’t need mopping.
• People who want the cheapest robot vacuum cleaner with advanced navigation and scheduling features.
• Pet-owners who are afraid of their robots getting tangles on pet fur. Roborock S4 has a tangle-free cleaning brush.
• People who don’t have lots of carpets or pedestals because Roborock S4 isn’t the best at scaling heights.
• People who want the most advanced features, without mopping, at a low price.

Roborock S5 is Suitable for…

• People who have large pets that shed a lot of furs.
• People with large homes that need multiple zones and rooms.
• People who need mopping.
• Homes with mostly bare floors and minimal carpeting.
• Homes that need more power and features at a relatively low budget.

Roborock S5 Max is Suitable for…

• People who don’t mind spending more on a mopping robot.
• People who have lots of carpeted areas and need a robot with no-mop zones.
• Large homes with lots of rooms and zones.
• Homes with restricted zones.
• People who want to set up different schedules for different zones and mopping.

Roborock S6 is Suitable for…

• People who want to control their mopping feature’s water level.
• People who want to set smart schedules for different rooms and zones.
• Households with lots of toys and pets that need to be avoided.
• Households with large pets that shed fur frequently.
• People who don’t mind paying a premium price for advanced features and power.

Roborock S6 Pure is Suitable for…

• People who want an advanced or upgraded version of the S6.
• Households with a lot of mopping areas requiring a larger water tank.
• People who don’t mind paying extra for intelligent recharging.

Roborock S6 MaxV is Suitable for…

• People who live in large homes that may require three hours to clean completely.
• Households that have lots of restricted zones and carpeted areas.
• People who want to control every aspect of their robot’s functions.
• People who want the most advanced and intelligent navigation system.

Roborock S7 Is Suitable for…

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• People with larger homes who require more time to both mop and vacuum.
• Households that require no-go zones, no mop zones, or general restricted areas.
• People who want the latest in mopping technology.
• People who look forward to the Auto-Empty dock slated for release.

Benefits of Roborock Vacuum Cleaners Over Other Robot Vacuum Cleaners

• Battery Power: Roborock vacuum cleaners have some of the most powerful and long-lasting batteries. Roborock E3, and some of the S series products can last for 150 minutes. The latest Roborock S7 and S6 MaxV have a battery life of up to 180 minutes!
• Intelligent Recharging: All Roborock vacuum cleaners automatically recharge and resume cleaning. Roborock S6, S6 Pure, S6 MaxV, and the S7 also calculate the amount of time it will take to complete cleaning and charge till that level.
• Sweep + Mop: With the exception of Roborock Xiaowa E2, all other Roborock vacuum cleaners can sweep and mop simultaneously.
• Strong Suction Force: With 2500Pa, the Roborock S7 and S6 MaxV have the most powerful suction force in the industry.
• Carpet Identification: Only a few robot vacuum cleaners have the ability to identify the surface type and carpets. All of the Roborock vacuum cleaners can identify carpets and provide deep cleaning automatically. The latest Roborock models can also identify carpets and automatically stop mopping.
• Restricted Areas: All Roborock S series models have the ability to establish restricted zones and restricted rooms through virtual boundaries. As such, you can access really advanced boundary features at a relatively low price as well.
• No-Mop Zones: Roborock S5 Max, S6 MaxV, and S7 can create no-mop zones, a feature that’s available in less than a handful of robot vacuum cleaners.
• Smart Schedules: Roborock S series vacuum cleaners can set smart schedules for different rooms, zones, and levels. You don’t get such specific degrees of scheduling with other robot vacuum cleaners.
• Washable E11 Filter: All of the Roborock vacuum cleaners have a washable HEPA filter that lasts a long time and protect the environment from allergens.
• Obstacle Climbing: Roborock vacuum cleaners are some of the very few robot vacuum cleaners that can climb obstacles like small pedestals and carpets without getting stuck or toppling over.
• LDS and ReactiveAI Navigation: Roborock has some of the most advanced LDS navigation vacuum cleaners. Roborock S6 MaxV is one of the first robot vacuum cleaners that use ReactiveAI for navigation, which uses a stereo camera to identify and avoid small objects.
• Real-Time Tracking: You can use the Roborock smartphone app to track the robot vacuum’s location in real-time.
• Voice Control: Roborock vacuum cleaners can be controlled using voice commands through Alexa and Google Home.
• Price: Roborock vacuum cleaners are available for people with all kinds of budget. Models like Roborock S5 MaxV, S6 Pure, S6 MaxV, and S7 are perfect for those who want the latest and most advanced navigation features. Roborock E2 is perfect for those who want sweeping and mopping robots at an extremely low price point Roborock S4 is ideal for those who just want a sweeping robot with scheduling features at a low price point.

Conclusion

The Roborock S7 is the latest and one of the most feature rich robotic vacuums on the market. Along with Roborock’s previous model, the Roborock S6 MaxV, they show how cutting edge this technology can really be. However, you must consider if you need the advanced features available in the latest Roborock.

You must examine your needs, go through each of Roborock’s features, and decide which of them is most suitable for your budget. We hope this helps you find the best Roborock vacuum cleaner for your household.