Roborock vs. Roomba: The Ultimate Comparison

If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line robot vacuum, chances are that you’ve come across Roborock vs. Roomba. Both of these names have quite a foothold in the robot vacuum market, offering a number of different models and various features.

Roomba tends to have a loyal brand following, while Roborock comes in as the dark horse, headquartered in China with similar features and performance, but at a lower price point.

Which is the better robot vacuum? Find out now!

The Differences

When comparing Roborock vs. Roomba, there are a couple big differences that come to mind.

1. Origin. Roomba vacuums are manufactured in Bedford, Massachusetts, U.S. Roborock vacuums are headquartered in Beijing, with Research & Development and branch offices in Shanghai and Shenzhen
2. History. Roomba, under the iRobot name, was founded in 1990 and comes from a long lineup of smarter vacuum cleaners. Roborock was founded in 2014.
3. Technology. In general, Roomba technology builds a better performing vacuum in terms of suction and raw cleaning power, while Roborock excels in a better navigating vacuum and 2-in-1 vacuums that both vacuum and mop.

With these quick highlights in mind, let’s dive in.

Roborock Robot Vacuums

Roborock vacuum is a Chinese brand that is known for its 2-in-1 cleaners that can vacuum and mop a space simultaneously (not including the S4). In addition, their newer models have exceptional navigation and it’s a nice alternative option compared to the typically higher priced Roomba.

Roborock has two main collections— “S” and “E”. The S Series has a wide range of models at varying price points and different performance capabilities. The E Series is intended to be a budget-conscience robot vacuum collection with a lower price tag and more basic features.

The S Series includes:

• Roborock S6 MaxV
• Roborock S6 Pure
• Roborock S6
• Roborock S5
• Roborock S5 Max
• Roborock S4

The E Series includes:

• Roborock E35 / 30
• Roborock E25 / 20

Here’s a quick overview of the highlights of each model.

Compare the Specs

Roomba Robot Vacuums

The first Roomba robot vacuum was released in 2002 with the first robot mop trailing close behind with its release in 2004. Over the years there have been many models come and go.

Currently, Roomba has 5 flagship models, listed below:

1. Roomba S9 / S9+
2. Roomba i7 / i7+
3. Roomba E5
4. Roomba 960
5. Roomba 675

For more information see our best Roomba page here.

Compare the Specs

Head-to-Head Match Up

So between Roomba vs. Roborock, that’s a lot of different models to throw on the table all at once. Let’s divide up some of the most popular models above and see how they compare.

If you’re looking for the best robot vacuum for your own needs, you’ll want to start by prioritizing what exactly you’re looking for in a robot vacuum.

What’s most important to you?

Top-of-the-line performance? Best value? Best for large floor plans? Or the best option for those on a budget?

Price, features, performance and all play important roles in deciding which robot vacuum is best for your needs.

Best Overall

The Difference Makers: Roomba S9+ is a self-emptying robot vacuum with better cleaning performance and Roborock S6 MaxV is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and robot mop with better navigation for large floor plans.

For the best-of-the-best from each brand, we have the Roborock S6 MaxV as well as the Roomba S9+. Both of these models represent the most advanced robot vacuums to-date with intelligent mapping, improved cleaning performance, and smarter features.

Better Navigation: Roborock

The Roborock S6 MaxV is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum that also operates as a robot mop with an on-board mopping reservoir.

Other smart features include:

• Digital mapping
• No-go lines
• Scheduled cycles (for vacuuming or mopping)
• Cleaning performance: 92% overall

The S6 MaxV has the ability to detect obstacles less than an 1″ in size. It is able to map these obstacles and intelligently avoid them throughout the entire cleaning process.

To demonstrate this ability, the vacuum even comes with a small pile of artificial dog poop. Place the poo and watch it work.

Better Performance: Roomba S9+

The Roomba S9+ is the most advanced robot vacuum that iRobot currently produces. The self-emptying dust bin with Recharge and Resume technology makes it so this vacuum and keep cleaning until the job is done. It also saves you time from having to manually empty the dust bin after each run.

Smart features on the S9+include:

• Self-emptying dust bin
• Digital mapping
• “Keep Out” zones
• Scheduled cycles (for vacuuming or mopping)
• Cleaning performance: 99% overall

Best Value

The Difference Makers: The Roomba E5 doesn’t have an on-board camera or digital mapping so navigation isn’t quite as impressive. Also, the S4 can charge up in the middle of a cleaning cycle and then resume cleaning, but the E5 doesn’t have this ability.

If you’re looking for a great value, it’s hard to overlook the Roomba E5 or the Roborock S4. Both of these models are more budget-conscience and nix a few of the more advanced features, but don’t have a lot of loss in terms of overall performance.

Cleaning Performance: Side-by-Side

The cleaning performance was comparable between these two models. No significant issue with any specific debris type.

Here’s a quick look at some of the features that may or may not be included with each of these models:

Best Budget

The Difference Maker: The Roborock E35 is unique in that it doubles as a vacuum and mop as, as well as having digital mapping capabilities. But it struggles with cleaning carpet. The Roomba 675 is better at cleaning all floor types, especially carpet, but lacks digital mapping and doesn’t mop.

Which is right for you?

If performance is most important, the Roomba 675 is the better option. It still has app-based controls for scheduled cleanings and maintencne alerts, etc and the heightened performance on carpet is a real win.

If being able to mop floors is most important as well as having a longer run time (150 minutes vs. 75 minutes), then the Roborock E5 may be better suited to you.

They are priced comparably so it really comes down to what exactly you’re looking for.

Smart Features

Both Roomba and Roborock offers a series of smart features. Here’s how some of the best features compare:

1. Digital Mapping

Roomba and Roborcok produce digital maps while they clean. These maps are generated through the smartphone app and accurately show a map of the space.

Based on graphics alone, the Roborock mapping is advanced and includes more detailed information than the Roomba, in most cases.

With either app, you can see all of the areas that the vacuum has cleaned and identify any trouble spots.

The apps also allow you to block off areas that you may not want the vacuum to clean.

• Roomba uses “Keep-out Zones”.
• Roborock uses a straight No-Go Line.

2. Self-Emptying Dust Bin

Roomba is the only lineup that offers a self-emptying dust bin, between Roborck and Roomba. The S9+ and i7+ have this advanced feature and during our tests, I was really impressed with it.

How does it work?

The Roomba cleans the area as usual. When it is done (or earlier if it detects a full dust bin), the vacuum will drive itself back to the charging dock and empty the dust bin into a separate debris bag.

The larger bag back at the charging base can fit up to 30 loads from the vacuum.

With daily vacuum runs, you wouldn’t have to worry about emptying the bin for at least a month.

The bag is disposable, but you could also just empty the contents and reuse if you are trying to keep maintenance costs down.

3. Vacuum & Mop Combos

Both Roomba and Roborock offer their own approach to vacuuming and mopping.

Roborock offers 2-in-1 machines that can do both, simultaneously. They vacuum and mop within a single cleaning cycle and you don’t have to worry about separate robots.

How does it work?

The mopping system is an on-board water reservoir with a microfiber mopping pad. Cleaning solution slowly leaks out the bottom onto the mopping pad and gently scrubs the floor as it cleans.

The S6 MaxV allows you to set up custom vacuum and mopping zones within a single cycle making it easy to make sure the cleaning happens exactly how you want it to.

Roomba uses a different technology called Imprint Link. This technology works to join together traditional Roomba robot vacuums and Braava Jet robot mops.

Note: The only current models that are compatible with Imprint Link are the Roomba i7/+, Roomba S9/+, and the Braava Jet m6 mopping robot.

How does it work?

With Roomba, the vacuum will clean the area assigned. When it’s done, it will send a signal to the mopping robot and it will start its cycle. They work together until the job is done, but you only have to assign the cycle to start once.

The Roomba robot mops have a sprayer that squirts water in front of the machine and then it moves forward and backward until the area is clean.

Still Not Sure?

So this guide has run through the specs, features, and performance. Still wondering what robot vacuum is right for you? Please use the comment form below to send us your question.

We do our best to answer all questions within 24 hours.