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!
Roborock vs. Roomba Differences
When comparing Roborock vs. Roomba, there are a couple big differences that come to mind.
- 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.
- 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.
- Technology. In general, Roomba technology builds a better performing vacuum in terms of suction and raw cleaning power, while Roborock models have better navigation and 2-in-1 vacuums that both vacuum and mop.
With these quick highlights in mind, let’s dive in.
Roborock Models
Roborock vacuum is a Chinese brand that is known for its 2-in-1 cleaners that can vacuum and mop a space simultaneously. 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 S7 – launching in March, 2021
- Roborock S6 MaxV
- Roborock S6 Pure
- Roborock S6
- Roborock S5 Max
- Roborock S5 – discontinued
- Roborock S4 – discontinued
The E Series includes:
Here’s a quick overview of the highlights of each model.
Top-Performing Roborock
Roborock S7
The differences between the newest S7 vacuum and the S6 Max are pretty minor. The S7 has a larger dust bin (by 10 mL) and a larger water tank capacity by (3 mL) with slightly more power (68W on the S7 and 66W on the S6 Max). Since this model is fresh on the lineup, we haven’t been able to personally test this vacuum yet but should have results by the February, 2021.Check PriceDual Camera Navigation
Roborock S6 MaxV
The Roborock S6 MaxV takes some big steps in navigation and mapping technology. It comes with twin cameras on the front of the vacuum, which help it to detect and avoid obstacles as small as 2″. Run time is up to 180 minutes and it’s a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop with up to 2500 Pa suction power (500 Pa more than the 6 Pure). Cleaning performance on hardwoods was excellent, although carpet still had some problems — 92% debris removal overall. Check Price2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop
Roborock S6 Pure
The Roborock S6 Pure steps down in suction power and mopping tank capacity from the 6 MaxV, but is a step up from the standard Roborock S6. It offers 2000 Pa suction and a 180mL tank capacity. This vacuum runs up to 180 minutes and doubles as a vacuum and mop.Check Price2-in-1 Robot Vacuum & Mop
Roborock S6
The Roborock S6 is another step down from the MaxV in terms of price and performance. It lacks some of the obstacle detection features, but still did a good job with digital mapping. This vacuum runs up to 180 minutes and doubles as a vacuum and mop, with a mopping tank capacity of 140 mL and up to 2000 Pa suction power. Like the MaxV, this vacuum also struggled with carpets, but excelled on hardwoods — 89% debris removal overall. Check PriceA Smarter 2-in-1 Robot Vac and Mop
Roborock S5 Max
The Roborock S5 Max has the extended 180-minute run time like the MaxV, but lacks the advanced obstacle detection. It has an XL mopping reservoir and good suction, especially good on hardwoods — 91% debris removal overall. Check PriceBest of the E-Series
Roborock E4
The Roborock E4 has a large 640 mL dust bin, 6 cleaning modes, and a lengthy 200 minute run time. In addition, it greatly surprised us in our cleaning tests removing 97% of total debris. It has an optional mopping attachment, but lacks digital mapping. Even so, the e4 is a strong value robot by any standard.Check PriceRobot Mop & Vacuum Combination
Roborock E35
The Roborock e35 has an XL dustbin compared to the capacity in the S Series. It still offers a 200-minute run time, a 140mL capacity mopping tank capacity, and 2000 Pa suction power. Cleaning performance is good, about what we’ve seen above — 92% debris removal overall. Notably, it lacks digital mapping.Check PriceSolid Value for 2-in-1
Roborock E25
The Roborock E25 has slightly less suction than the E35 (1800 Pa vs. 2000 Pa) and also has a reduced run time (only 100 minutes). Like the other E-series robots, it also lacks digital mapping, cleaning with more basic navigation. Cleaning performance was good, but not great — 89% debris removal overall.Check PriceCompare the Specs
| Models | S7 | S6 MaxV | S6 Pure | S6 | S5 Max | E4 | E3 / E35 | E2 / E25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphone Control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mops | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mapping | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Map Saving | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Zone Cleaning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Run Time | 180 mins. | 180 mins. | 180 mins. | 180 mins. | 180 mins. | 200 mins. | 200 mins. | 100 mins. |
| Battery | 5,200 mAh | 5,200 mAh | 5,200 mAh | 5,200 mAh | 5,200 mAh | 5,200 mAh | 5,200 mAh | 2,600 mAh |
| Cleans | 3,200 sq. ft. | 3,200 sq. ft. | 3,200 sq. ft. | 3,200 sq. ft. | 3,200 sq. ft. | 2,100 sq. ft. | 2,100 sq. ft. | 1,600 sq. ft. |
| Navigation | Laser / Smart Mapping | Dual Camera; Laser / Smart Mapping | Laser / Smart Mapping | Laser / Smart Mapping | Laser / Smart Mapping | Inertial Navigation | Inertial Navigation | Inertial Navigation |
| Dust Bin | 470 mL | 460 mL | 460 mL | 480 ml | 460 ml | 640 ml | 640 ml | 640 ml |
| Mop Tank Capacity | 300 mL | 297 mL | 180 mL | 140 mL | 290 mL | 180 mL | 140 mL | 140 mL |
| Suction | 2,500 Pa | 2,500 Pa | 2,000 Pa | 2,000 Pa | 2,000 Pa | 2,000 Pa | 2,000 Pa | 1,800 Pa |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Reviews | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review |
Roomba Models
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:
D-Shaped Vac with Self-Emptying Bins
Roomba S9+
The Roomba S9+ is the most advanced robot vacuum currently on the Roomba lineup. It has a D-Shaped body style, which allows for an XL brushroll as well as a self-emptying dust bin. The S9+ offers app-based controls and excellent cleaning performance on all floor types — 99% debris removal overall.Check PriceRound Vac with Self-Emptying Bin
Roomba i7+
The Roomba i7+ has the same self-emptying dust bin as the S9+, but has a round body style. The round body means it has a shorter brushroll, so cleaning cycles may take a bit longer. But our tests revealed that cleaning performance was still exceptional on all floor types — 99% debris removal overall.Check PriceRound Vac with Self-Emptying Bin
Roomba i3+
The Roomba i3+ is the most budget friendly vacuum in the i series that also comes with the self-emptying CleanBase. It has digital mapping, but lacks some of the more advanced features like Zoned cleaning or digital no-go boundaries. During our cleaning tests, it performed just as well as any other models in the i Series—99% debris removal overall.Check PriceBEST VALUE
Roomba E5
The Roomba e5 is a great vacuum for value-seekers. It’s moderately priced and has smart features like app-control. There’s no digital mapping, but during our tests that didn’t seem to effect cleaning performance as much. It take a little longer to clean, but got the job done — 99% debris removal overall.Check PriceBEST BUDGET ROOMBA
Roomba 675
The Roomba 675 is a budget robot with enough power and the right features to make most users happy. It does have the classic zig-zag navigation pattern of an older Roomba, but the sporadic nature did not negatively effect performance — 95% debris removal overall. Check PriceFor more information see our best Roomba page here.
Compare the Specs
| Roomba S9+ | Roomba i7+ | Roomba i3+ | Roomba e5 | Roomba 675 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $$$$ | $$$$ | $$$ | $$ | $$ |
| Runtime | ~75 mins. | ~75 mins. | ~75 mins. | ~90 mins. | ~90 mins |
| Scheduled Cleanings | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Self-Charging | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Self-Emptying | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Drop Detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Full Bin Indicator | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Recharge & Resume | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Digital Map Reports | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Digital Keep Out Zones | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Imprint Link | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Dirt Detection | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Advanced | Basic |
| Technology | S Series | i Series | i Series | e Series | AeroVac |
| Brushroll Style | Dual rubber | Dual rubber | Dual rubber | Dual rubber | Bristle |
| Brushroll Width | Edge-to-edge | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Wireless Control | Smartphone or voice | Smartphone or voice | Smartphone or voice | Smartphone or voice | Smartphone or voice |
| Navigation | Best | Best | Advanced | Advanced | Basic |
| Virtual Walls (included) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Score | 99% | 98% | 98% | 93% | 94% |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review | Read Review |
Roomba vs. Roborock Comparison Table
So between Roomba vs. Roborock, there are 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.
Below we have a complete list of both Roomba and Roborock models in a side-by-side battle on al relevant specs, features, hardware, and software:
| Model | Cleaning | Hardwood | Low Pile | High Pile | Mops | Water Tank | Dust Bin | Self-Empty Bin | App | Digital Map | Keep Out Zones | Run Time | Recharge & Resume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roomba S9+ | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% | No | NA | 500 ml | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 75 mins. | Yes |
| Roomba i7+ | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% | No | NA | 500 ml | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 75 mins. | Yes |
| Roomba i3+ | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% | No | NA | 500 ml | Yes | Yes | Yes* | No | 75 mins. | Yes |
| Roomba e5 | 99% | 100% | 99% | 99% | No | NA | 500 ml | No | Yes | No | No | 90 mins. | No |
| Roomba 980 | 95% | 100% | 97% | 87% | No | NA | 300 ml | No | Yes | Yes* | No | 120 mins. | Yes |
| Roomba 960 | 92% | 100% | 88% | 87% | No | NA | 300 ml | No | Yes | Yes* | No | 75 mins. | Yes |
| Roomba 890 | 92% | 98% | 91% | 88% | No | NA | 300 ml | No | Yes | No | No | 90 mins. | No |
| Roomba 690 | 94% | 98% | 93% | 91% | No | NA | 300 ml | No | Yes | No | No | 90 mins. | No |
| Roomba 675 | 95% | 99% | 95% | 90% | No | NA | 300 ml | No | Yes | No | No | 180 mins. | No |
| Roborock S7 | NA | NA | NA | NA | Yes | 300 mL | 470 mL | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 180 mins. | Yes |
| Roborock S6 MaxV | 92% | 99% | 91% | 85% | Yes | 297 ml | 460 ml | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 180 mins. | Yes |
| Roborock S6 Pure | NA | NA | NA | NA | Yes | 180 mL | 460 mL | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 180 mins. | Yes |
| Roborock S6 | 89% | 100% | 85% | 92% | Yes | 140 ml | 480 ml | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 180 mins. | Yes |
| Roborock S5 Max | 91% | 100% | 83% | 90% | Yes | 290 ml | 460 ml | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 180 mins. | Yes |
| Roborock S4 Max | 96% | 99% | 92% | 97% | No | NA | 460 ml | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | 180 mins. | Yes |
| Roborock E4 | 97% | 99% | 95% | 98% | Yes | 180 ml | 640 ml | No | Yes | No | No | 200 mins. | Yes |
| Roborock E35 | 92% | 99% | 92% | 96% | Yes | 140 ml | 640 ml | No | Yes | No | No | 200 mins. | Yes |
| Roborock E25 | 89% | 100% | 84% | 82% | Yes | 140 ml | 640 ml | No | Yes | No | No | 100 mins. | Yes |
*The Roomba i3+, Roomba 980, and Roomba 960 all utilize digital mapping to navigate and clean your space. At the conclusion of the cleaning session a digital mapping report is created and available to users. However, users cannot interact with the map to create room labels, keep out zones, and other custom cleaning control.
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
- Cleaning: 92%
- Runs: 180 mins.
- Recharge & Resume? Yes
- Smart Maps: Yes
- Empties bin? No
- Cleaning: 99%
- Runs: 75 mins.
- Recharge & Resume? Yes
- Smart Maps: Yes
- Empties bin? Yes
The Difference Makers: Roomba S9+ is a self-emptying robot vacuum with better cleaning performance. Roborock S6 MaxV is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and robot mop with better navigation for large floor plans.
Both of these models represent the best vacuums from each manufacturer. While Roborock also has the S7, it’s not readily available so until it’s fully launched, the S6 Max holds the title for best overall Roborock.
The S9+ and S6 Max both have intelligent mapping, excellent cleaning performance, and smart integration (like voice control or app control).
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% debris removal 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% debris removal overall
Best Value
- Cleaning: 99%
- Runs: 90 mins.
- Recharge & Resume? No
- Smart Maps: No
- Capacity: 500 mL
- Cleaning: 91%
- Run: 180 mins.
- Recharge & Resume? Yes
- Smart Maps: Yes
- Capacity: 460 mL
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 S5 Max has greater suction and can charge up in the middle of a cleaning cycle and then resume cleaning. 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 S5 Max. The Roomba E5 is a little more budget-friendly but that also means that it has fewer features.
Cleaning Performance: Side-by-Side
Roomba E5
99%
Roborock S5 Max
91%
Although it looks pretty different, the cleaning performance was actually quite similar between these two models.
Even so, the E5 did do better at cleaning high pile carpet, where the S5 Max struggled with the finer debris pickup. Besides the sugar test, the S5 Max had fantastic performance, but that one test did bring its overall score down a bit.
Here’s a quick look at some of the features that may or may not be included with each of these models:
| Roomba E5 | Roborock S5 Ma | |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Mapping | No | Yes |
| Mopping | No | Yes |
| Recharge & Resume | No | Yes |
| No-Go Areas | No | Yes |
| Zoned Cleaning | No | Yes |
| Maintenance Alerts | Yes | Yes |
By comparison, the Roborock S5 Max has smarter navigation and also doubles as a smart mopping robot and a robot vacuum cleaner.
The dust bin capacity is 460 mL and mopping tank capacity is 290 mL (separating the S5 Max by only 10 mL from the current top-of-the-line S7). It also has the same area coverage, battery capacity, and run time as the newest model (the S7), which really makes the S5 Max an attractive buy if you’re looking for good bang for your buck.
Best Budget
- Cleaning: 95%
- Runs: 90 mins.
- Recharge & Resume: No
- Smart Maps: No
- Capacity: 300 mL
- Cleaning: 92%
- Runs: 200 mins.
- Recharge & Resume: Yes
- Smart Maps: No
- Capacity: 640 mL
The Difference Maker: The Roborock E35 is special in that it doubles as a vacuum and mop as. However, it struggles with cleaning carpet. The Roomba 675 is better at cleaning all floor types, especially carpet, but lacks recharge and resume and doesn’t mop. Neither mop digitally maps.
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 maintenance alerts, but the heightened performance on carpet is the biggest differentiator.
If being able to mop floors is most important as well as having a longer run time (200 minutes vs. 90 minutes), then the Roborock E35 may be better suited to you.
They are priced comparably so it really comes down to what exactly you’re looking for.
Features Comparison
Both Roomba and Roborock offers a series of smart features. Here’s how some of the best features compare:
1. Digital Mapping
Roomba and Roborock 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.
Roomba Mapping
Roborock Mapping
Note, only Roomba and Roborock’s more advanced models include digital mapping. For Roborock this means their S-series, for Roomba it means the i7+ and S9+ ( i3+, 960, and 980 having partial mapping features).
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 and No-Go Boxes for both vacuuming and mopping
2. Self-Emptying Dust Bin
Roomba is the only lineup that offers a self-emptying dust bin, between Roborock and Roomba. The S9+ and i7+ have this advanced feature and during our tests, I was 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 vacuum bag on 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. The 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/+, Roomba i3/+, 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.
Using the S9+ or i7+, you can send the Roomba to a specific room for cleaning as well. This feature is not available on the i3+, although you can still link it up with a partner robot mop.
4. Smart Integration
Both Roomba and Roborock also have a user-friendly smartphone app that offers additional settings and features for each vacuum. In addition, you can control the vacuum using your phone or pair it up with an AI like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple HomeKit.
The apps have overlapping capabilties like:
- Scheduled Cleanings (all models)
- Zoned Cleaning (Roborock’s S-series and Roomba’s i7+ and S9+)
- Recharge & Resume (all Roborocks, but only Roomba i3+, i7+, and S9+)
- Digital Mapping (Roborock’s S-series and Roomba’s i7+ and S9+)
- Maintenance Alerts (most models)
Two other special features that Roomba offers includes:
- Imprint Link
- Genius Home Intelligence
What Is Imprint Link?
We touched on this technology briefly earlier in this review, but basically, Imprint Link is a form of advanced digital mapping that allows for:
- More precise zoned cleaning
- Pairing of robot vacuums and mops
Roomba becomes more intelligent and can perform better as well when the programs better understand the space. Imprint Link technology links together the digital map, your robot vacuum, and a mopping robot for increased performance across the board… and with less user intervention needed.
What is Genius Home Intelligence?
Genius Home Intelligence is the newest platform update from iRobot which is designed to provide more control of where, when, and how your robot cleans.
The Genius program can account for unique schedules in your home, cleaning preferences, and smart home integrations. You can:
- Send the robot to targeted messes
- Receive recommendations on when may be the best time to clean
- Event-based automation
- Response to existing smart home parameters or settings
- Consider recommended Keep-Out-Zones based on obstacles and activity
These changes to the iRobot platform are
Questions?
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.
ChangeLog
- January 22, 2021 – Update for new models, as well as discontinued models. Also added new models we’ve recently tested, with new data and photographs. Formatting improved in a number of areas. Corrected several specs, stats, features, and other data points due to recent updates (mostly by Roborock updating app based features), as well as correcting errors.
- May 22, 2020 – Initial version of the page was published.
Hi Derek,
Awesome page here! If I may ask, my house is about 1,300 sq ft, mostly vinyl floor, no carpet. I got a puppy and two young children, so mopping is quite essential for me. Which brand and model would you recommend?
Hi! I would like to start, thanking for this amazing article!
the most complete one that i ever read, about this topic.
Said that, i would like to ask a question that even tho i read everything i still got a bit confused with: does romba has the mop option or no?
Bc on the table says no, but afterwards it says that combines with another robot. So i understood that i have to buy Romba + mop robot, is that correct?
thanks so much!
There is no Roomba that also acts as a mop.
However, Roomba offers their Braava mopping robots. All the Braava robots do is mop, they do not vacuum. All Roomba robots do is vacuum, they do not mop.
However, you can use the more advanced Braava m6 with the flagship Roomba robots together…basically you can start a mopping task after a vacuuming task has completed.
what do you recommend for my about 1300 sq ft single floor apartment, bedrooms & living room carpeted, kitchen, bathroom & pathways have tiled flooring. we are just two adults living with not much mess around & regular furniture. priority is for superior cleaning/ vaccum, best price & a no hassle navigation in this small space. mopping is optional since its not going to scrub & deep clean as done by manual mop. I was comparing roborock s5 max vs irobot not sure which version.
just adding we have few rugs around , no pets but female hair falling in bedrooms. would roborock s5 max vs irobot i3 , which one do you recommend, Derek? Thanks
Between the Roborock S5 Max and the Roomba i3, I would go with the Roborock. It’s got better navigation and much better mapping.
Roomba is better when it comes to raw cleaning performance on carpet, but Roborock isn’t far behind.
If you wanted to jump to the Roomba i7 or S9 then I’d go with them over the Roborock, as those Roomba models have much better navigation more on par with Roborock. But if those are out of budget, go Roborock S5 Max.
Thanks for the response Derek. we do have 75% carpet , 25% tiled floor in our apartment. Do you still recommend s5 max considering carpet cleaning is not too good ? one of my friend said she had to vaccum 3 times with roborock s5 max for carpets for a cleaner look. Would irobot i3 be any better with carpet cleaning?
Gotcha. Since you have mostly carpet floors I’d go with the Roomba i3 then.
When it comes to cleaning performance on carpets it’s simply better.
Roomba’s i3 and other flagship robots are all among the very best we’ve tested to date when it comes to cleaning on carpets, removing 98-99% of debris. Most other high end robots are closer to 90% on carpets.
Is the S4 max discontinued also?
I read on a review that Roborock does not honor the 1 year warranty. Are you familiar with their warranty?
S4 Max is not discontinued. It’s available here – https://amzn.to/3xBvi5C
I have not come across any issues with the warranty, but I’ve also had no need to utilize it.
Thanks for the great comparison article. Such a detailed amd objective review really helps navigate the flood of information available across different models.
I’m tending towards one of the Roomba top models due to the better cleaning capability. However, the considerably lower run time makes me hesitate. Ideally, I want the robot to clean the entire apartment on one charge.
How long will it take to clean 100 square meters? Or the other way around: how much ground can a vacuum robot cover per hour?
And lastly, what is the maximum step height, that a top Roomba and a top iRobot can overcome (we have old wooden plank floors with 3-4 cm thresholds between the rooms). Alternatively, I’m considering to build small ramps. But clearly, this is the key weak spot I see with vacuum robots, which I hope will be asdressed by manufacturers soon.
Thank you for your advice.
Run time can vary based on a number of factors, which is why I tend to not spend too much time testing it.
Both Roborock and Roomba are going to be similar when it comes to around 100 sq. meters. Both should clean that area on a single charge in 60-90 minutes.
Most Roomba and Roborock can handle a height of around 0.5″ (1.27 cm). Roborock’s S4 Max can handle up to 0.75″ (1.905 cm). However, these numbers are more basic guidelines…depending the material, how sharp the height difference is, etc. can impact whether or not they will make it. It’s for these reasons that most robot brands don’t tend to make hard statements on climbability. 1.27 cm is the safest bet, but based on materials, many robot could handle up to 1.9 cm. However, beyond that you shouldn’t expect much.
Hi Derek!
I don’t have any questions. Just want you to know that this is the best comparison I’ve seen and to thank you about this great post!
You’re too kind. Thank you very much! I’m glad to hear we’re hitting the mark with our reviews 😀
First of all, most useful comparison i’ve read, kudos! Also saw your videos which are amazing.
Thinking of purchasing either the Roomba i3158 or the Roborock S7, which in my country they seem to be the same price.
S7 seems o be technically better, newer, with better app functions, whereas i3 seems to be stronger on the cleaning side, and better for a house with Pets.
I have a 70m2 apartment with a Beagle living in it 🙂 which one of these two would you recommend, or anything else you would advise? also the price range tops out for me in these ranges, started with cheaper but these seem reasonable to invest a bit more in.
Thanks so much 🙂
Thank you!
Between the i3 and S7 I think it really comes down to what is more important for you…cleaning performance? Or usability? The S7 has better navigation and digital mapping. So in general, it’s able to get around your home easier.
But since you have a relatively small home that might not be as important. No matter what way you slice it the i3 has better raw cleaning power. I think given everything you’ve said here I’d go with the i3.
If your budget limited you to these choices: Roomba 675 or Roborock E4, which would you choose? Cleaning is #1, followed by ability to schedule and confidently leave the house and have the job completed. We have a single level home with mostly hard flooring with few area rugs. My concern at this price point is the ping pong cleaning effect and leaving it to run until the battery runs down might miss a lot of spots. Can you effectively leave these to clean your house at this price point or should I wait until I can purchase the upgraded models?
Despite the price, both are still quite good robots. Yes, their navigation is more basic, but it still gets the job done.
The e4 had a slightly better cleaning score than the 675, and the Roborock app I think is a little more developed. For these reasons, I think it makes sense to go with the e4.
I’m curious how you ran your test, as a owner of a robot vacuum store besides the S9, iRobot’s have average performance on bare or hard floors, and there certainly behind roborock in this domain. I find how you came to this conclusion as it’s widely known in the industry that roborock and even Ecovacs is much superior on hard floors.
Thanks John
All of our standalone reviews explain our testing process. You can find the S7 and S9 below:
https://moderncastle.com/roborock-s7-review/
https://moderncastle.com/roomba-s9-plus-review/
Essentially, we test on 3 different floor types. On each floor type we spread 4 different debris on those floors, run the vacuum, and then measure the debris (by weight) removed by the vacuum. That then becomes the cleaning scores for each floor type and the 3 floor types become the total average cleaning score.
Thank you for the detailed comparisons. How does the mopping capability of the Roborock S6 MaxV compare to dedicated robotic mops, such as the Braava m6?
I have all tile flooring and no rugs. I do have pets as well. The Roborock looks like a nice option since I don’t have to worry about carpets. However, mopping is also very important to me, so I am willing to by a dedicated unit in addition to a vacuum if that turns out to be the best option.
I’ve narrowed it down to either:
– Roborock S6 MaxV
– Roomba i7+ and Braava m6
– Roomba s9+ and Braava m6 (seems like more than what I would need)
I’d say in terms of just mopping performance, the dedicated mopping robots tend to be better than 2-in-1s.
However, the S6 MaxV has amazing navigation, so that’s a big part of it to. And that said, the S6 MaxV is still pretty solid mop, in my view. For my home I’ve been using the MaxV, for my office I’ve been using the S9+ and m6.
Based on your narrow down choices I agree, I think it’s MaxV or i7+ / m6. I think the question is do you want the self empty dust bin or not? If not, go MaxV. If you do, go i7+ / m6.
Thank you, Derek. This was very helpful information.
You’re welcome
Hi Derek
Really insightful comparison!
I need your help in deciding between the 2 models. My home is partly carpeted in bedrooms and tiles in the living room and study. I am looking for a vaccum cleaner which is capable for minor debris cleaning with a strong suction as I have a small kid.
Thank you!
What 2 models are you considering?
The description of what you’re looking for is pretty broad and honestly almost any of these robots would be more than suitable for that environment.
Hi Derek,
Our home is 2900 square feet – 4 low-pile carpeted bedrooms (about 1,000 square feet) with tile and a few low-pile area rugs throughout the rest of the home. We want a robot vacuum that will be reliable and effective for many years to come! We like the self-emptying feature but are unsure if the price point is worth it. Would love your feedback.
Thanks!
Katy
Since you have mostly hard surface flooring I think the a 2-in-1 robot that both mops and vacuums will be in your best interest. But since you also want the self empty bin that makes it challenging…because there isn’t a 2-in-1 with a self empty bin, at least not yet.
So here are your best options:
1) Wait until March for the Roborock S7. We’ll be testing the S7 in February when our review unit comes in, but you can read the specs and other info here – https://moderncastle.com/roborock-s7-review/ – I think there is very little doubt it will easily be the best 2-in-1 robot on the market when it formally launches.
2) If you decide the mopping just isn’t as important to you then I’d suggest the Roomba i7+ https://amzn.to/3wCGc9y or Roomba S9+ https://amzn.to/2S2C4Oo. Both have the self empty bin, recharge and resume, and excellent mapping / navigation. With a home as large as yours you really need a robot with excellent mapping and digital navigation.
3) If you decide self empty bin isn’t as important then you should go with the Roborock S6 MaxV- https://amzn.to/3cGk9EN. It can both vacuum and map and it’s arguably the best navigating robot we’ve tested to date.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Hi, I am looking to buy a robotic vac, but need your help. Our house is approx 1800 square feet single story all floors are wooden or tiles. Would consider moping if it does a decent job. Would value your advice before we spend a considerable amount of money.
Based on your home size and floor types I would suggest the Roborock S6 MaxV – https://amzn.to/3cGk9EN
If that’s out of the budget get the Roborock S5 Max – https://amzn.to/357YX7z
Since you have so much hard surface flooring the ability to mop is really going to be a helpful feature.
Wonderful comparison!! I really enjoy the thoroughness of your reviews!
I recently bought a Roborock S4 Max for my apartment with vinyl flooring and mid-pile carpet, but as I’m reading more reviews I’m wondering if it would be worth returning it and getting a Roomba (probably i3 or i7), seeing how impressively those have done in the cleaning tests. In your opinion, would that be worth the hassle, or is the difference in performance not really that noticeable? Thank you!!
You’re welcome!
If I were you I would continue to try the S4 Max out for a few weeks…at least during the return period. See if you like the performance level or not.
The i3 or i7 will yield better performance on your carpets for sure (at least based on our testing data), but it’s not to say the S4 Max is a bad performer. The S4 Max also did quite well in our carpet tests.
I really appreciate your response! I wanted to give an update – I got a Roomba i7 via Amazon Warehouse, and it cleans extremely well. It’s a bit ‘dumber’ than the Roborock, but I was expecting that. My pick would be the i7, BUT it knocks into things pretty hard! I tried putting an aftermarket bumper on it and even with that it bangs into and also tries to get under things it can’t fit under. I’m totally stuck here… Roomba is clearly the winner in cleaning performance, but I really don’t want to deal with damaged furniture or walls! Is there another model that is more gentle? Alternatively, would my Roborock problem be solved by having it do more passes, or is it simply not capable of cleaning as well as the Roomba? The deep cleaning performance you registered was not that great, comparatively speaking. Thank you again SO much for your help!!!
The only model I can think of that’s more gentle (arguably at least) is the Roborock S6 MaxV. Since it has front cameras and an AI to detect obstacles, it’s able to see things and avoid running into them. At least some of the time.
It’s not perfect and will still run into obstacles with the same level of force as the Roomba.
Sorry, I meant *bumper cushion* for the Roomba.
Hi. I want help for buy the robot. I’m between the roborock s5max or roomba i7
If you have mostly carpet, get the Roomba i7.
If you have mostly hard surface flooring, get the Roborock S5 Max.
Thanks a lot.
You’re welcome!
I wanted to ask your help with the following matter. I found in Irobot web site that two square feet is the minimum area for a Keep Out Zone, but I could not find this information for the roborock S5 Max on the web. I would like to know if it is similar, smaller or bigger.
Just checked in the app. 0.3 meters square is the minimum keep out zone area. About 1 x 1 foot.
Thank you !!!
You’re very welcome.
Amazing articles,
I’m hoping you can help with my use case.
My floor plan is as follows, one floor 3 bedroom 2 bath 1400 sq ft. Hallway, kitchen, entry is about 400 sq ft laminate, with area rugs, bedrooms midpile carpet. I have a stepdown family room and another step down living room of the hallway and kitchen (both rooms open into the adjoining rooms and are carpeted. We have a short hair dog and have to clean dog hair from current ecovac m80 pro random navigation robot. Current bot does not get stuck on cords but under a dresser and or night stand every now and then.
I’m considering roborock e4, S4
My wife wants to be able to pick up robot place it in room and run it manually. I want to set up scheduled cleanings, use Alexa to send bot to clean specific rooms, spot cleanings, place bot in step down rooms and garage for cleaning.
Moping is secondary concerns
Considering RR e4 s4 max or s6 pure, and irobot i3 and i7 and Ecovac t5
RR has told me that LIDAR could be an issue was it had problems mapping open rooms that the robot cannot access, laser scans the room but step keeps it from accessing room? Also, LIDAR mapping of open stepdown room that opens into the rest of the house could be an issue, they suggest e4, I have heard e4 has issues with finding base, or being moved from base?
RR customer service is pretty rough, conflicting info.
Is LIDAR, vSlam or gyro better for our use case?
Which bot would you suggest?
Priorities
1. Carpet cleaning
2. Returning to base/stable software/does not get stuck
3. Voice command to specific room
4. Being able manually move robot without base.
5. Moping
Based on your priorities and home here’s what I would suggest:
You can eliminate Roborock e4 and Roomba i3. Relative to these other models they just don’t have the hardware to navigate as well.
Unfortunately, I haven’t tested the Ecovac t5. So I’m not qualified to say if it’s really worthy of consideration. But in general, I haven’t been blown away with other Ecovac models we’ve tested.
So that leaves us with Roborock S4 Max, S6 Pure, and Roomba i7.
Only the S6 Pure has the mopping attachment. If mopping is important at all, then that’s the only real choice
While the S4 Max lacks mopping, it has excellent carpet cleaning (best we’ve seen from Roborock). In addition, it has the best climbing ability. So if you have thicker area rugs it’s going to perform better there.
Roomba i7 is the best in terms of actual cleaning power among all of these robots. It performed better on all surfaces compared to Roborock and is among only 4 robots we’ve tested to average a 99% debris removal score.
All 3 of these robots are similar with respect to returning to base, not getting stuck, and voice command to specific rooms.
The Roborock’s with their LIDAR are going to do a better job of manually placing it to clean. The LIDAR is able to better sense where it is and then find its way home after a spot clean.
You’d be hard pressed to go wrong with any of these. For me, I think it breaks down to this…if you mopping is relevant at all, you get the S6 Pure. If you want the deepest carpet clean, you get the Roomba i7. And if you want the best all-arounder for your needs, you get the Roborock S4 Max.
Hope that helps!
I live in a single-bed apartment with mostly wood floor except a large thin carpet and a thin carpeted bedroom. I’m deciding between Roomba i3+ ($400) vs Roborock S4 ($320). The auto-empty on the i3+ sounds convenient but I’m not sure how much I’d need it in a small apartment, while the room select and no-go zones sound neat but maybe not so useful in my single-room apt. Wondering if you have any thoughts on which one had the better vacuum and navigation around tight quarters, or if one was better in general?
Given the relative small size of your space I’d suggest the Roomba i3+.
The advantage of the digital mapping is more pronounced when you have a larger and complex layout. Since you don’t you’re not really getting the benefit. So you might as well go i3+ and take advantage of the self empty bin.
Thanks a lot, excuse me, my question should had been : which one navigates closer to the Keep Out Zones / No Go Lines, Roomba i7 or Roborock S5 Max ?
I’d say both are also similar in that regard.
Both robots get within a couple of inches of the line.
I have purchased the Roomba i-4 from Costco. It does not seem to be able to climb up onto a shag rug in my living room. Do you think the robo Rock S4 max will be able to climb onto a shag rug that the Roomba cannot?
S4 Max does have slightly better climbing ability, but it’s not a miracle worker. It depends on how tall that shag rug is. S4 Max can climb around 0.75″.
Thanks for the web site, very usefull. I would like to know which one has a more accurate Keep Out Zones / No Go Lines, Roomba i7 or Roborock s5 Max ?
In terms of accuracy they appear to be equally as good. I wouldn’t say one is better or worse than the other.
comparing b/w the Roomba I7 and the Roborock s6MaxV. Doesn’t look like I can go wrong with either, but I do like warranty. While the Roborock looks like the better choice, 1 year warranty. On the Roomba, can get extended warranty. Given the price point for either is essentially even, my question is reliability? Spending approx 750, don’t really want to have something that drops out with all that technology at 15 months vs 2-4 year coverage. Thoughts?
Long term usage is always tough to say, David. Especially with models as new as the i7+ and S6 MaxV.
That said, both are built by companies that have been around for a long while, especially iRobot.
The most likely component that will die in either vacuum is the battery. Which you really should expect to replace within 2-3 years. Even so, that’s usually a cheap replacement in the the $15-$30 range.
Given their history, I’d say Roomba is the safer choice. If for the only reason that they’ve been around longer. And of course the longer warranty doesn’t hurt either. Even so, I have no reason to believe Roborock would have a short lifespan.
Hi Derek,
I’m considering purchasing a system and would like it to both vacuum and mop. I live in a 1400 sq ft. condo on two floors, one small mostly non-shedding dog and I live alone. Downstairs in mostly tile with one area rug. Upstairs is laminate flooring, carpet in one bedroom and laminate and area rug in the other bedroom. I’m trying to figure out which unit would be best considering the types of flooring I have, and I definitely want both vaccum and mop functionality. I was looking at the Roomba i3+ and Braava mop . . . what do you think?
Roomba i3+ and Braava m6 would be a good option. Especially if you want a standalone mop. Given the size of your condo the i3+ feels more than adequate. If you had a larger space I would say the i7+ would be worthy of consideration, but it feels more like overkill.
The only other option worth consideration would be the Roborock S6 MaxV. Since it can act as both a mop and vacuum it’s nice to just have a single unit. The major con of course is the lack of a self empty dust bin.
In any case, those are your best options based on your home’s layout / size.
Hi Derek,
Thank you so much for your quick response!
After your very sage advice, I have now whittled my choice down to the Roborock S5 Max and the S4 Max. They both have excellent app control and seem to have everything I’m looking for.
My only remaining question is whether the mopping function works well? Having a LOT of hardwood floors, it would make sense, but I wonder how it works with the robovac having to switch between hardwood floors (mopping) and rugs (just vacuuming) in the same cycle. Also, how often during a cleaning does one have to replace and clean the microfiber cloth? Or re-fill the reservoir?
Right now, I have found the S4 Max for $320, and the S5 Max for $440 – so just want to really make sure the mopping works well and isn’t too much of hassle, to justify the extra $120.
I am assuming the other features between the two models are comparable?
Thank you again for your excellent site and very appreciated advice!
Best,
Paul
The mopping works well. In my view it’s good for light to moderate messes and can be a good maintenance type of a mop. However, it’s not a complete replacement to a more traditional mop.
With area rugs and hardwood floors I’d recommend you mop + vacuum 2-3 days a week and vacuum only 2-3 days a week, that way your floors are sufficiently covered for all surfaces.
Ideally, you’d replace the cleaning cloth every mopping session. Though at least every other. You’ll be surprised at how much dirt they pick up. Re-filling the reservoir will depend on your space and water usage, but typically every other mopping session.
Beyond that, the other features are all similar.
Hi Eric!
Great site – very comprehensive reviews.
I have a rather large 1-floor apartment (app. 2000 sq ft).
It’s predominantly wood floors throughout, which tend to quickly collect a lot of dust, with low-pile Moroccan rugs in 4 of the rooms. Perhaps a mopping function would be best for the floors?
I am looking for a robovac with good suction and great battery life that can quickly clean my apartment – and focus only on specific areas of the space when needed. Something more than just bump and reset models. I’d like to have an app to control, but don’t need voice activation or reminders, etc.
I have read that Roborock have the best apps and functions but don’t suck as well. I also like that Roomba is the original robovac and are made in the USA.
Wondering what the best-priced model would be, by your expertise, so I could get away with for my above needs?
Best
Paul
Thanks for your kind words, Paul.
The robots that best meet your needs are:
1) Roomba i7+ or Roomba S9+ – if you want to go Roomba you’ll need to go with one of those 2 most high-end models. These are the only models on the Roomba side that have advanced enough app control to give you room by room custom cleaning control.
2) Roborock S5 Max or Roborock S6 MaxV – the advantage of going with a Roborock is the mopping ability, which Roomba lacks. Both of these models also have excellent app control with room by room cleaning, among other app based features. While they don’t have the self empty dust bin, they do mop, which considering the volume of wood floors in your home makes a lot of sense.
Given the wood floors, I think Roborock is probably going to be the better choice for your. But nothing wrong with Roomba if you decide you want to go with an American company or you just the self empty bin.
Debating between Roborock S6 Pure and Roomba i3+. Our apartment is approx 800 sq ft (one floor) with 4 hardwood floor rooms and a couple area rugs. One cat and a decent amount of furniture. Both seem to be around the same price for the holidays… what would you recommend?
Thanks!
Since you have mostly hardwood floors I think the S6 Pure makes more sense. Being able to vacuum and mop at the same time is a big advantage with that amount of hard surface flooring.
Hi Eric, trying to,pick the best robot for my Xmas present. Think I want a self cleaning model, so that narrows choices. My problem is we are in a rural area with lousy Internet services. Currently we only use our phones Hot spot. If I u,understand it correctly the Roomba can only be controlled with app on phone/Ipad, no re.ite control, etc. Any advice? Thanks!
Hrm…that’s a hard one. Yes, in order to access all of the functionality you’d need to have it connected to the cloud / wifi. But that’s going to be the case with most robot vacuums that are currently on the market.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure there is a great answer. You may have trouble using some of the features on the app with limited internet access. But your only other option is to get an old / worse robot that has a remote or manual scheduler…and that feels like a worse option.
You can still manually control both Roborock and Roomba by just pressing the clean buttons on top of the unit. So even without cloud access you’ll be able to use it.
I really appreciate the quick comment. Have you ever done any comparison on the customer service between the two brands? I’m curious if because rumor is based in the US you have better service? Or does Roborock do a good job regardless?
Unfortunately, we have not yet.
I’ve had a decent volume of experience with iRobot’s customer service and always been generally happy with the outcomes.
But I haven’t yet had a reason to call Roborock’s customer support.
Since iRobot is US based I imagine their customer service would be better for many US consumers, however, the same is probably true of Roborock for consumers based on China and other Asian countries.
Hello. I recently purchased the Roborock S65 and the Roomba 981. Most of my house is hardwood and I have a husky that sheds all the time. If you take price off of the table (both were purchased during Amazon prime day for the same cost) which one would you keep? Additionally, mopping is not a huge need but being efficient and identifying which zones to clean is huge.
Hi Eric,
If you don’t consider mopping then both the Roomba 981 and Roborock S65 are incredibly similar.
If I had to pick one between those 2 models I would opt for the Roborock S65, due to its improved navigation. The LIDAR system just outperforms the camera / VSLAM navigation of the Roomba 981