Roborock Q8 Max+ Review: 11 Cleaning Tests

In This Review
Cleaning Performance | Navigation | Build Quality | Noise Test | Usability | Maintenance | Size | Specs | Product Evolution | Comparison | FAQs

Performance Summary

At Modern Castle we test 11 different factors that impact the performance, build quality, and usability of the vacuum. Below is a complete list of our testing categories and their performance.

Test Type	Test Data
Overall Debris Tests	98.2%
Hardwood Floor Test	98.5%
Low Pile Carpet Test	97.2%
High Pile Carpet Test	98.8%
Long Hair Test	70.0%
Pet Hair Test	100%
Crevice Test	100%
Edge Cleaning Test	48.3%
Mop Test	Excellent
Cleaning Speed	46 min.
Obstacle Avoidance	Yes
Build Quality Test	Exceptional
Noise Test	69 dB

Video Review

The Roborock Q8 Max+ had exceptional performance across all our tests. It was able to collect both large and small debris.

To test the debris removal performance of the Roborock Q8 Max+, we put it through a series of 12 different cleaning tests, consisting of 3 different floor types and 4 different debris types.

We measure 0.5 oz. of each debris type, and spread it across the floor for the vacuum to clean. Next, we run the Roborock Q8 Max+ over the debris on the highest suction power letting it complete 2 complete cycles. After, we measure how much of the debris remains by weight and compare it to the starting amounts to determine cleaning performance.

Here are the overall results for the Roborock Q8 Max+:

In our debris tests, the Roborock Q8 Max+ was able to remove 98.2% of debris by weight. This is 5.9% higher than the average of 92.3%, based on all of our debris tests to date.

The Roborock Q8 Max+ had exceptional cleaning performance on all surfaces the Q8 cleaned. Its impressive Max+ suction and dual roller heads were able to capture both the largest and smallest debris we tested.

During the hardwood floor test, the Roborock Q8 Max+ had exceptional performance in clearing the surface.

In our hardwood tests, the Roborock Q8 Max+ was able to remove 98.5% of debris by weight. This is 1.4% higher than the average of 97.1%, based on all of our debris tests to date.

We observed the side brush pushing the debris across the testing field during its cleaning cycle. We think this is because of the minimal resistance the hardwood floor has on the debris. In the end, the Roborock Q8 Max+ was able to collect nearly all of the debris.

The low pile carpet was the lowest scoring surface from our testing, but still received an exceptional score.

In our low pile carpet tests, the Roborock Q8 Max+ was able to remove 97.2% of debris by weight. This is 7.8% higher than the average of 89.4%, based on all of our debris tests to date.

The small remaining debris was the sugar and kitty litter, which can be difficult to remove if the robot vacuum is not able to create a powerful suction seal.

Overall, the Roborock Q8 Max+ had exceptional performance during the high pile carpet test.

In our high pile carpet tests, the Roborock Q8 Max+ was able to remove 98.8% of debris by weight. This is 8.8% higher than the average of 90.0%, based on all of our debris tests to date.

The Roborock Q8 Max+ was able to create an excellent seal with the high pile carpet, allowing it to use its maximum suction power to collect the smallest debris.

To test how well the Roborock Q8 Max+ manages long hair and avoids tangles, we pit it against 1.0 grams of long hair. We lay the strands on hair on hardwood flooring and run the vacuum over it on the maximum suction power with 2 complete cleaning cycles. After cleaning, we check the floor for hair and the brushroll for tangles.

In our long hair tests the Roborock Q8 Max+ had only 30.0% of the hair tangle by weight. This is 22.3% less hair than the average of 52.3%, based on all of our long hair tests to date.

The hair that was tangled in the roller was easily removable. Since the dual rotors can be removed by removing the guard, it required little effort and no tools to clear the rollers.

For our pet hair test, we embed 1.0 grams of pet hair into high pile carpet. Next, we run the vacuum over the carpet with a single forward and backward pass on the highest suction power. Finally, we measure the amount of remaining pet hair in the carpet and compare it to the starting amount to determine performance.

In our pet hair tests, the Roborock Q8 Max+ removed 100% of the hair by weight. This is 27.9% more than the average of 72.1%, based on all of our pet hair tests to date.

This is the highest score we have ever seen from a robot vacuum. Its powerful brush, dual brush rollers, and powerful suction remove all pet hair in our testing area.

For our edge cleaning test, we test to see how close to the edge the Roborock Q8 Max+ can clean. To test this, we place 0.5 oz of debris (sugar, kitty litter, and a bit of rice) directly along the edge of the wall, to about 4.0″ away from the wall. We then run the vacuum over the debris letting it complete 2 cleaning cycles on the highest suction power. s. We then measure in inches how close the vacuum was able to clean in proximity to the wall and how much of the debris remained by weight.

In our edge cleaning tests, the Roborock Q8 Max+ was able to remove 34% of debris by weight. This is 42.6% lower than the average of 76.6%, based on all of our edge cleaning tests to date.

The main issue we saw with the edge cleaning test was that the Roborock Q8 Max+ was not getting close enough to the wall. We believe this is because of the obstacle avoidance feature, avoiding the walls and not approaching them enough to remove the debris.

To test the crevice cleaning capabilities of the Roborock Q8 Max+, will fill crevices in our tile testing lane with 0.3 oz of sugar. We then let the robot complete a single cleaning cycle on the highest suction power and check how much of the sugar remains by weight to determine performance.

In our crevice tests, the Roborock Q8 Max+ was able to remove 100% of debris by weight from the deepest crevice. This is 2.7% more than the average of 97.3%, based on all of our crevice tests to date.

The Roborock Q8 Max+ was able to remove the sugar from the crevice with ease. It moved in a grid like pattern to ensure it used its powerful suction to remove all the sugar.

To test the mopping capabilities of the Roborock Q8 Max+, we check how well it can remove small scale stains and remove dirt on a broader scale.

In our mop test the Roborock Q8 Max+ showcased excellent performance. On average, based on all of the robot-mop devices we’ve tested to date, we find they have excellent performance. The Roborock Q8 Max+ meets our testing average.

The back mopping pad did an excellent job to remove dirt from around the office. Unfortunately, the mopping heads do not lift off the ground when not in use. If you intend to run the robot vacuum on carpet, we recommend removing the mopping pad.

The Roborock Q8 Max+ has excellent navigation capabilities. While observing the robot around the office, it accurately mapped our office and avoided getting stuck on any of our equipment.

Our cleaning speed test showed the Roborock Q8 Max+ was able to clean our ~1,000 sq. ft. office space within 46 minutes.

The average cleaning speed we find, based on all robot vacuums we’ve tested to date, is 61:45 minutes. The Roborock Q8 Max+ is 15:45 faster than the average.

The top LiDAR sensor, obstacle sensor, front bumper, and wall sensors all helped the Roborock Q8 Max+ avoid major obstacles.

To test the obstacle avoidance of the Roborock Q8 Max+, we place 4 objects in an area on the floor and send the robot to clean around them. We observe the cleaning cycle, checking to see how well the robot vacuum navigates the space and avoids objects.

The Roborock Q8 Max+ was good, but not exactly great for obstacle avoidance performance in our tests.

The obstacle avoidance results were a surprise to us. Throughout all other tests, and even the obstacle avoidance test, we saw the robot identify and reroute multiple times on obstacles, lab equipment, and walls. However, when it came to the testing objects, for some reason it failed to detect the objects and had partial touches.

We also test how well the Roborock Q8 Max+ cleans on a broader scale. We have the robot perform multiple cleaning cycles in our office and studio space, focusing on 3 core requirements: can it fully clean the space, can it not get stuck, and can it return to the base.

The Roborock Q8 Max+ had exceptional navigation performance in our tests. On average, we find robot vacuums have excellent performance when navigating our office and studio space. The Roborock Q8 Max+ is better than average.

Each night that we set the robot to clean, it performed all cleaning without any issues and was able to navigate the entire office.

Our build quality test is a subjective test where we examine and assess the major material and design components of the robot vacuum. Specifically, we are looking for build and design issues that are more likely to break and/or be difficult to use.

Part	Build Quality
Overall	Exceptional
Body	Excellent
Dustbin	Excellent
Display / Controls	Exceptional
Spinning Side Brush	Very Good
Wheels	Exceptional
Brush Roll	Exceptional
Charging Dock	Excellent

When looking at the entire system, Roborock built a reliable, sturdy, and fantastic looking robot. Its design offers a medium-sized docking station that doesn’t take up much room, and can easily blend in with thesurrounding decor.

Vacuums are loud while in operation. To measure how loud, we run them on high pile carpet on each power mode and measure the noise generated with a sound meter. Before the test, we take a measurement of the ambient noise in the room to use as a baseline comparison to the vacuum. 

Power Level	Noise Level
Ambient	41.9 dB
Quiet	58.5 dB
Balanced	63.1 dB
Turbo	65.4 dB
Max+	69.1 dB
Self Empty	79.4 dB

In our noise tests, the Roborock Q8 Max+ generated 69.1 dB of noise on the max fan speed. This is 0.14 dB lower than the average of 69.24 dB, based on all of our noise tests to date.

It’s important to note that while this is the max noise generated in our testing lab, depending on your flooring and the debris that is collected, you could see a few decibels higher or lower on its max setting.

Additionally, we measured the docking station’s self emptying noise levels. It measured at 79.4 decibels, which is considerably louder than the robot’s max operating noise.

The functionality and usability of the Roborock Q8 Max+ is like all other robot vacuum / mop combos, it cleans.

What sets this robot aside from others are the two debris collection rollers underneath. This feature gives the Roborock Q8 Max+ a better chance at capturing debris throughout the cleaning cycle.

Set up was easy, and the robot got right to cleaning after connecting to the app. The packaging was easy to remove, and no assembly was required. Make sure to fully charge the robot before first use as it will likely come partially charged out of the box.

The app provides status information, set customized cleaning options, and is a gateway for software updates to keep all your Roborock devices running the latest software.

With the app you can:

• Manage maps
• Adjust cleaning settings
• Adjust mopping settings
• Adjust cleaning sequence
• Change smart settings
• Create a custom cleaning schedule
• View cleaning history
• Manage settings
• Turn on do-not-disturb settings
• Start Debris Emptying

What is nice and convenient with the Roborock app, is that it syncs with all other Roborock cleaning systems. While testing the Q8 Max+, we had a different Roborock system being tested, which we could control from the same app.

There are 3 control buttons on top of the robot, with a majority of the functionality controls being accessed through the app. The three buttons on top toggle power, spot cleaning, and return to the docking station.

In The Box

• Roborock Q8 Max+
• Docking Station
• Debris Bag x 2
• Mopping Pad
• Side Brush x 2

The Roborock Q8 Max+ has an estimated yearly maintenance cost of $32. The following are the major maintenance tasks for the Roborock Q8 Max+.

Task	Description	Est. Annual Cost
Dustbin	Empty dust bin as needed	$0
Brushroll	Remove tangles and any obstructions	$0
Filter	Periodically clean and replace as needed	$10
Vacuum Body	Remove any obstructions as needed	$0
Dock Debris Bag	Replace as needed	$15
Battery	Replace as needed	$25
Spinning Side Brush	Remove tangles, replace as needed	$1
Wheels	Remove tangles, replace as needed	$5
Dock Base Plate	Clean as needed	$0
Dock Water Tanks	Fill the clean tank and empty the dirty tank as needed	$0

The docking station provides an easy and convenient way to empty the robot’s dust collection bin after each use. However, there is no emptying or refill feature for the mop water, which will need to be annually changed periodically. It also lacks the ability to clean the mopping pads each time it docks.

Size & Dimensions

Overall, the robot itself is the same size as many of the robot vacuums we test. The docking station is slightly smaller since it only has a debris collection bag, and not a mopping maintenance feature.

Size	Measurement
Dustbin Capacity	16 oz. (470 mL)
Water Tank Capacity	12 oz. (350 mL)
Dock Debris Capacity	0.8 gal. (3.0 L)
Dock Clean Water Tank Capacity	0.0 gal. (0.0 L)
Dock Dirty Water Tank Capacity	0.0 gal. (0.0 L)
Height	4″ (10 cm)
Diameter	14″ (35 cm)
Weight	0 lbs. (0 kg)

Specifications

The following table details the product specifications according to the manufacturer.

Manufacturer Specifications
Type	Robot Mop Combo
Manufacturer	Roborock
Model	Q8 Max+
Height	4″ (10 cm)
Diameter	14″ (35 cm)
Weight	0 lbs. (0 kg)
Floor Type	all (indoor)
Sensors	LiDAR
Dustbin Capacity	16 oz. (470 mL)
Water Tank Capacity	12 oz. (350 mL)
Dock Debris Capacity	0.8 gal. (3.0 L)
Dock Clean Water Tank Capacity	0.0 gal. (0.0 L)
Dock Dirty Water Tank Capacity	0.0 gal. (0.0 L)
Run Time	45 min.
Obstacle Avoidance	Yes
Zone Cleaning	Yes
Room Cleaning	Yes
Digital Mapping	Yes
Bagless	No
Warranty	1 year
Price	Check Price

Product Evolution

The Q series from Roborock is the line of robot vacuums that have a dedicated self empty dust collection bins. They feature a large debris collection bin in the dock station. This specific model is an upgrade from the standard Q8 Max that was the first to feature the dual roller brush within the Q series.

With the new Max+, it has an enhanced, powerful suction mode called the Max+, to help remove even more debris.

How does the Roborock Q8 Max+ compare?

Below is a complete list of our vacuum tests and critical product data compared side by side to the average based on all of our vacuum tests to date.

Test Type	Test Data	Avg. Data
Overall Debris Tests	98.2%	92.4%
Hardwood Floor Test	98.5%	97.2%
Low Pile Carpet Test	97.2%	89.6%
High Pile Carpet Test	98.8%	90.1%
Long Hair Test	70.0%	49.4%
Pet Hair Test	100%	73.0%
Edge Cleaning Test	48.3%	81.3%
Crevice Test	100%	98.0%
Mop Test	92.0%	89.7%
Cleaning Speed	46 min.	62 min.
Obstacle Avoidance	Yes	Yes
Cleaning Efficiency	Exceptional	Exceptional
Build Quality	Exceptional	Exceptional
Noise Test	69 dB	69 dB
Type	Robot Mop Combo	Robot Vacuum
Bagless	Yes	Yes
Self-Empty	Yes	No
Auto-Wash	No	No
Dustbin Capacity	16 oz. (470 mL)	15.5 oz. (457.4 mL)
Weight	0 lbs. (0 kg)	8.3 lbs. (3.8 kg)

Overall, this is truly an exceptional cleaning robot. With its dual main roller brush and powerful Max+ suction mode, its cleaning performance is the highest score we have tested to date.

Other Vacuums to Consider

FAQs