Robot vacuums are now a dime a dozen. It is difficult, especially for laymen, to keep track of them all. This is not least due to the fact that many manufacturers now have several model series in their portfolio to suit every budget. This is also the case with Roborock. The former Xiaomi subsidiary’s S-series is one of the best you can buy in the field of smart household helpers. For those who do not want to spend over 1,000 Euros for a vacuum robot, the company has had an attractive alternative from the mid-range on offer for quite some time with its Q-series. In the Roborock Q8 Max+ review, we want to take a closer look at the latest model from the Q-series. In doing so, we mainly want to work out which trade-offs you have to make compared to the current flagship Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and what has improved compared to its predecessor.
Technical data
| Dimensions and weight | 35.0 x 35.3 x 9.6 cm and 3.6 kg |
| Suction power | 5,500 Pascal |
| Battery life | max. 240 min |
| Cleaning area | max. 300 m² |
| Navigation and sensor | LiDAR, object detection (Reactive Tech), drop sensors, carpet detection |
| Suction station | Automatic emptying of the dust container |
| Water tank capacity | 350 ml |
| Capacity dust compartment | 470 ml |
| Wiping function | Yes |
| App control | Yes |
| Price | 479.00 Euro |
Scope of delivery
As is common with vacuum robots, the Roborock Q8 Max+ comes pre-assembled from the factory. You really only have to worry about setting it up. Included in the scope of delivery are:
- Roborock Q8 Max+
- charging station
- 2x dust bags (1x pre-installed)
- 1x mop
- User manual
For a mid-range device, the features are quite good. However, I would have liked to have a second wipe. After all, a change is needed at the latest when you have to wash the cloth once.
Design and workmanship
- Chic look meets high quality workmanship
- Available in black and white
- 35.0 x 35.3 x 9.6 cm and 3.6 kg
There are no big surprises when it comes to the looks. Thus, especially connoisseurs of the Roborock models will be able to quickly assign the device to the portfolio of the Chinese manufacturer. The Q8 Max+ is available in black or white. Roborock sent us the device in white for our test. The design does not differ from other vacuum robots. Thus, the manufacturer again relies on a round design.
On the top, there are three buttons that let you perform basic actions. While the square stands for spot cleaning, the On/Off icon can be used to start or pause a cleaning process. Pressing the house button sends the smart home assistant back to its charging station. We also find a small tower on the top. The LiDAR technology, which is used for navigation, is located underneath it.
On the front, we find more navigation technology in addition to the usual bumper. The sensors located here are supposed to serve object detection and avoid unwanted collisions. At the back again sits a combo container, which combines the dust chamber (470 ml) and water tank (350 ml). This can be easily removed and reinstalled. Things get exciting on the underside. Here we find probably the most significant change compared to the predecessor Q7 Max+ (test). Roborock has equipped its mid-range model with the powerful Duo rollers of the flagship S8 Pro Ultra (test).
The two rubber rollers are said to work much more effectively than just one roller, especially in the fight against pet hair. Unfortunately, Roborock does not follow the flagship model when it comes to the wiping unit. It does not have a vibration function, and it drags rigidly across the floor during the cleaning process. We’ll find out how this works in practice later. The build quality is on the usual high level, which also characterizes Roborock’s top models. It doesn’t crack or creak at any point here.
Suction station and cleaning unit
Should you prefer the model in the color white, you get a chic contrast in the suction station. After all, Roborock relies on a lid in transparent black here. The core of the charging station – the dust bag – is located underneath. This is where the dust and dirt is collected, which the station sucks up from the robot vacuum after the cleaning tour. My opinion of dust bags is now really split.
Actually, the unnecessary polluters were considered “extinct” for a few years. Finally, more and more vacuum cleaner manufacturers relied on environmentally friendly bagless solutions. With the vacuum cleaner stations, however, they are experiencing a real revival. And on the one hand, this may be justified. After all, such a bag is a real boon, especially for people with house dust allergies.
But do you really need to make these mandatory? I could easily imagine the suction station without a bag and instead in the form of an oversized dust chamber that I empty once a month, rinse out and then reinsert. However, I do not want to chalk up this lack of freedom of choice to the Q8 Max+ in a negative way.
Finally, all models with a suction station rely on a bag. Other than that, there is nothing to complain about in the quality of the station either. Roborock stays true to its line here as well and delivers excellent workmanship. This is especially impressive when you consider that the cleaning combo is made entirely of plastic.
Navigation technology
- LiDAR navigation provides reliable mapping
- Object detection at the front overwhelms with small obstacles
- Carpet detection and drop sensing
Just a few years ago, it was unthinkable that mid-range vacuum robots would come with laser navigation. In the meantime, however, the so-called LiDAR technology has fortunately also arrived in the budget-friendly middle class. The advantages over conventional camera navigation are obvious. LiDAR works reliably in all conceivable lighting conditions – even in the dark of night. On top of that, this type of navigation is extremely fast. Both advantages are already noticeable in the Q8 Max+ during the first cleaning tour. The smart household helper measures your own four walls very quickly and always finds its way around. Besides LiDAR, there are other sensors at work here that help with navigation.
For example, drop sensors on the bottom ensure that the robot vacuum won’t fall down the stairs. On top of that, these detect carpets and automatically activate the suction level when driving over the carpeting. However, driving over carpets proved to be a real challenge for the robot vacuum in the test. At least, this was the case with my quite high, long-pile carpet. Flat carpets, on the other hand, do not pose an obstacle. Speaking of obstacles. The Q8 Max+ has an obstacle or object detection with Reactive Tech. However, nothing has really changed compared to the predecessor. So you have to reckon with some obstacles being overlooked.
Especially flat objects like cables and small-sized toys should be kept safe to prevent damage. However, we should not forget that we are still in the middle class here. Unfortunately, the Roborock does not perform much better than a Laresar L6 Pro (test). If you want more, you have to go for top models like the Dreame L20 Ultra (test). And even these are not immune to overlooking obstacles. By the way, those who have a lot of flat furniture in their own four walls should be happy about the rather flat design with a height of 9.6 cm. Thus, the smart household helper usually succeeds in vacuuming and wiping even under flat furniture.
Suction performance
- 5,500 pascal suction power
- DuoRoller provides optimal for pet hair
- Suction station empties dust container
At 5,500 pascals, the suction power of the Q8 Max+ is 1,300 pascals stronger than its predecessor. On top of that, we are just 500 Pascal below the value that Roborock’s top model in the form of the S8 Pro Ultra has to show. My expectations for the cleaning results were therefore correspondingly high. And I was not disappointed. The smart household helper was able to reliably remove dust and dirt from my floors. Even pet hair left behind by my dog and my two cats was no problem for it. Following a few cleaning trips, pet owners in particular will be pleased with the new main brush or brushes.
The fact that Roborock already relied on a main brush consisting of solid rubber for the Q7 Max+ pleased me a lot at the time of testing. It makes for much easier maintenance, since you only have to wipe off the hair. Tangling and awkward fumbling with a cleaning tool is a thing of the past here. The Chinese household expert now takes this to the extreme with the Q8 Max+. Two solid rubber rollers are used here, which rotate in opposite directions and thus reliably guide dust, dirt and hair to the suction hatch. The advantages become particularly clear on carpets. Finally, the dual roller creates a much stronger vacuum here, which also reaches deeper dirt well.
Wiping performance
- Wiping function only with rigid wiping plate
- Wiping plate cannot be lifted
- Not suitable for carpeted floors
The Q8 Max+ also comes with a mop unit. However, it should be said in advance that you can’t expect any miracles here. After all, the wiping function is significantly weaker compared to the S8 Pro Ultra. This is not necessarily only because the flagship comes with a cleaning station that moistens the wipe with fresh water at regular intervals. Roborock rather fails to install the proven Vibra-Rise feature. Here, the robot vacuum not only presses the wiping plate onto the floor, but also ensures that even stubborn stains can be wiped up through vibrations.
The rigid wiping plate on the Q8 Max+, on the other hand, is only sufficient for light soiling. Thus, the wiping function unfortunately remains no more than a practical goodie. After all, a robot vacuum cleaner with a wiping function is still better than a model without. Or is it not? During the test, I had a few moments when I would have liked to do without the wiping unit. In the meantime, I have gotten used to using robotic vacuum cleaners that have a cleaning station where the wipe is rinsed out during the cleaning tour. This is, of course, missing from the Q8 Max+.
For heavily soiled floors, this will ensure that the mop spreads the dirt around your home. You should keep this in mind. Accordingly, if possible, you should first run through a cleaning process without a mopping unit and then one with an attachment if the floor is heavily soiled. Carpet owners should also note that the Q8 Max+ cannot lift the mop unit. You should therefore urgently dismantle the mop unit when the robot is driving on a carpet. Alternatively, set up an exclusion zone and vacuum the carpet again afterwards without the mop unit.
App usage
A good smart home gadget is also always characterized by a user-friendly app. And here, Roborock scores experientially with a great app for your smartphone. The app of the Chinese company is characterized by a great overview right from the start. You can integrate the robot vacuum into your home network in a flash and thus lay the foundation for remote access on the go. You can also start the maiden voyage of the smart household helper via the app. During this, it creates the first map of your home. The app automatically divides the map into different rooms. If this does not correspond to reality, you can make adjustments conveniently and easily.
Once the map has been created, you can let off steam in the app to your heart’s content. Here are the most diverse settings options, where you set an individual cleaning. For example, you can define certain exclusion zones. For example, I always block my dog’s feeding area for the robot vacuum. You can also let the robot know which floor is in which room. Of course, you can also regulate the suction power. You can choose from a total of five levels. The same applies to the wiping function. Here you can choose between five different modes. The automations are particularly practical.
So you can set regular cleaning schedules. The advantage is obvious. So the suction robot cleans your own four walls, while you are just out of the house. You return at the end of the day to find a clean home, without even having heard the usual noise of a vacuum cleaner. Plus, you can regulate the appropriate cleaning solution for each room. For example, while the mopping function on the real wood floor in the living room remains switched off, the robot can quickly mop the kitchen and bathroom at the highest level. Certain rooms can also be cleaned several times in succession in the process.
Battery life and maintenance
So what about the endurance of the smart household helper? Roborock itself promises up to 240 minutes. However, you can only assume this whopping four hours of cleaning time when the vacuum is on the lowest suction level. Of course, this is not really realistic in everyday use. I can only state that I was able to clean an area of 100m² without any problems and without getting into battery trouble. Since I still had remaining battery power afterwards, the device should be able to handle much larger areas with only one battery charge. Very good! Once the cleaning tour is over, the Q8 Max+ moves to the extraction station.
There, not only the battery is recharged. On top of that, the station here vacuums the dust container of the robot vacuum cleaner. This means a few seconds of noise for you. After all, the process takes place with high suction power. There is room for a total of 2.5 liters of debris in the station’s dust bag. That should be able to last for about two months, according to the Roborock. Otherwise, maintenance is quite straightforward. You should clean the robot and the base plate in the suction station from dirt at regular intervals. On top of that, we recommend buying additional wipes. After all, it is advisable to wash them after each cleaning process and replace them with fresh ones. Otherwise, there is a risk of bad odors.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a smart household helper that significantly reduces the work with a vacuum cleaner and a mop, the Roborock Q8 Max+ is the right choice. The model not only scores with a high build quality and a chic design. On top of that, LiDAR sensors and a user-friendly app ensure high operating comfort. The suction power is also impressive. This is not only ensured by 5,500 Pascal, but also by the heavily reworked rollers on the underside. Compared to the predecessor, this not only means more power, but also less maintenance. However, as good as the suction results may be – you won’t get a wiping miracle here. Especially with stubborn stains, the rigid wiping plate is simply overtaxed.
However, this is better than no wipe function at all. The object detection is also sometimes unreliable. Smaller objects and cables are often overlooked. However, the model always masters one discipline – the price-performance ratio. If you can live with the small shortcomings, you get a really good robot vacuum for a comparatively low price, which concentrates on the essentials. However, if you have a higher budget at your disposal, we would advise you to choose another model that also comes with a cleaning station. For a little more money, you can get the Dreame L10 Ultra (test), for example. This not only offers a much better wiping function, but also comes with better object recognition.
Roborock Q8 Max+
Workmanship & design
Hardware
Suction power
Wiping performance
Navigation
Value for money
89/100
The Roborock Q8 Max+ is a consistent improvement of its predecessor. However, it is not enough for the mid-range throne. The competition simply has the edge there.
