The Roborock Q5 Max+ is a mid-range robot vacuum. It's essentially an upgraded version of the Roborock Q5+, with a new dual-roller cleaning head and a more powerful suction motor. Like the older model, it comes with a self-empty docking station, though unlike pricier models in the manufacturer's range, it has no mopping feature and no real-time hazard avoidance system.
Our Verdict
The Roborock Q5 Max+ is decent for bare floors. It does a great job of handling a variety of debris types on surfaces like hardwood or vinyl, though it might struggle a little bit with debris wedged in deeper grout lines on tile floors. Its LIDAR sensor system maps accurately and quickly, but you'll have to make sure your home is free of any major obstacles before letting it loose, as there's no real-time hazard avoidance system. Its companion app works well and allows you to make a variety of changes to its behavior.
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Feature-rich companion app.
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Great performance on bare floors.
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Thorough and accurate mapping.
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Easy to maintain.
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No mopping system.
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Poor crevice-cleaning performance.
The Roborock Q5 Max+ is good for cleaning low-pile carpets. Performance on this surface type is decent for the most part: the Q5 Max+ excels when it comes to dealing with large and medium-sized debris, but you're probably going to want to use a manually operated vacuum if you need to deal with any finer debris embedded within carpet fibers. The vacuum's relatively simple design and bundled self-empty station also make it pretty easy to maintain.
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Feature-rich companion app.
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Thorough and accurate mapping.
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Easy to maintain.
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Struggles with fine debris on carpets.
The Roborock Q5 Max+ is a decent option for cleaning high-pile carpets. It will struggle with climbing onto especially plush shag-pile carpeting but will do a decent job of clearing away various kinds of debris on most carpets that have a slightly lower pile height. In any case, you can use its companion app to set up no-go zones to prevent it from entering areas where it might get trapped.
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Feature-rich companion app.
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Thorough and accurate mapping.
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Easy to maintain.
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Struggles with fine debris on carpets.
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Can have a hard time climbing onto very thick carpeting.
The Roborock Q5 Max+ is a great option for pet owners. Pet hair pickup performance is excellent even on more challenging surface types like low-pile carpeting. It uses twin rubber brushrolls that are a cinch to clean. Thanks to its self-empty base station, you also won't have to dispose of pet hair in the vacuum's dustbin yourself all that often. Unfortunately, the vacuum's allergen-sealing performance is pretty terrible, so fine particles like pet dander can bypass the vacuum's filter and exit from its exhaust.
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Superb pet hair pickup performance.
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Easy to maintain.
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Terrible particle filtration performance.
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No mopping system.
The Roborock Q5 Max+ is a robot vacuum and isn't designed for use on stairs.
The Roborock Q5 Max+ isn't suitable for cleaning the inside of your car.
The Roborock Q5 Max+ is a robot vacuum and isn't meant to be used in workshops.
- 7.0 Bare Floor
- 7.5 Low-Pile Carpet
- 7.2 High-Pile Carpet
- 5.6 Pets
- 5.9 Stairs
- 4.9 Cars
- 4.4 Workshop
- Updated Oct 02, 2024: Review published.
- Updated Sep 18, 2024: Early access published.
- Updated Sep 10, 2024: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Aug 29, 2024: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Aug 26, 2024: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Roborock Q5 Max+ is only available in a single colorway: 'Black.' See the label of the model we tested.
Let us know in the comments below if you come across another variant of this vacuum.
Compared To Other Vacuums
The Roborock Q5 Max+ represents a pretty comprehensive upgrade over the older Roborock Q5/Q5+ and is a very good option if you're looking for a mid-priced robot vacuum. It lacks fancier features like real-time obstacle avoidance and a mopping system, but if you keep your home free of obstructions and have no need for a mop, it's a great alternative to higher-priced models with good overall debris pickup performance, thorough and accurate mapping, and an easy-to-use but feature-packed companion app.
If you're looking for alternatives, see our recommendations for the best robot vacuums, the best robot vacuums for hardwood floors, and the best robot vacuums for carpet.
Compared to the Roborock Q5/Q5+, the Roborock Q5 Max+ represents a step forward in most respects. The latter's twin roller floorhead makes it a much better option for dealing with pet hair. The Q5 Max+ also has a considerably larger internal dustbin, so it won't need to return to its self-empty station as often, and it boasts better overall battery performance. That said, the older Q5's bristled roller can provide more surface agitation on carpets, and as a result, it can have an easier time dealing with finer debris embedded with carpet fibers.
The Roborock Q7 Max+/Max and the Roborock Q5 Max+ are pretty similar robot vacuums, but ultimately the Q5 Max+ represents the better deal if you can find it for a cheaper price. The Q5 Max's twin roller floorhead results in better overall debris pickup, especially when it comes to pet hair. The Q7 Max might have a mopping system, but it's entirely passive and does almost nothing to scrub away dried-on stains; the Q5 Max's lack of this system is a net benefit, as it doesn't need a water tank that cuts into dustbin capacity.
The Roborock S8+/S8 is better than the Roborock Q5 Max+, but the latter is still a good value-conscious option if you don't need all the features found on the former. The S8 can pull double duty as a robot mop, and it features the manufacturer's ReactiveAI obstacle avoidance system, so you don't have to make sure your home is completely free of obstacles before letting it run a cleaning job. On the other hand, the Q5 Max+'s lack of a mopping system does mean it doesn't need a water tank, resulting in less overall upkeep and a higher-capacity dustbin.
The Roborock Qrevo is is more feature-dense than the Roborock Q5 Max+, but the latter is still a good choice if you don't want to spend as much. The Qrevo has Roborock's ReactiveAI obstacle avoidance system, so you don't have to make sure your home is completely free of hazards before letting it run. It also has a mopping system that actively scrubs away stains, and its more advanced multifunction dock empties its dustbin, refills its water tank, and washes and dries its mop pads. It feels like the better-built, more robust product, too, and its fast-charging system minimizes downtime between cleaning jobs. Conversely, the Q5 Max+ is a simpler appliance, with few maintenance requirements.
Test Results
The Roborock Q5 Max+ feels well-built. It's ultimately pretty similar in feel to the older Roborock Q5, with a body made of somewhat thick plastic. That said, it differs from that model with its dual-roller cleaning head; this arrangement is very similar to the one found on the much pricier Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, minus the latter's brushroll raising system. Its dustbin is also much larger than most other Roborock models. The vacuum itself feels rather front-heavy, with a somewhat hollow feel at the back of its body. The sealing isn't as thorough as some other Roborock models, as fine particles can escape its dustbin and be blown outwards from its LIDAR sensor. It's also worth noting that the three-armed side brush on our unit seems to have bent while in transit.
This vacuum is decently easy to maintain, with relatively few parts requiring regular maintenance. Thanks to its self-empty station, there's little reason to check the dirt compartment, which slides easily from the vacuum anyway. Some elbow grease is required now and then, though. The side brush and omnidirectional wheel do require tools to remove them: a screwdriver for the latter and a pair of pliers for the former. The vacuum's filter, which normally clips onto the dustbin, has somewhat closely spaced pleats, and to dislodge any stuck-on debris or grit, it's best to rinse it under water.
When it comes to the docking station, there's very little to do. You only really need to swap out the dirtbag once it gets full, and it's easy to swap out and install.
If you want a full rundown of the maintenance requirements associated with this vacuum, you can read its user manual online.
The Roborock Q5 Max+ incurs moderately high recurring costs.
- Brushrolls: The brushrolls need replacing after 300 hours of use or every six to 12 months. Replacements can be purchased on the manufacturer's website.
- Side brush: The side brush has a service life of 300 hours or approximately three to six months of use. You can buy a two-pack of replacements on the manufacturer's website.
- Filter: The filter needs replacing every 150 hours of use, or every six to 12 months. You can buy a two-pack of replacements directly from Roborock.
- Dock station dirtbag: A single dirtbag is advertised to hold enough debris for about seven weeks' worth of regular cleaning runs. You can buy a six-pack of bags from the company's website.
This vacuum is fairly easy to store. The vacuum itself isn't that big, being short enough to fit under most tables and chairs. Its docking station has almost identical dimensions to that of the older self-empty station bundled with the Roborock Q5+. Since it contains only a dustbag, with no need for a water tank to refill a mop water tank, the dock station is pretty compact overall and will fit in a nook between a bookcase and a wall.
This vacuum has an impressive overall debris capacity. The vacuum's internal dustbin is very large for a robot vacuum; while its measured capacity of 550 mL is a little less than the advertised claim of 770 mL, it's still almost twice the size of the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra's dustbin. As for its docking station, it uses the same 2L dustbags as the older Roborock Q5+.
Roborock Q5 Max+ robot vacuum
- Robot vacuum
- 1x side brush
- 1x robot filter
- Robot dirt compartment
- 2x duo roller brushrolls
- Brushroll guard
Docking Station and Accessories
- Power cable
- Dock base
- Dock dustbin
- Dock dustbin cover
- 2x dirtbags
- Quick start guide and user manual
The vacuum's range is limited only by its remaining battery life, though it can't climb or descend staircases.
This vacuum is very portable. The lack of a mopping module and simpler design makes it considerably lighter than other models like the Dreame L10s Ultra.
Its battery performance is excellent overall. It falls within a pretty similar ballpark to the older Roborock Q5+, with a max runtime of a little over four hours in its 'Quiet' mode, which is plenty of time to deal with lightweight debris on hard floors. Even in its highest-power 'Max+' mode, it can run for upwards of 100 minutes, which is a lot of time to deal with more stubborn messes. It's worth noting that it will return to its dock to recharge once its charge level drops below 20%.
This robot vacuum has a couple of extra convenience features. It has five levels of suction power, ranging from the energy-efficient 'Quiet' mode to the most potent 'Max+' setting. Its surface detection system also allows it to automatically increase its suction power to 'Max' when it maneuvers onto carpeted floors. You can also toggle between two pathing modes and enable the 'Clean along floor direction' setting, which has the vacuum avoid scraping against floor seams.
This vacuum's performance on bare floors is great. It's quite effective in handling large and medium-sized debris like cereal or rice, though it might leave behind a smaller amount of finer debris like sand. Its lack of a dedicated obstacle avoidance feature can also be a bit of an asset for cleaning up close to walls and corners, as the vacuum will lightly bounce off of them instead of stopping before it reaches the edge.
The Roborock Q5 Max+'s performance on high-pile carpets is good. It struggles a little with clearing away finer debris like sand, but otherwise, it performs quite well in dealing with larger debris like cereal or rice.
This vacuum's performance on low-pile carpets is decent. As with its performance on bare flooring and high-pile carpets, it will take more than one pass to clear away finer debris like sand, but otherwise, it performs quite well, even along walls and in corners.
This vacuum does a fantastic job of dealing with pet hair on low-pile carpets. Within a single cleaning cycle, it can clear away the majority of strands, with barely anything remaining. Its twin roller head performs far better in this regard than the older Roborock Q5+'s single-bristled roller.
This vacuum's real-world suction force isn't especially strong, though this isn't unusual for a robot vacuum; its suction inlet is positioned too high above the contact surface to generate a tight seal on bare surfaces. The manufacturer advertises 5500 Pa of suction power, which is substantially more than the advertised 2700 Pa of suction from the older Roborock Q5. That said, the Q5 Max+'s twin roller setup results in a larger suction area, likely negating that on-paper advantage.
The Roborock Q5 Max+'s airflow performance is good for a robot vacuum. It falls within a similar ballpark to the pricier Roborock Qrevo, and it won't have too much trouble lifting away heavier debris.
This vacuum is remarkably quiet in normal operation, and you won't have any trouble hearing nearby conversations even when the vacuum is running in the same room in its 'Balanced' setting with the 'Carpet Boost' system turned on. Even at its highest suction 'Max+' setting on bare floors, it peaks at 65.9 dBA. Its multi-function dock produces a peak volume of 73.8 dBA during the self-empty process, which is a little on the louder end, but still far from overly disruptive.
The Roborock Q5 Max+ does a great job of maneuvering itself. Its LIDAR mapping sensor provides quick and accurate mapping, and the vacuum cleans in an organized, thorough pattern, However, unlike pricier models, it lacks a real-time hazard avoidance system, which would allow it to spot and react to obstacles like loose socks, thick power cables, or pet waste, so it's best to make sure your home is free of significant obstacles before letting it run. It can climb onto low-pile rugs without getting stuck, though you'll need to tuck any loose tassels away since they can get stuck in the vacuum's rollers. It unfortunately has a lot of difficulty with thick, shag-pile carpeting, however.
This is a robot vacuum that isn't designed for use on furniture.
This vacuum does a poor job of sealing in fine particles. Fine allergens bypass its exhaust filter and are blown straight out of its exhaust and LIDAR sensor.
This vacuum has poor crack-cleaning performance. It struggles with drawing up fine debris wedged deep within crevices, and its side brush tends to swirl debris outwards, which the vacuum won't necessarily clean up afterward. Running a second pass does little to improve its performance here.
This vacuum has no impact on stains. If you want a Roborock model with a mopping system that active scrubs away stains, the Roborock Qrevo is worth a look.
This vacuum isn't designed to deal with liquid spills.
This vacuum has a broad range of physical automation features, though overall functionality is still limited if you don't use the companion app.
You can use the buttons on top of the vacuum to have it start a general-purpose cleaning cycle, return to its dock, or engage the self-empty function.
The Roborock companion app has a pretty wide range of features, with a well-laid out interface. The vacuum offers multi-floor mapping capability so that you can use it on any floor in your house. Using the coverage map, you can set room names, split areas, set up 'No-Go' zones, and establish virtual boundary lines for areas you don't want the vacuum to enter. You can also set 'Entrapping Thresholds' for spots like door steps or transition strips. You can also schedule cleaning sessions for individual areas, set individual suction modes for different areas, or see cleaning session history.
You can direct the vacuum manually by selecting a room you want it to go to using the 'Pin n Go' function or by using the in-app directional buttons. You can also use the app to check the maintenance status of various wear components, change the auto-empty settings, adjust the voice used for audio prompts, and set up its 'Do Not Disturb' mode.