The Roborock S4 Max is a well-built robot vacuum. It has a similar design to the Roborock S4, but unlike that model, it can maneuver on high-pile carpets. It delivers excellent performance on bare floors and picks up a good amount of pet hair from carpets as well. It's very good at maneuvering itself, as it creates and saves a map of your home and has a smart pathing feature. The companion app offers a suite of advanced automation features, like the ability to set virtual boundary markers and create cleaning schedules for individual rooms. Unfortunately, like most robot vacuums, it incurs a lot of recurring costs and has demanding maintenance needs.
Our Verdict
The Roborock S4 Max is excellent for bare floors. It easily clears pet hair and most large and small debris. It moves in an efficient pattern, and its dirt compartment is a decent size. Unfortunately, it incurs quite a few recurring costs and isn't easy to maintain, but on the plus side, it has a great build quality.
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Clears debris like rice and cereal.
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Amazing battery life.
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Sucks up most pet hair.
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High recurring costs and demanding maintenance needs.
The Roborock S4 Max is mediocre for low-pile carpets. It picks up a good amount of pet hair but struggles with fine debris like baking soda. It also incurs quite a few recurring costs and has demanding maintenance needs, but on the plus side, it's a very well-built vacuum.
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Automatically increases suction power on carpets.
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Sucks up most pet hair.
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High recurring costs and demanding maintenance needs.
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Struggles to clear debris.
The Roborock S4 Max is alright for high-pile carpets. It can climb onto carpets and maneuver itself on them. It clears a good amount of pet hair but struggles with large and small debris when its dirt compartment is partially full. The dirt compartment is a decent size, but it incurs quite a few recurring costs and has several parts that need regular maintenance.
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Automatically increases suction power on carpets.
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Amazing battery life.
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Sucks up most pet hair.
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High recurring costs and demanding maintenance needs.
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Struggles to clear debris.
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Performance drops as dirt compartment fills.
The Roborock S4 Max is a good choice for cleaning up pet hair. It clears most pet hair from most surface types very easily. The brushroll is removable, which makes it easier to clear any tangled hair. It incurs high recurring costs and has demanding maintenance needs, but it has an excellent build quality.
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Amazing battery life.
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Sucks up most pet hair.
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Good air fitration performance.
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High recurring costs and demanding maintenance needs.
The Roborock S4 Max isn't designed to be used on stairs.
The Roborock S4 Max isn't designed for cleaning car interiors.
- 7.6 Bare Floor
- 6.6 Low-Pile Carpet
- 6.3 High-Pile Carpet
- 5.1 Pets
- 5.8 Stairs
- 4.7 Cars
- 4.3 Workshop
- Updated Dec 14, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 0.7.
- Updated Oct 17, 2022: We've corrected an error in this review stating that this vacuum has a HEPA-efficiency exhaust filter. This isn't the case, and all mentions of this vacuum having a HEPA filter have been removed.
- Updated Sep 01, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.6.
- Updated Aug 30, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 0.5.
- Updated Aug 18, 2022: Updated 'Alternative Configuration' field to include a link to Roborock S5 Max as an alternative with mopping capability.
- Updated Feb 25, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Feb 22, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Feb 15, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Feb 12, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Feb 08, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Roborock S4 Max is available in one color, 'Black'. You can see the label for the unit we tested here. It's quite similar in design to the Roborock S4, which we also tested.
If you come across another variant or your model is different, please let us know in the discussions so we can update our review.
Compared To Other Robot Vacuums
The Roborock S4 Max is a well-built robot vacuum. Like the Roborock S4, it has advanced automation features and performs best on bare floors. The Max has a longer maximum battery life, and unlike the S4, it can climb onto high-pile carpets and does an okay job of cleaning them. The S4 has a much better performance on low-pile carpets, but neither model is the best choice for cleaning carpets.
If you want to see more options, see our lists of the best robot vacuums, the best robot vacuums for carpets, and the best robot vacuums for pet hair.
The Roborock Q5 is better than the Roborock S4 Max. The Q5 can be bundled with a self-emptying station, which reduces hands-on maintenance requirements. It also weighs less and delivers slightly better performance on carpeted floors. That said, the S4 feels better built.
The Roborock S4 Max and the Roborock S4 are very similarly-designed vacuums, and you may prefer either one, depending on what surface types you have in your home. The Max can climb onto and clean high-pile carpets. It has a longer maximum battery life and it's also lighter, which makes it more portable. On the other hand, the S4 has a much better performance on low-pile carpets and picks up more debris like cereal from bare floors when its dirt compartment is partially full.
The Roborock S5 Max and Roborock S4 Max are very similar vacuums that share the same overall mapping and navigation system, suction motor, and dirt compartment capacity. The only significant difference between the two is the inclusion of a mopping feature, as the S5 has a mopping attachment while the S4 does not. Ultimately, the S5's mopping attachment isn't very effective, and unless you need it, you're better off spending less on the cheaper S4.
The Roborock E4 is a better vacuum than the Roborock S4 Max. They have very similar battery performance, maintenance needs, and build quality, but the E4 delivers better performance on every surface type. It's also a bit lighter and its dirt compartment is slightly bigger. However, the Max has more advanced automation features. It maps your home and allows you to create virtual boundaries and individual cleaning schedules for different rooms.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is a better robot vacuum than the Roborock S4 Max. The iRobot is better built, uses a larger internal dustbin, and charges in a little under a third of the time as the Roborock. The Roborock also delivers superior performance on all surface types.
The Roborock S4 Max is better than the Shark AI Robot. The Roborock feels better-built, has fewer parts requiring regular maintenance, has a much larger dustbin, and performs notably better on bare floors and high-pile carpet. Meanwhile, the Shark charges faster.
The Roborock S5 is a better vacuum than the Roborock S4 Max. They have a very similar design and features, but the S5 delivers better performance on bare floors and low-pile carpets. It's also lighter and recharges much more quickly. On the other hand, the Max has a better performance on high-pile carpets, as it clears more debris from that surface type when its dirt compartment is empty.
The Roborock S6 is a better vacuum than the Roborock S4 Max for most uses. The S6 has a significantly better performance on bare floors and low-pile carpets. It doesn't clear as much larger debris from high-pile carpets, but picks up more pet hair from that surface type and doesn't lose as much suction as its dirt compartment fills. On the other hand, the Max is a bit smaller and lighter, which makes it more portable.
The Wyze Robot Vacuum is slightly better than the Roborock S4 Max. The Wyze has fewer parts that require regular maintenance and delivers superior performance on bare floors as well as low- and high-pile carpets. While the Wyze charges a lot faster, the Roborock has a longer maximum runtime, but it's worth mentioning that this can vary in the real world. The Roborock also maneuvers itself more effectively and has a larger dirt compartment.
The Roborock S4 Max is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The Roborock uses an E11 filter to trap some measure of allergens, has a larger dustbin, lasts longer on a single charge, has a more advanced suite of automation features, does a better job of maneuvering itself, and performs better on all surfaces. Conversely, the iRobot charges much faster.
The Neato D8 and Roborock S4 Max each have strengths and weaknesses, meaning one might suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The Neato has fewer parts that need regular cleaning, charges substantially faster, and delivers superior performance on low and high-pile carpet. The Roborock has a surface detection system that enables it to automatically increase its suction power on carpets. It also has a much longer battery life, incurs lower recurring costs, and gets stuck around obstacles less frequently than the Neato.
The Roborock S6 MaxV and Roborock S4 Max each have their own advantages, so one may suit you better than the other depending on your needs. The S6 MaxV is better-built, delivers superior performance in regards to clearing larger debris like sand from carpets, and has a mopping attachment for clearing stuck-on debris on bare floors, though we don't currently test the latter. Meanwhile, the S4 Max is notably better when it comes to cleairng pet hair from carpeted floors and has a longer battery life, though it does take longer to recharge.
The Roborock S4 Max and Roborock S7 have different advantages, so one may suit you better, depending on your needs. The S4 Max has a larger dirt compartment and does a better job of clearing pet hair from all surface types. Conversely, the S7 delivers better debris-cleaning performance on bare floors and carpets. It also feels better built, takes less time to recharge, and comes with a mopping attachment.
The Roborock S4 Max is better than the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum. The Roborock is better-built, more portable, has a longer maximum runtime, maneuvers itself more effectively, and can clear debris on high-pile carpet. You can also use the 'Mi Home' companion app to set up virtual boundary markers, unlike the Xiaomi. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi performs notably better on low-pile carpets and takes less time to recharge.
Test Results
The Roborock S4 Max has very good build quality. It's made of sturdy-feeling hard plastic and has a matte finish, unlike the glossy-topped Roborock S5 and Roborock S6. The wheels are made of rubber and feel durable. However, the dust bin feels like it could break if dropped.
The top of the vacuum has a cover you can lift to access the dirt compartment. There's a Wi-Fi indicator light under the cover as well. Also on top are two buttons you can use to operate it without an internet connection. The laser navigation sensors are located on a small raised cylinder in the middle.
The Roborock S4 Max is a bit hard to maintain since it has quite a few parts that you need to take out and clean regularly.
- Brushroll: Should be cleaned once a week. Remove by taking off the brushroll guard and pulling it out. You can take off the bearings to clear tangled hair. There's a tool included to help with this, but it's not very effective.
- Side brush: Once a month, use a screwdriver to take it out of the vacuum and clean off any tangled hair.
- Dirt compartment: The dirt compartment is small, so it needs to be emptied frequently. Luckily, it's very easy to remove by lifting the cover on top of the vacuum. Debris can spill out of it during this step, so be careful, especially if it's really full. It can be emptied over a garbage can or washed with water as needed.
- E11 filter: Should be cleaned every two weeks. To access the filter, you need to take out the dirt compartment first, and then unclip it.
- Caster wheel: Should be cleaned once per month. You can pull it out of the socket, but it requires a lot of force and you may need to use pliers.
- Sensor: The sensors and charging contacts on the vacuum should be dusted with a dry cloth about once a month.
The Roborock S4 Max has a few parts that need to be replaced regularly, so like many robot vacuums, it incurs fairly high recurring costs.
- Brushroll: Replace every six to 12 months.
- Side brush: Replace every three to six months.
- E11 filter: Replace every three to six months.
The vacuum's companion app has a "Maintenance" tab that allows you to see roughly how many hours of cleaning time are left until you should replace each part, based on your actual use of the vacuum.
This vacuum is very easy to store since it comes with a compact, low-profile charging station. However, the vacuum tends to push the station when it tries to dock itself, which can be a bit annoying. Luckily, the station comes with double-sided tape on the bottom, which you can use to prevent it from sliding around.
The Roborock S4 Max's dirt compartment is a decent size for a robot vacuum. It holds the same volume as the Roborock S4's, although it's advertised as having a slightly bigger capacity. The app notifies you when it's full, and it's easy to access. You should remove it very carefully because it has an opening that debris can spill out of.
- Roborock S4 Max vacuum
- Charging dock
- Charging cable
- 2x E11 filters
- Brushroll
- Brush guard
- Main brush cleaning tool
- User guide
The Roborock S4 Max has an unlimited range as long as it still has battery and space left in its dirt compartment, but it can't go up or down stairs.
This vacuum has great portability. It's on the heavier side for a robot vacuum, but it's still relatively light and compact, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue to carry it from floor to floor. There's no carrying handle, however.
The Roborock S4 Max has amazing battery performance. Set to its most powerful suction setting, 'Max' mode, it lasts for nearly an hour and a half. On the lowest setting 'Quiet' mode, it provides up to three and a half hours of continuous cleaning. However, it takes nearly five hours to recharge, which is quite long.
The Roborock S4 Max robot vacuum has some extra features. There are four different power suction modes, 'Quiet', 'Normal', 'Turbo', and 'Max'. There's also 'Carpet Mode' which allows the vacuum to automatically detect when it's cleaning carpet and increase the suction power mode to 'Max'. This feature is turned on by default, but you can turn it off in the app.
The Roborock S4 Max is equipped with a silicone side brush that pushes debris into the path of the vacuum. It also comes with a brush cleaning tool that has bristles and a small hook blade to cut away any tangled hair.
The Roborock S4 Max doesn't have an alternative configuration. Unlike the Roborock S5 Max, it doesn't have a mopping feature that would allow it to scrub away stains.
The Roborock S4 Max has fantastic performance on bare floors. It easily clears pet hair and picks up smaller debris like rice, even when its dirt compartment is partially full. It can suck up bulky material like cereal with no issue when its dirt compartment is empty, but once it's about half full, some cereal gets stuck between the brushroll and the dirt compartment, or trapped under the vacuum and dragged around.
The Roborock S4 Max has a sub-par performance on low-pile carpets. It picks up some pet hair and larger debris like sand but struggles with fine debris like baking soda. Consider the Xiaomi Mi Robot Vacuum if you're looking for a vacuum that's more effective on this surface type.
The Roborock S4 Max is okay on high-pile carpets. Unlike the Roborock S4, it can climb onto them and move around. It sucks up most pet hair but struggles with debris, and its performance drops sharply when the dirt compartment is partially full.
The Roborock S4 Max maneuvers itself very well. It uses its laser navigation system to clean in an organized pattern and adapts its route after each cleaning job to become more efficient. It's small enough to go under low furniture like a couch and cleans around obstacles like table legs. If you have 'Carpet Mode' on, you can hear its suction power increase when it climbs onto a carpet or rug. Unfortunately, it tends to get stuck on rugs with tassels and electric cords, and you may need to physically remove it before it can continue cleaning.
The Roborock S4 Max has excellent automation features. It creates and saves a map of your home that you can see in the Roborock app. Then you can use the app to set virtual boundaries and 'no-go zones' to keep the vacuum out of certain areas. You can also designate a specific area for it to spot clean, remote pilot the vacuum, and use the 'pin and go' feature to send it to a particular place on the map. The app also allows you to change the suction power settings and set up individual cleaning schedules for different rooms. It shows you your cleaning history and maintenance schedule. If the battery dies while it's cleaning a room, it will calculate how long it needs to charge to finish the job.
If you want to use it without an internet connection, you can use the two buttons on top. Press the power button to start or stop a cleaning session, and press and hold to turn the vacuum on and off. Pressing the home button sends it back to its dock, while pressing and holding tells it to do a spot-clean.
