Roborock Q5 vs Q7 Max: Which Roborock robot vacuum is your bet, and why? If you’re on the fence about that, this post is for you. I tested both and gave my vote to the second one.
These two bots are pretty similar, but there are noteworthy differences that set them apart. As for the most prominent one, the Roborock Q7 Max has better overall cleaning performance and can vacuum and mop simultaneously, while the Roborock Q5 can vacuum only.
Roborock Q5 Vs Q7 Max: Comparison Chart
Roborock Q5 Vs Q7 Max: Differences
The Q7 was the overall winner, beating the Q5 with a score of 5-1. So, how do these Roborocks compare? Let’s read on to find out!
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Roborock Q7 Max
Suction Power
| Roborock Q5 | Roborock Q7 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Max Suction (Pa) | 2700 | 4200 |
| Max Airflow (CFM) | ≈ 16.9 | ≈ 15.8 |
According to Roborock, the Q7 Max has more power than the Q5, but my airflow tests showed that the former has lower airflow. I didn’t know why, but the difference wasn’t minimal, and both excelled at picking up debris, particularly on my hardwood flooring.
Hard Floor
| Roborock Q5 | Roborock Q7 Max |
|---|---|
| ≈ 98% | ≈ 97% |
The Q5 picked up more than the Q7 Max on my hardwood floor, but there wasn’t much variance between their great results. Given this, I would assert that both robots are equally competent when it comes to cleaning debris on hard flooring, and this test should not be a deciding factor in choosing between the two.
Carpet
| Roborock Q5 | Roborock Q7 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pile Carpet | ≈ 97% | ≈ 94% |
| High-pile Carpet | ≈ 94% | ≈ 95% |
The Q5 got a higher average than the Q7 Max on the low-pile carpet, while the Q7 Max was better on the high-pile one. Once again, they performed well, and the differences were slight, just like in my hard floor experiments.
Hair
| Roborock Q5 | Roborock Q7 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-inch Strands | ≈ 78% | ≈ 87% |
| 10-inch Strands | ≈ 51% | ≈ 61% |
The Q7 Max picked up more hair than the Q5, as the table shows, making it the better option for cleaning up hair. The super good thing about Q7 Max’s bristle-less roller is that it’s easy to dislodge hair, and I could do it within seconds. In comparison, the Q5’s bristle roller required a bit more elbow grease to untangle the hair.
Design & Usability
Winner: Roborock Q7 Max
First Look & Dimensions
| Roborock Q5 | Roborock Q7 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x H) | 13.8 x 4.17 inches | 13.78 x 3.78 inches |
| Weight | 9.59 lbs | 7.05 lbs |
There are no unusual or significant differences between the Q5 and Q7 Max: both feature a round-shaped body with a laser turret and a few buttons on top. They can easily pass between tight spaces, such as between chair legs, but their raised laser turrets can be a hindrance when they try to get under low-profile furniture. Well, by the way, the Q5 is only available in black, while the Q7 Max offers a choice between black and white.
Extractor & Side Brush
Both have one multi-directional floating brush roller located between the wheels and one side brush. Their main rollers are designed for height flexibility to continuously contact the surface they are cleaning, regardless of whether it is hard floors or carpets.
But while the Q5 uses a standard bristle brushroll, the Q7 features an all-rubber roller brush. This notable difference means the Q7 Max is easier to maintain and keep clean while offering excellent agitation and dirt pickup. Consequently, the Q7 Max is a better choice for those seeking a low-maintenance robot. Keep in mind, though, that the Q5 is also compatible with this type of brush, but it must be bought separately.
As for the side brush, both use the same 5-arm, all-rubber side brush in the exact location. This is truly a welcome upgrade to the bristle variant that can be found in previous-generation Roborocks.
Navigation
It’s a draw between the two here as they use the same LiDAR navigation system and a bunch of sensors, including obstacle detection sensors, cliff sensors, and accelerometers, for perfect mapping and navigation. They can even save up to four maps, making them well-suited for homes with multiple floors.
Using a LiDAR laser-based system means these bots can create hyper-accurate maps of your home with fewer initial run cycles because they don’t have to tinker with every corner and nook, like iRoombas or any robots that rely on built-in cameras. Then, when cleaning an area, they clean the edges before moving toward the middle portions for thorough cleaning, unlike low-level bots that clean randomly, resulting in a few spots being missed at the end of the day.
The point is they don’t have a real-time camera like the S7 MaxV, so they are prone to hitting objects as they navigate through your home, and they will. But that’s not a big deal in most cases since both boast a front-facing retractable bumper designed to absorb impacts, preventing damage to both the vacuum and your belongings. That way, they can adeptly navigate in both low- and high-traffic households with minimal risk of getting stuck.
Battery Life
| Roborock Q5 | Roborock Q7 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | ≈ 98–164 mins | ≈ 91-183 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 172 mins | ≈ 231 mins |
Both of these Roborocks come with a powerful 5200mAh lithium-ion battery that offers an impressive runtime of up to 180 minutes when operating in the lowest power mode. The actual battery life will vary based on your selected cleaning settings, and higher suction power settings can result in quicker battery drainage, of course.
Regarding recharging, should they detect a low battery during a cleaning cycle, they are programmed to autonomously return to their home bases for a recharge. Post-recharge, they will resume cleaning right where they left off. This recharge & resume feature is particularly handy since it ensures you won’t end up coming home to a partially cleaned home and a drained robot vacuum.
Control
Winner: Roborock Q7 Max
Manual Control
To access the full range of controls, you need to connect them to the Roborock Home app. But they also give you a quick way to start a cleaning trip or send the bot home via a power button and a home button. Unique to the Q7 Max is a spot-cleaning button that provides a quick and easy solution for cleaning a small area with just a single press.
App Connectivity
These little boys are compatible with the Roborock Home app and have the same set of smart features. The entire download and setup process is easy and completely free.
The app not only creates a 2D map of your home but also a 3D map. The 3D map isn’t too different from the 2D map in terms of function, except that it allows you to add furniture to give your robot a better understanding of your home. I mean, both versions give you a bird’s-eye view of your living space, the cleaning routes of your bot, its current location, and the positions of no-go zones/no-mop zones/invisible walls.
After breaking down the map into different rooms or areas and naming them, you can assign any room for your robot to clean or set cleaning zones if you just need to clean a mess in the living room, for example. You can even instruct the robot what to do while relaxing on the sofa and being engrossed in your beloved Netflix series if you have Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri.
There are a lot of things you can do with the app, including adjusting the suction power, scheduling multiple cleaning cycles per day, perusing the bot’s cleaning history, and keeping an eye on different components to know when they need TLC or a replacement.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Tie
Their dust boxes need to be emptied manually because their home bases don’t have the ability to empty them, and the Q7’s bin is bigger, so it should be emptied less often. This process will likely spread dust and allergens as well as dirty your hands, and if that’s a deal-breaker for you, the Q5+ or Q7 Max+, with their self-cleaning bases, have got you covered.
Both use an E11-rated filter that also needs to be washed at least once a month. Just rinse it under the tap and leave it to dry before putting it back. You will need to replace them after 3-4 months or whenever the app tells you to. For the Q7 Max, you must refill its water tank manually, wash its mop pad after every hybrid cleaning cycle, and replace the pad every 1-2 months for optimal performance.
Other Features
Winner: Roborock Q7 Max
Noise
| Roborock Q5 | Roborock Q7 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Working | ≈ 59-64 dB | ≈ 59-75 dB |
| Self-Emptying | None | None |
The Q7 Max is the noisier option, maxing out at 75 dB in the highest power setting, while the Roomba Combo J7+ is quieter at 64 dB. The good news is that you don’t have to use their highest settings all the time, as they will pick up debris well even in lower settings, which have lower noise levels.
Mopping Ability
The Q5 doesn’t come with a mopping function, while the Q7 Max can vacuum and mop at the same time. Unlike the gravity tank on the Q7 normal version, the water tank on the Q7 Max is electronic, allowing you to control the water flow at four levels on the app. I honestly didn’t appreciate the mopping ability of the Q7 Max, especially when comparing it to some high-end Roborocks like the S7 MaxV or the S8 Pro Ultra.
The Q7 lacks a vibrating module, making it less efficient at mopping floors. This one is only effective for light tasks, such as removing juice stains or paw marks, and to effectively combat stubborn stains, you’ll need a robot that comes with a vibrating or agitating feature. And yes, the Q7 Max doesn’t have the ability to automatically raise its mopping pad when crossing carpeted areas.
Quick Rundown Of Roborock Q7 Max
- Deeper Cleaning with Powerful 4200 Pa Suction: With an incredible maximum suction power of 4200 Pa, the Q7 Max easily lifts debris and pet hair from floors, drags it from cracks, and draws it from carpets. When a carpet is detected, it will automatically increase its suction to the maximum for deep cleaning.
- Vacuum and Mop Simultaneously: To get rid of fine dust that vacuuming alone might miss, the Q7 Max can vacuum and mop simultaneously. Equipped with an electronic pump, the Q7 Max offers 30 water flow levels so you can fine-tune cleaning to match your floor types and preferences.
- Clean Smarter with PreciSense LiDAR Navigation: LiDAR navigation, which is incredibly accurate, can now be viewed in 3D, building precise maps of your home. It also monitors cleaning routes efficiently. You can virtually recreate your home by adding furnishings and flooring materials.
- Combined Dustbin & Water Tank: Combining the 470 ml dustbin and 350 ml water tank means that you can clean more often without worrying about emptying or refilling.
- Multi-directional Floating All-Rubber Brush: An all-rubber brush strongly resists hair tangles making it ideal for tackling long hair and pet hair. Multi-directional design means the brush can be closer to the floor to provide deeper and more efficient cleaning.
Quick Rundown Of Roborock Q5
- 【Deeper Cleaning with Powerful 2700Pa Suction】: Roborock Q5 is the upgraded version of S4 Max.With powerful 2700Pa suction, the Roborock Q5 easily picks up pet hair, dust and finer dirts from floors or carpets. When a carpet is detected, it will automatically increase its suction to the maximum for deep cleaning.
- 【Convenient App Control】: Control every element of Q5 through the Roborock app, including viewing the exact vacuuming route, setting cleaning schedules, adjusting the suction power, creating No-Go Zones, Invisible Walls, and much more. All from anywhere you have internet.
- 【Precision Mapping with PreciSense LiDAR】: LiDAR navigation creates accurate maps, and Q5 can save up to 4 maps. Use 3D Mapping to view your home in 3D and add furniture and floor materials to recreate your home virtually.
- 【Handle Large Homes Easily】: 180mins runtime using a large onboard battery means up to 3230 sqft of cleaning on a single charge. A Large dustbin (470ml) means less emptying so you can tackle a large home without pause.
- 【Close to Floors】: The multi-directional floating rubber brush stays close to the ground, ensuring effective cleanup even on uneven surfaces.
Product Videos
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References:
- Roborock Q7 Max: https://us.roborock.com/products/roborock-q7-max
- Roborock Q5: https://us.roborock.com/products/roborock-q5
Richard B. Schmidt is a prominent figure in the vacuum cleaner industry, boasting over 15 years of expertise. Armed with a Robotics Engineering degree from Northeastern University and a Master’s in Consumer Science from Harvard, his unique blend of technical knowledge and consumer insights positions him as a sought-after authority in vacuum cleaner evaluation. Richard’s career began at Dyson, where he contributed to the development of innovative vacuum models. Transitioning to advocacy and reviews, he co-founded the first Vacuum-focused blog in 2008, offering comprehensive analysis and user guides for various vacuum cleaners. In 2020, he founded RoboMop.net, providing ongoing insights through columns and buyer’s guides.