Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra: Analysis, tests and opinions

Before we get into that, let’s briefly review Roborock’s trajectory. It is a company founded in 2014 with the support of technology giants such as Xiaomi. In Spain we met it with its first product, the Roborock S5, which has since had continuity with different versions of this robot vacuum cleaner, but also with other types of products such as wireless vacuum cleaners. At this time, it is already a fully established brand in our country.

The latest model is the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra and we have thoroughly tested it to tell you everything you need to know about it. In the Roborock Amazon store you can consult and buy the different products that the company has in Spain. In addition, they can also be found in other stores.

 

Technical characteristics

The new Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, together with the emptying, filling and washing base, is one of the highest-end models that we have in Spain, if not the highest-end. This robot vacuum cleaner has everything to make our house look clean and so that we don’t have to do (almost) anything. Its emptying base collects all the dust in a comfortable bag that we will change after weeks. Its filling base adds the necessary water to scrub when we indicate it. And its washing base is capable of cleaning the mop and storing dirty water. On a technical level, this is what it offers:

• Robot dimensions: 9.6 x 35.3 x 35 centimeters
• Base dimensions: 42 x 41 x 50 centimeters
• Weight: 4.65 kilograms
• Sensors: 3D camera and RGB camera, LiDAR laser navigation, level sensor, distance sensor, collision sensors
• Suction power: 5,100 pascals
• Waste tank: 400 milliliters
• Water tank: 200 milliliters
• Battery: 5,200mAh
• Autonomy: 180 minutes
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi N
• Vacuum cleaner price: 799 euros
• Price with Ultra base: 1,399 euros

 

Design and charging base

Here we have two parts to analyze. On the one hand, we have the S7 MaxV vacuum cleaner and, on the other hand, the Ultra base with the three tanks. While the vacuum cleaner retains a design more similar to everything we are used to, the charging, emptying, filling and washing base is something we have not seen to date , not at least with these dimensions and configuration.

 

A robot with some surprise

However, let’s start with the robot vacuum cleaner. There are few notable novelties here, since the design of these vacuum cleaners has evolved enough in recent years that now only small improvements have to be made. For example, this device inherits a practically identical design to the Roborock S6 MaxV, but it stands out for some things like the fact that the finish is now matte. This is a very successful change that will prevent the traces of handling it from being marked or the surface dust from being seen so much.

The Roborock S7 MaxV features the PreciSense LIDAR navigation system that is made up of various cameras and sensors. On the front, it has an RGB camera and a 3D scanning camera that are complemented by the neural processing unit to recognize objects that are in its path. In the upper part we have the buttons for Home, On and off and cleaning of an area (spot cleaning). In addition, we have an LED in a curved line format that lights up with different colors depending on whether it is charging or there is a problem. If we lift the lid we have access to the dust container. In case of using the base, we must remove a piece that is perfectly indicated. This will open a chute for automatic emptying in the base.

Already in the lower part, that is, when turning it over, we find some known elements such as the wheels, the side brush (which is always installed by the user) or the suction area with a rubber roller, in addition to the different sensors . It is important that both the roller and the brush are made of rubber. This makes them more efficient and more resistant to wear. Finally, we have the water tank for scrubbing with the mop.

 

A colossal base, in every way

Checked the vacuum cleaner, it’s time to mess with the base. This comes in a separate box of much larger dimensions . This already allows us to get an idea of what we are going to find. The base is big, very big, and you should look for a good place before you start buying it. If you have a small apartment or one very full of things, it may be difficult for you to find accommodation for it. In my case, I have placed it in my bedroom next to a chest of drawers where it goes quite unnoticed.

The first thing that stands out, in addition to its size, is that it has three “tanks” at the top. The one on the left is intended for dirty water, that is, the water that has already been used after scrubbing the floor and that is “extracted” with the mechanism that cleans the mop, located in the lower part of the base. This is a brush that, by means of pressure, removes the dirty water from the mop and leaves it sparkling clean to continue with its task.

The central tank is the one for clean water . The base itself will be in charge of filling the tank of the robot vacuum cleaner when we have indicated that it should scrub. Everything will depend on the use we give it, but we can go several weeks without adding water. Finally, to the far right, we have a compartment that stores the bag. Everything sucked in is automatically emptied here and, after weeks of use, it is still not full in our case. We have a spare bag in the base box.

The back of the base has a design that allows us to wrap the charging cable to keep it hidden and prevent someone from getting caught in it. In addition, the first time we will have to mount the “ramp” that allows the robot to go up to the loading and washing area of the mop. Although it seems strong, the manufacturer recommends being careful with this “ramp” when moving the base, since we can break it.

 

Sensors, mapping and cleaning modes

In the previous section we have tiptoed over the sensors and cameras that this device equips. These are responsible for making navigation and, therefore, vacuuming and scrubbing more efficient. First of all, it must be said that the ability to avoid objects is surprising, but much more so to identify exactly the object that is blocking your path. On the map we will see icons such as: shoes, furniture in which you can get stuck, obstacles, scales, pedestal… Next to the % that it is that type of object. In addition, we can save photos of all of them thanks to its camera.

 

Sensors and cameras

This model has Reactive AI 2.0 technology, an evolution of the one included in the previous Roborock S6 MaxV. This combines all the sensors with the RGB camera in addition to the neural processing unit to provide the vacuum cleaner with a system that, as we have already explained, recognizes what it sees and decides the best way to avoid it. It’s impressive to think that, not so long ago, these robot vacuum cleaners were “banging” against furniture to get their bearings.

In the tests we have carried out it has never been stuck, something that other models have not achieved. The litmus tests, at least in my house, are two: the clothesline (its legs) and the room with the children’s toys. In the case of the clothesline, its thin metal legs made some models remain suspended in their eagerness to jump the obstacle. In the case of the children’s room, there is rarely a day that something is not left without picking up and the Roborock S7 MaxV has been able to dodge it at all times .

The manufacturer explains to us that its system combines “structured light 3D scanning (a process that uses a pattern projected onto a scene and uses pattern warping to accurately recognize obstacles), with an entirely new neural processing unit designed to run Roborock’s machine learning algorithms.”

We have verified that even the smallest objects are recognized and dodged. Roborock’s specifications say that it can see and dodge objects up to 5 cm wide and 3 cm high. The issue of recognizing the type of obstacle becomes very important when we have pets. If ours has made its bowel movements at home for any reason, the vacuum cleaner will know to stay away so as not to risk dragging all the waste around the house.

As a curiosity, if we press the camera icon that appears in the application we can see in real time what the new Roborock S7 MaxV “sees” . The light changes from blue, the usual one in the cleaning process, to purple, to warn that we are accessing the camera. In addition, it emits an alert so that people who are nearby are aware that we have accessed the camera. It is important to previously activate “Remote Viewing” for which we will have to press the buttons to return to the base, power on and localized cleaning until we hear that the function has been activated.

 

Matrix style map for your house

Its recognition capacity is reflected when we activate the 3D map in the application . Here we see how it has perfectly recognized furniture, doors, walls and all kinds of obstacles. In addition, we have a matrix map mode (matrix) that, with the help of our mobile, creates a virtual representation of our home.

We also quite like that the robot decides the cleaning order according to the type and size of the room. As if that were not enough, we can also change it manually. This is especially useful if we are going to be in an area and we want the vacuum cleaner to clean while the rest of the house.

As we have already highlighted, this is achieved thanks to its cameras, which could raise our concerns. However, the manufacturer confirms that ReactiveAI 2.0 does not save a single image and that it is certified as a secure smart home device by TUV Rheinland , in addition to meeting the cybersecurity standards of ETSI EN 303 645.

 

Vacuum and scrub modes

Once we have seen the navigation and mapping capacity of the vacuum cleaner, it is time to see the cleaning modes that it offers us. It is important to note that it has a suction power of 5,100 pascals , one of the largest on the market, which makes it capable of sucking up anything that is on the floor. Just check the dust compartment or the bag, in case of using the self-emptying base, to check it. Another noteworthy aspect is that it is quite quiet in normal and silent modes (obviously).

At the scrubbing level, we have VibraRise sonic vibration technology that rubs the floors at a speed of up to 3,000 times per minute with constant high pressure throughout the cleaning. As we know, mopping is not the strong point of robot vacuum cleaners, but the truth is that this is more than acceptable. On a floor without dry or sticky spots, the result is very good. In my case, enough to keep the house sparkling every day. It is missed that the official Roborock cleaning product that we can add to the water arrives in Spain.

Regarding the suction modes we have:

• Silent
• Normal
• Turbo
• Maximum

And in scrubbing intensity we find:

• Mild
• Moderate
• Intense

We can define these settings for the whole house, use the smart mode so that the vacuum cleaner decides or we can mark a personalized one for each room in our home. If we go into the options we can see other settings such as the activation of the turbo mode for carpets or what happens when the mop is installed (raise, avoid or ignore).

 

Minimum maintenance: maximum comfort

Once we have seen what the robot vacuum cleaner is capable of with its intelligent mapping and navigation system, it is time to see the great addition that is the base. To date, except for a few models, we were used to emptying the dust tank every 2 or 3 sessions and refilling the water tank every session. In addition, we had to wash the cloth to remove the remains of dirt that were sticking. All this is not necessary with this base, at least not so often.

The base has a bag that stores the powder and should be changed every 2 or 3 months. We have seen this in other vacuum cleaners, and the truth is that it is very comfortable. Once the vacuum is finished, the robot goes to the base and there empties the contents of the solids tank into the bag. This is located in the right compartment of the base. The truth is that, for future versions, the bag could be eliminated by opting for a compartment that could be emptied without the need for this addition.

However, the big difference with other models is found in the other two compartments of the base: the one for dirty water and the one for clean water. The first is the tank that stores the dirty water that is “extracted” from the mop when it has scrubbed the floor. From the application we can adjust the mop washing time in minutes, being 20 minutes by default .

The cleaning process of the mop is curious since, being located in the back and opposite the recharging points, the vacuum cleaner must go in backwards (as if reversing) to wash. Once it enters this position and is placed, a brush presses the mop to extract all the dirty water. This goes up through a circuit to the clean water tank.

Once the mop is clean, the scrubbing tank is filled with clean water, something that is achieved by using the water that we have filled in the one located in the center. In our case, with a daily cleaning, we fill the clean water tank once every 15 days and empty the dirty water tank at the same time, although it could hold more.

One piece of advice is that, although you can leave the clean water tank for a longer time without emptying it, it should not be left too long. The water with dust, dirt and others is corrupted and smells bad. Being sealed, we will not have odors in the room, but when we open the tank we will. For this reason, I do not usually allow too much time to pass without emptying it and washing it thoroughly with clean water.

It is also important to clean the base brush and the water filter. In my experience, the latter gets much more dirty than the high-speed brush, so using clean water, we can clean it from time to time without problems. In the instructions it is perfectly explained how to extract both elements, and the truth is that it is extremely simple and comfortable.

Battery and autonomy

One of the drawbacks that we can find in this type of vacuum cleaner is autonomy. If it is too little or too tight, it will not be able to clean our house completely. Since we have been testing this type of vacuum cleaner we have seen them in all colors, some with plenty of autonomy and others that had to go to recharge halfway through cleaning if you asked them too much.

The autonomy of this Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is 180 minutes according to the manufacturer and the truth is that it is quite successful, but with some nuances. It all depends on the configuration of your home, the route that the robot has to take due to the existence of more or fewer obstacles, the cleaning mode, whether we want it to scrub or not. The reality is that my house, about 100 square meters, whose cleaning area stays at 65 square meters, is sparkling clean (maximum vacuum mode and intense scrubbing) in 75 minutes. During that time, he goes to the base once in a while to clean the mop.

After that cleaning is complete, there is still battery left to do something else. Therefore, it is a perfect vacuum cleaner for large houses, since its battery is up to the task. Also, in the latest update, a function has been released to charge the robot during off-peak hours , where electricity is cheaper. The off-peak time in Spain is from 00:00 to 08:00. The explanation of this novelty is as follows:

“By activating off-peak charging, the robot vacuum will only charge up to 30% during peak hours – when electricity costs are highest – and fully charge during off-peak hours. The feature can be manually activated in Settings from the Roborock app, where users can select the local time when electricity costs are lowest.”

My Home App

The application of robot vacuum cleaners is very important, especially during the first days to configure everything to our liking. Then we no longer look at it as often and that’s a positive thing. With the Roborock application that happens to us. Once we have spent a few days seeing how it scans the house, divides the rooms, etc., we can now choose to schedule (at least in my case), scheduled cleanings every day.

However, we are going to review all the possibilities offered by this application. The truth is that we are facing one of the most polished on the market . In addition, as a curiosity, we can also configure the device in My Home, in case we already use this application for other objects and do not want to have one more. Of course, not all functions are available with the Xiaomi home automation app.

The main screen of the application shows us the Roborock models that we have in our home. As normal it will be to have only one, it will be enough to click on the photo or on the enter button to access the configuration. The first thing we see is the map he has made of our house. This map appears after finishing the first aspirate, which is always longer as you have to scan the house and all its corners.

At this point we have to point out that it perfectly detects the rooms and divides them on the map. Even, due to the type of floor, you know that we are before a bathroom or kitchen, or another room in the house. In any case, we can configure and change the limits and other aspects of the map.

We can activate or deactivate options related to ReactiveAI object recognition, among which we find the option to save photos of obstacles; view remotely through the camera and even talk, manage maps, set lights, child lock, optimized charging; make washing, emptying or carpet adjustments, and even change the robot’s voice.

Another interesting option is to program the cleaning, something basic in my case. Every day at 9:15, when the children are already at school, the vacuum cleaner goes to work and helps me keep the house clean. We can also clean at a specific point if we have dropped something on the floor or it has gotten dirty for some reason. Among the options we also have those related to the maintenance of the vacuum cleaner, a section that indicates the remaining hours to clean or change something in the device.

The opinion of our site

Competition in the robot vacuum market is fierce and today we have a wide range of devices of all brands, prices and colors. Almost all of them offer us an acceptable result, but it is time to look for something else. Here Roborock is positioned as one of the most prominent and advanced manufacturers in the sector (and it shows in its products).

The main problems with these devices are that they get stuck, that they do not reach all corners, that their battery does not last or that scrubbing is equivalent to doing nothing. The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra does not suffer from any of these drawbacks or at least minimizes them to the maximum. It will never reach all corners due to its circular design, but it gets very close; in the same way that it is not going to scrub like a mop, an invention designed to do only that task.

For all these reasons, we can say that we are facing the king of the robot vacuum cleaner market for power, navigation capacity, scrubbing and comfort (thanks to its base). Of course, the base is not suitable for any floor and also has an additional cost. We must highly value the convenience of your purchase. Although it is useful, we can save money at the cost of comfort and take advantage of it to buy this vacuum cleaner separately. If we go for the base too, we won’t regret it.

And we come precisely to the subject of money. This is not a Chinese vacuum cleaner as many think, this is a high-end product that looks directly into the eyes of the big manufacturers that we all know and that even surpasses it in many aspects. For that reason, its price is not low. The Roborock S7 MaxV costs 799 euros while with the base (Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra) it amounts to 1399 euros.