Vacuuming is undoubtedly one of the most dreaded household chores. Having to lug around a heavy vacuum cleaner, drag it up and down the stairs, and move furniture to clean out-of-the-way spaces is a mundane (and potentially back-breaking) task.
However, luckily for us, since the 1990s, we’ve had robot vacuum cleaners to help keep our homes spick and span. The teething troubles of the earlier models have been ironed out, resulting in smart autonomous machines that save us time and energy.
The Roborock Q5+ is an excellent example of an intelligent cleaning bot. The bot can accurately map your living space, efficiently hoover up most of your home’s dirt and grime, connect to Google Assistant, and even self-empty its dust bin. Plus, the vacuum can be programmed to an automated schedule, meaning it will independently go about its cleaning duties with minimal input from you. The only catch is the robot’s comparatively hefty price tag—at least $700. When you consider that other robot cleaners on the market cost significantly less, you may be wondering what’s so great about the Roborock Q5+.
What Does the Roborock Q5+ Have to Offer?
You’ll love the simplicity of this robotic vacuum cleaner. Its unit contains only two buttons: Power and Dock. Tap Power once to get the bot to clean the whole floor area, tap again to pause the process, and press for longer to turn the unit on or off. Pressing the Dock button will send the appliance back to its docking station, where it will automatically charge and empty. Vacuuming has never been so easy!
The Q5+ will also give you voice alerts, letting you know when it’s about to perform certain actions. These actions include the commencement of the cleaning process, returning to the dock, charging, indicating when the unit is fully charged, etc. You’ll know when to keep out of the unit’s way and where it is at any given time.
In terms of suction power, the Q5+ truly excels. Dust, grime, crumbs, and any unwanted mess on the floor don’t stand a chance. And this smart bot will make its own way back to the dock when it’s finished cleaning, or it senses that its bin is full and needs emptying.
The base contains a vent that vacuums the Q5+ on its return. All the dust and dirt are collected in a bag, which can then simply be thrown away. You don’t have to worry about any dirt escaping or messy cleaning up.
A major plus point to the Q5+ is its relatively quiet performance, even when put on the highest suction setting. Although its automatic emptying dock tends to work louder than the RoboVac’s, the action is over quickly (no more than a few seconds).
The Roborock Q5+ and Performance
To test the Q5+, we put it through standardized tests and looked at how it performed in real-life situations and household settings. This testing included how well it navigated everyday household obstacles, how efficiently it dealt with daily and incidental usage, managed different types of flooring, and met the challenges of pets and people getting in the way.
Our tests took place over several weeks, and we are happy to conclude that the Roborock Q5+ didn’t disappoint. Considering all the robot vacuum competition, we can confidently say that this particular model excels.
Now let’s take a look at some of its features in greater detail.
1. Mapping and Navigation
This Roborock model’s mapping and navigation capabilities are about as good as it gets. The manufacturer’s well-known for its PreciSense LiDAR System—a prime feature of its higher-end bots—and the Q5+ uses this technology to accurately and efficiently map out various types of floor plans.
To really test this robot’s mapping capacity, we reset it to factory settings several times, meaning that it had to relearn complicated floorplans from scratch each time. The results were nothing less than highly impressive. The Q5+ maps the floor, then the app (which also connects the robot to a local wireless network) can be used to rework the map and control the appliance. The robot itself only has two buttons—Power/Clean and Dock/Sport Clean—which we only used when initially setting up the cleaner.
2. Vacuum Performance
The Q5+ works just as well on tile, hardwood, and carpeted flooring. Like other Roborock bots, this model contains a floating brush design. The main difference is that this brush has been moved slightly to the rear, enabling it to work more efficiently with the automatically emptying dock.
We’re pleased to say that the Q5+ excelled in cleaning on all types of surfaces in our tests. The hardwood and tile flooring results were nearly perfect, while its suction power on carpeting was second to none. The Q5+ possesses 2700Pa of suction, outperforming the S4 Max by 35% and the non-MaxV S7 by 8%. Impressive, indeed.
3. Controls and Buttons
Using a robot vacuum couldn’t be simpler. The Q5+ has only two buttons on the unit itself—Power and Dock. To turn the bot on or off, you press and hold down Power. To start an entire cleaning session, you just need to quickly press the power button (press it again to pause the cleaning at any time). To send the vacuum to the dock for charging, simply press Dock.
As we’ve mentioned, the Q5+ gives out audio alerts, notifying you of its power and charge status, when it’s about to start cleaning, when it’s about to return to its dock, when it’s going to empty the bin, and much more. To control the unit or change specific settings, you can easily use the Roborock app.
4. Auto-Emptying Dock
This feature of the Q5+ is one of its major selling points. Additionally, the dock’s ramp design enables a smooth roll-up and connection—something that other models of the market struggle with. (Evovacs, for example, often knock over or move their dock when attempting to connect to the charger.) Although Roborock recommends placing the dock on a hard surface, our tests placing it on the carpet have gone without a hitch. Another plus is the appliance’s long cable (this can be bundled up behind the dock for a neater appearance).
The robot unloads all of its dirt and grime into a single-use bin bag inside the dock. The top of the dock is easily lifted up, and you can then take out this bag and throw it away. The frequency with which the bot will automatically unload depends on the amount of dirt it collects (and the floor space that it cleans). You have the option of manually triggering this emptying, but the process tends to be very loud. The dust bin is left very clean once the dock is done unloading. On average, you’ll be looking to change the bag every seven weeks or so, but again, this depends on how much cleaning you’re getting your vacuum to do. Although the bags aren’t too pricey, you’ll need to factor in the overall cost of using this robot vacuum over time.
The main downside of purchasing this model with the auto-emptying dock is that it does tend to take up space (standing over one foot tall) and can be a bit of an eyesore in smaller living areas.
Is It Worth Buying?
Indeed, the Roborock Q5+ is one of the superior models of robot vacuums available on the market today, as we’ve outlined above. If you’re looking to upgrade your entry-level model with features such as location-sensing and effective app control, then you can’t go wrong with the Q5+. However, its rather hefty price tag can be a deterrent. In fact, it’s not entirely necessary to fork out $700 to purchase a reliable robotic cleaner. For example, Roborock has other non-self-emptying models that are considerably cheaper yet efficient. Additionally, other manufacturers, such as Roomba, have appliances with self-cleaning docks that can be up to $200 cheaper (albeit with inferior mapping capabilities).
As we’ve mentioned, the Q5+ is an excellent cleaner, despite lacking the superior power and mopping features contained in other ultra-premium offerings from Roborock (such as the S7). Although the dock is on the bulky side, the fact the robot is self-emptying is a significant plus point. Also, even though the bin bags are single-use, they’re relatively inexpensive.
Roborock has a Q5+ model, minus the dock, in the pipeline but is keeping quiet regarding a launch date and pricing. If emptying the bin yourself isn’t a deal-breaker, it may be worth your while waiting for this dock-less model to drop.
Other Points to Consider
We genuinely believe that the Roborock Q5+ is the cleaning companion for you if:
You want a self-emptying robot vacuum that will only need the bag replaced once every few weeks
You can afford to pay a little extra for its superior features and functions
However, we advise against purchasing it if:
You want a robot vacuum that can also mop (especially if you have hard floors)
You’re not bothered about manually emptying the vacuum
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the Roborock Q5+ and the Roborock S7 MaxV?
Although both models come with the auto-emptying dock, the S7 MaxV has the capacity to both vacuum and mop. Plus, it boasts a suction power nearly twice as mighty as that of the Q5+. Its additional features and superior suction means that the MaxV costs around $500 more.
Which is better, the Roborock Q5+ or the Roomba i3+ EVO?
When they think of robot vacuums, many people think of Roomba, but it’s certainly not the authority on robotic cleaners anymore. Although the i3+ EVO is an effective cleaner, it doesn’t boast some of the features of the Roborock we’ve been hyping up in this article. The i3+ EVO, for example, uses gyroscopes to navigate rather than using more effective laser mapping. As a result, it’s a less flexible cleaner, and you’ll have to probably purchase laser barriers to prevent it from roaming where it’s not supposed to.
