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Roborock S5 Max hands-on: Superb dust collection from a multi-function robot vacuum
Roborock S5 Max robot vacuum
pros and cons
- Crosses thresholds up to one inch
- Increased suction power on carpets
- Easy app connection with good functions
- Minimal information about tank fitting in user guide
EDITED: MOPPING SECTION AFTER MANUFACTURER FEEDBACK
The idea of automated mopping whilst collecting dust appeals to me, so I was keen to test the $600 Roborock S5 Max.
I've looked at the Roborock product line in the past, and have been really impressed with its suction ability and quiet motors. The Roborock S5 Max takes this one step further with an integrated water tank and mopping module.
The Roborock S5 Max is a nice, stylish robot vacuum with 2000Pa suction and a battery that will clean for over two hours. Available in black or white, the S5 Max has a navigation system that scans the room and creates a map of the area to be cleaned.
This area can be configured with up to three zones in the Roborock app using 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, so you can specify which zones are for mopping only and which zones are for vacuuming. These zones are useful, as the vacuum will easily get over thresholds of up to about one inch, so if there is carpet across the threshold, you would need to set the zone.
The dustbin is a reasonable size -- 460ml -- and does not need emptying often. A really useful addition is that the filter cleaning brush for the S5 Max is underneath the cover of the vacuum. I like this touch.
The 13 sensors and four cliff edge sensors mean that the robot does not crash into obstacles and moves back away from ledges before any wheel goes over the edge of the ledge.
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The S5 Max quickly and easily connects to the Roborock app, which has several useful features. You can set the times of automated cleaning, decide whether the robot increases suction power when it moves over the carpet, and select the do not disturb times.
You can set different times for different zones and select areas for the robot to go to and start cleaning.
A really useful feature is that if the robot detects that it does not have enough battery remaining for it to finish the space, it will return to its dock, top-up its charge and return to finish the area.
It also can be controlled by voice per zone using Alexa although I did not use this feature often. My cleaning routine is as hands-off as possible, so I tend to set an automated schedule for specific times and forget it.
You can also see information about how many hours the brushes and filters have been used, and how much time is remaining before the items need to be cleaned or replaced.
A "find my robot" link activates the robot's onboard voice, so you can locate it if it does not go back to the dock. During the entire test, the S5 Max did not get lost at all.
The vacuum body has a water tank that feeds the mopping module with clean water for mopping. The mopping module also has a small tank and a mopping cloth fixed to the bottom of the tank.
The robot also has a moisture-proof mat for the floor at the docking station to make sure that floors do not get damaged when the robot returns to its base.
To attach the mopping bracket to the bottom of the water tank fill the water tank with water, attach the mop cloth bracket to the water tank and slide the tank into place until it clicks. The robot will announce that the mopping module has been installed.
The mop bracket comes with a mopping cloth attached and presses into the floor as the robot moves. Roborock recommend that the bracket must always have its cloth attached – to avoid scratching the floors when in use.
Once the mopping bracket and mop cloth has been installed, I would advise that you wait for a while before using the S5 Max to mop the floor. This allows the mop to become wetted with water and mop the floor to the entire width of the cloth.
In use, the combined function of the sweeper and mop is a joy to watch. My pale floors in the office mean that daily mopping is a really useful addition for me, and my mopping zones and carpeted zones configured in the app, meant no cross over mistakes.
All I needed to remember was to take the mop bracket off the vacuum before I sent the robot off to clean any of the carpeted zones in the office. A small task necessary to get the benefits of a multi-floor vacuum and mop
All in all, this is a really powerful vacuum cleaner with an easy to use (and connect to) app and an integrated automated mopping function.
With the removeable mopping bracket underneath the main tank, the Roborock S5 Max is a great multi-purpose robot that will powerfully clean carpets and mop floors to an automated schedule. A very useful tool for office and home use.