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Roborock S8+ vs Q7 Max+ – Which One’s Better?

In this review, we are going to compare two robot vacuums from Roborock: the Roborock S8+ vs the Roborock Q7 Max+. With Roborock’s lineup becoming more and more extensive, it can be difficult to know which model is better than the other, and these two are very similar. 

OUR CHOICE

Roborock S8+

Roborock S8 Plus
CLOSE SECOND

Roborock Q7 Max+

Roborock Q7 Max+

They are both LiDAR-equipped robot vacuums with auto-empty bins and mop attachments, and they sell for similar prices. Let’s take a deep dive to see if it’s worth spending the extra money on the S8+, which is slightly more expensive than the Q7 Max+.

Features

The first round is all about features. As mentioned, the S8+ and Q7 Max+ have LiDAR and navigate in the same way using a spinning invisible laser mounted to the robot’s top. 

Front-facing view of Roborock S8+ and Q7 Max+ robot vacuums on a table under bright lights with the Vacuum Wars logo in the background.
We purchased Roborock’s S8+ and Q7 Max+ for this unbiased review. © Vacuum Wars

They both also have one of our favorite features: auto-empty dust bins. When the robot finishes its cleaning job and returns to the bin, a motor in the base kicks in and sucks the debris out of the robot’s dust bin and into the included disposable bag.

When it came to picking up surface debris on both hard floors and carpets, arguably the main job of a robot vacuum, both the Q7 Max+ and S8+ were incredibly good…

Both robots are equipped with electric mopping, allowing you to control the water flow in the app. And they also have pressurized mopping, which puts pressure down on the floor for a better clean. 

As for their apps, they have basically the same features, including Wi-Fi capability, zone cleaning, room cleaning, multi-floor mapping, no-go zones, no-mop zones, quick mapping, advanced scheduling, voice control, and 3D mapping.

Studio image of the Roborock S8+ and Q7 Max+ with their auto-empty docks on a wooden surface against a black backdrop.
Both robot vacuums have one of our favorite features: auto-empty dustbins. © Vacuum Wars

The S8+ has lots of new features. One that is incredibly useful is 3D obstacle avoidance. It uses structured light and infrared imaging to avoid obstacles that are too low for LiDAR to pick up. 

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The S8+ did very well in our obstacle avoidance evaluation, getting the same score (9 out of 12) as the best robots on the market with this feature. We did not evaluate the Q7 Max+ with this assessment since it does not have front-mounted obstacle avoidance sensors like the S8+.

Close-up view of the front camera sensor on the Roborock S8+ labeled “Reactive 3D Obstacle Avoidance.”
The S8+ has Reative 3D Obstacle Avoidance, which the Q7 Max+ lacks. © Vacuum Wars

The S8+ also has auto mop lifting, which means that it automatically lifts the mop when it detects carpet. This is a game-changer because it allows you to both vacuum and mop in the same run. It also has vibrating mop pads, which lead to better cleaning overall. These features make for much more efficient mopping than with the Q7 Max+.

Lastly, the S8+ has a dual brush roll that Roborock claims is better for deep cleaning and preventing hair tangles. As you can see, both of these robot vacuums have a significant amount of extras that less expensive robot vacuums don’t. That being said, the S8+ scored significantly higher than the Q7 Max+ in the features round.

Performance

Moving on to the performance category, where we take into account the bench assessments that we do in the studio, like airflow and suction evaluations, but also a variety of pickup and mopping evaluations.

Roborock S8+ and Q7 Max+ on separate sections of a carpeted surface, mid-test with visible debris on the floor.
Assessing vacuuming performance side-by-side (S8+ left, Q7 Max+ right). © Vacuum Wars

When it came to picking up surface debris on both hard floors and carpets, arguably the main job of a robot vacuum, both the Q7 Max+ and S8+ were incredibly good, picking up everything from fine to extra-large debris on both hard floors and carpets.

The same was true with mopping. Though the S8+ has extra features like auto mop lifting and vibrating mop pads that make it more efficient, both robot vacuums did incredibly well with mopping up, not just wet stains but stuck-on stains as well.

Roborock S8+ under UV lighting to show its mopping performance with glowing fluid residue on the floor.
Both Roborock models performed great in our mop evaluations. © Vacuum Wars

The Q7 Max+ had slightly more raw power in our evaluations when it came to suction and airflow. This power showed up with things like the crevice pickup assessment, where it did a bit better than the S8+. While the Q7 Max+ also did slightly better on the carpet deep clean evaluation, both robots were well above average at deep cleaning ability on carpets.

After adding up the totals for just the performance category, the Q7 Max+ scored higher than the S8+.

Top-down view showing Roborock Q7 Max+ and S8+ during a crevice pickup test on a wooden test floor with visible debris.
The Q7 Max+ outperformed the S8+ in our crevice pickup evaluation. © Vacuum Wars

The next category is navigation. We have both robot vacuums clean a standardized floor plan in different modes and with different power settings where applicable. In the navigation assessment, both were incredibly fast

In fact, they are the fastest navigating and most efficient robots we’ve ever evaluated, including those at the top of the line, and they had virtually identical scores. The Q7 Max+ covered 0.88 square meters per minute compared to the S8+, which scored 0.885 square meters per minute. So it was basically a tie.

Side-by-side comparison of cleaned floor areas by Q7 Max+ and S8+ in a living room environment under bright lighting.
Real-world testing of both robot vacuums for coverage and efficiency. © Vacuum Wars

But it’s not just about speed. We also take into account their coverage, and the Q7 Max+ covered a little more area per run than the S8+, but nothing major, and both scores are higher than average. This evaluation also helps us get an idea of how good their battery life is, which we do by taking average measurements of how their battery depletes per square meter on different power settings.

Roborock S8+ and Q7 Max+ robot vacuums side by side on a table with their respective auto-empty docks in a well-lit studio setup.
Q7 Max+ and S8+ in our studio before testing. © Vacuum Wars

We found that the Q7 Max+ had better battery efficiency at 2.04 minutes per percentage point to 1.61 minutes on the Q7. If you run the calculations based on this data, the Q7 Max+ could cover roughly 1900 square feet per battery charge compared to 1500 square feet per charge on the S8+. But take these numbers with a grain of salt because there are a lot of variables that can change them in your situation.

So, without taking obstacle avoidance into account, the navigation scores are very close: 26 for the Q7 MAX+ and 25 for the S8+, with both robots being much better than average.

Winner: Roborock S8+

After adding up all the scores, we have the Roborock S8+ beating the Roborock Q7 Max+ 330 to 279. With the prices being so similar and considering that both robots are basically the same in terms of navigation efficiency and performance, the extra features on the S8+ make it extremely useful

OUR CHOICE

Roborock S8+

Roborock S8 Plus
CLOSE SECOND

Roborock Q7 Max+

Roborock Q7 Max+

Its auto-lifting mop and optical avoidance are game-changers, and you also have the option to upgrade to the Ultra Dock with the S8+, which you can’t with the Q7 Max+.

All of this to say, while both of these robot vacuums are great options that are way better than the average product, we choose the S8+ with its extra features as a no-brainer.

Roborock S8+ and Q7 Max+ are placed against a teal wall in a living room setting with a decorative chair and plant nearby.
Side-by-side: Roborock Q8+ (left) and Q7 Max+ (right). © Vacuum Wars

Roborock S8+ vs Q7 Max+: Features & Specifications

Roborock S8+Roborock Q7 Max+
NavigationLiDARLiDAR
Wi-FiYesYes
Room CleaningYesYes
Zone CleaningYesYes
No-Go ZonesYesYes
Virtual WallsYesYes
Obstacle Avoidance/AIYesNo
MoppingYesYes
Sonic MoppingYesNo
Auto-Lift Mop PadYesNo
Auto-EmptyYesYes
Mop Pad ManagementNoNo
Real-Time MonitoringYesYes
Battery Capacity5200mAh5200mAh
Max Run Time180 min180 min
Suction6000Pa4200Pa
Specifications from the Roborock website and S8+ and Q7 Max+ product manuals.

Roborock S8+ vs Q7 Max+: Test Results

Roborock S8+Roborock Q7 Max+
Obstacle Avoidance9
Suction (Max Power)0.90kpa0.60kpa
Airflow (Max Power)12 CFM15 CFM
Carpet Deep Clean Test8486
Navigation Efficiency0.885 m2/min0.88 m2/min
Total Coverage31 m232 m2
Battery Efficiency1.51 min/%2.04 min/%
Est. Coverage/Charge1,500 sq. ft.1,900 sq. ft.
Vacuum Wars Final Score330279
Where to BuyAmazonAmazon
The test results above are based on Vacuum Wars’ independent testing.

 

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Home Robot Vacuum Reviews Roborock S8+ vs Q7 Max+ – Which One’s Better?

Christopher White

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Christopher White CEO
Christopher White is the CEO of Vacuum Wars, the premier YouTube channel dedicated to vacuum cleaner reviews. Over the past eight years, Vacuum Wars has become a trusted resource, meticulously reviewing hundreds of robot vacuums, cordless vacuums, carpet cleaners, and various floor care products. Known for their comprehensive in-house testing, Vacuum Wars has built one of the most extensive databases of vacuum cleaner metrics available. Under Christopher’s leadership, the channel has maintained a strict no-sponsorship policy, ensuring that all reviews remain unbiased and trustworthy. This dedication to integrity has garnered a loyal following of over 300,000 subscribers who rely on their expert advice. Christopher is also a recognized authority on robot vacuums, boasting one of the largest private collections of these devices worldwide. Learn more.

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