If you want to sit back and relax through a chore and let your robotic vacuum do the hard work, both the Roborock S4 Max and Q5 Series are excellent choices. Both smart robotic vacuums have a reputation for being able to tackle hard floors and carpets around your home and do well for picking up fine dust and pet hair and dander. Average price compared to what is available online in way better robot vacuum (Opens in a new tab) For 2022, both the S4 Max and Q5 series offer premium features to make cleaning floors in the home easier than using a stick, cordless, or drum vacuum.
The S4 Max launched in 2020 with impressive specs including a generous 180-minute runtime, easy-to-navigate app and LiDAR navigation for fast mapping. Meanwhile, the Q5 series launched in the spring of 2022 includes two models—one robot vacuum with a self-cleaning dock and one without the self-cleaning feature. As the successor to the S4 Max, the Q5 series naturally has the upper hand, but depending on your needs, there are good reasons to invest in either option.
Here we take a closer look at the Roborock S4 Max vs Q5 Plus so you can decide which one works best for your household and daily routine.
Roborock S4 Max vs Q5 Plus: Price
Compared to regular robotic vacuum cleaners, S4 Max and Q5 series are more affordable. You can expect to pay anything from $100 / £89 / AU$151 to $1,000 / £841.56 / AU$1,513 for a robot vacuum online, with the Roborock model costing from around $300 / £254 / AU$453. The S4 Max has a lot more like 3D maps and more powerful suction.
While the S4 Max was recently discontinued on Roborock’s website, you can still find it online at Amazon for $299. (Opens in a new tab)/ £254 / $533. Meanwhile, there are two robot vacuum options in the Q5 series with the only difference being whether it comes with a self-cleaning dock. Roborock Q5 (Opens in a new tab) Cost from $329.99 / £278.67 / AU$498 and Roborock Q5 Plus (Opens in a new tab) With self-unloading dock from $599.99 / £508.13 / AU$907.36.
Both are only available for purchase in the US, through the Roborock Amazon Store (Opens in a new tab) Or directly from the Roborock Store (Opens in a new tab). At the time of writing, availability was very slim which could have been due to the Black Friday deals and although shipping outside the US seemed like it was a possibility, we had no way of verifying that.
Roborock S4 Max vs Q5 Plus: Key Features
The Roborock S4 Max and Q5 Plus robotic vacuum cleaners come with many useful features to tackle all types of floors—including vinyl, laminate, carpet, and real wood floors. The S4 Max and Q5 Plus are designed to give you a thorough clean day and night, thanks to LiDAR navigation that makes it easy for robots to know where to clean.
Each robot vacuum can be controlled remotely with the accompanying Roborock app so you can select areas to clean or select areas you want to treat. With the app, you can see cleaning routes and cleaning schedules – so that the vacuum starts and stops when you want it to – and adjust the suction power and vibration power – when it gets a little noisy. You can also define restricted areas.
The S4 Max has fast mapping technology to know its way around your home and clean effectively – and this can be seen in the companion app in 2D. You can choose to set up to four zones in your home and have them recognized automatically.
However, the Q5 goes a step further, giving you 3D mapping to get a clearer view of the rooms in your home. It also allows you to customize your cleaning schedule for more in-depth control. Once you have your vacuum sketched out for your home, you can add furniture and flooring materials to get a very accurate vision. This means the Q5 robotic vacuum knows exactly where to go and what obstacles to avoid when cleaning.
Roborock S4 Max vs Q5 plus: Design and Performance
Design-wise, the S4 Max and Q5 series look very similar — with smooth bodies that can glide smoothly around your home without scratching floors. The S4 Max comes in black, while the Q5 series comes in dark gray. The main bodies of the robot vacuums have the same dimensions of 3.8 x 13.8 x 13.8 in / 8.3 x 35 x 35 cm (HxlxW).
In terms of suction power, the Q5 Plus has the upper hand. The S4 Max has a powerful suction of 2000Pa, which can effectively tackle a range of dirt and fine dust, but in comparison, the Q5 Plus is somewhat more powerful with a high suction power of 2700Pa.
If you opt for the Q5 Plus model, it comes with an “Auto-Empty Dock Pure” self-cleaning dock that ensures you won’t have to regularly empty the 2.5-liter dust bag. You can go up to 7 weeks without having to change the dust bag, for example. If you choose either the Roborock S4 Max or the Q5, you’ll have to empty the broom yourself when it’s full. While you can buy a separate self-cleaning dock for the Q5 for an additional $280 / £237 / AU$423.40, the Q5 Plus robot cleaner comes with one included in the price.
The Q5 Plus dust bag has been tested to filter out 99.7% of pollen as small as 0.3 microns in the air, and is also an effective air filter that helps keep your environment clean. In comparison, the S4 captures up to 95% of particles with its E11-rated air filter as they travel around your home.
Both the S4 Max and Q5 Series robot vacuums have child safety features, one main “hair” brush, and one side brush for better pickup. And while both are designed to tackle a range of hard and soft floors, neither can handle wet spills. The S4 Max and Q5 vacuum cleaners automatically boost suction power according to what’s being cleaned – especially when it comes to carpets – for impressive results.
In terms of battery life, the S4 Max and Q5 series are equal with both offering a runtime of 180 minutes, before they need to be recharged.
Roborock S4 Max vs Q5 Plus: Which one to choose?
In terms of style and design, there is not much difference in the black and dark gray S4 Max robot vacuum cleaner from the Q5 series. Both are similarly effective in terms of functionality as well and have app compatibility with smart home assistants like Alexa and Google Home. While they both enable you to create a map of your home, mark off-limits areas, set cleaning schedules, and spot clean, the Q5 series has superior customizable features.
If you don’t have space for a self-cleaning dock and aren’t bothered by the app’s functionality, the S4 Max will suffice. Since it’s been discontinued by Roborock, you might find some excellent deals for it online in the future, too. However, if you are someone who likes to keep up with the latest gadgets, then you might prefer the latest model in the Q5 series.
While the vacuums are very similar in design, the Q5 series also has a 25% larger suction ratio than the S4 Max and is therefore more powerful in performance. This means that it may be a better option if you have a lot of pet hair and dander to deal with, or young children who like to make a lot of messes.
The Q5 also has 3D Maps, which will give you a clearer picture of your home. If you buy the Q5 Plus bundle, you’ll also get a self-cleaning dock, which not only makes charging easier, but means you’ll have to empty it less frequently. And after all, needing less cleaning is really the whole point of buying a robotic vacuum cleaner.