The Roborock S7 is the latest release from the brand, and I put it through its paces to see if it is a worthy contender for the best robot vacuums around. The S7 doesn’t look all that different from its predecessor, the Roborock S6 MaxV, but the S7 doesn’t have the cameras that the previous model has, and its mop adjustable height options are the real game-changer - something we’ll expand on later.
This model sits among the more expensive robot vacuums, but some explanation for that could be that it provides a mop and vacuum in one, it can be controlled via an app (something not all robot vacuums offer), and it has an overall high-end design. I tested the Roborock S7 on thick pile carpets, chunky rugs, and tiled floors - this is what I thought of it.
Roborock S7: Key specs
- Cleaning time: 180 minutes per charge
- Dustbin capacity: 470ml
- Dimensions: 13.9 x 13.8 x 3.8 inches
- Weight: 10.4lbs
- Suction power: 2500Pa
- Quiet mode? Yes
- Voice control: Yes (Google Home, Alexa, Siri)
- Filtration: Washable and reusable HEPA filter traps pet fur, dust, mold and other particulates
- Warranty: 12 months
- Shipping: Free for US customers
Roborock S7: Setup & assembly
The Roborock S7 is easy to set up, and you can get started in a matter of minutes. When the vacuum arrives, you simply need to remove the packaging, plug in the charging dock, and then set up the app.
There are clear instructions included with the S7, but to connect the vacuum to your WiFi network, you’ll need to download the free app and lift the vacuum’s lid to press the WiFi reset button. This took me a couple of attempts to get right, but it shouldn’t take longer than five minutes.
Roborock S7: Design
The Roborock S7 has a circular design and is finished in either a white or black glossy coating. It looks relatively expensive, and that’s because it is. It has a bigger price tag than top-rated Roomba vacuums.
The top of the S7 lifts up so that you can access the WiFi reset button and reach the dustbin. On the side of the vacuum is a transparent water tank, which is fully removable so that you can add water ahead of using the mop functionality. This Roborock comes with a removable mop pad that is simply velcroed into place and is machine washable.
Around the sides of the robot are bumpers that prevent any damage to your furniture, and on the top of the S7 is a LiDAR sensor which is what allows the robot to navigate its way around your home with ease.
The Roborock S7 comes with a charging dock, which the brand recommends you secure to your flooring with removable tape. This dock doesn’t provide anywhere for the dustbin to empty, which is a little disappointing considering what you pay.
There are plenty of things I liked about the Roborock S7’s design, however, and they include its sturdy rubber brushroll. This is an upgrade on the previous models from the brand, and the spiralized design does a good job of agitating the floor to pick up dust, dirt, and crumbs. The new underside design has also been invented to reduce hair from getting tangled around the brush roll and affecting the cleaning power.
As a smart vacuum, the S7 works with WiFi to connect to your phone so that you can take control of the vacuum and create cleaning schedules as well as determine no-go zones. The Roborock is easy to use and also advises you on how you can use voice commands alongside a smart speaker to control your vacuum.
If you don’t want to use the app to control the vacuum, there’s a choice of buttons on the top of the model that you can select to start cleaning or spot-clean an area in your home. However, you will be very limited on what else you can do without using the app. To use the mop with the Roborock S7, remove the water tank by pressing the release button and attach the mop half-moon disc with the mop pad attached.
Roborock S7: Performance
The Roborock S7 did a great job of cleaning up the floors during tests. Even thick carpets looked visibly cleaner, and the S7 leaves behind those vacuuming lines that give your home a just-cleaned look.
I first tested out the S7 on a carpeted floor with a large rug that’s a few inches deep and was impressed to see the vacuum transition from carpet to rug with complete ease. The LiDAR sensors also meant that the S7 got nice and close to the baseboards in my home but didn’t make any big collisions that I needed to worry about.
Another aspect of the Roborock’s performance that impressed me was how it adjusts its suction when it reaches thicker carpets or areas where it detects more dust. The maximum suction is 2,500 pa, and popular models such as the iRobot Roomba i7 have around 1,800 pa.
You can hear the S7 speeding up its suction power, and it’ll move in back-and-forth motions until the area is fully clean. This feature does come at a cost, though, and that is noise. In fact, I found the Roborock to be too loud to use when you’re trying to watch TV or simply sit in the same room as it is when it’s working.
Using the S7’s app, you can set your own cleaning schedule and direct the vacuum in a route you’d like it to clean around. You can also choose to direct the vacuum straight over to a place in your home by simply dragging the vacuum icon on the app across the virtual map of each room.
When left to its own devices, however, the Roborock did a good job of cleaning a room, but I found it had a habit of leaving just one part of the room despite there being no barriers in its way.
Mini brushes fixed to the underside of the S7 stretch past the perimeter of the vacuum and these do a fantastic job of dragging any dirt and dust into the main suction area so nothing is left behind. The Roborock reached bits of fluff and crumbs from awkward corners in my kitchen - areas that even an upright vacuum would have struggled with.
One of the key features of the S7, according to the manufacturers, is its sonic mopping functionality. So that your cleaning time can be uninterrupted, the S7 automatically detects when it reaches the carpet and stops the mop function so that you don’t end up with soggy floors. This means you can switch your S7 on and forget about it.
The biggest disappointment with the Roborock S7, however, is the mop’s performance. On the plus side, the mop function won’t leave your floors soaking wet, but the drawback is that they won’t be very clean. Tested on vinyl flooring and then large slate tiles, the S7 merely left a damp trail behind and failed to remove even light marks where muddy shoes had left a footprint behind.
It seems that even though the S7’s vacuuming capabilities are good due to the thick and robust brush roll, the mopping function simply pushes a damp fabric pad across your floor without any kind of scrubbing motion involved. The battery life is pretty impressive on this Roborock vacuum, and it lasts 180 minutes on a full charge. The charge itself takes around six hours.
Should you buy the Roborock S7?
The Roborock S7 is an expensive vacuum with smart controls, strong suction power, and a mop function. Its navigation is good and it has a vast range of customizable options in the accompanying app. The LiDAR sensor does a good job of making sure this vacuum reaches into tight corners and doesn’t damage your furniture in the process.
If you’re considering the S7 for its mopping functionality, you might be disappointed as I found this aspect to be pretty underwhelming and it didn’t do a great job of tackling even light stains.
Although it is quite pricey, the S7 does provide powerful vacuuming on all floors and it transitions very well from carpets to hard floors. It has a good battery life but if you’re not convinced, take a look at the Shark IQ Robot Vacuum.
- First reviewed: April 2021
