Roborock Q5+ Review

Roborock has unveiled a new robot vacuum line, the Q-Series, and in this review, we’ll be looking at one of them – the Q5+.

The Q-Series is Roborock’s “budget” self-emptying option since it’s cheaper than the S7 and S7 MaxV Ultra.

There are several sub-variants – the Q5+, Q7+, and Q7 Max+.

The Q5+ is the least expensive, but it doesn’t have the mopping feature or the bristle-less brush roll.

This variant uses a similar combo brush design as the S5 Max and S4 Max with roughly the same airflow.

One variance with the older S-Series robots is the self-emptying feature, with a redesigned exterior frame.

Least Expensive Roborock Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum Option

Roborock Q5+ Review

The Q5+ is a brand new product from Roborock and their least expensive option with an auto-empty base station. It’s similar to the S5 Max but with a redesigned exterior and dustbin. However, it’s purely a robot vacuum without a mopping capability, making it cheaper. This variant doesn’t have the premium features as the S7 MaxV Ultra and S7 MaxV Plus (like obstacle avoidance and pad-washing), but it costs a few hundred less.

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Pros

• Cheapest self-emptying option from Roborock
• It has the same efficient navigation as the more expensive S7 options
• High-end cleaning performance on hardwood (or hard) surfaces
• Wide auto-empty port
• The bagged system eases dirt disposal

Cons

• No mopping feature
• It uses the older combo brush

Introduction to the Roborock Q5+

Roborock just introduced a new series, the Q5, and Q7, with various sub-variants.

The Q5 is Roborock’s least expensive auto-empty option for budget-conscious folks prioritizing price over the premium features available in costlier alternatives.

What it lacks in features, the Q5+ makes up for in price and retains the same navigational and vacuuming efficiency.

Let’s go through the features of the Q5+.

Top View

There are slight cosmetic variances with the Q5 over the older S5 Max and S6 MaxV.

The first noticeable change is the matte finish and dustbin design. I like the matte finish because it prevents the fingerprint issues present in glossy finishes.

Whereas the S5 MaxV (and other S-series of that generation) have a top door, the Q5 doesn’t.

Its dustbin is one whole piece, where the top cover is fused over the container.

Unlike the older versions with a front swing door, the Q5 doesn’t have this feature.

And it’s not a requirement with the auto-empty base station.

The only way to empty it manually (if you choose) is to remove the back filter.

It has a 470ml dustbin capacity, but the self-emptying bag more than quintuples the volume (2.5 liters).

View Underneath

The Q5+ retains the same layout as older Roborock options with the single side brush and primary brush roll.

However, it lacks the bristle-less brush found in the S7 MaxV Ultra and S7+.

The newer brush provides better agitation than the combo brush, especially on surfaces like hardwood.

It also performs (slightly) better with deep cleaning tests based on the results for the Q5+ (75.7%), S7 MaxV Ultra (77.95%), and S7+ (78.85%).

Another benefit of the bristle-less design is it resists tangles better.

Fortunately, the Q5+ is compatible with the new bristle-less roller, which should be available in online stores.

All Rubber Five-Pronged Side Brush

The Q5+ utilizes a five-pronged, all-rubber side brush Roborock started using since the S5 Max came out.

It’s a better design than any bristled side brush I’ve reviewed, offering better durability, and (more importantly) it rotates at a slower pace so that it won’t scatter debris.

Self-Emptying Base Station

The S7+ and S7 MaxV Plus had the twin-barrel base station with a filter to supplement the bagged system.

I believe that Roborock employed this design because it manufactured bagless versions for the EU market.

The Q5+ has a more traditional design with a tower-type frame housing the motor and bag.

It retains the same 2.5-liter bag capacity, and Roborock has improved the bag design by using plastic instead of cardboard inserts for the components connecting to the base station slot.

This tweak provides better durability, preventing premature damage that may render the bags unusable.

It retains the same wide port connecting to the brush roll, which I like because it offers better results with emptying the dustbin.

Another similarity with the S7 series is the ramp-style dock where the robot sits.

This design is better than the vertical ports found in brands like Shark and Ultenic.

The ramp offers a more stable base where the robot docks, plus there won’t be any alignment issues.

App Features

The Roborock Q5+ is compatible with the Roborock app, which is one of the best available with features and stability.

We’ll look at the critical features (I think) most helpful to consumers.

1. Live Map [with 3D option]

Xiaomi and Roborock were pioneers of the live map. Before these brands came into existence, none of the robot vacuum brands had this feature.

And Roborock takes it a step further with the 3D map I first saw in the S7 MaxV Ultra.

The live map provides consumers a bird’s eye view of the robot’s cleaning status in real-time.

You can see what areas it’s cleaned, area size, and duration.

The 3D map provides a different perspective, a three-dimensional view of your home, without the intricate details as it shows walls primarily.

The screenshot above also shows the invisible wall and no-go zones blocking the robot’s path during (one of the) test runs.

It shows the invisible wall acting as a wall and the no-go zone acting as a barrier blocking the robot from going into an area.

2. Map Saving

All Roborock smart robot vacuums (except the E-series) can save up to four map levels.

I’m not sure how this will be applicable in multi-level homes since the base station is bulky.

Roborock recommends purchasing additional base stations if you live in a multi-level home, but it’s possible to use the robot without the extra docks.

The map detection is handy inside homes with more than one floor since it loads the correct map after the initial scan.

Then when you can move it back to its original location, press dock in the app.

3. Containment

Next, we’ll look at Roborock’s containment features – invisible wall and no-go zones.

It provides consumers with a virtual method of blocking it from off-limit areas without a physical barrier.

The invisible wall blocks the robot from going past it (like a wall), and the no-zo zone blocks an area.

This feature beats moving boxes or using magnetic tape for the same purpose.

4. Selective Room and Zone Cleaning

Another plus for the Roborock app is its selective room and zone cleaning.

Selective room cleaning allows folks to select a room or area to clean. This feature unlocks the three-pass run, which is Roborock’s most thorough.

Zoned cleaning lets users choose a square or rectangular area within the map to vacuum.

It’s similar to spot cleaning but only more precise.

5. Auto Empty Settings

The Roborock app provides consumers with several options on how thorough they want the base station to empty the robot’s dustbin.

There are four options: smart, light, balanced, and max.

The default option is smart, letting the robot decide what setting to use.

Also, there’s the option to turn off this feature.

6. Maintenance

The next feature we’ll look at is the maintenance tab, showing the statuses of different components like the brush, filters, and sensors.

It shows you when to clean or replace them.

Check this tab to see if you’ll need to replace parts, especially stuff like the filter.

7. Cleaning History

The cleaning history tab lists the previous cleaning cycles with corresponding data like time, area, and cycles.

This tab acts like a car’s odometer, showing how much mileage the robot has logged with the corresponding maps and cleaning cycles.

It’s purely an informational feature that tabulates how much the robot has been used.

How much power does the Roborock Q5+ have?

Roborocks says on their website that the Q5+ has 2700 Pa (or Pascals) of suction, the weakest of the newest variants.

But airflow tests reveal that the Q5+ has more airflow than the S7 MaxV (5100 Pa).

Here are the results.

• Quiet: 9.68 CFM
• Balanced: 11.68 CFM
• Turbo: 13.91 CFM
• Max: 16.75 CFM

Based on these results, the Q5+ had more airflow at the max setting (16.75 CFM) than the S7 MaxV (13.39 CFM).

However, one thing going for the S7 MaxV Ultra is it uses the redesigned brush roll without the bristles, giving it a (slight) agitation advantage on carpets.

But the cleaning test scores reveal that the Q5+ 

Cleaning Performance

Next, we’ll analyze how well the Roborock Q5+ cleans various debris types: quaker oats, quinoa, pet litter, coffee grounds, hair, and sand.

• Overall: 93.26%
• Hard floor: 99.95%
• Sand on hard floor: 99.9%
• Carpet (surface): 97.5%
• Deep cleaning: 75.7%

The results were excellent, especially on hard floors, which isn’t surprising given the above-average airflow.

However, it didn’t do as well as the S7 MaxV Ultra on carpet despite the high airflow because it uses the old combo brush.

But on hard floors, it was excellent, nearly perfect.

Hard Floor Results

• Quaker oats: 100%
• Coffee: 100%
• Quinoa: 99.8%
• Pet litter: 100%

The Roborock Q5+ picked up a perfect score in three of the four tests, proving that it has more airflow than the S7 MaxV Ultra.

It’s an excellent cheaper alternative for consumers who don’t need the frills or high-end features because it’ll pick up debris on this surface at a high rate.

Sand on Hard Floor

One barometer I use to determine how a robot vacuum does on hard floors is sand.

I used 50 grams worth to check how much the Q5 picks up, and it picked up an excellent 99.9%.

This result shows that the Q5 has above-average airflow, which is a factor in hard floor cleaning.

Hair Wrap

Surprisingly,  the Q5+ was decent at cleaning hair, even with the combo brush.

• 5-inch strands: 72%
• 7-inch strands: 34%

It got a decent 72% with five-inch and a sub-par 34% with longer seven-inch strands.

Here’s the brush roll after the five-inch test.

And the seven-inch test.

Not great results, but still decent enough for daily cleaning tasks.

You can see how much hair wraps around the brush. It’s only an issue when cleaning large quantities of long strands.

But for shorter hair, it’ll be less of an issue.

However, there’s a need to check the brush for maintenance clean-ups at least once or twice a month.

Edge Cleaning

Unfortunately, the round frame of the Q5+ hampers its reach cleaning edges.

I tried cleaning this area in my home office, but it didn’t pick up everything.

The best robot for cleaning edges would be the Roomba S9 and the Ecovacs T8 AIVI with twin side brushes.

Carpet Cleaning

Next, we’ll compare the Q5’s carpet cleaning performance to the S7 MaxV. I tested it on the same set of debris with the results down below.

Low Pile

• Quaker oats: 98.4%
• Coffee: 92.2%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 98.4%

The Roborock Q5+ was decent on low pile carpet, picking up in the high 90s in three of the four tests.

It struggled most with fine coffee grounds, which isn’t surprising since most robot vacuums will struggle with it.

The percentages aren’t far off the S7 MaxV, but it shows the bristle-less brush’s agitation advantage (97.25% vs. 99.25%).

Mid Pile

• Quaker oats: 98.4%
• Coffee: 93%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 99.6%

Next, we’ll look at mid-pile performance, and the results were roughly the same.

It won’t pick up as well as the S7 MaxV, but it’s very close.

Overall, the Q5+ is excellent on low and mid-pile carpets, especially for cleaning dust and preventing it from accumulating to dangerous levels.

How noisy is the Roborock Q5+?

Noise level is another potential deciding factor for robot vacuums. I use a sound meter to check loudness from a few feet away.

Here are the results.

• Quiet: 60.7 dB
• Balanced: 60.9 dB
• Turbo: 63.2 dB
• Max: 66.2 dB

Despite the higher airflow, the Roborock Q5+ isn’t as noisy as the S7 MaxV, only maxing out at 66.2 decibels, which is a few points quieter than the S7 that breached over 70 dB.

The good news for consumers is there’s no need to use the max or turbo setting on hard floors.

Even the quiet setting would be sufficient for picking up light debris like dust, so it’s usable even at night.

Maintenance

Robot vacuums like the Q5+ require a level of TLC to function at their peak for years.

I’ll review the components that need cleaning or replacing and my recommended intervals.

1. Brush roll: The Q5+ combo brush requires more maintenance than the bristle-less brush in the S7 series. Check this component once or twice a month and clean any hair and debris accumulation.
2. Side brush: Another part with a lot of hair build-up is the side brush. Use a Philips screwdriver to detach and clean any hair wrapping on the base. Do this task at least once a week or more if you have people with you who have long hair.
3. Dust bin: Empty the dustbin after every run to prevent heavy debris build-up, especially on the filter. If you own the “plus” version with the auto-empty base station, check the filter if it needs to be replaced.
4. Auto-empty station bag: You’ll need to replace the Q5+ bag once it’s filled. Consumers can do a visual or check the app if there are notifications under the maintenance tab.
5. Base station port: Keep the port on the base station ramp and ensure it’s free from any obstruction. This component empties the robot’s dustbin, so it won’t function if it’s clogged.
6. Drop sensors: Wipe the drop sensors underneath the robot using a clean microfiber towel or cotton bud to prevent an error code from firing and disabling the robot (at least once a month).

Product Specifications

Where can I purchase the Roborock Q5+?

The Roborock Q5+ is available in online stores like Amazon. Check the link below for the latest pricing information.

• Roborock Q5+ on Amazon

Disclaimer: I will earn a commission if you purchase from the link above, but at no extra cost, so it’s a win-win for us!

Is the Roborock Q5+ worth it?

The short answer is a resounding yes. This variant is worth it because it retains the same efficiency, excellent app experience, and cleaning performance without premium features.

It (easily) costs a few hundred dollars cheaper than the Roborock S7+ and still has the self-emptying base station, making it autonomous.

The question is whether you need the mopping feature or not. The S7+ or S7 MaxV Ultra are better options with the vibrating pad if that’s a priority.

5 Reasons to Purchase the Roborock Q5+

1. Much cheaper than the Roborock S7 series: The Roborock Q5+ is a few hundred dollars cheaper than any of the S7 variants. It won’t have the premium features, but it’s huge savings if you only need the vacuuming feature!
2. Efficient navigation: Roborock’s navigation algorithm is one of the best, allowing their products (like the Q5+) to traverse efficiently without getting lost or stuck. You could use this inside a small home or large mansion without much human intervention.
3. Quick mapping: The new quick mapping feature speeds up the map creation process.
4. High-end vacuuming performance: It scored high marks in nearly all the surface cleaning tests, at par with the more expensive S7-series in this category.
5. Lengthy run time: The 180-minute run time is one of the longest in the industry. So this robot is usable even inside large homes.

The Verdict: Excellent Budget Alternative To The More Expensive S7-Series

After spending the past few days testing the Q5+, I’m impressed with its efficiency and cleaning performance.

It may lack the premium features, but it vacuums nearly as well as the S7 MaxV Ultra.

Sure, it lacks the premium features like obstacle avoidance, pad washing, and vibrating mopping pad, but it’s a lot cheaper.

I’d go for the Q5+ over the Q7+ or Q7 Max+ because it offers better value for money.

The Q7-series may have the mopping feature,  but it lacks VibraRise technology, which performs better and more efficiently.

Cleaning performance shouldn’t be a deciding factor with Roborock products because the variance is slim.

Hence, the Q5+ is the best option of the three.