Roborock S6 Pure Review

Roborock S6 Pure Review

In this review, we will be looking closely at the Roborock S6 Pure. It is one of five new products from Roborock that also includes the S5 Max, S6 MaxV, E4, and the H6 stick vacuum.

This model is a slightly cheaper version of the S6 with some downgrades in its navigational system we’ll look at in a little bit. But based on tests, it still has the same efficiency as other more expensive Roborock options making it a popular choice.

The good news is this variant retains the same high-end app features such as the Multi-Level Map Saving capability and Zone Cleanup.

A Less Expensive Alternative To The Roborock S6

Roborock S6 Pure

Roborock S6 Pure Review

The S6 Pure is one of the newer Roborock options and a less expensive alternative to the S6. Roborock told me that the S6 Pure uses an infrared distance edge sensor while the S6 uses LIDAR, which is more accurate. Another downgrade is the number of cliff sensors; the S6 Pure has four while the S6 has six.

Please take note that these downgrades do not affect the S6 Pure’s navigation, and it remains one of the more efficient smart robotic vacuums I’ve tested.  It also has more airflow compared to the S5 Max and S6 MaxV in most of the power settings.

*If you click this link and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Pros

  • Airflow tests reveal that this model has more power than the S5 Max and S6 MaxV.
  • Larger water tank capacity than the Roborock S6, so it’ll mop a larger area.
  • Less expensive than the Roborock S6.
  • Convenience features such as no-go zones, selective room cleaning, and multi-level maps are available.
  • Great at cleaning sand on hard surfaces.
  • Efficient navigation thanks to the LIDAR sensor and advanced navigational algorithm.

Cons

  • Small dust cup capacity.
  • Quite expensive.
  • Round-shape undermines its edge cleaning performance.
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Introduction to the Roborock S6 Pure

Like what I’ve said in the intro, the S6 Pure is a slight downgrade to the S6. Roborock did this to be able to give consumers a less expensive option to the S6.

The good news is that the S6 performs as well as its more expensive counterparts like the S6 and S6 MaxV.

It does not have the electronic water tank found in the S5 Max, but it has more airflow at the highest setting.

Top View

Roborock S6 Pure Top View

This model retains the minimalist design seen in all Roborock models with only two buttons above the LDS sensor: the clean and dock buttons.

Below the LDS sensor is the door providing users access to the dust container.

Roborock S6 Pure dust cup and brush cleaning tool

It also has a brush tool with a bladed side for untangling hair that may wrap around the brush.

Bottom View

Roborock S6 Pure Bottom View

Like the S5 Max and S6 MaxV, the S6 Pure has the same design with one side brush and a narrow brush roll.

Below the brush is the mopping pad, similar to the other two Roborock models I mentioned earlier.

All new Roborock products use a five-prong, all-rubber side brush with better durability and water resistance. (for mopping).

The good news is if you own any of the older models like the Roborock S5, the new brush is backward compatible.

Dust Cup

Roborock S6 Pure dust cup

The S6 Pure dust cup is similar to the S5 Max and S6 MaxV. All three models have the same capacity at 460 milliliters.

It also comes with a HEPA filter that Roborock says is washable. However, this model does not have the extra filter, so you’ll have to purchase one separately.

Fortunately, these parts are available in most online stores like Amazon and Walmart.

How does the Roborock S6 Pure navigate?

The S6 Pure utilizes the same LIDAR sensor as its primary navigational instrument, but it has fewer cliff sensors than the S6 (only four vs. six).

Instead of using LIDAR as wall sensors, Roborock put in an infrared distance sensor that isn’t as accurate.

These downgrades don’t affect the S6 Pure in terms of navigation and avoiding cliff points.

As with all Roborock products, it starts by scanning the whole area 360 degrees to keep track of its position and locate the charging dock (just if you move it to a different location).

It then goes around the edges then works its way towards the middle portion of the room.

The way the S6 Pure navigates is dynamic, and it chooses the most efficient pattern based on the room’s layout.

App Features

Roborock S6 Pure App

The Roborock S6 Pure is compatible with the Xiaomi Home App and the Roborock App. Choosing between the two will depend on preference and whether or not you have other Xiaomi products.

The interface of the Xiaomi Home and Roborock apps with regards to the robot are very similar.

If you only have Roborock products, I would suggest opting for the Roborock app since it focuses on such. Otherwise, go with the Xiaomi Home app so you can integrate it with their other smart home products.

The S6 Pure has most of the features of the more expensive S6 MaxV except the obstacle avoidance system since it does not have the front-mounted camera.

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning modes

It has four different power settings.

  1. Silent
  2. Balanced
  3. Turbo
  4. Max

Multi-Floor Maps

Roborck S6 Pure multi-floor maps

You’ll also have access to the map saving and multi-level map feature that allows users to save up to four different map levels.

The cool part is that the robot automatically detects the correct map as it scans the area. If you move it to a different level, there’s no need to manually select the right map as the robot does it automatically.

Invisible Wall and No-Go Zones

Roborock s6 Pure invisible wall and no-go zones

One of my favorite features in the app is the invisible wall and no-go zones.

The invisible wall will block a robot from going into a virtual line that you draw on the app.

It replaces the magnetic tape that Roborock relied on previously for this functionality.

Even if the S6 Pure does not have the no-mop zones, I don’t think it’s a big issue since the no-go zones have the same purpose.

This feature will block the robot from going into a square or rectangular area.

It is possible to set multiple no-go zones on the map on your home spaces that have rugs.

Zoned Cleaning

Roborock S6 Pure zoned cleaning

Another option that the Roborock app has is the zoned cleaning feature, where it instructs the robot to clean a rectangular or square zone.

Please take note that you can set the zone across multiple rooms, and the software will interpret it as a single area and do its normal cleaning mode within those boundaries.

Unfortunately, you won’t save these zones, which brings me to the next app feature.

Selective Room Cleaning

Roborock S6 selective room cleaning

This is a more precise option for cleaning specific areas inside the home. Take note that this feature is only available after the robot saves the map and you (or the app) specify the zones.

To select rooms, you’ll have to tap on the area or areas to clean. The app also permits users to set the order of which rooms go first.

Roborock also updated its app and now has included custom room naming, which is usable with Alexa.

Edit Room

Roborock S6 Pure edit room

Under this menu, there are three sub-options.

  1. Merge: It gives the user the option to merge two or more rooms into one.
  2. Divide: Divides the different areas inside the home using a line.
  3. Sequence: Tells the robot which rooms it should clean first and so forth.

Mopping Feature

Roborock S6 Pure water tank

The S6 Pure has the same mopping feature as the Roborock S5. It utilizes a gravity tank that relies on yes, you guessed it, gravity, to keep the pad damp.

Since it does not have an electronic water tank, water will continually drip until it runs out. So there’s a risk of it leaving a puddle of water underneath if you forget to remove the water tank after a mopping cycle.

I wouldn’t recommend the S6 Pure if you’re priority is mopping. Other alternatives like the Viomi V3, Roborock S5 Max, and S6 MaxV are better options.

The water tank is slightly larger than the Roborock S6 and S5. So I don’t think there will be much of a difference when it comes to coverage.

How long with the S6 Pure run?

The S6 Pure and S5 Max have the same 5200 mAh Li-ion battery; both will run for 180 minutes or 2.5 hours on a full charge.

It has the recharge-and-resume feature which docks to recharge if it runs low and the job isn’t complete.

Another feature worth noting is the “smart top-up” (this works with the recharge-and-resume feature), where the robot charges just enough to finish the remaining area not yet covered.

How much power does the Roborock S6 Pure have?

One of the surprises would be power. To measure this, I used an anemometer to check how much airflow goes through the primary brush roll.

Here are the results of the tests in comparison with the Roborock S5 Max and S6 Pure.

Power Comp
Roborock S5 Max
Roborock S6 Pure
Roborock S6 MaxV
Gentle
8.37 CFM
N/A
6.14 CFM
Silent
9.8 CFM
9.68 CFM
7.9 CFM
Balanced
12.49 CFM
12.49 CFM
9.8 CFM
Turbo
15.68 CFM
15.68 CFM
12.32 CFM
Max
17.74 CFM
18.17 CFM
15.68 CFM

The S6 Pure is almost at par with the S5 Max when it comes to airflow. It has the same figure in the balanced and turbo setting, with slightly more airflow in the max setting.

You can see this airflow in action as it could pick up 100% of sand on hard floors in two tests.

How noisy is the S6 Pure?

To measure noise levels, I used a sound meter a few feet away from the robot.

Here are the results in all the power settings.

  • Silent: 59.5 dB
  • Balanced: 60.2 dB
  • Turbo: 62.1dB
  • Max: 63.7 dB

This robot isn’t as noisy as I initially thought, registering less than 65 decibels at the max setting.

There were spikes recorded by the sound meter, but it was due to its bumping on the edges.

How does the Roborock S6 Pure clean?

All Roborock robot vacuums utilize a similar design – round frame, single side brush, and main brush right between the two rubber wheels.

It is quite effective at cleaning debris thanks to its efficient and smart navigating system combined with the brush roll design and ample airflow.

Cleaning Performance

I’ve put the S6 Pure through a rigorous set of tests to check how well it does on different debris types, from fine dust and sand to large particles of Cheerios and Fruit loops.

The S6 Pure shines in all of the surface cleaning tests picking up a very high percentage, which I’ll share below.

  • Overall: 92.54%
  • Hard Floor: 99.61%
  • Carpet (Surface pickup): 98.72%
  • Carpet (Deep cleaning): 72%

You’ll notice it scored 100% in six of the tests. The lowest scores were on coffee grounds, perhaps because of its fine nature.

Hard Floor Cleaning

  • Quaker Oats: 100%
  • Coffee: 99.2%
  • Quinoa: 100%
  • Pet Litter: 99.4%

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning quaker oats on hard floors

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning coffee on hard floors

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning quinoa on hard floors

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning pet litter on hard floors

The S6 Pure performs best on hard floors with an average score of 99.186%, already factoring in the sand on hard floor test.

It is an excellent score even against the best stick vacuums such as the Dyson V11 and the Tineco Pure One S12.

In all of the tests, it was able to tackle different types of debris.

Sand on Hard Floor Test

Roborock S6 Pure sand on hard floor test

The first test I did was using sand on hard floors. I scattered 50 grams of it and ran the robot three times to see how much it picks up. One test in silent mode and the other two using the max setting.

The S6 Pure was able to pick up 99.2% in silent mode and 100% (average) at the max setting. That is an average of 99.85%.

Hard Wrap Test on Hard Floors

For the hair wrap test on hard floors, I scattered 5 to 7 inches of human hair (one gram worth) and let the robot run one cleaning cycle to see how much goes into the dust cup and how much goes into the bin.

Check out how much hair wrapped around the brush roll.

Roborock S6 hair wrapped on the brush after cleaning hard floors

And this was how much that went into the dust bin.

Roborock S6 Pure hair inside dust bin after cleaning hard floors

Realize that for this test, I used the silent power mode, which I think played a factor in why nearly half the hair wrapped on the bristles (you’ll know why in a bit).

The bottom line is you’ll have to regularly clean both the side brush and the main cleaning head as part of the upkeep if you live with someone who has long hair or has pets.

Edge Cleaning

One potential issue with round-shaped robot vacuums is its inefficiency when it comes to cleaning edges and corners.

The S6 Pure is no exception, but it is at least decent.

Check the below and after photos below.

Roborock S6 Pure edge cleaning

It picked up most of the debris, but there is still visible debris left, and it wasn’t able to pick up the dirt that went into the quarter-inch crevice near the wall.

I would say that the edge cleaning performance is average.

Carpet Cleaning

The S6 Pure has a slightly lower overall score cleaning carpets.

However, it picked up 100% in four of the tests – on quinoa, pet litter, and Quaker oats, but did not do as well on picking up coffee grounds.

Low Pile Results

  • Quaker Oats: 96%
  • Coffee: 100%
  • Quinoa: 100%
  • Pet Litter: 100%

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning quaker oats on low pile carpet

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning coffee on low pile carpet

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning quinoa on low pile carpet

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning pet litter on low pile carpet

In three of the tests, the S6 Pure was able to pick up 100% but was only able to pick up 96% of coffee grounds on low pile carpet, which is understandable because of its grounded nature.

It is still an excellent score and one of the best so far that I’ve tested.

Mid Pile Results

  • Quaker Oats: 95.4%
  • Coffee: 99.6%
  • Quinoa: 98.8%
  • Pet Litter: 100%

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning quaker oats on mid pile carpet

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning coffee on mid pile carpet

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning quinoa on mid pile carpet

Roborock S6 Pure cleaning pet litter on mid pile carpet

Out of the three types of surfaces, the S6 Pure did the worst on the mid-pile carpet, which is understandable since this surface requires more airflow to clean.

The S6 Pure still scored an average of 98.45% cleaning surface debris, which in my opinion, is a high score.

Hair Wrap Test on Carpet

I also did a hair wrap test on a low pile carpet with the turbo’s power mode, and this much hair was left on the brush.

Roborock S6 Pure hair wrapped on the brush after cleaning carpet

There is a significant difference between this test and the hard floor version. One reason I think is the power setting.

On the hard floor, it was in silent mode, while for this test, it was on Turbo mode. This much hair went inside the container.

Roborock S6 Pure hair inside dust bin after cleaning carpet

There was more hair that went inside the dust bin using the higher power setting. But still, you’ll have to clean the brush roll as the S6 Pure does not have an anti-tangle system.

Deep Cleaning Test on Carpet

The last test I’ll share is the deep cleaning test. For this experiment, I rubbed 100 grams of sand on the medium-pile carpet.

The S6 Pure was able to pick up an average of 72% of embedded sand on two tests, which is lower than the S5 Max and the S6 MaxV.

I was surprised by the results because the S6 Pure had more airflow than the S6 MaxV, so I thought that it would clean embedded sand better, but these are the results, so I’ll leave it at that.

What comes in the box?

The S6 Pure comes with the following out of the box:

  1. S6 Pure Robot
  2. Charging dock
  3. Damp-proof mat
  4. Adjustable water tank
  5. Mop cloth (no extra)
  6. Power cable
  7. Product manual and quick start guide

Maintenance

As with all robot vacuums, the S6 Pure needs maintenance to keep its performance level over the long haul.

This includes keeping the side brush and primary brush roll free from tangles. You’ll also have to check and clean all of the sensors. These include the cliff and wall sensors to ensure that the signal it fires back to the software is accurate.

The Roborock app has a “maintenance” section that reminds users when to clean or replace these components.

Replacement Parts

There won’t be any problems with sourcing parts such as filters, brushes, pads, and the likes as these are widely available on Amazon.

You can purchase these direct from Roborock’s Amazon page or third-party sellers.

Product Specifications

ModelRoborock S6 Pure
ManufacturerRoborock
Battery5,200 mAh Li-ion
Run timeUp to 150 mins.
Water Tank Capacity180 ml.
Dirt Capacity (dry)480 ml.
Weight7.8 pounds
Diameter12.62 inches
Height4 inches
Smart NavigationYes
Recharge and ResumeYes
HEPA FiltrationYes
Side BrushYes
Extra FilterNone
Manufactured InChina
Warranty1 year
PriceCheck Price

Where Can I Buy The Roborock S6 Pure?

The Roborock S6 Pure is available in several online stores, namely Amazon and Walmart. Please check the links below for the latest prices.

Please take note that when you purchase through any of the links above, I earn a commission, but at no additional cost to you, so it’s a win-win for both of us.

Does the Roborock S6 Pure Offer Excellent Value?

The S6 Pure may be the least expensive option in the S6 product line, but it still scores high marks in nearly all the tests.

This model provides the same smart navigating features and outstanding cleaning performance of the S6 MaxV while being more cost-efficient.

It lacks the advanced obstacle avoidance feature, but the LIDAR sensor and advanced navigational algorithm are decent enough for those who don’t want to spend a premium.

The downgrades do not seem to affect how it navigates, so I feel that the S6 Pure provides better value for your dollar between the two.

The Verdict: A Less Expensive Option That Performs Almost As Well As The S6 MaxV

This model is one of the better alternatives at its price range when you factor in the features it has in the Roborock app.

It excels in surface cleaning and above average when it comes to deep cleaning carpet.

Choosing between this, the S5 Max and S6 MaxV will boil down to preference.

The price difference between this model and the S5 Max isn’t significant, but the latter has a better mopping system capable of covering a larger area with better precision.

Against the S6 MaxV, the S6 Pure is much cheaper, but it does not have the latter’s obstacle avoidance system and the latter’s electronic water tank.

If your priority is better mopping and nothing else, the S5 Max may be the better option. For folks who want high-end navigation and better mopping, the S6 MaxV is the obvious choice.

With all of that said, the S6 Pure is still an excellent product that offers smart and efficient navigation, exceptional cleaning performance at a more attractive price point.

5 Reasons You Should Buy The Roborock S6 Pure

  1. Smart Navigation: The S6 Pure retains the same navigational algorithm of the S5 Max and S6 MaxV at a lower cost.
  2. Excellent at Surface Cleaning: It scores high marks in surface cleaning tests scoring 100% in six tests.
  3. Compatible with the Xiaomi and Roborock App: Users can use the Xiaomi Home App or the Roborock App, depending on their preference.
  4. Above Average Deep Cleaning: The S6 Pure is decent at cleaning embedded dirt on medium pile carpet picking up an average of 72% in the two tests I did.
  5. Value for Money: This option isn’t as expensive as the S6 MaxV but still provides the same outstanding cleaning performance and navigation.
Value For Money Roborock Option If the S5 Max or S6 MaxV is Too Costly
  • Navigation - 98%
    98%
  • Surface Cleaning - 99.55%
    100%
  • Deep Cleaning - 72%
    72%
  • Quality - 96%
    96%
  • Design - 95%
    95%
  • Value - 96%
    96%
93%

Summary

The Roborock S6 Pure is an excellent alternative for people looking for a smart navigating robot vacuum that will clean their homes efficiently. It has most of the features of the more expensive S6 MaxV, but minus the premium price tag. What it lacks is the obstacle avoidance system and the electronic water tank, but based on the tests I did, the navigation is still outstanding. The lack of an electronic water tank hampers it a bit when it comes to range, but it is still decent in this area.

About the author: Garrick, the visionary behind Cordless Vacuum Guide, brings over a decade of hands-on expertise in cordless vacuum testing to his insightful reviews showcased on this platform. Beyond his passion for empowering consumers with informed choices, he cherishes precious moments with his family, exploring global cuisines and exploring different horizons with his beloved wife and son. Follow him on Youtube, Tiktok, Facebook, and Instagram.