Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra Review

Roborock products have evolved through the years, and the S7 MaxV Ultra is its culmination.

This robot combines two previously unavailable features in the SAME product – self-washing and self-emptying.

It’s not the only product with this combination, but this robot is the first I’ve reviewed.

The revamped base station is the most significant upgrade, but Roborock put in other upgrades like the Reactive AI 2.0, that’s worlds better than the S6 MaxV obstacle avoidance system.

The Future of Self-Emptying Robor Vacuums?

Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra Review

The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra may be the future of self-emptying robot vacuums, combining pad washing and self-emptying features. It’s not the first with this combination but offers the best of both worlds with performance and efficiency. One downside of combining these features is the size uptick with the base station. It’s bigger than any self-emptying robot vacuum I’ve tested. How good is this product? Is it worth the high cost? I’ve spent the past week testing to find out.

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Pros

• It has a Do-it-all base station that washes the pad and empties the dustbin
• Better obstacle avoidance than the Roborock S7+
• Same efficient navigation
• The pad washing feature offers better autonomy and less maintenance
• App upgrades improve usability (e.g., quick mapping run)
• The new 3D mapping offers consumers a different perspective on viewing their home layout

Cons

• Extremely expensive (especially with the Ultra version)
• Large base station footprint
• The mopping feature won’t pick up liquid
• Struggles with stretched-out wires

Introduction to the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra

Robot vacuums have changed over the years.

One significant upgrade in the past few years is the self-emptying feature that many brands have adapted to their product lines.

The next step up is approaching, and the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra may be at the forefront.

It combines the self-emptying and pad washing features previously available in different products.

What’s unique with Roborock is the horizontal alignment of the containers, providing easier access, unlike the Ecovacs DEEBOT X1 that’s hidden.

We’ll look at each of these upgrades in this section.

Upgraded Base Station

Roborock combined two features: self-emptying and pad-washing into its upgraded base station.

This upgrade offers better autonomy since consumers don’t need to continually wash the pad after every cycle because the base station does it.

Surprisingly, the pad cleaning mechanism is (surprisingly) effective at keeping the pad clean even after the red wine and coke stain test.

The photo above shows how the pad looks after several washing cycles. Not bad, considering juice stains will stick on the cloth.

This pad cleaning performance bodes well for daily messes as it has enough agitation to keep the pads (relatively) clean for longer stretches.

The clean and dirty water tanks and the bag are in one row.

One downside with the Roborock base station configuration is the volume downgrade.

It’s nearly a liter smaller than self-washing robots like the Narwal T10 and Dreame Bot W10.

• Clean water tank: 3-liters
• Dirty water tank: 2.5-liters
• Bag: 2.5-liters

But I like the easy access to these containers. No need to open or slide out; it’s just there.

The handle also helps transport the water tanks around the home – plus points for ergonomics.

Roborock also improved the bag design, using plastic instead of cardboard lining around the connecting ports.

This tweak improves durability if you want to continually remove the bag and empty it manually to extend its service life.

But it shouldn’t be a non-issue for those who’d want to use it as is, meaning throw the bag when it’s full.

Ramp-Style Dock

Like the Roborock S7+, the S7 MaxV utilizes a ramp-style dock where the robot sits after docking.

I like this design over a vertical dock because it offers better stability.

Plus, it’s compatible with any surface since no alignment issues exist.

The port is at the same location (connecting to the brush roll) with the pad cleaning mechanism in front.

Pad Cleaning

Roborock’s pad cleaning mechanism is different from products like the Narwal T10.

It uses bristles to scrub the pad, unlike Narwal and Dreame, which uses a studded board to scour the pads.

The Roborock design keeps the pad clean (check the photo above).

Self-Emptying

The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra retains the self-emptying feature found in the S7+ but with a smaller bag capacity (2.5 vs. 3 liters).

This feature makes it a hands-free product since a second vacuum inside the dock empties the dustbin after every run.

While there’s a downgrade in volume, the pad cleaning feature makes up for it.

Reactive AI 2.0

Another upgrade not discussed enough is the upgraded obstacle avoidance system, which Roborock calls Reactive AI 2.0.

It retains the same twin-lens camera but is now flanked by two laser sensors and an LED below it.

These enhancements help the S7 MaxV detect and avoid obstacles better, even in low light conditions.

It avoided pet feces and coiled wires better than the older S6 MaxV variant that only relied on a camera sensor.

I tested it on various objects – fake poop, coiled wires, toys, shoes, slippers, stretched wires, and a weighing scale.

It did well in most experiments, except for stretched-out wires and the weight scale.

The only robot I’ve tested that avoids stretched wires well is the Roomba J7+, but that’s it.

Fortunately, it avoids coiled wires, and there were no issues with the side brush tangling on them.

Obstacle Recognition

The Roborock app is also upgraded with the addition of Reactive AI 2.0.

There’s an obstacle recognition added to its algorithm.

The S7 MaxV sensors are accurate at certain obstacles like this power strip (photo above) and coiled wires.

It’s not 100% accurate, though, as it’ll misinterpret some objects into something else.

VibraRise

The S7 MaxV retains the same VibraRise technology as the older S7+ variant but with the pad cleaning feature.

VibraRise is a clever terminology coined by Roborock referring to the Vibrating mopping element and the Rise feature where the pad lifts when it detects carpet.

Top View

Roborock retains the same layout in the S7 MaxV with the three-button layout.

It has this minimalist design since most of the functionality will be available through the app (more below).

The round puck-shaped frame is the housing for the LIDAR sensor.

View Underneath

Underneath, the S7 MaxV has the same layout as the S7 with the single side brush and all-rubber brush roll.

Behind it is the slot for the mopping pad.

The silver bar in the middle connects to the mopping pad’s vibrating element.

Mopping Pad

The S7 MaxV pad placement behind the roller means it can mop and vacuum simultaneously.

It doesn’t have the two rotary pads found in the Ecovacs DEEBOT X1, but I’ve tested a similar product, the Dreame Bot W10, and the results will be similar.

Single Side Brush

Like the previous flagship, the Roborock S7 MaxV utilizes an all-rubber side brush, which offers better durability (in my opinion).

I like the Roborock version because it doesn’t spin as rapidly, so it doesn’t scatter as much debris.

Bristle-less Brush Roll

Another feature worth noting is the bristle-less brush that offers better agitation than the previous combo brush, at least with surface debris.

Despite the low airflow, the S7 MaxV picked up a high percentage of surface dirt during various cleaning experiments.

Water Tanks

The S7 MaxV Ultra has three water tanks – two inside the base station and a third inside the robot.

Here’s a close look at the clean and dirty water tanks.

You can see in the photo that each container uses a floater to detect whether it’s full or empty.

The wide opening makes it easy to clean, refill, and empty.

Here’s a close-up of the robot water tank.

It has the same placement as the Roborock S7+ behind the robot.

However, the S7 MaxV’s water tank capacity is smaller than the S7+ (200ml vs. 300ml), which is negated by the auto-refill feature where the base station clean water tank refills the robot water tank when it’s empty.

App Features

This robot is compatible with the Roborock app, and we’ll look at the features and upgrades.

There are plenty.

1. 3D and Matrix Map

Older Roborock variants only had the 2D map, which is the standard in this industry.

But Roborock added two more map types with the S7 MaxV – the 3D and Matrix.

The 3D map is like a computer rendering of your home, providing a different perspective on viewing the layout.

It shows walls primarily, but not the intricate details I thought it had from what I’ve seen on the Roborock website.

The Matrix is only available on the iPhone 12 and 13 but not on Android devices.

This version provides more intricate details, but I didn’t see this on my phone since it’s not iOS.

2. Map Details

Another addition to the Roborock app is the map details.

You could see the intricate details like the floor type, furniture, and obstacles.

It shows the little details on the map that help consumers identify different areas and organize their homes.

3. Map Saving

The S7 MaxV retains the same map saving feature as the S7, where consumers can save up to four levels.

Roborock recommends purchasing multiple base stations if you’re using this on a multi-level home, but you could use it without them.

The algorithm is smart enough to detect the map with the initial scan. It’s something that I think more LIDAR robots should incorporate into their software.

4. Quick Mapping

One critical upgrade in the Roborock app is the quick mapping run.

This feature cuts the map creation process significantly because the robot doesn’t need to go to every nook and cranny of your home to draw the map.

It takes full advantage of LIDAR’s 360-degree scanning precision to determine the walls (or perimeter), essential for drawing a home’s layout.

5. Live Camera View [CCTV]

Another benefit of the front-facing camera is the CCTV-capability to show consumers what it sees during the cleaning cycle.

Unlike the Ecovacs T8 version I tested previously, you can see it during the cleaning cycle.

There will be privacy concerns with this technology, but Roborock says it uses encryption and a lock pattern as layers of security to prevent unauthorized access.

But the option to check what’s happening inside your home (remotely) can be helpful in certain situations.

6. Live Map

Roborock was a pioneer with the live map feature, and this variant has that same feature so consumers can see where the robot is in real-time.

It also shows the avoided obstacles you can tap on your mobile device.

The screenshot above shows the 2D map, but the S7 MaxV also has a 3D map to give consumers a different perspective.

It’s possible to view the map from different angles. However, based on my tests, it doesn’t show the intricate details, only walls, even in areas with rails or beds.

Nonetheless, this is a step in the right direction, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Roborock came up with technology that scans the surroundings with better detail.

7. Containment

This robot has the same containment features as older Roborock variants. 

Consumers will have several options: invisible walls, no-go zones, and no-mop zones.

An invisible wall acts like a virtual wall where it blocks the robot from going past it, while the no-go and no-mop zones are similar in that it blocks a specific area.

These containment zones are enough to block the robot from going into off-limit areas without using a physical barrier.

8. Reactive AI Settings

Consumers can tweak the Reactive AI settings to suit their needs, but there will be compromises.

You could turn off the pet details or less collision mode to prioritize cleaning performance over obstacle avoidance or turn these settings on to avoid obstacles altogether.

For those who have privacy concerns, turn off the obstacle photos so that the app won’t take snapshots of the obstacles.

9. Auto-Empty Settings

The Roborock app provides these options for the auto setting, and there are four options. You could also turn this feature off if the need arises.

But I’d keep it in the balanced or max setting to get the most out of the self-emptying feature.

10. Wash Settings

The Roborock app provides consumers with these options with the wash settings.

There are two options: by room or by time basis.

The first option is self-explanatory. It only goes back to the dock after completing a room, while the time option triggers when the set time is reached.

Another option is the washing mode, where consumers can choose how much agitation to use on the pad.

I’d keep it in the deep setting for the same results.

11. Vacuum and Mop Settings

Consumers have these options for the vacuum and mop settings.

If you go to the vac & mop or mop tab, there are four power settings, but there’s a fifth setting (or the max+) on the vacuum tab.

12. Cleaning History

The cleaning history tab shows the previous cleaning cycles. It acts like a car’s odometer showing how much the robot has been used.

It shows the date, area, time, and the corresponding map it cleaned, plus the areas it vacuumed.

13. Maintenance

The maintenance tab shows the different components that need to be cleaned or replaced.

There are more items to check and clean with the self-emptying and pad-washing feature than with a traditional self-emptying robot vacuum.

How much power does the Roborock S7 MaxV have?

Roborock says that the S7 MaxV has 5100 Pa of suction. But it’s almost impossible to measure a robot vacuum’s suction because of the sensors that trigger an error code if it isn’t on the ground.

So I used an anemometer to check airflow at the cleaning nozzle, and here are the results.

• Quiet: 7.97 CFM
• Balanced: 8.71 CFM
• Turbo: 9.8 CFM
• Max: 12.49 CFM
• Max+: 13.39 CFM

The Roborock S7 MaxV has around the same airflow as the S7+ in the 13-ish range at the highest setting.

It’s a low number for a premium robot vacuum.

One reason could be the bristle-less roller taking up most of the slot, not allowing much air to flow through the opening.

The S7 MaxV’s brush roll has excellent agitation, especially with surface debris.

How does the Roborock S7 MaxV navigate?

The Roborock S7 MaxV utilizes LIDAR (or Laser Distance Sensor) for navigation, so it’ll move in straight lines.

Roborock products are among the most efficient I’ve reviewed, completing the cycle in the low 20-minute range (in a small room).

Another plus for the S7 MaxV is the efficient pick-up of the bristle-less brush.

Check out this before and after shot of the coverage test.

It picked up this much after the first pass.

The after shot above is impressive, considering the S7 MaxV isn’t a high-airflow robot.

This proves that the all-rubber brush has excellent agitation and picks up debris well.

Related: Roomba vs. Roborock [Which Brand is Better?]

Cleaning Performance

Next, we’ll explore how well the Roborock S7 MaxV picks up debris. I tested it on several debris types: quaker oats, coffee grounds, pet litter, quinoa, sand, and hair.

Here are the results:

• Overall: 94.11%
• Hard floor: 99.95%
• Sand on hard floor: 99.6%
• Carpet (surface): 98.97%
• Deep cleaning: 77.95%

The results show that the S7 MaxV is excellent at picking up debris, regardless of surface.

It scored in the high 90s on hard floor, low pile, and mid pile carpet.

One issue with the low airflow is the average pick-up with embedded sand on mid-pile carpet.

Hard Floor Results

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

It got the best results on hard floors, which isn’t surprising because the bristle-less roller excels on this surface.

I’d opt for the S7 MaxV or the S7+ on this surface over a Roomba S9+ because of the efficient navigation.

This combination of efficiency and agitation makes this variant one of the best options on hard floors.

Sand on hard floor

Another proof of the excellent agitation is how much sand it picked up on this surface.

It got an average of 99.6%, one of the best results among robot vacuums I’ve reviewed.

Sand is a good barometer for robot vacuum performance because it’s heavy, and robots with weak airflow will struggle with it.

Edge Cleaning

The S7 MaxV’s round frame limits its potential for cleaning edges.

It’s not as bad as other round-framed robots, but it left bits of debris on the edges and the quarter-inch crevice.

The best robot for cleaning edges is the Roomba S9 with its square front and the Ecovacs T8 AIVI, thanks to its dual side brushes.

Hair Wrap

In this section, we’ll look at how the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra does at cleaning hair, specifically five and seven-inch strands.

• 5-inch strands: 100%
• 7-inch strands: 63%

It was excellent at picking up 5-inch strands with every strand going inside the dustbin.

However, it struggled somewhat with longer seven-inch strands, only picking up 63%, with some of it wrapping on the axles.

This variant is good for cleaning pet hair, but check the brush roll for hair wrapping on the axles.

Carpet Performance

Next, we’ll look at how the S7 MaxV did on carpet. I used the same debris types on this surface to see how much it picks up on low and mid pile surfaces.

Low Pile Results

• Quaker oats: 99.6%
• Coffee grounds: 97.4%
• Quinoa: 100%
• Pet litter: 100%

The Roborock S7 MaxV did well on carpet. It picked up the least with coffee grounds, but it’s not surprising since most robots don’t do well with it.

You can see how cleanly it picks up in the before and after photos above, even with coffee grounds.

Despite the low airflow, it picked up well and much better than any Roomba outside the S9 and 980.

Mid Pile Results

• Quaker oats: 99.4%
• Coffee grounds: 96.2%
• Quinoa: 99.8%
• Pet litter: 99.4%

The numbers above are slightly worst but still excellent for a low airflow robot vacuum.

Again, these prove that the S7 MaxV bristle-less brush roll is excellent at picking surface debris, even on mid-pile carpet.

Like on low pile carpet, this robot did worst at picking up coffee grounds. But the 96.2% pick-up is one of the best in this category.

Deep Cleaning

One issue with the S7 MaxV’s low airflow is with deep cleaning performance, where it picked up 77.95%.

This number isn’t bad for a robot vacuum but subpar for a premium robot vacuum, which shouldn’t surprise you because of the limited airflow.

It won’t be wise to rely on this robot for deep cleaning, but it’s great for daily cleaning chores to prevent dust from accumulating, especially underneath furniture.

Mopping Results

Next, we’ll examine how the Roborock S7 MaxV handles red wine and coke stains.

These tests aim to see if the vibrating mopping pad has enough agitation to remove these blemishes.

Here’s a before and after for the red wine stains.

And coke and juice stains.

The S7 MaxV was excellent at removing the stains, but what the photos didn’t show was the residue.

Since this robot can’t pick up liquid, it spreads the sticky residue around, so I cannot recommend this for cleaning sticky stains.

The good news is the vibrating element works and will remove stains on the surface.

Plus, the pad cleaning feature will keep the pad clean even after messes like this.

I don’t recommend using this on wet spills because it can’t pick up liquid.

How noisy is the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra?

One plus with the low airflow is the low noise levels. I used a sound meter to check the noise levels, and here are the results.

• Quiet: 57.0 dB
• Balanced: 59.5 dB
• Turbo: 62.0 dB
• Max: 72.9 dB

The good news for potential S7 MaxV owners is that this robot will pick up dust even in the lowest setting (or quiet).

There’s no need to use the Max or Max+ setting except on carpet or cleaning a dirty surface.

This bodes well for the battery’s longevity and your eardrums since it won’t be noisy.

Maintenance

There’s more stuff to maintain with the upgrades in the base station, and we’ll look at those in this section.

Robot vacuums need TLC to maintain their efficiency and longevity. I’ll enumerate the stuff below.

1. Primary brush: Clean this once a week to remove any hair and debris accumulating on the axles and surface.
2. Side brush: Use a Philips screwdriver to remove and clean any accumulated hair on the base. This part is a hair magnet, so check and clean once a week.
3. Dustbin: Empty it after every run if you’ve purchased this robot without the base station.
4. Bag: Throw the bag when it’s full. Unfortunately, the Roborock app doesn’t notify consumers, so you must check manually.
5. Pad washing: Another component to check is the brush that cleans the pad in the base station. You could use a brush or microfiber cloth to dislodge any debris sticking to it.
6. Cliff sensors: Check and clean the cliff sensors underneath the robot to prevent an error code from firing and disabling the robot. Use a clean microfiber towel or cotton buds for this task.
7. Dirty water tank: Use a kitchen brush or foam to scrub and dislodge dirt sticking on the inner walls of the dirty water tank at least once a month.
8. Self-emptying port: Check the port connecting to the robot’s brush roll and remove any debris that can potentially clog it.
9. Robot vacuum body: Wipe the robot body with a clean microfiber towel to remove any fingerprints and dust accumulation.

Product Specifications

Where can I purchase the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra?

The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is available in online stores like Amazon. Check the links below for the latest pricing information.

• Roborock S7 MaxV on Amazon (robot only, no base station)
• Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra on Amazon (robot + base station)

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

Is the Roborock S7 MaxV worth it?

Despite the high cost, the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra brings a lot to the table.

In addition to the pad washing feature, Roborock added the Reactive AI 2.0, which is much better than the previous version (S6 MaxV) at evading objects.

Adding the laser sensors and LED helps with identifying obstacles even in dim areas.

It retains the same efficient navigation but with a more autonomous mopping component since the base station scrubs the pad afterward.

But the questions is, are you willing to spend the astronomical cost for this product?

Here are some reasons you should consider.

5 Reasons to buy the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra

1. Improved obstacle avoidance: The Reactive AI 2.0 is a better version than the 1.0 found in the S6 MaxV. It better avoids obstacles within its line of sight, even coiled wires, and pet feces.
2. Surprisingly effective pad washing: I wasn’t expecting much from the pad washing feature, but it effectively removed stains from the pad.
3. Efficient navigation: The S7 MaxV retains the efficient navigation and cleaning performance, especially on hard floors.
4. Superb cleaning performance: The all-rubber brush roll picks up debris efficiently, making it one of the best options hard floors or carpets.
5. Enough agitation to remove stains: The vibrating mopping pad has enough agitation to clean stains proficiently in fewer passes.

The Verdict: The Future of Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums

I’m impressed by Roborock’s upgrades put in the S7 MaxV Ultra.

Everything was well thought out, from the base station layout to the enhancements within the camera sensor.

This robot is one of the best alternatives for cleaning and mopping, but the latter is somewhat limited because it cannot pick up liquid.

Nonetheless, it has enough agitation to remove stains while keeping the pad clean.

If you don’t mind the high cost, consider this option and enjoy the hands-free convenience it’ll bring to the table.