The Roborock S7 is a premium robot vacuum, sitting above models like the Roborock Q5/Q5+ but below the flagship Roborock S7 MaxV and the Roborock S8. It's a LIDAR-equipped robot vacuum with an ultrasonic mopping feature, which scrubs away dried-on stains with vibrating mop pads. Its surface detection system also lets it raise its mopping pad on carpeted surfaces.
Our Verdict
The Roborock S7 is okay for bare floors. It clears small and bulky debris with little difficulty but struggles with lifting away debris in cracks and crevices. It's also amazingly well-built, maneuvers itself efficiently, and, depending on your usage patterns and choice of settings, lasts long enough on a single charge to clean large areas without difficulty. Its ultrasonic mopping module is impressively effective in dealing with dried-on dirt and debris. Unfortunately, it has high recurring costs and is rather demanding in regular maintenance.
- Excellent battery performance.
- Impressive maneuverability.
- Wide range of automation features.
- High recurring costs.
- Demanding maintenance requirements.
The Roborock S7 is a fair option for low-pile carpets. It does a passable job of clearing both fine and large debris, like baking soda or sand, from this surface type, though it might take an extra pass to clear all of it. It also has a unique carpet detection sensor that can automatically increase suction power or raise its mopping pad on this surface type. Unfortunately, it struggles with pet hair. Quite a few parts also need regular maintenance, and it incurs high recurring costs.
- Excellent battery performance.
- Impressive maneuverability.
- Equipped with a surface detection system.
- Struggles with pet hair on carpet.
- High recurring costs.
- Demanding maintenance requirements.
The Roborock S7 is an alright choice for high-pile carpets. It clears away a good amount of solid material from this surface type. It can also automatically raise itself to navigate a little more easily on thicker carpets and prevent its mopping attachment from soaking your rugs. Unfortunately, it performs poorly when cleaning pet hair and has a few parts that need regular cleaning or replacing.
- Excellent battery performance.
- Impressive maneuverability.
- Equipped with a surface detection system.
- Struggles with pet hair on carpet.
- High recurring costs.
- Demanding maintenance requirements.
The Roborock S7 is a sub-par choice for cleaning up pet hair. It does a satisfactory job cleaning pet hair on bare floors but struggles with this kind of debris on low and high-pile carpet. Thankfully, its ultrasonic mopping attachment is very effective when dealing with stains, like mud or dirt, that your pet might track in. It incurs high recurring costs and has many parts that need frequent cleaning, but you can remove its brushroll to clear hair wraps a little more easily. Fine allergens also bypass its E11-rated filter and are blown out of its exhaust.
- Effective mopping function.
- Struggles with pet hair on carpet.
- High recurring costs.
- Demanding maintenance requirements.
Changelog
- Updated Sep 06, 2024: To provide comparable test results across other hybrid vacuum/mop units, we've re-evaluated this vacuum's performance in the Stains section of the review with a fresher sample of pasta sauce and adjusted the score.
- Updated Aug 26, 2024: We've updated the scores in the Hard Floor Pick-Up, High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up, Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up, and Pet-Hair Pick-Up tests to align with a broader data set. For more information about the reasoning for this update, you can look at our forum post.
- Updated Jul 19, 2024: We've added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 0.7 and Test Bench 0.8.
- Updated May 01, 2024: Converted to Test Bench 0.8.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Roborock S7 comes in two color variants: 'White' and 'Black'. We tested the 'White' variant, and you can see its label here. We expect the other color variant to perform similarly overall. You can also buy it with Roborock's Auto-Empty Dock, which transfers debris from its dustbin into an external dirt compartment on its charging dock. This bundle is referred to as the Roborock S7+.
Let us know in the comments if you come across another variant of this vacuum, and we'll update our review.
Popular Robot Vacuum Comparisons
The Roborock S7 is a reasonably versatile robot vacuum. It performs best on bare floors, where it clears small and bulky debris without too much difficulty. It also has a unique carpet detection feature and a broad range of other automation functions. Unfortunately, it struggles with sucking up pet hair on carpeted floors, has high recurring costs, and is quite demanding in regular maintenance.
If you're looking for alternatives, check out our recommendations for the best robot vacuums, the best robotic vacuums for hardwood floors, and the best robot vacuums for carpet.
The Roborock S8+ is better than the Roborock S7. The S8+ has a more powerful suction motor and a more effective twin roll cleaning head, resulting in much better pet hair pick-up. The S8+ also features a separate front-facing optical sensor that allows it to spot, identify, and react to obstacles placed in its way. That said, the S7 uses the same mopping feature and is still a good way of getting a well-rounded robot vacuum for a more affordable price.
The Roborock S7 is better than the Roborock S5. The S7 feels better built, performs better on carpeted floors, and has a more advanced mopping system. Meanwhile, the S5 struggles significantly less with pet hair on carpeted floors, has a larger dirt compartment, and takes noticeably less time to charge despite offering similar overall battery life.
The Roborock S7 is a little better than the Roborock Q7 Max+ for most uses, though the two are fairly evenly matched for the most part. Both vacuums are compatible with a self-emptying base station and have mopping systems. However, regarding the latter point, the S7's ultrasonic system actively scrubs away stains, making it more efficient than the Q7's entirely passive system. The S7 also feels better built and performs marginally better on carpets. However, the Q7 does a better job of handling pet hair.
The Roborock S7 is better than the Roborock Q5+. The S7 has an ultrasonic mopping feature that allows it to scrub away stains. It also feels substantially better built and delivers superior performance on low- and high-pile carpets. Conversely, the Q5+ has fewer parts needing periodic cleaning and can be bundled with a self-emptying station at a far more affordable price.
Test Results
The Roborock S7 is amazingly well-built. It's made of solid-feeling plastic but features a couple of metallic accents for added flair. You can lift the glossy top cover of the vacuum upwards to access the dirt compartment, the Wi-Fi indicator light, and a system reset button. The raised laser navigator module in the center of the vacuum has a matte finish, as does the front bumper. The rubber wheels are also dense and can raise the vacuum when cleaning raised surfaces. In contrast to other Roborock vacuums, like the Roborock S5, its brushroll is made of rubber and doesn't have any bristles. The water container for the mop attachments is at the back of the vacuum. On the downside, the dustbin is a little fragile. The side brushes can wear out over time, but you can replace them.
Assembly out-of-the-box isn't too difficult. You have to download the Roborock companion app to complete the setup process and pair the vacuum with its docking station.
This vacuum has several parts you need to clean periodically, though they're easy to access.
- Brushroll: The brushroll can be pulled out by first removing the brushroll guard under the vacuum. Clean it every two weeks, and you can remove the brushroll bearings to clear any stuck-on debris or hair wraps.
- Dirt compartment: The dirt compartment can be removed by lifting the back cover and pressing the release tabs. The vacuum provides an audio notification to tell you when the dirt compartment has been removed or re-seated in its housing. Empty it once a week or whenever you notice that it's full. You can also wash it with water to remove any stuck-on debris.
- E11 Filter: The filter is located under the top cover of the dirt compartment. You should wash it under water periodically.
- Side brush: You can remove the side brush from under the vacuum with a screwdriver. Clean any hair wraps or stuck on debris once a month.
- Omni-directional wheel: The directional wheel can be pulled out of the socket, though the manufacturer recommends using a screwdriver to remove the wheel axle. Clean it whenever you notice a buildup of debris.
- Mop cloth: The mopping cloth can be removed from its mounting plate and slid out. Clean it after each use.
- Water tank: You can pull the water tank out from the back of the vacuum. You can clean it as required by filling it with clean water, shaking it gently, then pouring out the dirty water.
You should allow any part washed with water to dry thoroughly before being put back in the vacuum.
This vacuum incurs few recurring costs.
- Brushroll: The brushroll needs replacing after 300 hours of use or every six to 12 months.
- Side brush: The side brush has a service life of 200 hours, or three to six months of use.
- E11 filter: The filter needs replacing following 150 hours according to the maintenance tab of the companion app, while the user manual recommends replacing it after six to 12 months of use.
- Mop cloth: You should replace the mop cloth every three to six months.
Roborock sells most parts through their Amazon store, and you can use the 'Maintenance' tab in the vacuum's companion app to check each part's estimated remaining service life.
- Roborock S7 vacuum
- Dirt compartment
- Water container
- Recharge station
- Charging cable with Velcro strap
- 1x E11 filter
- Rubber brushroll
- Brushroll guard
- 1x mopping cloth with mop mount
- User guide
Battery performance is excellent. In its 'Max' power mode, the Roborock can run for just under 90 minutes. Setting it to its most energy-efficient 'Quiet' mode, it runs for over 200 minutes, longer than its advertised claim of 180 minutes. In any case, the vacuum stops its cleaning task once its charge level drops below 20%, at which point its battery life indicator light turns red, and the vacuum returns to its charging station.
The Roborock S7 has a couple of quality-of-life features. It features an ultrasonic sensor to detect carpets automatically. It differs from the system used in the Roborock S6 MaxV, which detects carpets by measuring resistance against its brushroll. When the mopping attachment is in place, you can enable the 'Rise' feature through its companion app, which lifts the mop whenever the vacuum moves over carpet. Its unique 'Carpet Mode', which you can enable through its companion app, boosts its suction power on carpeted floors, increases the rotational speed of the side brush when cleaning along walls, and slows it down when the vacuum is in the middle of a room. The vacuum has four different suction power modes: the energy-efficient 'Quiet' mode, the default 'Balanced' mode, 'Turbo', and 'Max' to deal with stubborn messes. There are also four levels of mop scrubbing intensity: 'No Water', 'Little Water', 'Med Water', and 'High Water'. That said, unlike the newer, pricier Roborock S8, it lacks a forward-facing camera that would allow real-time obstacle identification and avoidance for objects that fall beneath the view of its LIDAR sensor.
This vacuum does a good job of cleaning hard floors. Its suction inlet is positioned high enough to easily pass over bulky debris like cereal so that it can be sucked up. That said, it does struggle a little bit with smaller materials like sand that's piled up against walls or smaller debris that's been pushed into corners.
This vacuum does a good job of handling debris on high-pile carpets. However, it can leave behind a small amount of medium-sized and large debris in corners and along walls.
This vacuum delivers satisfactory overall performance on low-pile carpets. It's pretty effective in dealing with most kinds of debris in wide-open areas, but you'll need to clean up a fair amount of debris along walls and in corners.
This vacuum's pet hair cleaning performance is terrible on low-pile carpets. It does very little to lift away hair that's been pressed into carpet fibers.
The Roborock S7's suction force isn't very strong, though this isn't unusual for a robot vacuum; its suction inlet is positioned too high above the contact surface to generate a tight seal on bare surfaces, resulting in low suction power measurements. Check out the Roborock Q Revo if you want an alternative that's a little more powerful.
The Roborock S7's airflow is okay for a robot vacuum. It won't deal with heavier debris quite as easily as a higher-end model like the Roborock S8, but it'll still outperform most other models on the market and won't struggle much with heavier debris.
This vacuum is pretty quiet. It won't be too disruptive if you have it running in an adjacent room with the door closed, but you'll have to raise your voice somewhat when speaking to somebody in the same room as the vacuum running. Noise levels can vary somewhat when this vacuum is run in its default 'Balanced' mode, as it will automatically increase its suction power to 'Max' when cleaning carpeting. Still, even at higher power levels, it's more discrete than the Roborock S7 MaxV, which has a more powerful motor.
This vacuum has excellent maneuverability. Its laser navigation system develops increasingly efficient cleaning routes as it gets to know its coverage area, though you shouldn't fit the mopping attachment during the initial setup. It's low enough to clean under tables and couches easily. Unfortunately, it can sometimes get stuck on carpets, and rug tassels can catch in its brushroll. While it can push low-lying obstructions, like electrical cords, around, it isn't likely to get stuck on them.
This vacuum does a poor job of sealing in fine particles. Despite having an E11-rated filter, rated to trap 95% of allergens as small as 0.005 μm, fine particles can still bypass this filter and spew from its exhaust port. Consider the Roborock S5 Max if you're looking for a robot vacuum that better filters away fine allergens.
Compared to most manually-operated vacuums, this vacuum struggles to suck up debris from cracks and crevices. However, it does perform better than alternatives like the Shark IQ Robot. Running it in its 'MAX' power mode does help it clear a little more debris in longer cracks, but not by much.
The Roborock S7 does a good job dealing with dried-on stains when used in its 'MAX' scrubbing mode and the pathing set to 'Deep Clean.' The manufacturer recommends pre-soaking the mopping pad before letting it run to distribute water evenly across the pad. Still, if you want a more thorough clean, it's recommended that you do a second mopping run. You can see a video of the vacuum clearing a stain with two passes here, and the outcome of that second run here.
This vacuum isn't designed for dealing with liquid spills. It can clear away small spills by soaking them away with its mopping pads, but having the vacuum suck up liquid will likely damage it.
This vacuum has a great range of automation features. You can use it without its companion app, as the physical buttons on the vacuum allow you to spot-clean an area, clean its coverage area, or return to its dock. It's also fully compatible with the Auto-Empty Dock, which empties its dustbin automatically. You can purchase that separately or bundle it with the pricier Roborock S7+ model.
The Roborock companion app is fantastic, with an easy-to-use interface and plenty of functionality. The vacuum draws a map of its coverage area, which you can then use to set up virtual boundary lines that the vacuum won't cross, establish 'no-go' zones, pinpoint a specific spot you want the vacuum to clean, or direct the vacuum to clean one specific room. You can also check the cleaning history, the maintenance status of certain parts, adjust the volume of its audio cues through the integrated speakers, remote-control the vacuum to re-orient it if it becomes stuck, or adjust its carpet or power settings.