Roborock S7 vs. S6 MaxV Comparison Review

One of the best Chinese robot vacuum brands is Roborock, a trusted brand that has given the likes of Roomba a run for their money. Today, Roborock boasts several models, including Roborock S6 MaxV and Roborock S7, two of its newest models.

In this Roborock S7 vs. S6 MaxV comparison review, find out which is the best bang for the buck. Is it the new Roborock S7, or are you better off with the Roborock S6 MaxV? That’s what this article is all about.

But first, here is an overview of the brand and the respective models in this review.

About Roborock

Roborock is a Chinese robot vacuum brand backed up by the larger Xiaomi Communications Co., Ltd. Many buyers have been confusing Roborock for the Xiaomi vacuum. The truth of the matter is that Roborock is the company that manufactured the Xiaomi vacuum but then later parted ways to operate as an independent brand, Roborock.

Roborock, despite being a Chinese brand, guarantees quality robot vacuums that rival other top brands, including iRobot Roomba, Neato, Deebot, and the rest. The company has invested in R&D, and that’s what puts them on the map.

Roborock S7 Series

Announced back in January 2021, the Roborock S7 is the newest Roborock at the time of writing. Unlike the S6 Series with several variants, there is only one variant of the S7, the base models. Probably, the company will be adding other variants to the lineup.

The new S7 is in many ways similar to the earlier Roborock models, but it comes with several extras. These include high-speed sonic mopping, automatic mop lifting, and ultrasonic carpet sensing.

Roborock S6 Series

The Roborock S6 Series consists of several variants, including Roborock S6, S6 Pure, and the S6 MaxV. The three models share a lot in common, but it’s the S6 MaxV that carries the day courtesy of the extras it brings on board.

The S6 MaxV is more intelligent when it comes to navigation and mapping, courtesy of the VSLAM navigation system and ReactiveAI obstacle avoidance technology. It’s the most worthy Roborock for comparison with the new Roborock S7.

Roborock S7 vs. S6 MaxV Face to Face Comparison Review

Now that we know a thing or two about the Roborock S7 and Roborock S6 MaxV let’s get into the finer details of how the two compare. We will be assessing everything about these robots, from how they look, to how they clean and the features available. Without further ado, let’s get to business.

Design and Aesthetics

When choosing the best robot vacuum, it’s important to assess the design and aesthetics. A robot vacuum’s design determines where it will reach, while aesthetics is all about the appeal. It’s essential to be able to tell the difference between different robot vacuums just from their appearance.

• The Roborock S7 is a round-shaped robot vacuum measuring 13.9 x 13.8 x 3.8 inches. Regarding the weight, it’s a little, at 10.4 lbs heavier compared to most robot vacuums. When it comes to aesthetics, there are two color options. There is a black model and a white model, so buyers have choices.
• On the other hand, the Roborock S6 MaxV is still round shaped. It measures 13.9 x 13.8 x 3.8 inches and weighs 8.16 lbs. As for the finish, the S6 MaxV, unlike the S7, is available in black only.

Cleaning Performance

The most important consideration when choosing robot vacuums is their cleaning performance. These vacuums have been designed to offer different levels of cleaning. For example, there are Roborock vacuums for bare floors, vacuums for pet hair, vacuums for carpets, etc. In this segment, we will be comparing the different cleaning features that Roborock S6 MaxV and Roborock S7 have.

Orientation

There are robot vacuums that offer vacuuming only, while others go the extra mile to offer mopping. Robot vacuums are also highly specialized to handle different cleaning needs. In this section, let’s find out how the two Roborock models compare in terms of specialty.

The Roborock S6 MaxV is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum that vacuums and mops simultaneously. You can rely on this robot vacuum to clean all types of bare floors, including hardwood, tile, vinyl, ceramic, laminate, marble, etc.

The S6 Max V is also ideal for all carpets, including low and high-pile carpets and rugs. What’s more? It can vacuum pet hair and all kinds of pet messes.

There are no major changes when it comes to the new Roborock S7. Just like the S6 MaxV, The S7 is a 2-in-1 robot cleaner that will vacuum and mop simultaneously, so you don’t need to buy a separate robot mop.

When it comes to specialization, this robot will handle all types of bare floors, from hardwood to tile and laminate, among others. The S7 can also vacuum both low and high pile carpets and rugs, pet hair, and other pet messes.

Brush System

Roborock S6 MaxV and S7 are both robot vacuums that use brushes to sweep and agitate dirt. In this section, let’s compare the brush system of the two robot vacuums.

The Roborock S6 MaxV relies on a detachable primary brushroll with a floating design that allows it to stick close to hard floors for thorough agitation and to lift when vacuuming carpets to remove stuck-on dirt on the carpet fibers.

One thing about this brush is that it’s easy to clean and doesn’t get clogged or jammed even when dealing with long pet hair.

Besides the primary brush, the S6 MaxV has a side sweeping brush that complements the main brush.

One of the differences between Roborock S6 MaxV and S7 is the brush system. The new S7 comes with what is known as Roller Brush 3.0, which is made from finned rubber instead of bristles.

This new brush design makes the robot better in terms of agitation and pet hair pickup. It also makes maintenance easier compared to bristle brushes. Here again, the main brush has a floating design that self-adjusts depending on the surface for maximum contact.

Besides the main brush, the S7 has a silicone side sweeping brush.

Suction Power

One of the most important aspects of vacuum cleaners is suction power. A reliable robot vacuum should have high suction power for effective vacuuming. So, which of the two Roborock vacuums is the best?

The Roborock S6 MaxV debuted with a more powerful HyperForce motor that delivers 2500Pa when in Max mode. This is enough suction to flush out even the tiniest dirt particles hiding deep inside the carpet pile. For the record, the S6 MaxV is 25% more powerful than the S6.

Important

For the record, the Roborock S6 MaxV has adjustable suction levels.

• There is a Gentle mode for light-duty vacuuming,
• Quiet mode for general cleaning,
• Turbo mode for more intensive cleaning,
• and Max mode for high-intensity vacuuming.

When it comes to the Roborock S7, there are no changes at all. The robot still uses a HyperForce motor that delivers a whopping 2500Pa when in Max mode. Here again, the robot vacuum has adjustable suction levels.

There is Gentle mode for light vacuuming, Quiet mode for standard vacuuming, and Turbo mode and Max mode for high-intensity vacuuming on surfaces such as high pile carpets and rugs.

One thing about these two vacuums is the quiet operation. They both run at 67dB in Max mode, and of course, they are quieter at lower speed levels.

Filtration

Another important consideration when choosing the best robot vacuum is the filtration. In this section, we will compare the different features such as the quality of filters used, the bin size, and the emptying mechanism of the Roborock S7 vs. S6 MaxV.

The Roborock S6 MaxV has washable E11 rated filters that capture all types of dust and allergens, including pet dander, dust mites, etc. While HEPA filters are the best for allergy sufferers, E11-rated filters also do a good job in purifying the air.

The bin, too, is washable and has a 460ml capacity.

Attention

Unfortunately, the Roborock S6 MaxV doesn’t support automatic self-emptying, which is becoming an industry standard today.

Nothing has changed in the new Roborock S7 in terms of filtration quality. The new model also uses washable E11 rated filters.

The difference, however, is the dust bin volume. While the S6 MaxV comes with a washable 460ml bin, the new S7 features a washable 470ml bin.

Another difference between the Roborock S6 MaxV and S7 is in the bin emptying mechanism. Roborock is rolling out the Roborock Auto-Empty Dock, which the S7 is compatible with. That means homeowners won’t have to worry about emptying the robot vacuum’s bin manually. The system takes care of the process once the Roborock S7 docks.

Mopping Function

As mentioned earlier, these two robot vacuums offer 2-in-1 cleaning meaning they vacuum and mop simultaneously. In this segment, we will compare the mopping features, and importantly, how the two perform.

• The Roborock S6 MaxV has a wet and dry mopping function. This is courtesy of a 297ml electric water tank that allows users to control the different water levels by room right from the mobile app. One of the most interesting features of the Roborock S6 MaxV is the SnapMopTM system that guarantees genius-level mopping. It unlocks a suite of advanced mopping features that allows users to set room-specific mopping schedules and even use advanced features such as No-Mop Zones to keep carpeted areas dry.
• When it comes to the S7, the mopping function is on another level, courtesy of Sonic mopping. Sonic mopping is basically a technology that uses a VibraRise mop bracket powered by a vibration motor and specialized mop cloth that vibrates the entire cleaning head at 50Hz. Interestingly, you can adjust the scrub settings from 1,650 times/minute to 3,000 times/minute. The result is better floor scrubbing, as we will witness in the cleaning test results. This technology works in the same way as the oscillating mop bracket in the Ozmo T8. Interestingly, the carpet identification function has been improved further. There is the ultrasonic carpet sensing that senses carpeted areas with higher accuracy and automatic mop lifting, which, as the name suggests, lifts the mopping pad automatically once carpets have been identified. The Roborock S7 comes with an electric water tank, with a 300ml capacity, plus all the other features the S6 MaxV offers.

Cleaning Test Results

There you have it, folks, a roundup of the cleaning features of the Roborock S6 MaxV vs. S7. Now that we know the nuts and bolts of each robot vacuum, let’s get into the cleaning test results.

As is the norm, we put all the robot vacuums under thorough tests to find out how they each perform in a real household setting. We have a vacuuming test where we tested how the two Roborocks picked up common household dirt such as sugar, flour, pet hair, Cheerios, and so on.

In the mopping test, we made typical messes such as urine stains, honey and margarine smears, soda, plain water, paw marks, etc. Below are illustrations that show how the Roborock S7 performed against the Roborock S6 MaxV.

Battery and Runtime

Robot vacuums offer autonomous operation courtesy of inbuilt rechargeable batteries. The type of battery used and the capacity determine their runtime, and consequently, the area they can clean on a single charge. In this section, find out more about the battery and runtime of the Roborock S6 MaxV vs. Roborock S7.

The Roborock S6 MaxV comes with a 5200mAh battery that offers a cool 180 minutes runtime in Quiet mode without the mop system attached. Of course, in high power modes, the runtime drops.

When it comes to power management, the S6 MaxV will recharge automatically and resume cleaning without being prompted. Interestingly, there is a feature called Top-Up Charging that comes in handy when cleaning large areas. When the battery runs low, the S6 MaxV will recharge to 80% and finish cleaning from where it stopped.

The new Roborock S7 is not in any way different from the S6 MaxV. It also features the same 5,200mAh rechargeable battery that offers 180 minutes runtime in Quiet mode. Here again, the runtime in high power mode drops.

When it comes to power management, the S7 will dock automatically to recharge, and later on, resume cleaning by itself. This model also has Top-Up Charging that allows the robot vacuum to recharge up to 80% and then completes cleaning.

Navigation and Mapping

Robot vacuums, unlike upright, canister, and stick vacuums, operate autonomously. They can find their position in your home, plan efficient cleaning paths, and avoid obstacles, among other functions. In this section, we have compared the navigation and mapping systems of the Roborock S6 MaxV to the Roborock S7.

Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance

Navigation is all about how the robot vacuum finds its way around your home while avoiding obstacles. Let’s dig deeper to find out how each of the two Roborock vacuums navigates.

One of the features that sets the Roborock S6 MaxV apart from the previous models is revolutionary intelligence. The S6 MaxV’s navigation is based on a Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (VSLAM) algorithm. There is a pair of real-time cameras that give the S6 MaxV the same level of vision as humans.

The robot also combines Roborock’s PreciSense LIDAR navigation that is fast and efficient, whether night or day. When it comes to obstacle detection, the S6 MaxV uses advanced obstacle avoidance and proprietary ReactiveAI powered by a Qualcomm® APQ8053 processor chip to detect and avoid obstacles accurately.

One of the differences between the Roborock S6 MaxV vs. S7 is the navigation technology. While the S6 MaxV relies on a VSLAM navigation system, the S7 relies on a Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) algorithm. What this means is that the S7 doesn’t have the dual cameras that the S6 MaxV boasts.

It uses PreciSense LiDAR navigation that is just as fast and efficient as the S6 MaxV.

Unfortunately, despite being the latest model from the Chinese brand, the S6 MaxV doesn’t have advanced obstacle avoidance or proprietary ReactiveAI, meaning it will gently bump into obstacles and walls to reroute.

Floor Mapping

Besides navigation and obstacle avoidance, robot vacuums have to plan their cleaning path for efficient and entire level cleaning. In this section, we are going to compare how Roborock S6 MaxV and S7 scan and map your floors.

• The Roborock S6 MaxV has an intelligent floor mapping system that creates high-precision maps of your home and plans a systematic cleaning pattern courtesy of the Adaptive Route Algorithm. What’s more? The robot vacuum has a map saving feature that scans and saves up to 4 maps of your home. This makes the S6 MaxV the best bang for the buck for homes with more than one level. This robot is also intelligent enough to identify the different rooms in your home to allow for selective room cleaning. There’s also the Zone Clean Up feature that enables homeowners to clean one or more specific areas of their home. Also worth mentioning is Realtime Robot Location, which, as the name suggests, helps users to locate where the robot is right from the app.
• When it comes to the Roborock S7, there is not much difference in terms of floor scanning and mapping. This robot also can create high-precision maps of your house. It then uses the Adaptive Route Algorithm to plan efficient cleaning paths for fast and entire level cleaning. The S7 is also ideal for homes with more than one floor as it has the map saving feature and can store up to 4 maps. Other features, including Zone Clean Up, Selective Room Cleaning, and Real-Time Robot Location, are also intact.

Smart Features and Convenience

Today, smart home technology is taking center stage. Robot vacuum manufacturers have not been left behind. They have also ventured into the smart home world. In this segment, find out whether the two robot vacuums are smart and the features offered.

The Roborock S6 MaxV is a smart robot vacuum that is compatible with 2.4GHz WiFi. This allows for remote operation via the mobile app as well as voice assistants such as Alexa.

Talking of the app, the S6 MaxV has several app features, including live maps, map saving function, containment (invisible wall boundaries, No-Go Zones, and No-Mop Zones), selective room cleaning, and unlimited scheduling.

The S6, after wireless upgrades, has four power and water level settings that can be accessed from the app.

The Roborock S7 is quite similar to the S6 MaxV in that it’s also a smart robot vacuum that allows for remote operation via the Roborock Home app as well as Alexa, among other voice assistants.

This model has all the core app features, including live maps, map saving function, containment (invisible wall boundaries, No-Go Zones, and No-Mop Zones), selective room cleaning, and unlimited scheduling. However, with intelligent carpet sensing, the No-Mop Zones feature is no longer necessary.

Another difference between the S7 vs. S6 MaxV is that the former has standard and deep modes. Standard mode allows the robot to vacuum and mop simultaneously, while deep mode turns off the motor leaving the unit as a dedicated mop.

Roborock S6 MaxV vs. S7 Differences in a Nutshell

There you have it, folks, a Roborock S6 MaxV vs. S7 comparison review. As you have seen, these two vacuums have lots of similarities, but still, the differences are profound. So, what are the highlights of each model?

Why Buy the S6 MaxV?

Well, the Roborock S6 MaxV is the best deal if you have a high-traffic home with so many obstacles as it comes with a VSLAM navigation that is assisted by real-time cameras. Besides, the S6 MaxV has two revolutionary technologies that have been designed for intelligent obstacle detection. These are the proprietary ReactiveAI powered by a Qualcomm APQ8053 processor chip and advanced obstacle avoidance. For the record, the S7 lacks all these obstacle detection features.

Why Buy the Roborock S7?

While the S7 lacks vital obstacle detection features, this new model has several extras that the S6 MaxV lacks.

• First, the S7 has a new main brush design. This is a rubber brush that is much more effective in scrubbing and makes maintenance a buzz because it’s more durable, and importantly, it doesn’t get tangled at all as it is not a bristled brush.
• Another difference is the fact that the Roborock S7 will be compatible with the Roborock Auto-Empty Dock, an automatic self-emptying technology.
• Another area where the S7 wins is the mopping function. The S7 comes with what has been dubbed as Sonic mopping. This is a technology that deploys a vibrating cleaning head for effective scrubbing. Besides, there is ultrasonic carpet sensing that detects carpeted areas accurately, lifting the mop pad five millimeters high.

Summary: Roborock S7 vs. S6 MaxV

That’s the end of this comparison review. So, what’s the best deal? Well, it all depends on your needs. If you want a robot vacuum for high traffic rooms, the S6 MaxV is the best choice, courtesy of its intelligent obstacle detection features. However, if you want better mopping, better agitation, and automatic self-emptying, get the Roborock S7.