Roborock Q Revo MaxV Review: Powerful Cleaning

Price upon review

$1,399

Best prices today: Roborock Q Revo MaxV

$1,399.99

The differences between an expensive and a cheaper robot vacuum cleaner are numerous. The so-called flagship models from more established manufacturers can quickly identify obstacles and avoid them smoothly. They can rid themselves of both dust and dirty water, and the mopping function is now really impressive – both in performance and in its ability to clean hard-to-reach areas such as corners and edges.

If you choose an entry-level model, you get a machine that can handle the same tasks with some effort. The suction is considerably weaker and you can expect it to swallow up a pair of socks every now and then, often leading to a standstill. If it does have a mopping function, it’s a simpler version – usually just a mop path that runs around the back and applies only the lightest pressure.

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Good models for a reasonable price

Between these extremes we find models that offer many of the features and technology of the top models, albeit in simpler versions, but at a lower price. Dreame has its L series in several configurations (including the L40 Ultra, which we reviewed), and Roborock offers its Q Revo, also in several variants, with the MaxV a new, more advanced model.

Roborock

We recently tested its sibling, the Roborock Q Revo Slim – a really nice machine that performs well overall, but was particularly impressive when it came to the mopping function. It has two rotating pads instead of the vibrating ‘scrubbing pad’ that was standard only a year or so ago, even on the top models.

Dreame was an early adopter of this, which I consider a much more efficient solution, and it’s only positive that Roborock is now implementing the same technology in more and more models.

More advanced than its sibling

Still, when reviewing the Q Revo Slim, we found its obstacle detection and avoidance to be hit or miss, despite 3D scanning with structured light said to have been adapted for that purpose.

MaxV, on the other hand, has a more advanced system that combines structured light with an RGB camera to detect objects faster and more efficiently – according to Roborock, objects as small as 5 cm wide and 3 cm high. That sounds promising.

Andreas Bergsman

In the 34 x 48.7 x 52.1 cm base station you will find a vacuum cleaner bag, a clean water tank and one for dirty water. However, there is no compartment for detergent, as for example the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra has. The base station also automatically cleans the robot’s mops at different intervals (depending on the settings you choose) and dries them after each cleaning session.

The installation and mapping of your home is done in no time and you can easily divide the rooms and add different zones if you wish. Furthermore, the app is very user-friendly and offers a wealth of customization options, depending on the layout of your home and how intensive you want the cleaning to be.

Customized cleaning

For example, you can choose whether you want to avoid carpets altogether or include them in cleaning. The robot automatically lifts its mops when the robot detects carpet. The temperature of the scrubbing water can be adjusted, from room temperature to hot (up to 60 degrees), and the robot can return to a specific location for another pass with the mop if it judges the surface to be particularly dirty.

Andreas Bergsman

A nice extra feature is that you can remotely activate the robot’s camera to check its status. Through the built-in microphone and speaker, you can even have two-way communication with people at home when you are away, or check on your pets.

The suction power is no less than 7,000 Pa. Combined with the spiral pattern rubber brush, it does an excellent job of removing dust bunnies, bread crumbs and other dirt. The mopping system with its two rotating pulleys also performs excellently.

The MaxV also features Roborock’s FlexiArm technology, with the right mop facing outwards on edges, around furniture and in corners. This is a solution we’ve seen on several Dreame machines in the past, and it’s certainly a big improvement when it comes to accessing hard-to-reach places. If the MaxV had also inherited the side brush from the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, which features similar technology, it would have been a great success.

Obstacle detection – still the Achilles heel

Andreas Bergsman

And then there was the problem with object identification and avoidance. Sure, it works better than on previous models, but we’re still far from perfection. A sock thrown to the ground was recognized in a flash and the robot circled around it beautifully like a ballet dancer. But my key ring? Completely ignored and mercilessly persuaded. During the same cleaning, he also managed to drag an audio cable that for some unfathomable reason had ended up under the TV stand.

So yes, it is certainly an improvement, but it is still far from the level of the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra or Dreame L40 Ultra.