Roborock S7 in the test – The best Roborock vacuum robot?
Roborock introduced its new vacuum and mopping robot Roborock S7 at the Customer Electronic Show 2021 (CES) in January (Winner of 17 Best of CES 2021 Awards). Thus, successful models like Roborock S5 and Roborock S6 now have a successor with improvements, especially in terms of mopping. With our Roborock S7 review, we reveal if the vacuum robot meets expectations in terms of its mopping function.
Design and features of the Roborock S7
In terms of design, Roborock continues with the usual look of its vacuuming and mopping robots. It is available in white color – but it will be available in black color as well. It is important for users when choosing a color: For the first time, Roborock has also announced a suction station for the Roborock S7, but the station will initially only be available in black. If you value color matching and are interested in a suction station, then you should buy the Roborock S7 in black.
In terms of details, the design of the top has been changed and Roborock S7 now has a stylish look with a wave effect around the laser tower. It is also new that there is a small arc which is located above the control buttons, provides information about the charging status, and changes from blue to green when Roborock S7’s battery is fully charged. This is practical since users can check if the robot vacuum is ready for use again with a quick look, without the need for a smartphone.
The bottom is very similar to Roborock S5 Max, but the biggest difference is the main brush, which is now completely rubberized – the idea is to achieve a more efficient cleaning result, for example, with animal hair. In terms of functionality, the mopping function has been improved, as a result the mop now vibrates and lifts automatically. This also explains the smaller scope of delivery. A pad on the charging station becomes unnecessary because Roborock S7 will not moisten the floor underneath it after mopping as it is lifted.
Another feature of the robot vacuum is that it has a powerful battery that is supposed to last up to 3 hours with its 5,200 mAh. The dust bin of Roborock S7 has a capacity of 470 ml and the water tank can be filled with a maximum of 300 ml. There are 6 fall sensors to prevent the robot vacuum and mop from falling stairs or other edges. Doorsteps do not cause a problem for Roborock S7 with a height of up to 0.8 inches (2 cm).
At first glance, the only minor changes compared to predecessors impressed us in the test, because the robot now looks more elegant and also has more added functionality.
Special features and functions of the Roborock S7
One of the biggest features of the Roborock S7 robot vacuum and mopping is the enhanced mopping performance. The reason is that in most models, mopping only consists of lightly moistening a mop as it moves around the bottom and dragging it along.
But Roborock S7 has a Sonic Mopping function, which vibrates the mop unit and therefore even removes dried dirt easily. According to the manufacturer, cleaning is performed with 1,650 to 3,000 movements per minute. In the test, the vibrating motion achieved a great cleaning result, which outshines the hybrid models we have tested so far for mopping. Roborock S7 only has problems with very stubborn stains, such as ketchup that has dried for days – but even manually with a cloth requires a lot of effort in these cases, which is the reason we do not consider this a negative point.
For those who still want to be on the safe side with the mopping function of Roborock S7, the robot vacuum can mop twice for the first time. In the test, Roborock S7 reduced the suction function in a thorough mode and prioritized mopping – which was desired in this case, for example, for coffee stains in the kitchen. The mopping cloth visibly picked up the dirt. The small mop can be easily cleaned with the washing machine after mopping. The mop is not a single-use product, unlike some other competing models. This is a great advantage, which reduces the operating costs of the robot vacuum cleaner.
A further advantage in mopping: Users used to have to set up no-go zones during mopping so that the vacuum and mopping robot would skip carpets and not damage them by getting wet. The Roborock S7’s VibraRise technology automatically detects carpets and lifts the mopping module by 5 millimeters – which we also noticed in the test. Still, we recommend using it more with low pile carpets, as the mop module will continue to wet high-pile carpets a bit because it simply does not reach a very high height with the lift.
Yet, it is now possible for Roborock S7 to vacuum and mopping in one pass. Those who are not confident with high pile carpets can continue to set up no-go zones for a mopping process. We also consider the proven automatic carpet detection as efficient: The vacuum and mopping robot detected carpets successfully in the test and boosted the suction power accordingly.
Other special features of Roborock S7 are:
App compatibility: With the Roborock App (Android | iOS), you can always see where your robot is cleaning. The app can be used to set cleaning schedules for rooms and areas, for example, by adjusting the suction and mopping intensity. Overall, we found the app to be user-friendly, well-organized, minimalistic, and modern. We liked the feature that not only the path of the Roborock S7 can be tracked during cleaning, but also where it was mopped can be seen thanks to wide, easy-to-read markings. But, we found a small weakness in the fact that the app was delayed or did not show when the tank was empty in the test. At this point, however, we are hoping for improvements via updates.
Multi-Level Mapping: Roborock S7 can create up to four different maps. Thus, it is a vacuum robot that can clean several floors. This means that users can use it on different floors without having to navigate it again and again. This is practical and saves time. Thanks to the LiDAR navigation, the maps are also particularly accurate and are shown in great detail in the app.
Powerful performance: a 5,200 mAh battery ensures that the Roborock S7 does not stop for up to three hours. The suction power of 2,500 Pa is another great feature. Compared to Roborock’s predecessors, the suction has also been improved. The main brush now moves even closer to the floor to pick up dirt even more efficiently. The cleaning result was good in the test and it worked silently despite the high suction power.
What is Roborock S7 compatible with?
There is compatibility with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri for voice control. Therefore, when combined with an Echo speaker, users can ask the Roborock S7 robot vacuum and mopping, for example, to start or pause its work.
Price and availability of Roborock S7 robot vacuum and mopping
After Roborock S7 was initially only available on Aliexpress, the vacuuming and mopping robot is now also available on Amazon, for example around $650.
Conclusion on the Roborock S7 robot vacuum and mopping cleaner in the test
Smart vacuum robots are becoming increasingly popular, as they take work out of the household and provide a helpful service to residents’ smart homes. Hybrid models that can handle mopping as well as vacuuming has become common.
Roborock S7 stands out with improvements, so mopping is not just a nice extra, compared to other models from the market. Thanks to Sonic Vibration Technology, the mop can perform particularly fast movements and thus fight even the most stubborn stains.
Another outstanding feature: Roborock S7 automatically detects carpets during mopping and lifts the mop so that it does not get them wet. In the test, Roborock S7 was able to perform these functions very well overall – only the carpets should not be too high, since lifting is only possible by a few centimeters.
We recommend Roborock S7 especially to users who are looking for a vacuum and mopping robot that performs both tasks masterfully. In addition to the innovative mopping function, this model also received positive ratings for the mapping of several floors, the app’s easy-to-use interface, and the simple zoning of the room. It will be exciting because a suction station has also been announced for 2021, which makes the Roborock S7 the first model from the manufacturer with this extra.
