Roborock S4 Max Robotic Vacuum Review

Our Rating:

Key Features:

95% Cleaning Action

2000 Pa Suction Force

180-Minute Battery Life

Multi-level cleaning

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High-Tech Functionality and Superior Cleaning Power in One Bot

With refined functionality that improves the original S4, the Roborock S4 Max brings unmatched cleaning power and reliable features to rival better-known brands.

This highly programmable robot can remember four separate floor plans—each with customizable “no-zones” and cleaning schedules—making it the perfect choice for multi-level homes.

The S4 Max may be small, but it is mighty. Hyperforce suction creates up to 2000 Pa of force to pull pet hair and dirt deep from within carpets. And a 180-minute battery life and large dustbin mean it will have no problem keeping that powerful cleaning up throughout the day.

With cleaning programs that you can create through the app and a responsive suction that reacts automatically to various surfaces, this robot brings the intelligence we’ve come to expect from Roborock to a solely vacuum-focused unit.

Pros

• Great mapping functionality
• Save up to four maps 
• Scheduled room cleaning
• Invisible walls and no-zone functionality
• Automatic suction adjustment for carpet

Cons

• The app may be overwhelming and complicated
• Higher profile prevents cleaning under tight spaces

Should You Buy It?

This highly intelligent vacuuming robot has a wealth of features that make setting cleaning programs even in houses with complicated floor plans a breeze. If you’ve ever passed on a robotic vacuum because you live in a split level or house with areas that a robo-vac shouldn’t go, it’s time to rethink your decision.

Even if you live on a ranch, the cleaning power of the Roborock S4 Max alone is worth the buy.

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Roborock S4 Max Product Overview

Roborock’s robotic cleaners have traditionally utilized a mopping feature in addition to vacuuming functionality. The Roborock S4 was the first in the company’s lineup to focus exclusively on vacuuming. The second iteration of the original product, the Roborock S4 Max, improves the original cleaning power while maintaining all the same great features.

This robo-vac is for complex flooring where less intelligent robotic vacuums would suffer. The hassle-free mapping feature and four-map capability combined with invisible wall and no-zone functionality give you complete control of when and where the vacuum cleans.

You don’t have to worry about this robot driving over the edge or getting stuck under furniture because it has multiple sensors. And thanks to superior cleaning technology, auto-sense carpet adjustment, and programmable “problem area cleaning,” you can be sure it will keep your floors spotless.

There are two things that really set this robo-vac apart from the competitors: its superior cleaning ability and its highly intelligent mapping functionality. 

Let’s take a closer look at all the features of the Roborock S4 Max.

Cleaning Power

This bot may not offer mopping functionality like other models from this company, but it still provides one heck of a clean!

The vacuum feature has four power settings: 

• Quiet
• Balanced
• Turbo
• Max

You can program each setting by room, with special areas designated as “problem cleaning areas,” getting multiple passes on the highest setting. 

Vacuum suctioning will automatically adjust as the robot moves from the hard floor onto the carpet. The powerful HyperForce suction creates up to 2,000 Pa of force to free pet hair, dust, food particles, and debris even from high-pile carpets.

On hard surfaces, the floating brush quickly collects dust and larger debris and pushes it toward the vacuum mouth for quick collection.

Inside, a washable E11 filter captures 95% of dust and mold to keep your air a little cleaner as well. The 460 ml dustbin is large enough to avoid frequent cleanouts and keep the power up through the set schedule without interruption.

Tip: For maximum effectiveness, get into the habit of cleaning out the dustbin every day.

The only downside we noticed? The wheels will leave noticeable tracks in thick carpeting, but this is a small trade-off for this level of cleanliness.

Smart Phone App & Navigation

The second best thing about this vacuum is the highly programmable scheduling that works off the S4 Max’s superior mapping technology.

To set up your maps, all you need to do is enable the map saving feature and activate the bot’s cleaning mode. As it moves through the first cleaning level, it will track and store information about every room.

When it is finished creating the map, you can customize it and set your cleaning schedules.

These customization features include:

• Setting no-zones for areas the vacuum should never go. This might include areas near delicate or troublesome furniture or your great grandmother’s two-hundred-year-old Persian rug.
• Programming invisible walls. This is another way to keep this bot out of certain areas, such as a child’s room that is likely to have small toys scattered across the floor.
• Setting problem area designation. Places that could use more than one pass over can be set to receive maximum cleaning. This might include the area under the highchair, around the dog’s bed, or near the back door.
• Each room can be given a set time for cleaning. This is helpful to avoid cleanings at inopportune times, such as during the baby’s nap. It’s also an excellent feature for assuring prompt cleaning when needed, such as after dinner or before guests typically arrive.

The app also allows for multilevel cleaning with storable maps for up to four different floor plans. Plus, you can customize each map with the above features for specific cleaning times.

To activate cleaning on levels other than the one where the charging station is, simply set the bot on the floor and press the cleaning button to activate it. The bot will determine where it is on its own and begin cleaning per that set of directions.

With so many features and savable maps, the app can become a little overwhelming. There are a lot of functions and options to sift through. But we would rather see an app with too much functionality than one with not enough.

Battery Life

This bot comes with a built-in 5,200 mAh battery, which translates to about 180 minutes of vacuuming time. In terms of area, the Roborock S4 Max can vacuum about 3,200 square feet before needing a recharge.

For most homes, this will be enough to get one level clean, but the bot may require charging before completing additional levels.

Alternatives to the Roborock S4 Max

If you like the features available in the Roborock S4 Max but are hoping to expand on the cleaning options, you may want to consider its older brother, the Roborock S5 Max.

This product has all the same great features and most of the same mapping abilities but with added mopping functionality. In addition to sweeping and vacuuming, this bot can mop tile and hard surface floors. While it won’t completely replace the need to mop your floors manually, it is a great way to keep your home extra clean between chore days.

Like the S5 Max, the Roborock S6 MaxV offers mopping and many of the features that make the S4 Max a great pick. But it also provides ultra-powerful suction and state-of-the-art obstacle avoidance. If you have children, pets, or just a busy household in general, this high-tech bot is worth looking at.

Another option is the Dreame D9 robotic vacuum.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Robot Vacuum

Robot vacuums are a great investment for people who do not have the time to spot clean between deep cleans. By cleaning up pet hair, food crumbs, and dirt every day, these little helpers significantly reduce the amount of debris tracked around your house. This means less mess when it is time to break out the real vacuum.

But multiple levels and complex floor plans have long made robot vacuums inaccessible for some people. With hyper-intelligent newer bot-vacs like this one from Roborock, these problems are much less of a factor now.

Still, before you invest in one of these vacuums or decide on a model, it is a good idea to ask yourself a few questions, such as:

• Are you looking for a vacuum that can mop as well?
• Are there areas in your home that you do not want the bot-vac to access?
• How important is multi-level mapping functionality for your home?
• Is being able to set cleaning schedules important?
• Do you have a large house that requires an extra-long battery life?

The answers to these questions will help you find the product that is right for you.

Conclusion

Finding a robot vacuum capable of effectively cleaning a multi-level home is a challenge. That’s why we were so impressed with the Roborock S4 Max.

This compact, competitively priced robo-vac provides a powerful clean and comes with a long list of highly intelligent features that promise to make your life easier. With multi-map, multi-level programming and easy-set schedules, and no-zones, this vac is as customizable as it gets.

Click here to learn more about this hyper-intelligent robot vacuum and why it might be right for you.