Roborock S6 MaxV Review: It can find and avoid your socks
"It's not perfect, but the Roborock S6 MaxV can detect and avoid clutter when cleaning."
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Efficient cleaning
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Strong suction power
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Long battery life
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Accurate map layouts
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Has trouble recognizing some obstacles
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It is expensive
Robotic vacuum cleaners save time, which we could all use. In the world of robot vacuum cleaners, innovations have become more and more convenient, including bots that empty their trash bins themselves and two-in-one models that wipe. Despite all these advances, some lack the intelligence to intelligently avoid clutter in the home.
The Roborock S6 MaxV hopes to change this with a pair of cameras equipped with reactive AI obstacle detection and a Qualcomm chip. Can it actually dodge and weave? Or is it still getting upside down in trouble?
Avoid hit-or-miss obstacles
When I gave the Roborock S6 MaxV a whirl for the first time, I was curious whether it could intelligently bypass or clean obstacles.
It definitely looks like this. First, there is a raised window on top that stores the bot's lidar navigation system, which is used to map rooms. From there it goes on to the vacuum floor, while two cameras in the front take pictures at 30 frames per second (FPS) to avoid obstacles.
I usually spend some time pre-cleaning before cleaning – lifting dog bowls off the floor, putting clothes away, and making sure the charging wires on all my devices are tucked away properly. However, the new Roborock wants to eliminate this process.
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I was glad that I managed to clean a small box that I left in the middle of the floor. In another case, it crept slowly to a sneaker and then sucked around it.
To really test his ability, I left a few whoppers on the floor to simulate what could happen if your pet left a surprise on the floor. The first two piles were cleaned perfectly around them, but not the third – it was run over instead. So it could avoid your four-legged friend's accidents … or not.
Robotic vacuum cleaners also have problems in closed, confined spaces. They often pinch themselves in a position that they cannot leave. With a Qualcomm APQ8053 processor that works behind the scenes in conjunction with its stereo cameras, I was hoping that the Roborock S6 MaxV would avoid such complications.
I was disappointed to see that it got stuck in the small crack under my entertainment center and forced me to get in to save the day. I was even more annoyed that it was having trouble recognizing the beveled edge of my side table – so it kept dancing back and forth as it moved along that beveled edge. This is actually not uncommon since all of these vacuum cleaners have difficulty cleaning these oddly shaped devices.
I was disappointed that it got stuck in the little crack under my entertainment center.
Overall, object detection appears to be a hit or miss. The Roborock S6 MaxV didn't seem smart enough to work without supervision. However, future firmware updates that optimize learning skills may make it smarter. Other robotic vacuum cleaners don't have this luxury, including more expensive bots like the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus and the Neato D7. You will just run over everything on your way.
An efficient cleaner
Thanks to its lidar navigation system, the Roborock S6 MaxV is an efficient cleaner. Seriously, it doesn't waste time. It tends to follow an S-pattern when cleaning open spaces and go through for quick and efficient coverage. That's the beauty of the technology used by some other vacuum cleaners worth over $ 500, like the Eufy RoboVac L70 and the Ecovacs Deebot Ozmo 930. It is practically a matter of course that these vacuum cleaners perform well thanks to the integrated lidar navigation.
Corners are also not suitable because the single rubber brush sweeps up dirt in the direction of the underside brush. It's worth noting that unlike the bristle brush used by most vacuum cleaners, it's rubber, so it lasts longer. In addition to the exceptional cleaning capabilities, the model's 2500 Pascal (Pa) suction power is the strongest in Roborock's product line. It collects almost everything on its way.
Carpets are firmly cleaned thanks to the strong suction power, but long strands of hair can sometimes clump together and get tangled in the roller. Fortunately, it can be easily removed as there is a cleaning tool to remove these tangles.
John Velasco / Digital Trends
In addition to vacuuming, you can also wipe with the S6 MaxV by attaching the supplied pad and filling the removable water tank on the back of the robot. The best thing about it is that it saves time having to do separate cleansing, so you vacuum and wipe at the same time. As dirt collects through the front, these vacuumed surfaces are wiped off during movement. The wiping performance is no different from other vacuum cleaners I have tested. Water splashes from below and is then evenly distributed by the pad on the floor as the robot moves forward.
The Roborock S6 MaxV is an efficient cleaner.
I am impressed with how well it is able to clean rooms. In places where there may be more dirt, such as near the litter box, a second pass is required to completely cover the area, but that's all.
Because of its efficiency, it is able to clean my entire apartment without needing to charge it – it has been cleaned with a lot of battery for 50 minutes without interruption / the battery life is also better than many of its competitors – it is designed for 180 minutes would be more than enough to vacuum and wipe my place twice. For comparison: The iRobot Roomba i7 has a maximum runtime of 75 minutes.
App that rocks
The Roborock app offers a wealth of useful tools and insights into cleaning the Bot Vac. I am particularly amused by the card they created for my apartment. It intelligently recognizes spaces on its own. I can clean a specific room by selecting it on the map.
It also shows what objects it comes across when cleaning. Do you remember the "shit" it could see? Well, it is clearly visible where it was found on the map. Small details like this make the app better than others I've tested. It doesn't happen often that an app helps me track down a missing pair of socks.
The app provides insight into maintenance and how many hours are left before the filter, side brush and main brush need to be replaced or cleaned.
While the Roborock S6 MaxV can clean independently, I can take full control of the robot vacuum cleaner manually using the screen control with the app. It's like operating a remote-controlled toy. Useful? Maybe not, but it's definitely fun.
It's like operating a remote-controlled toy.
If the app is not your thing, there is always voice control. It supports Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. I can order him to start cleaning – or return to his charging station.
Our opinion
There is still work to be done before I can trust this robot vacuum to be cleaned by itself without me having to oversee it. On a positive note, it's a two-in-one bot that can suck and wipe – something that works very well. It's expensive at $ 749, but it's better than another robot with a camera, the $ 1,150 Deebot Ecovacs 960.
Are there any better alternatives?
Yes, but you won't find many that include object detection cameras. The Deebot Ecovacs 960 is a similar option, but more expensive.
Roborocks S5 is a combined vacuum and wiping robot that costs less than $ 500. It's worth a look if you don't (or don't want) high-end room allocation and object detection features.
How long it will take?
There's a lot of technology in this, so it wouldn't be a surprise if people were worried about longevity. As long as proper maintenance is carried out, e.g. For example, removing tangled cables from the brushes and removing the various sensors, the Roborock S6 MaxV should work in perfect condition. In the event of a manufacturer defect, there is a 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor.
Should I buy it?
Yes, if only because it is much cheaper than its closest rival.
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