User Experience – Roborock Q8 Max

The Roborock Q series robot vacuums stand as the intermediate product range under a slew of offerings by Roborock. The Q8 Max is the latest model that perfectly balances between the top-tier S Series and the entry-model E Series.

You can expect to see most of the innovative Roborock features on the new Q8 Max without breaking the bank, such as DuoRoller Brush, 5,500 Pa suction, LiDAR-assisted obstacle avoidance, and an optional automatic emptying dock (Q8 Max+).

Roborock Q8 Max Key Features

The Roborock Q8 Max can be summarized with the above three key selling points. Coincidentally, they are also the primary upgrades from the outgoing Q7 Max.

DuoRoller & 5,500 Pa Suction

Let’s start with the DuoRoller feature that was previously exclusive to the S series (introduced since the S7 model). There are a couple of key benefits when it comes to the use of a double rubber roller – capable of more powerful suction, anti-hair tangling, and longer lasting.

For hard floor cleaning, rubber rollers are more efficient since they can form a better seal between the robot vacuum and the floor. If your household is mainly carpeted, then you will need to look for a robot vacuum with a bristle brush instead.

I don’t think I would fully utilize the 5,500 Pa suction power since I have scheduled the robot vacuum to clean the area every single day. That means I can select low or medium suction power to conserve the lifespan as well as keep the operating noise low.

Cleaning mode available:

• Quiet
• Balanced
• Turbo
• Max
• Max+

Mopping water flow:

• Off
• Low
• Medium
• High

Compared with my older generation Roborock S6 MaxV, the rubber roller has effectively cut down the time needed for maintenance, especially with hair tangles. They would roll up to the end and can be easily removed.

Obstacle Avoidance

Reactive Obstacle Avoidance is also a feature that got trickled down to the Q series. The 3-in-1 combination of LiDAR scanner, optical scanner and reactive tech algorithm has been the key strength of the Roborock flagship S series robot vacuums. Long story short, the robot vacuum will actively recognize objects at the front and reroute the path. Frankly speaking, having used to S6 MaxV and S8 Pro Ultra, this is a feature I can no longer be missing out.

User Experience

Nothing stands out for the rest of the robot vacuum. It comes in 2 colour options – black or white and it can be owned either with or without the self-emptying dock.

The one I got is a standard Q8 Max (non-Plus) with a standalone charging dock. The “Plus” in the name indicates the robot vacuum comes with a self-emptying dock, for instance, the Q8 Max Plus. The standalone charging dock comes with a floor protective cover so that the wet mop doesn’t damage your floor while it is charging. that being said, it is recommended to always clean the mop cloth and leave to dry.

Based on my cleaning circumstances –

• 40 square meter
• Quiet suction power
• Low water flow

It takes about 40 minutes to complete and consumes roughly 20% of the battery.

You will need the Roborock app to fully utilize the robot vacuum’s features.

The 2-in-1 dustbin + water reservoir is mounted to the back of the vacuum. It can be removed with just a press of the spring-loaded mechanism.

The side-mounted filter also works as the access cover to clean the bin.

I don’t quite like the idea of having the water reservoir sharing the same container even though they are separated into different compartments. The point is, that not everyone would do things carefully. having water spilling into the dustbin is quite a disaster.

Speaking of which, the mop cloth and the attachment tool can be removed/installed with ease.

As for the mopping features, you’re just getting the basics. I mean, if you need a better 2-in-1, you would have to upgrade to Q Revo or the S series.

Conclusion

At the official price tag of RM1,899, this is one of the more affordable and accessible robot vacuums you can buy. That is when you compare with other higher-end models such as the aforementioned Q Revo and S series. The Q8 Max that receives the DuoRoller and obstacle avoidance feature closes the gap between the Q and S series, making it one of the best bang for buck purchases.

Having used the Q8 Max for the past 2 weeks, I can easily recommend this robot vacuum for those who always wanted to get their hands on one of the robot vacuums but are worried about the actual cleaning capabilities and “smartness” of the unit itself. The optional self-emptying dock is a wonderful upgrade if you want to try out the hands-off minimal maintenance experience.