The Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra is the only premium robot vacuum we’ve tested that offers

• Automatic dust bin emptying
• Automatic mop cleaning
• Small obstacle detection and avoidance

And has all of these features working properly without any issues. Competitors like the Ecovacs X1 Omni have the same features, but don’t have all of them working properly as they should. The X1, for example, does not have properly functioning obstacle detection and avoidance. It didn’t consistently detect and avoid any of the obstacles we use to test this functionality.

The S7 MaxV Ultra is also a very good robot vacuum, in general, outside of its premium features.

It generally vacuums very well, mops well, and navigates without issue.

It’s the best premium robot vacuum we’ve tested and it’s also one of the best robot vacuums we’ve tested, overall.

Fall 2024 Update

Roborock released a new flagship model this year - the S8 MaxV Ultra. The S8 MaxV adds a number of vacuum and mop improvements to the S7 MaxV. For this reason, we now recommend the S8 MaxV Ultra as the best premium robot vacuum on the market.

The Ecovacs X1 Omni is the runner-up for this category. It has excellent airflow and suction, and deep cleans carpet very well. However, it struggles picking up certain types of surface level debris – specifically, larger pieces of debris like cheerios and tufts of pet hair. It also doesn’t navigate as precisely or efficiently as Roborock robots.

The biggest negative though, for the X1, is its small obstacle detection and avoidance feature. It didn’t properly detect and avoid any of the obstacles we use to test this functionality.

Because of this last negative, especially, we only recommend this robot at a heavy discount.

The Q5+ is a terrific all-around performer. It’s one of few options at its price that offers above average general pickup ability and above average navigation. Most similarly priced competitors do not navigate as well.

The Q5+ vacuums and navigates just about as well as the best premium robot we’ve tested, the S7 MaxV. It’s just missing extra features – like small obstacle detection and mopping (with automatic mop cleaning, etc.).

So you can see the Q5+ as the less feature-rich but much more affordable version of the S7 MaxV.

Summer 2024 Update

Roborock has discontinued the Q5+ and replaced it with the Q5 Max+. Both models are identical except that the Q5 Max+ has more suction and a new and improved dual brushroll system.

We now recommend the Q5 Max+ as the best midrange robot vacuum on the market.

Note: the Q5 Max+ cannot mop but you can upgrade to a variation of this robot that adds this functionality - the Q7 Max+.

We recommend the Q7 Max+ as the best midrange option if you need to vacuum and mop.

The j7+ is usually more expensive, doesn’t deep clean carpet as well, doesn’t navigate as well, and has worse battery life and higher noise output than Rorobock Q5 series robots. It also had some trouble in our pet hair pickup test, getting certain tufts of hair stuck underneath it instead of pulling them all the way up into its dust bin.

Despite these shortcomings, it's still a very good robot vacuum overall. And unlike Q5 robots, it is able to detect and avoid small obstacles. The j7+ is a great option at its price if this functionality is important to you.

Note: the j7+ cannot mop but you can upgrade to a variation of this robot that adds this functionality.

The Combo j7+ is essentially identical to the j7+ but adds mopping functionality.

Compared to midrange options, the biggest negative for the Wyze robot is that it’s not compatible with a self-empty docking station.

It is mapping capable with keep-out zones, but it can’t save multiple maps for multiple floors. It also has less battery life and higher noise output than the top rated midrange robot, the Roborock Q5 Max.

On the positive side of things, it does navigate very precisely and efficiently – just as well as the Q5 Max – because it also uses LIDAR to navigate. It also vacuums just as well as the Q5 Max.

It’s the best budget alternative to the Q5 Max, and it’s our top pick for the budget robot vacuum category.

Unlike the Wyze robot, the E4 can’t map at all, and so it doesn’t have critical mapping features like keep-out zones. It is priced accordingly though – it’s usually cheaper than any other robot in our top rankings.

It’s also an excellent vacuum with terrific carpet deep cleaning performance. And despite not being able to map, still navigates logically in neat rows.

If you’re looking for the best cheapest option available, it’s our recommendation.