Q7 M5 / M5+
3 independent reviewsRead the findings →Roborock's budget mapping vacuum, with a basic drag mop and a charge-only dock. It vacuums and lifts pet hair far better than its price suggests. It bumps into clutter, and you do all the emptying.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Roborock’s range
- Q7 MaxThe model it updates
- Q7 M5 / M5+This model
- Q7 M5+Same robot with a self-emptying dock
- Q10 S5 / S5+Vibrating mop, plain charging dock
- Q8 Max+Self-emptying Q-series step up
Feedback
What reviewers found
Three tests of the charge-dock Q7 M5: RTINGS in its lab, plus home tests from TechRadar and T3. All three found the vacuuming strong for the money, including pet hair on carpet. All three also found obstacle handling poor and the mop basic, and both home testers found it wetter than they liked. TechRadar and T3 each ran into app glitches too.
RTINGS, lab test · TechRadar, hands-on, Jul 2025 · T3, hands-on, A few weeks at home, Jul 2025
Hard floors
Reviewers rate it highlyRTINGS found excellent hard-floor pickup, and TechRadar saw almost all its oats and tea cleared from tiles in one pass. T3 found crumbs and debris gone with little left behind. TechRadar's fixed side brush did leave tea along the wall.
Carpet and rugs
Reviewers rate it highlyTechRadar cleared oats and most of a deliberately tricky tea test from carpet in three passes, rare even for pricier robots. T3 found it picked up crumbs and debris from carpet without a hitch, and RTINGS found it good on carpet too.
Pet hair
Reviewers rate it highlyRTINGS found most pet hair lifted from carpet in one pass, TechRadar saw pet and human hair picked up impressively well, and T3 had no trouble with pet hair. TechRadar still found long hair wrapped round the roller.
Mopping
Mixed resultsA basic dragged pad that works but no more. TechRadar and T3 both saw dried ketchup lifted after a few passes but found floors left wetter than they liked, and the pad can't lift for carpet. RTINGS called stain removal adequate.
Navigation and obstacles
Reviewers found problemsMapping is accurate, but obstacles are a weakness. RTINGS rated obstacle handling poor, tripped up by cords and tasselled rugs, TechRadar saw it plough into a cable, socks and a dog bowl, and T3 watched it run into books and socks.
App and software
Mixed resultsBoth home testers found Roborock's app clear and easy, but buggy on this model. T3 needed about five attempts to connect, and both T3 and TechRadar saw room names vanish and custom zones or routines fail to save.
Noise
Not enough evidenceOnly T3 commented, noting its strongest suction mode is louder. None of the reviews we use measured its noise.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use has run it long-term or judged Roborock's support yet.
Value
Reviewers rate it highlyT3 called it one of the best-value robots on the market even at full price, and TechRadar found it decent value at list price and more appealing on the frequent discounts.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
Vacuums well above its price
RTINGS found excellent hard-floor pickup and good pet-hair removal from carpet, with the vast majority gone in one pass. TechRadar cleared oats and most of a deliberately tricky tea-leaf test from carpet after three passes, and rated it among the best budget picks for pet hair. T3 found it picked up hair, crumbs and debris on both floor types. Edges are weaker: TechRadar's fixed side brush left tea along the wall.
Clutter trips it up
RTINGS rated obstacle handling poor, with tasselled rugs, cords and everyday clutter tripping it up, though it fitted well under low furniture and round table legs. In TechRadar's test it ploughed into a cable, socks and a dog bowl, yet in daily use it skirted chair legs sensibly. T3 saw it run into books and socks. Mapping was accurate in both home tests. Walk round and pick things up before each run.
A wet, basic mop
The pad just drags along the floor. TechRadar and T3 both saw it lift a dried ketchup smear after a few passes, but found it left floors wetter than they'd like, so it isn't ideal for delicate wood. It can't lift the pad, so carpet on the way back to the dock gets damp. RTINGS called stain removal adequate for a static pad. You can switch the water off in the app.
Every chore is yours
With the charge-only dock, RTINGS points out, emptying the bin and refilling the water fall entirely on you, and you wash the pad yourself. T3 expected to empty the bin every few runs. TechRadar found long hair still wrapped round the roller despite the anti-tangle comb. The upside is a dock small enough to slide under a bed, which TechRadar liked for small homes or an upstairs floor.
A glitchy app at first
T3 needed about five attempts to connect the robot. Both TechRadar and T3 then saw room names disappear, custom zones or routines fail to save, and button text get cut off. Both expected updates to fix it, and otherwise found Roborock's app clear and easy. RTINGS adds that carpets have to be marked by hand in the app, because it found no automatic carpet detection.
This page covers the Q7 M5 with a charging-only dock. The Q7 M5+ package adds automatic dust emptying. Other names, including Max+, may differ in hardware or dock by region, so check before assuming these results apply.
Our take
Should you buy the Q7 M5 / M5+?
Best for: Homes wanting everyday pet hair pickup on a small budget. Skip it if: You want the robot to empty its own dust bin.
Consider the Q7 M5 for budget mapped vacuuming if you will empty the bin, clear small objects and remove tangled hair. The closely related Q7 M5+ adds automatic dust emptying, and the Q8 Max+ is another option. With either upgrade, you still refill the mop tank and wash the cloth yourself.
The Q7 M5 is an April 2025 update of the Q7 Max near the bottom of Roborock's range. It has a raised sensor for accurate room maps, a rubber roller meant to shrug off hair, springy wheels for doorway thresholds and a simple mop pad that drags behind. The standard dock only charges and is small enough to slide under a bed, and the M5+ adds a self-emptying one. Nothing fills the water or washes the pad, the pad can't lift over carpet, and there's no camera.
All three testers found the vacuuming strong for the money. RTINGS found excellent hard-floor pickup and most pet hair lifted from carpet in one pass, TechRadar cleared oats and a tricky tea test from carpet in three passes, and T3 had no trouble with crumbs or pet hair. All three also found obstacles a weakness: RTINGS was tripped up by cords and tasselled rugs, TechRadar's ploughed into a cable, socks and a dog bowl, and T3's ran into books and socks. The mop lifted dried ketchup for TechRadar and T3, but both found floors wetter than they liked. Both home testers hit app glitches, with T3 needing about five attempts to connect and room names vanishing for both. TechRadar still found long hair wrapped round the roller.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Will it avoid cables and pet mess?
No. RTINGS found it doesn't reliably avoid toys and leashes, let alone pet waste, and TechRadar watched it plough into a cable, socks and a dog bowl. If your pet has accidents, don't leave it running unsupervised.
Does it fit under low furniture?
Only gaps of about 10cm or more. It's 9.9cm tall, per the specifications, and RTINGS measured the lowest gap it cleared at 10cm. Within that limit RTINGS found it fits well under low furniture and around table legs.
Will the mop wet my carpets?
TechRadar and T3 both say the pad can't lift, so take the mop module off for carpet, or keep the robot off rugs while it's attached and damp. Turning the water off doesn't dry the cloth. RTINGS also had to mark carpets by hand despite Roborock's detection claim, so check your map and settings.
How often do I have to empty or refill anything?
Often. The standard dock only charges, per the specifications, so you empty the bin, fill the water tank and wash the pad yourself. T3 expected to empty the bin every few runs. The Q7 M5+ adds a self-emptying dock if that sounds tiresome.
Alternatives
Other robot vacuums to compare.
Q8 Max+
Why consider it: Reviewers liked its pickup and mapping, and its self-emptying dock is relatively compact.
The compromise: Long hair tangled on its rollers, small obstacles still catch it, and the mop is only a light wipe.
Robot Vacuum S20+
Why consider it: Effective suction, methodical navigation and a compact charging base.
The compromise: Small-object detection was weak and the bin needed emptying often.
Q10 S5 / S5+
Why consider it: The Verge liked its vibrating mop and found it got stuck less than a cheaper rival.
The compromise: It's a large robot, docking was inconsistent, and this version doesn't empty itself either.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the Q7 M5 / M5+?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- RTINGS: Q7 M5 laboratory test ↗6.7 / 10Lab test
- TechRadar: Roborock Q7 M5 review ↗4 / 5Hands-on
- T3: Roborock Q7 M5 review ↗4 / 5, T3 RecommendsHands-on, A few weeks at home
Sources
- Roborock: Q7 M5 product page ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Vacuum Wars: Roborock Q7 M5 vs Q7 L5 Review: They Look the Same, but One is Much Better ↗
- The French Glow: ROBOROCK Q7 M5: Best $250 Robovac - In-Depth Review & Tests ↗
- Search YouTube for Roborock Q7 M5 / M5+ ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.