Q8 Max+
3 independent reviewsRead the findings →An older budget Roborock that maps with a laser, vacuums with twin rubber rollers and empties itself into a bag. It's a solid self-emptying vacuum. Its drag-behind mop is only good for a light wipe, though.
Updated
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Where it sits in Roborock’s range
- Q7 M5 / M5+Newer budget model with a charge-only dock
- Q7 Max+The model it updates, with a lower suction claim
- Q8 Max+This model
- Q8 MaxSame robot without the self-emptying dock
- Q10 S5 / S5+Newer, with a vibrating mop that lifts over carpet
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What reviewers found
Three home tests: Tech Advisor, GadgetGuy in a home with a cat, and Android Police, which reviewed the Q8 Max and Q8 Max+ together. All three found it vacuums well, maps quickly and rarely gets stuck, and all three call the mop basic. Carpet is where they differ. Android Police rated the twin rollers highly on carpet, while GadgetGuy needed extra passes and a higher power setting to get fur out. Buy it as a vacuum that empties itself, not as a mop.
Tech Advisor, hands-on, Jan 2024 · GadgetGuy, hands-on, Apr 2024 · Android Police, hands-on, Oct 2023
Hard floors
Reviewers rate it highlyTech Advisor found it picked up almost everything in its path, missing only some dirt in inward-facing corners. Android Police had it clear pine needles right along skirting boards and into closet corners.
Carpet and rugs
Mixed resultsAndroid Police rated the twin rollers highly for carpeted homes, and Tech Advisor found it had little trouble with carpet. GadgetGuy found surface debris handled reasonably but recommends turning suction up for thicker pile.
Pet hair
Mixed resultsThe rollers resist tangles: GadgetGuy found them effective with a cat and long hair, and Android Police saw no hair wrap. Pickup is less certain, as GadgetGuy needed a couple of laps and more power to get cat fur out of carpet.
Mopping
Mixed resultsA light wipe, not a real mop. Tech Advisor found it useful for fine dust but no good on dried-in stains, GadgetGuy saw it smear Vegemite around, and Android Police calls it fine only for lightly soiled floors.
Navigation and obstacles
Reviewers rate it highlyAndroid Police found it never got stuck and steered round shoes, plants, pet toys and bowls, Tech Advisor said it dodged obstacles with aplomb, and GadgetGuy got a usable map in under ten minutes. None tested cables, so tidy those away.
Dock and upkeep
Reviewers rate it highlyTech Advisor found the self-emptying dock surprisingly compact, with a bag rated for seven weeks, and Android Police thought it would suit small flats. It only handles dust, so you still fill the tank and wash the mop.
App and software
Reviewers rate it highlyTech Advisor found setup simple and room division, zones and virtual walls easy to manage, and Android Police liked the custom routines and cleaning routes. GadgetGuy had a Wi-Fi hiccup at setup, then mapped quickly.
Noise
Not enough evidenceOnly Android Police judged noise, finding the two lowest settings quiet enough to use while working or watching TV, and the higher ones not particularly annoying.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceNo qualifying review has run it long-term or judged Roborock's support yet.
Value
Mixed resultsTech Advisor found it reasonably priced for laser navigation and self-emptying. Android Police was disappointed by the lack of spares in the box and notes cheaper Roborocks vacuum much the same, while a similarly priced Qrevo mops far better.
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
Good vacuuming, weaker in corners
Tech Advisor found it picked up almost everything in its path, missing some dirt in inward-facing corners, which most round robots struggle with. Android Police had it clear pine needles right along skirting boards and into closet corners. On carpet, GadgetGuy found it handled surface debris reasonably but recommends turning the suction up for thicker pile, and it took a couple of laps to get cat fur out. Android Police thought the twin rollers made it a good choice for carpeted homes.
Rollers that shrug off tangles
GadgetGuy found the rubber rollers cut down tangles well in a home with a cat and long human hair. Android Police says the bristle-free brushes kept hair from wrapping, so they only needed taking out for a clean about once a month. Tech Advisor saw it cope with thin fabric such as a Christmas tree skirt without dragging it into the rollers. For a home with pets, that means less time with the scissors.
The mop is a light wipe
Tech Advisor describes a water tank and cloth dragged behind the robot, useful for fine dust but no good for dried-in stains. GadgetGuy saw it clean up margarine but only smear Vegemite around. Android Police calls the mopping average: fine for lightly soiled hardwood, not for spills or muddy paw prints, and the pad needs washing after every run. Treat it as a quick freshen-up between proper mops.
Finds its way around
GadgetGuy got a usable map of its main living area in under 10 minutes, and the robot never got stuck between dining chairs or spun in circles behind a curtain. Android Police found it never got stuck at all and steered round shoes, plants, pet toys and water bowls, though it can't tell you what the objects are. Tech Advisor said it dodged obstacles with aplomb. None of the three describes a cable test, so still tidy those away.
A compact self-emptying dock
Tech Advisor found it surprisingly compact for a self-emptying model, with a 2.5-litre bag rated for up to seven weeks. Android Police explains that it empties the bin from underneath, through the rollers, and that the dock only handles dust: you still fill the water tank and wash the mop. GadgetGuy liked that the ramp screws into the base, which makes it sturdier. It suits a small flat where a big mop-washing station wouldn't fit.
Android Police reviewed the Q8 Max and Q8 Max+ as one series; they share the same robot. Results don't carry over to other Q8 models.
Our take
Should you buy the Q8 Max+?
Best for: Homes wanting regular vacuuming with a bin that empties itself. Skip it if: You want it to scrub floors or wash its own mop.
The Q8 Max+ is worth considering as a self-emptying vacuum for mapped cleaning if you accept basic mopping and clear cables first. Carpet hair sometimes needed extra passes. The Q10 S5 adds a vibrating, lifting pad but has mixed hair results and weak obstacle tests; the Q7 M5 has a charge-only dock, leaving bin emptying and mop care to you.
The Q8 Max+ came out in late 2023 as the update to the Q7 Max+, in Roborock's budget Q series below the Qrevo models. It maps with a sensor on top, vacuums with two rubber rollers rather than one, and uses a light-based front sensor to steer round obstacles. The plus means a dock that empties the bin into a bag. The mop is a damp cloth on a plate dragged behind the robot, with nothing to wash it.
Three home tests found it vacuums well and maps quickly. Tech Advisor found it picked up almost everything, missing only some dirt in inward-facing corners, and Android Police had it clear pine needles along skirting boards. GadgetGuy, in a home with a cat, needed a couple of laps and more power to get fur out of carpet, while Android Police rated the twin rollers highly on carpet. None saw hair wrap the rollers. All three call the mop a light wipe: GadgetGuy saw it smear Vegemite around, and Tech Advisor found it no good on dried stains. Android Police found it never got stuck, but none of the three tested cables. Tech Advisor found the dock surprisingly compact with a bag rated for seven weeks, and Android Police notes cheaper Roborocks vacuum much the same while a similarly priced Qrevo mops far better.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Will it avoid cables and pet mess?
It avoids the bigger things. Android Police saw it steer round shoes, plants, pet toys and water bowls, and Tech Advisor found avoidance effective. None of the tests report cables or pet mess, and its sensor is light-based with no camera, per the specifications, so tidy those away first.
Will the mop wet my carpets?
It can. The pad is fixed and doesn't lift, per the specifications, so a mixed-floor run drags it over rugs. Android Police shows the mop plate slides off with quick-release tabs, and the app lets you set no-mop zones. Take it off on carpet days.
How often do I have to empty or refill anything?
The dust is handled: the dock's 2.5-litre bag is rated for up to seven weeks, per the specifications. Water isn't. Android Police got through about 1,250 square feet per tank, and you wash the mop yourself after every run.
How big is the dock?
Small for a self-emptying dock: about 30.5cm wide, 44cm deep and 45cm tall, per the specifications. Tech Advisor found it surprisingly compact, and Android Police thought it would fit narrow spaces, even in smaller flats.
Does it fit under low furniture?
Only if the gap is about 10cm or more. The robot is 9.65cm tall including its laser turret, per the specifications, and Android Police gives the same 3.8in height. Measure under your sofa before you buy.
Is it easy to set up?
Mostly. GadgetGuy couldn't get it onto Wi-Fi at first and fixed it by briefly turning off mobile data on the phone. After that it mapped the main living area in under 10 minutes. Android Police notes you can also start cleans with Alexa or Google Assistant.
Alternatives
Other robot vacuums to compare.
Q7 M5 / M5+
Why consider it: RTINGS found dependable hard-floor pickup and effective removal of pet hair from carpet.
The compromise: Its dock only charges, so emptying and mop care are yours, and it needs help around cables, rugs and clutter.
Q10 S5 / S5+
Why consider it: The Verge liked its vibrating mop, and Vacuum Wars measured excellent carpet and pet-hair pickup.
The compromise: Other testers found far weaker pet-hair pickup, and its obstacle avoidance scored poorly.
Robot Vacuum S20+
Why consider it: Les Numériques found effective suction and methodical navigation, from a compact charging base.
The compromise: Small-object detection was weak, and the bin needed emptying often.
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 Q8 Max+?
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
Sources
- Roborock: Q8 Max product page ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Search YouTube for Roborock Q8 Max+ ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.