Roborock Q7 M5

Roborock Q7 M5 Review

The Roborock Q7 M5 packs 10,000 Pa of suction into a $299 robot vacuum—that’s genuinely impressive for its price tier. Independent testing by Vacuum Wars ranked it 12th out of over 150 robots tested for raw suction power. But there’s a catch, and it’s a significant one: this robot relies on infrared obstacle avoidance rather than a camera, which creates real headaches for anyone with cables, small objects, or dark-colored rugs on their floors.

Released in April 2025, the Q7 M5 comes in two versions. The standard model includes just a charging dock, while the M5+ upgrade adds an auto-empty station for around $60 more. Both are available in black or white and can be found on Amazon and Roborock’s website.

What This Robot Does Well

Hard floors are where the Q7 M5 shines. The LiDAR navigation system maps your home precisely and follows efficient grid patterns rather than bouncing around randomly. At 0.83 square meters per minute, it covers ground faster than most competitors averaging 0.70 square meters per minute. The 3D mapping works well, supporting up to four floor plans with automatic recognition—handy for multi-story homes.

The JawScrapers Comb brush roll represents an improvement over the older Q7 Max design, and it handles fine dust and short pet hair on hard surfaces without much trouble. Pair that with the washable E11 HEPA filter and you’ve got a solid cleaning system for tile, hardwood, and laminate.

Where Things Get Frustrating

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: infrared obstacle avoidance simply can’t compete with camera-based systems. The Q7 M5 regularly collides with cables, struggles to detect small toys, and—perhaps most annoyingly—treats dark rugs as cliffs and refuses to cross them. Reddit users consistently report the robot getting stuck under furniture or in tight spaces.

The “anti-tangle” brush design? Marketing wishful thinking, mostly. Owners with long-haired pets report significant tangling that requires regular cleaning. Vacuum Wars gave it just 2.64 out of 5 for pet suitability.

Carpet performance suffers too. While the 10,000 Pa suction helps, the brush struggles to extract embedded pet hair from medium and high-pile carpets. Testing showed 75% carpet deep clean performance—decent but not outstanding.

The Mopping Reality

Yes, the Q7 M5 mops. No, it doesn’t mop well. The fixed microfiber pad simply drags across floors—there’s no vibration, no pressure, no lifting mechanism. The 470ml clean water tank and 350ml dirty water tank provide adequate capacity, and you get three water flow levels to adjust. But without any scrubbing action, you’re essentially wiping your floors with a damp cloth.

The bigger problem? That mop pad can’t lift when the robot encounters carpet. You’ll need to manually remove it before running the vacuum on carpeted areas, or accept wet carpet edges.

Battery and Coverage

The 3,200mAh battery officially runs 150-180 minutes, but real-world coverage tells a different story. Expect around 1,060 square feet per charge under normal conditions. Using higher suction modes cuts that number significantly. The robot will return to its dock to recharge and resume cleaning if needed, so larger homes aren’t off-limits—you’ll just wait longer for completion.

Battery efficiency testing scored the Q7 M5 at 1.18 against an average of 1.3, putting it slightly below par.

App and Smart Home Features

The Roborock app earns a 4.6-star rating on Google Play, and setup typically takes 15-20 minutes. You can create cleaning schedules, set no-go zones, adjust suction and water levels by room, and view 3D maps of your home. Standard stuff that works as expected.

Smart home integration covers Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Siri Shortcuts—but there’s no Matter or native HomeKit support. You’ll need a Homebridge workaround if you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem.

One quirk: the robot requires a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connection. Dual-band routers can cause connection headaches during setup.

The M5+ Auto-Empty Upgrade

The self-emptying dock on the M5+ model holds 2.7 liters in disposable bags. Roborock claims seven weeks between changes, but multiple owners report more like two to four weeks depending on home size, pet count, and cleaning frequency.

Fair warning: that emptying cycle is loud. Reddit users describe it as “jet engine” territory. If you’re planning to run cleaning while working from home, factor in that racket.

Who Should Consider This Robot

The Q7 M5 makes sense for budget-conscious buyers with primarily hard floors and minimal pet hair concerns. It’s a reasonable entry point into the Roborock ecosystem at $219-$299 depending on sales and model. First-time robot vacuum owners who don’t need carpet mopping or advanced obstacle detection will find acceptable performance here.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

Pet owners with heavy shedders will find the brush maintenance tedious and carpet cleaning results disappointing. Homes with lots of cables, kids’ toys, or dark-colored flooring will experience frequent stuck episodes. Anyone wanting effective mopping needs to step up to models with vibrating or pressurized mop systems. And if you’re committed to Apple HomeKit or Matter-based automation, this robot doesn’t fit.

Specifications Summary

Spec	Details
Dimensions	12.8 x 12.8 x 3.9 inches
Weight	7.28 lbs
Suction	10,000 Pa
Battery	3,200mAh, 150-180 min
Dustbin	400ml
Navigation	360° LiDAR
Obstacle Avoidance	Infrared only
Filter	Washable E11 HEPA
Noise	67.5-80 dB
Warranty	1 year
MSRP	$299.99 (standard)

The Bottom Line

The Roborock Q7 M5 delivers excellent suction power and navigation for its price point, but the infrared-only obstacle avoidance creates daily frustrations that pricier camera-equipped models avoid. Think of it as a capable hard-floor vacuum with basic mopping thrown in—just don’t expect it to handle complex home environments without regular intervention.

For about $60 more, the M5+ auto-empty version makes sense if you’re cleaning multiple times per week. Otherwise, the standard dock works fine for occasional use.