Roborock Q10 S5+ Review

Our Roborock Q10 S5+ Experience

We were impressed by the Roborock Q10 S5+ for its cleaning power and friendly price tag. While not the cheapest option, you get a lot of bang for your buck from a trusted brand - but there are some caveats.

We love the Roborock app. Scheduling cleans is made simple through this feature. We were also pleased to see some of the more premium features on this vacuum, like child lock, do not disturb, and multi-floor mapping. Again, all were easy to use, making our experience with this vacuum even better.

As far as cleaning, we were happy enough. “[It] ate and left no crumbs when it came to cleaning along the walls,” wrote our tester. Overall, it's a quick and efficient cleaner, but not the most thorough. We weren't lucky with pet hair though. It deemed the task done after just 6 minutes, leaving a visible amount behind. We were happy to find this vacuum equipped with a mop, though it wasn't as proficient as premium models. All in all, the vacuum is a decent helper for the day-to-day. It won't go above and beyond like some of the other options, but it will help with light cleans.

The robot itself is overall average when it comes to sound, although there are times where noise peaks. Our tester noted that it “has a weird kind of hum, almost like an engine sputtering” on startup and “makes a high-pitched, almost screech-like noise when circling back or initiating quick turns.”

Our Analysis and Test Results

Navigation & Obstacle Avoidance

Navigation was a letdown compared to other Roborock vacuums. Despite manufactuer claims of advanced navigation tech, the robot detected only about 40% of obstacles during our testing and frequently tangled with cords or got stuck on furniture legs. While it handles larger objects and open layouts fine, smaller items or cluttered areas will trip it up. It even vacuumed over simulated pet messes — a clear warning for pet owners.

The robot covered about 75% of the room during our navigation tests — good, but not great. “[It] would have scored higher on this test if it managed to clean the right side better and get a bit tighter on the edges,” wrote our tester. Plan on some pre-cleaning prep to help it stay on track. You won't be able to let it loose in cluttered areas with lots of short obstacles.

Hardfloor & Carpet Cleaning

The Q10 S5+ does well with day-to-day debris, especially on carpets, where it picked up most sand and left surfaces looking refreshed. Larger items like cereal were more hit-or-miss — it sometimes rolled over debris without fully collecting it. Edge cleaning was a highlight, with minimal leftover dust or coffee grounds along the walls. If you want spotless results, you may need to follow up occasionally with a traditional vacuum.

Mopping performance is run-of-the-mill for a robot vacuum — it's a decent helper between more serious cleans. The Q10 S5+ handled light stains well but left patches of darker messes untouched, suggesting limited scrubbing pressure. Floors looked clean at a glance after testing, though some sticky residue remained when our tester touched them. It's effective for maintaining shine between deeper cleans, but not a replacement for manual mopping and scrubbing more serious stains.

Ease Of Use

Ease of use is one of this model's strengths. The Roborock app is clean, responsive, and beginner-friendly, making it simple to set no-go zones, adjust suction power, or manage multiple floors. Physical controls on the robot itself are tactile and intuitive. While mapping features are slightly simplified compared to higher-end Roborocks, setup and daily use are smooth and frustration-free.

Noise levels are reasonable, though the dock can produce a high-pitched whirr during quick turns and a sputtering hum on startup. Dock emptying is mechanical but not overly harsh — louder than some models, yet less grating. The robot itself moves around at about 58 decibels, which is slightly louder than a refrigerator. Overall, it's noticeable but tolerable for routine use, especially during the day.

Pet Hair

Pet hair is another area that has proved challenging for this model. The Q10 S5+ left noticeable clumps behind, especially on carpets, and its roller brush struggled to gather finer strands. Despite flying through our tests quickly, it only picked up about 36% of pet hair in the test area, mostly around the border walls.

It didn't get tangled often, but its suction wasn't strong enough to fully lift embedded fur. Emptying the bin is easy, and it stores a decent amount before needing attention, but for homes with heavy shedders, this isn't an ideal choice.