Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max: Wet cleaning just got smarter

In 2019, in Berlin, Roborock unveiled its new third-generation robot vacuum cleaner, the S5 Max, an update to the previous S5 model, which also appeared on the market several years ago. The robot vacuum cleaner features a separate water tank and the ability to control and regulate the flow of liquid while mopping the floor via a mobile app. The device is designed for dry and advanced wet cleaning and is suitable for use on smooth floors such as marble, tile, linoleum, wood, laminate, and low-pile carpet. A key advantage of the new model is the ability to set no-go zones when mopping the floor and the corresponding protection of carpets from moisture (as already implemented in the new 360 S7). These and other features, as well as the general specifications of the Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max robot vacuum cleaner, will be presented in our review today.

Equipment

The Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max package contains the following components:

1. Robot vacuum cleaner.
2. Charging base.
3. Power adapter.
4. Floor cleaning attachment with a cloth attached.
5. Operating instructions.

The dust collector, separate water tank, battery and brushes are installed immediately.

As you can see from the robot's package overview, like all the manufacturer's latest models, the remote control and motion limiter are not included. However, these components are completely unnecessary, as the mobile app offers extensive control and cleaning parameter settings.

Appearance

The design of the robot vacuum cleaner is almost identical to the model S6The only difference is that the case now has two buttons instead of three. The case is made of black plastic with a matte finish. This design has a positive effect on the device's smudge resistance, making it less likely to show fingerprints and smudges.

The front of the Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max traditionally features a movable bumper with distance sensors to prevent the robot from colliding with obstacles and protecting it from damage.

When viewing the back of this robot vacuum cleaner, we see a single silicone side brush, a main bristle-petal brush, drive wheels, a swivel roller, a battery compartment, and a mop attachment area. The main brush has been slightly redesigned and now features a detachable design (the side elements can now be removed for cleaning pet hair).

Technical specifications

Below is a description of the technical characteristics of the Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max robot:

Type of cleaning	Dry and wet
Power supply	Li-Ion battery 5200 mAh
Opening hours	Up to 180 minutes
Charging time	300 minutes
Cleaning area	Up to 250 m2
Power consumption	58 W
Suction power	2000 Pa
Height of obstacles	Up to 20 mm
Dust container type	Cyclone filter (bagless)
Dust collector capacity	460 ml
Water tank capacity	280 ml
Overall dimensions	353x350x96.5 mm
Weight	3.6 kg
Noise level	60 dB

Functional capabilities

The robot performs dry cleaning of floors using a silicone side brush and a central brush with a detachable design, which we previously described. The collected debris is sucked through a suction channel into the dust collector, which also has a larger capacity than its predecessor. The dust collector is equipped with a class E11 HEPA filter, which is washable but must be dried before reuse.

The Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max has the following operating modes:

• quiet;
• balanced;
• turbo;
• maximum.

Selecting one of these modes changes the robot vacuum's suction power and noise level. In Quiet mode, the noise level will be no more than 40 dB, but the suction power will be minimal (approximately 1200 Pa).

When it comes to wet cleaning, the Xiaomi S5 Max robot vacuum cleaner comes with a separate water tank with electronic regulation of water flow to the cleaning cloth, control of liquid volume, and a water shutoff switch when stopped.

The new robot vacuum cleaner is much better suited for wet mopping: the water tank has been increased in capacity, and a "No Mop Zone" feature has been added, allowing you to restrict the Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max from entering specific areas (such as carpets). Once the mop attachment is removed, the no-mop zones will automatically disappear.

The robot features an updated navigation and mapping system based on the coordinated operation of LDS and SLAM. Now, the device performs adaptive route planning 15% more efficiently and cleans 20% faster and more thoroughly than its predecessors. Furthermore, the Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max is equipped with fourteen types of sensors, including four cliff sensors. In addition to preventing breakage and damage to the body, as well as falls from height, these sensors provide information on the degree of filter clogging, the water tank position, and display notifications about any malfunctioning components.

In addition to all of the above, the robot can be controlled via voice assistants and configured for room-by-room cleaning (you can select individual rooms for the robot to clean). Notably, it can now store up to three cleaning plans.

Advantages and disadvantages

As per tradition, we conclude our review with a list of the main advantages and disadvantages of the Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max robot vacuum cleaner.

Pros:

1. Powerful battery.
2. Several suction modes.
3. Disassemblable design of the main brush.
4. Improved wet cleaning.
5. Room-by-room cleaning.
6. Improved navigation and mapping.
7. New convenient application.
8. Working with voice assistants.

The only controversial aspect of the robot vacuum cleaner is its single side brush, but this feature is present in all Xiaomi models, and not just others. Therefore, calling it a clear flaw is not entirely accurate. Rather, it's our personal observation that two side brushes clean slightly better.

Overall the model is quite interesting, clearly better than S5 and slightly outperforms the updated Viomi V2 Pro. The updated S5 Max is already available on AliExpress, and we expect it to arrive in Russia soon for more detailed testing.

Finally, we recommend watching our video review of the Xiaomi Roborock S5 Max:

We also recommend checking out a comparison of Xiaomi robot vacuum cleaners:

Analogues:

• iCLEBO Omega
• Xiaomi Mijia LDS Vacuum Cleaner
• Okami U80 Pet
• Clever & Clean AQUA-Series 03
• iLife A9s
• Gutrend Echo 520
• Genio Deluxe 500