Roborock is undoubtedly one of the best robot vacuum brands today. This Chinese brand is progressively making inroads in a market dominated by heavyweights like Roomba, ECOVACS, and Neato. In this comparison of the Roborock E5 vs Q5, I aim to spotlight their variances, empowering you to discern which one resonates most with your preferences.
It’s the Roborock Q5 that wins this battle since it’s smarter, more modern, and, of course, pricer. It uses LiDAR technology for more accurate mapping and obstacle detection than the Roborock E5, which has two gyroscopes and an OpticEye sensor. Additionally, the Q5 also offers more smart features via the Roborock app, such as no-go zones, invisible walls, and 3D maps.
Roborock E5 Vs Q5: Comparison Chart
Roborock E5 Vs Q5: Differences
The Q5 wins 4-2 against the E5. Dive deeper into my comprehensive comparison of these two machines to uncover more!
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Roborock Q5
Airflow
| Roborock E5 | Roborock Q5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet | 9.3 CFM | 9.6 CFM |
| Balanced | 14.7 CFM | 11.6 CFM |
| Strong | 17.3 CFM | 13.1 CFM |
| Max | 20.6 CFM | 16.9 CFM |
The E5 edges out the Q5 in terms of airflow at every power level. But in a somewhat unexpected turn, I found this higher airflow levels didn’t result in overall better cleaning outcomes as the E5 lacked the thoroughness of the Q5.
Hard Floor
| Roborock E5 | Roborock Q5 |
|---|---|
| ≈ 99% | ≈ 99% |
Both were excellent with the pick-up experiments on my hardwood floor. There were no issues with them cleaning this surface, picking up to 99% with minimal traces of debris left behind.
Carpet
| Roborock E5 | Roborock Q5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pile Carpet | ≈ 94% | ≈ 97% |
| High-pile Carpet | ≈ 91% | ≈ 94% |
In a side-by-side comparison of the E5 and Q5 on both my low- and high-pile carpets, both showed commendable performance, securing scores in the high 90s for both carpet varieties. While the Q5 marginally outperformed, the E5 was not far behind.
Hair
| Roborock E5 | Roborock Q5 | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-inch Strands | ≈ 62% | ≈ 78% |
| 10-inch Strands | ≈ 48% | ≈ 51% |
I also put them through extreme tests with 5- and 7-inch hair strands to check how well they picked up hair. As you can see, their scores aren’t great, but they’re still decent enough for daily hair-cleaning demands. There was substantial hair entanglement around their rollers, indicating a lack of anti-tangle efficacy of these bristled brush rollers.
Design & Usability
Winner: Roborock Q5
Dimensions & Weight
| Roborock E5 | Roborock Q5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x H) | 13.8 x 3.56 inches | 13.78 x 3.78 inches |
| Weight | 10.8 lbs | 7.05 lbs |
All Roborock robot vacuums use a circular blueprint, which is also present in both the E5 and Q5. The E5 features a lower profile design since it bypasses the LIDAR case, lending it the edge in sliding under low-hanging furniture like beds, sofas, and kickstands with ease. The E5 gives buyers the option of going for black or white options, whereas the Q5 comes in only black.
Extractor & Side Brush
These two robots maintain the same extractor system located between the two wheels. Both use a single bristled spiral brush roller that excels at scrubbing stuck-on dirt and capturing all kinds of debris, from sugar and Cheerios to pet hair. Yet, there’s a notable downside with this roller: it tends to become entangled, posing a challenge during cleaning, especially when compared to bristle-less rollers.
Both the Q5 and E5 are also fitted with an all-rubber spinning side brush that does a great job of picking up dust and dirt nestled in corners and along wall edges, though it doesn’t quite achieve the performance level of D-shaped models like the Roomba S9.
Navigation
A reason for the E5’s more budget-friendly price point is its absence of the advanced LiDAR navigation system found in the Q5. Rather than employing a laser tower to conduct a comprehensive 360-degree scan of its environment, the E5 relies on an “Inertial Navigation” system underneath, including a dual gyroscope and OpticEye sensor.
The E5 can still identify its location and obstacles to a certain extent, but this one does not have the same precision as robots with LIDAR and vSLAM. What’s more, it’s such a letdown that the E5 can’t save multiple maps, meaning it is unsuitable for apartments with more than one floor. Meanwhile, the Q5 can remember up to four maps.
Speaking of navigation, they move and clean in a logical, systematic pattern to ensure they cover the entire floor. They don’t have obstacle avoidance technology, so they may hit some obstacles here and there during cleaning, but the bumpers will retract when a collision occurs to prevent potential harm, and then these robots will reroute their path themselves. Hence, if your living space has many potential obstructions, it’s prudent to pre-clean or remove them, especially ensuring there are no pet droppings on the floor, to make their job easier.
Battery Life
| Roborock E5 | Roborock Q5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | ≈ 98–164 mins | ≈ 86–198 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 172 mins | ≈ 156 mins |
The E5 and Q5 use a 5200 mAh battery that provides up to approximately 3 hours of working life on a single full charge, given that they are in the lowest power setting.
They also have a “recharge and resume” function, which is most useful inside mammoth-sized homes. When their batteries run low, they record where they have reached, come back to the dock for charging, and then continue cleaning from where they left off. Better yet, they also feature “top-up charging,” involving the fact that they juice up just to the necessary battery level to finish the job (around 80%) to save time.
Control
Winner: Roborock Q5
Manual Control
Want to operate these vacuums without relying on your phone or an internet connection? Absolutely possible! But your control is limited to powering them on/off with a long press of the Power button and directing them back to the home base by hitting the “Home” button during an active cleaning cycle. While they lack a dedicated “Spot Cleaning” button, a prolonged press on the Home button serves as a workaround for immediate messes or spills.
App Connectivity
Speaking of app connectivity, the Q5 works with the Roborock Home app, while the E5 is compatible with the Mi Home app only. They share a lot of features and functions, such as the ability to launch cleaning trips, set schedules, choose suction powers, monitor cleaning progress in real time, and review where the bot has cleaned.
And as always with usable-with-app robot vacuums, both the E5 and Q5 are compatible with common smart voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google’s Assistant for voice control. So you can just say something like, “Alexa, tell Roborock to clean the kitchen” instead of pulling out your phone.
It is worth noting that the Roborock E5 comes with a handy MagBase physical remote, which puts all the controls in the hands of senior citizens or anyone unfamiliar with using smartphones.
With the Q5, you can set No Mop Zones, No Go Zones, and Virtual Walls via the Roborock app to block the robot from going into specific regions in your home. It can save up to 4 maps and display them in 3D form, which I personally didn’t see as much utility in this feature.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Roborock E5
Both the E5 and Q5 include a standard charging base, so their dust tanks need to be emptied manually. This leads to a game changer: the E5 uses a 0.64-liter bin to house dirt, while the one on the Q5 has a capacity of 0.47 liters. That means the former needs to be emptied less often. The Q5 is compatible with an automatic cleaning station, but that is part of the pricey Q5 Plus version.
Both also use an E11 air filter to trap dust and allergens. It is washable for reuse and should be washed under running water monthly to maintain its best performance.
Other Features
Winner: Tie
Noise
| Roborock E5 | Roborock Q5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Working | ≈ 57-63 dB | ≈ 59-61 dB |
| Self-Emptying | None | None |
They are both quite quiet, even when they are in the max setting, making it feasible to hold a clear conversation despite the robot’s active presence in the same room. Plus, the absence of a cleaning base means you’re spared from the loud noise of the self-emptying procedure.
Mopping Ability
While the Q5 can’t mop, the E5 theoretically can. The Roborock E5 Series has two versions: the normal E and the E5 Mop. If you opt for the normal version like mine, you can buy the SnapMop system separately to transform it into a hybrid robot like the E5 Mop that comes out of the box with this mopping system.
Quick Rundown Of Roborock Q5
- 【Deeper Cleaning with Powerful 2700Pa Suction】: Roborock Q5 is the upgraded version of S4 Max.With powerful 2700Pa suction, the Roborock Q5 easily picks up pet hair, dust and finer dirts from floors or carpets. When a carpet is detected, it will automatically increase its suction to the maximum for deep cleaning.
- 【Convenient App Control】: Control every element of Q5 through the Roborock app, including viewing the exact vacuuming route, setting cleaning schedules, adjusting the suction power, creating No-Go Zones, Invisible Walls, and much more. All from anywhere you have internet.
- 【Precision Mapping with PreciSense LiDAR】: LiDAR navigation creates accurate maps, and Q5 can save up to 4 maps. Use 3D Mapping to view your home in 3D and add furniture and floor materials to recreate your home virtually.
- 【Handle Large Homes Easily】: 180mins runtime using a large onboard battery means up to 3230 sqft of cleaning on a single charge. A Large dustbin (470ml) means less emptying so you can tackle a large home without pause.
- 【Close to Floors】: The multi-directional floating rubber brush stays close to the ground, ensuring effective cleanup even on uneven surfaces.
Quick Rundown Of Roborock E5
- 【Methodical Cleaning Perfection】Clean your floors more effectively and efficiently with Roborock E5. Equipped with OpticEye and dual gyroscopes, it knows where it has been and what is left to clean, and a z-shape path for fast and effective cleaning.
- 【App, Voice & Remote Control, Meet All Your Needs】Control every element of your robot wherever you are from the Mi Home app. Start and stop cleanups and more with the just power of your voice. Attach the remote control to any convenient magnetic surfaces with Roborock MagBase.
- 【Say Goodbye to Stains and Messes】With 2500PA HyperForce suction, Roborock E5 easily lifts dust and hair from floors and pulls it from deep inside carpets, and Carpet Boost ensures every carpet gets max power.
- 【Clean Your Whole House at once】 Using its powerful battery, Roborock E5 delivers up to 200 minutes and 2152sqft of non-stop cleaning on a single charge, helping clean all your home at once.
- 【Pet Hair? No Problem! 】A 640ml dustbin stores more dirt, dust and pet hair, making it easier to tackle large spaces or just empty it lest often.
Product Videos
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References:
- Roborock Q5: https://us.roborock.com/products/roborock-q5
- Roborock E5: https://global.roborock.com/pages/roborock-e5
Richard B. Schmidt is a prominent figure in the vacuum cleaner industry, boasting over 15 years of expertise. Armed with a Robotics Engineering degree from Northeastern University and a Master’s in Consumer Science from Harvard, his unique blend of technical knowledge and consumer insights positions him as a sought-after authority in vacuum cleaner evaluation. Richard’s career began at Dyson, where he contributed to the development of innovative vacuum models. Transitioning to advocacy and reviews, he co-founded the first Vacuum-focused blog in 2008, offering comprehensive analysis and user guides for various vacuum cleaners. In 2020, he founded RoboMop.net, providing ongoing insights through columns and buyer’s guides.