Roborock S4 Max Review: Methodical Lidar Cleaning Tested on Pet Hair and Mixed Floors

After several weeks of letting the Roborock S4 Max navigate our living room, hallway, and two bedrooms on a daily schedule, we have a clear picture of where this mid-range robot vacuum shines and where it cuts corners. It maps your floor plan in precise rows, boosts suction automatically on carpet, and runs quietly enough that you will forget it is working. But it also has a small dust bin, no mopping, and no self-emptying base. Here is what we found living with it (see our testing methodology).

Verdict: A methodical, quiet robot vacuum that maps and cleans in efficient rows, ideal for pet-owning homes with mixed hard floors and low-to-medium pile carpet. Skip it if you need mopping, a self-emptying bin, or have mostly high-pile carpet. 8.2/10

Best for: Homes with pets and a mix of hard floors and low-to-medium pile carpet where scheduled, methodical cleaning matters most.

Skip if: You need mopping, a self-emptying bin, or have mostly high-pile carpet that requires deeper agitation.

At a glance

What we liked

LiDAR navigation that maps instead of bumps

Unlike older robot vacuums that bounce around the room hoping to cover every inch, the S4 Max uses a rotating laser sensor to scan your floor plan on its first run. After that initial mapping pass, it cleans in neat, overlapping rows. In our tests, it reached under the sofa, around dining table legs, and along baseboards without the chaotic bump-and-turn pattern we have seen from cheaper bots. The result is faster coverage and fewer missed spots.

Quiet enough to run during daily life

On the balanced cleaning mode, the S4 Max sits at roughly half the volume of a standard upright vacuum. That makes a real difference in a home with a napping toddler or a dog that hides at the first whir of the old vacuum. In our living room test, we carried on a conversation at normal volume while it cleaned the adjacent rug. Turbo mode is noticeably louder, but still less jarring than most full-size vacuums.

Strong suction that adapts to carpet

The 2000 Pa rated suction is plenty for daily pickup of fine dust, crumbs, and pet hair on hard floors and low-pile rugs. The S4 Max automatically boosts power when its sensors detect a transition from hard floor to carpet. On a low-pile berber rug in our hallway, it pulled up embedded cat hair that a previous robot had missed. On medium-pile area rugs, it left visible track lines, a good sign it is actually agitating the fibers.

Smart mapping with room-by-room control

The app lets you label each room on the saved map, then send the robot to clean specific rooms on demand or on a schedule. You can also draw invisible no-go zones around pet bowls or delicate furniture. We set a no-go zone around the water bowls and a schedule for the kitchen after dinner cleanup. It worked reliably. Note that you need to enable map saving in the app beta settings before the first run, or you will lose your map.

Where it falls short

The dust bin is genuinely too small for pet homes

With a 400 ml dust bin, the S4 Max fills up fast if you have shedding pets. In our two-cat household, the bin was full before the robot finished cleaning the living room and hallway on a single turbo pass. You will be emptying it mid-cycle or running daily shorter sessions. There is no option for a self-emptying base, so this is a manual task every time.

No mopping, even as an option

The S4 Max is vacuum-only. If your home has hard floors that need occasional mopping, you will need a separate mop or a different robot. Many competitors at a similar price point now include a mopping pad, even a basic one. For the S4 Max, mopping simply is not part of the feature set.

It needs a tidy floor to work well

The LiDAR sensor and brush roll are vulnerable to cords, small toys, and loose objects. We learned this the hard way when the robot swallowed a charging cable and stopped mid-session with an error. Plan on a quick floor sweep before each run, especially in homes with kids. This is common for most robot vacuums, but worth noting if you hoped for a set-and-forget device.

Real-world performance

Pet hair on medium-pile carpet

We sprinkled cat hair from a grooming session onto a 5x7 foot medium-pile wool rug and let the S4 Max work on turbo mode. It made two passes and lifted most of the hair. A third pass on the highest-traffic center area got the rest. The bin was about two-thirds full after just this one rug. Compared to our upright vacuum, the robot took longer but required no physical effort, which is the whole point.

Daily maintenance on hard floors

On tile and hardwood, the S4 Max picked up crumbs, dust bunnies, and tracked-in grit from the backyard in a single pass. We ran it on balanced mode for a daily 30-minute session covering the kitchen and entryway. The floor felt noticeably cleaner underfoot. The lack of a mop meant sticky spots stayed sticky, so we still broke out the spray mop once a week.

Obstacle handling and edge cleaning

Thanks to the LiDAR, the robot navigated around dining chair legs and the base of a floor lamp without getting stuck. It did not climb or bump aggressively. Edge cleaning was solid along straight walls but left a thin strip near concave corners. The side brush flicked debris from baseboards into the main path, and the center brush captured most of it.

How it compares to alternatives

vs. Roborock S4 (base model)

The standard S4 lacks the Max multi-level mapping and boosted suction. If you live in a single-story home with mostly hard floors, the regular S4 may save you money. But for multi-floor homes with carpet, the S4 Max extra suction and floor-recognition feature are worth the upgrade.

vs. iRobot Roomba 694

The Roomba 694 uses random bump navigation, which means longer cleaning times and more gaps. The S4 Max LiDAR mapping gives it a clear advantage in efficiency and coverage. On the other hand, the Roomba taller dust bin means fewer mid-cycle empties. If you prioritize methodical cleaning over bin size, the S4 Max wins.

vs. Eufy RoboVac G30

The G30 offers a similar price point with decent suction but uses gyroscope navigation rather than LiDAR. In our experience, gyro-based bots drift over time and miss rows. The S4 Max laser mapping is noticeably more precise. The G30 is a fine budget pick, but the S4 Max delivers better navigation for the extra cost.

If you need mopping or a self-emptying bin, look at the Roborock Q5 or S7 instead. If budget is the priority and your home is mostly hard floors, the Eufy G30 is a capable alternative. For more robot vacuum options, check our roundup of the best lightweight vacuums for pet hair.

Who should buy it

The S4 Max is for you if your home has a mix of hard floors and low-to-medium pile carpet, you have pets that shed, and you want a robot that cleans methodically on a daily schedule without waking the household. It fits the budget-conscious buyer who values reliable LiDAR mapping over premium extras like mopping or self-emptying.

Skip it if your home is mostly high-pile carpet that needs deep agitation, if you want mopping on hard floors, or if you cannot commit to emptying the bin after every single run. Also skip if your household leaves cords and small objects on the floor regularly, as the robot will tangle and stall.

You get precise navigation, reliable app control, and genuinely quiet operation at a mid-range price point. What you do not get is mopping or hands-off emptying. If those trade-offs work for your home, the S4 Max is a solid choice that will keep your floors consistently clean with minimal effort. See also our roundup of the best vacuums for long hair for more pet-friendly cleaning options.

FAQ

Does the Roborock S4 Max work with Alexa or Google Home?

Yes, it works with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. You can start, stop, or dock the robot with voice commands after linking the Mi Home or Roborock app to your smart home platform.

Can the S4 Max cross thresholds between rooms?

It handles thresholds up to about 0.6 inches (15 mm). In our home, it cleared the transition strip between the tile kitchen and hardwood hallway without trouble. Higher thresholds, like some bathroom door saddles, may require the robot to take a running start.

Does it only connect to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi?

Yes, the S4 Max only works with 2.4 GHz networks. If your router combines bands, you may need to separate them or use a 2.4 GHz guest network during setup.

How often do you need to replace the filter and brush?

The washable filter should be rinsed every 2 to 4 weeks depending on use. The side brush and main brush roll typically last 6 to 12 months before needing replacement. Roborock sells replacement parts in multi-packs on Amazon.

Can it map and switch between multiple floors?

Yes, the S4 Max saves up to four separate floor maps with room labels and no-go zones. Just move the robot to the new floor and start a cleaning cycle; it recognizes where it is after a short orientation run.

How loud is it during cleaning?

On balanced mode, it is roughly half as loud as a standard upright vacuum. Turbo mode is noisier but still a low whir. We measured around 55 to 60 dB on balanced mode from three feet away.

How long does the battery last, and will it finish a large home?

Rated up to 180 minutes of runtime, covering about 3,230 sq ft. In our testing, it cleaned 1,400 sq ft on turbo in 86 minutes on a single charge. If it runs low, it recharges and resumes automatically.

Bottom line

The Roborock S4 Max delivers precise LiDAR navigation and quiet, methodical cleaning at a mid-range price. It handles pet hair and mixed floors well and fits naturally into a daily cleaning routine. The small dust bin, lack of mopping, and missing self-emptying base are real compromises, but they are also clearly stated trade-offs. If your home matches what this robot does well, it is genuinely worth it.