What would you get from a robot vacuum cleaner under $300? Most likely, a product that would just revolve around it.
The Roborock E4 is unique in this aspect – perhaps the only robot in this price range (in North America) that uses the intelligent navigation algorithm. So it goes in straight lines rather than just bouncing.
Roborock The latest in their E-Series is theirs Entry level alternative For budget-conscious shoppers. Here’s the thing, E4 Not your usual entry-level bot.
How good is this robot? Let’s find out in this review.
Roborock E4 Review
While the E4 isn’t the least expensive, it certainly offers a lot of value. The most impressive feature based on tests is how efficient the navigation is. This isn’t your typical bot wandering around in a random direction after hitting something. It’s even more sophisticated with the dual gyroscope system and optical eye sensor underneath. I’ve been testing the E4 for the past few days and have been very impressed with the navigation, which isn’t like most budget robots that tend to bump into furniture hard. It has as much airflow as premium robots like Roomba S9 and the Neato D7, which makes clean passes.
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Positives
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- Probably Best robot vacuum for mobility in the price range.
- It can hold up to 0.64 liters of dry dirt.
- It adds scanning feature to its functionality. However, you will have to purchase the unit separately.
- It has a higher air flow than Roborock S5 Max and S6 MaxV.
- Cleans hard floors well, fits well on carpets.
Negatives
- Navigation isn’t as comprehensive as Roborock’s high-end options like the S6 and St6 MaxV.
- Not good at cleaning edges.
- Wiping pad is sold separately.
Table of Contents
Introduction to Roborock E4
The E4 is the latest addition to Roborock’s E-Series robotics which also includes the E20, E25 and E35.
Based on airflow tests, the E4 has the most airflow among All Roborock robots With up to 21.51 CFM at maximum setting. It’s higher than some premium robots like Roomba S9+, Shark IQ, Neato D7.
This high number translates to a clean pick-up on hard surfaces and carpets, a characteristic of all Roborock products.
Roborock E4 design
The E4 retains the simplified design cues of earlier E-Class robots. There are some cosmetic differences between the E35 and the E4, such as the placement of the button. The E4 takes the beveled design cues from the S6 Pure minus the LIDAR case in the middle.
Underneath, the E4 keeps the same layout with the main brush between the two rubber wheels and one side brush.
Newer Roborock models use a rubber side brush which I believe has better durability than a bristle brush. If you own an older variant like the S5, you can buy the new brush as it is backward compatible.
Roborock has been able to lower the price of E-Class robots because they do not use LIDAR.
Instead, it relies on a Combination of two gyroscopes and a sensor “optics” under it to locate it.
Watch this short clip to get a visual of how E4 crossed.
Unlike Roborock’s options with LIDAR, the E4 does not start cleaning the midsections before moving toward the ends.
It lacks the precision of S-Series bots, as users can adjust how often you’ll pass over an area.
One advantage with this combo over the infrared sensor that most other brands use is efficiency. To some extent, E4 can locate it, but it does not have the same accuracy as LIDAR and SLAM.
The program will draw a map, but you will not be able to see the updates in real time. It only appears after running.
Will E4 smash furniture?
One problem with randomized navigation bots like the Roomba 690 is its tendency to scrape furniture. These machines won’t slow down, so they’ll bump into things hard.
The Roborock E4 won’t completely avoid furniture, but it does slow down enough not to bump into it.
How did you do in confined spaces?
Another problem with cheap robot vacuums is the narrow quarters between the chair legs. I tested the E4 in these areas, and was able to find its way out without getting stuck or stuck.
Can wires be avoided?
I haven’t tested a robot vacuum that can completely avoid wires. The S6 MaxV will be able to avoid wires to a certain extent, but it will still get tangled with cables extending out of its view.
The Roborock E4 will not avoid wires. I recommend moving it out of the way before turning on the robot for best results.
Roborock E4 App Features
Roborock E4 is only compatible with the Xiaomi Home app. Don’t expect the same level of functionality you get from the S5 or S5 Max.
However, for the price, it has one of the more feature-rich apps.
I will quickly run through the various features.
scheduling
You will have access to the scheduling feature that allows users to select the time and frequency – whether you want to turn it on or not Every day, only on weekdays, only on weekends, or specific days and cleaning mode.
So far, I haven’t seen a bot with this level of customization under $300.
carpet increase
When enabled, the bot will automatically go to the maximum setting if it detects carpet. I recommend turning on this feature if your home has one like this.
cute mode
Just enable this feature to scan, this will lower the drive’s output to its lowest setting, so it will clear more space.
Unfortunately, you will have to purchase the mop unit separately to access this functionality.
cleaning date
Shows you how often the robot has been cleaned with maps corresponding to each cycle.
At the top, you’ll see the bot’s total uptime and the total space it has covered for all cleanups.
maintenance
Provides alerts when to clean replaced components such as filters and brushes and when to clean sensors. Use the information provided here only as a guide as it is not 100% accurate.
Firmware Update
Roborock releases software updates periodically to improve the functionality of the app or the navigation of the bot. So be sure to update to the latest firmware when it becomes available.
How much power does Roborock E4 have?
One big surprise for me is the higher airflow. The Roborock E4 contains more than any of the other Roborock products I’ve tested so far. These include S5And S5 MaxAnd S6 PureAnd S6 Max V.
Below are the results of the airflow test compared to other Roborock options.
| Roborock model | e 4 | S5 Max | S6 Pure | S6 Max V |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nice | Unavailable | 8.37 cubic feet per minute | Unavailable | 6.14 cubic feet per minute |
| silent | 11.33 cubic feet per minute | 9.8 CFM | 9.68 cubic feet per minute | 7.9 feet per minute |
| balanced | 14.20 CFM | 12.49 cubic feet per minute | 12.49 cubic feet per minute | 9.8 CFM |
| turbo | 17.91 cubic feet per minute | 15.68 cubic feet per minute | 15.68 cubic feet per minute | 12.32 cubic feet per minute |
| the above | 21.51 cubic feet per minute | 17.74 cubic feet per minute | 18.17 cubic feet per minute | 15.68 cubic feet per minute |
By default, E4 does not have the “gentle” setting, which you will have to enable separately.
The E4 has 16% more airflow than the S6 Pure, 31.35% more airflow than the S6 MaxV, and 19.2% more airflow than the S5 Max at the highest power setting.
There are margins of error in these tests, but the numbers I got were consistent over multiple iterations.
Unfortunately, higher airflow doesn’t translate into better carpet performance because it lacks E4 and lacks the precision of S-class robots.
Dust container design and size
One advantage of not having a LIDAR is the extra space inside the chassis, which allows Roborock to place a file Bigger dust box.
she has Capacity 0.64 liters One of the highest in the industry.
One problem is that it doesn’t have a door similar to the S5 Max.
To get rid of the contents, you’ll have to remove the filter and shake the container to empty everything, which can be tricky because dirt can seep into the sides of the trash can if you’re not careful.
How noisy is the Roborock E4?
I used a sound meter to measure the noise from a few meters away.
This is the decibel level at each power setting:
- silent: 59.4 dB
- balanced: 61.3 dB
- Turbo: 62.6 dB
- the above: 64.4 dB
It’s below the 65dB mark, so you can still have a good conversation even with this bot turned on.
How is Roborock E4 cleaned?
One thing that is consistent with all Roborock products is design.
All models use the same brush and side brush (except for the S5 which has an older bristle design).
The design, combined with the higher airflow, makes the E4 very effective at capturing surface debris, which is what we’ll look at next.
cleaning performance
To check how well the E4 can handle different types of debris, it underwent a rigorous series of tests.
Some said this doesn’t account for daily cleaning due to the sheer amount, but I feel it’s an excellent way to gauge the ability of the robot.
If he can handle this mess, daily cleaning will be a breeze.
I’ve tested E4 on things like Quaker Oats, Coffee, Quinoa, Pet Litter, Sand, Hair, Cheerios, and Fruit Rings.
In the test area, I scattered debris, used the default cleaning cycle, and weighed the box before and after the test to get the final results.
First, here are the full results.
- Total: 91.05%
- Solid ground: 99.8%
- Carpet (surface pickup): 97%
- Carpet (deep cleaning): 69.83%
A modest result in the deep cleaning test resulted in a lower overall overall. However, it was still excellent with surface capture trials.
hard floor results
- Quaker Oats: 99.4%
- coffee: 99.8%
- Quinoa: 100%
- pet litter: 100%
The E4’s high airflow reveals itself with how well it works on hard floors. She was able to achieve 100% in two of the tests, while the other two were in the 90s.
Even more impressive was how the E4 managed to achieve this result even with fewer passes than the S5 or S5 Max.
Sand test on hard floor
Sand is one of the most difficult items to clean on hard surfaces. And to check that the E4 can handle it, I tossed 50 grams. I ran two tests, one with the balanced setting and one with the max setting.
There were no problems cleaning the E4 sand on hard floors. Was able to capture a file An average of 99.4% in both phases.
The pickup was clean on both runs with few sand traces left.
Hard floor hair wrap test
I spread 1 gram of human hair 5 to 7 inches in diameter in a test area to perform this test. I think this is a good measure of whether or not the robot vacuum has an excellent anti-entanglement system.
The E4 was decent, with most of the hair going into the dustbin. Unfortunately, bits of the seven inch filaments were picked up around the edge of the brush.
This test reveals that although the E4 brush has an anti-tangle system, it is not completely tangle-free.
Edge cleaning
One of the problems with circular robots is poor edge cleaning. The E4 is no exception as the round shape, fast spinning brush and navigation hinder it from cleaning in this area.
While he was able to clean up a decent portion, he did leave a piece of pet litter on the edge and corner. The fast-rotating side brush also scattered bits of it toward the center section.
Carpet results
Next, we’ll look at the E4’s performance on low and mid-range carpets. I used the same batch of debris from previous experiments on this surface.
Low stack results
- Quaker Oats: 95.8%
- Cafe floors: 92.4%
- Quinoa: 100%
- pet litter: 99.6%
The E4 struggled the most with cleaning small particles like ground coffee on low-pile carpeting.
One of the issues I see here is the navigation, as it only circles the test area one and a half times.
If Roborock can tweak the algorithm so that it rotates two or three times, it will improve cleaning performance.
Mid-stack results
- Quaker Oats: 98.4%
- Cafe floors: 89.8%
- Quinoa: 100%
- pet litter: 100%
The scores in the middle of the pile are similar to the low substrate scores. It was very good with clean quinoa and pet litter, but not so good on ground coffee.
Again, the problem is that there are no passes because E4 crossed the area twice at most.
deep cleaning test
To check how well the E4 does cleaning inline dirt, I rub 100g of sand on a medium-pile carpet and run it in one cycle to see how much it picks up. I took the test three times to get an average score.
E4 was able to pick up rate of 69.83%which is a slight disappointment given the higher airflow numbers.
Roll the hair on the carpet
I did a separate test of curling the hair on rugs of the same amount of hair – one gram of five to seven inches of strands.
The E4 performed worse on carpet than on hard floors with more hair wrapping on the brush.
Granted, this is a severe test; However, it does reveal that you will need to check the brush roll and cut the strands that wrap around it.
Big debris test
Capturing large debris will not be an issue with the E4. It has excellent cleaning dynamics and ample clearance to fit even very large items such as fruit rings without clogging.
Can the Roborock E4 Wiper?
Yes, E4 can clear. It comes with a gravity tank similar to the S6 Pure. However, it lacks the electronic water tank found on the S6 MaxV and S5 Max. So it can only cover a smaller area.
To test how effective E4 was at wiping, I sprinkled on drops of red wine and grape juice overnight.
The E4 was able to clean most stains, but it left invisible residue and tire marks in the photo.
It was a bit sticky and definitely needed some more wiping to get it all cleaned up. The water tank was empty after cleaning this small area. So you will need frequent refills and additional pads to clear more space.
If you are looking for an efficient robot and mop combo, I would still prefer Roborock S5 Max, S6 Max in, or the Fiumi V3 Even more with an electronic water tank and more comprehensive navigation.
How long does Roborock E4 last?
The E4 uses the same 5,200mAh Li-ion battery as S-Series robots like the S5, S5 Max, and S6 MaxV.
It will work for up to 200 minutes on a single charge.
Does Roborock E4 Recharge and Resume?
Yes, according to Roborock, this feature is available on the E4.
This is very useful inside large homes. If the battery is low, it recharges enough and then resumes cleaning to complete the task to save time.
Roborock calls this “packaging freight.”
What comes in the box?
The Roborock E4 comes with the following out of the box.
- Robot E4
- charging base
- power cord
- Quick start guide and guide
It does not have an extra filter, side brush or wiping pad/water tank. So you will have to buy these separately.
maintenance
All robot vacuums will require some maintenance to keep them running smoothly. E4 is no exception. Fortunately, filters and brushes are as easily available on sites like Amazon and Walmart if you live in North America. Or stores like GearBest and AliExpress for those who live in Europe and the Far East.
The Xiaomi Home app has a Maintenance tab that alerts users when replacing brushes and filters or cleaning sensors. So it’s something that sometimes has to be looked at to check it out.
Product Spec.
| Model | Roborock E4 |
|---|---|
| the creator | Roborock |
| battery | 5,200 mA |
| the show length | Up to 200 minutes. |
| Water tank capacity | 180 ml |
| Dirt Capacity (Dry) | 640 ml |
| Weight | 7.8 pounds |
| Diameter | 12.62 inches |
| Height | 3.5 inch |
| smart navigation | yes |
| Recharge and resume | yes |
| HEPA filter | yes |
| side brush | yes |
| Extra filter | Nobody |
| Made in | China |
| Guarantee | One year |
| price | Check price |
Where can I buy Roborock E4?
The Roborock E4 is available in online stores such as Amazon. Please check the links below for more details.
Disclaimer: If you purchase through the link above, I will earn a commission, but at no additional cost to you. So it is a win-win for both of us!
Does the Roborock E4 offer excellent value?
The E4 is one of the best robot vacuums out there for the money.
You get a lot of functionality for the price. Probably the most efficient budget bot to navigate with just the right amount of accuracy.
It’s not as comprehensive as premium Roborock options like the S6 Pure or the S6 MaxV, but it might be the only option in this price range that’s capable of efficiently cleaning multiple rooms.
The large 5200mAh battery capacity, recharge and resume enables it to handle large homes. And twice the gyroscope and “optics” enable it to do so without getting lost.
Another feature I like is the app. You will have access to features only found in the premium options, such as daily unlimited schedules with multiple frequency options (weekdays, weekends, custom, etc.).
I haven’t found this level of customization in other brands in this price range.
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Verdict: One of the best budget robot vacuum options
I’m a fan of the Roborock E4 when you think about everything it brings to the table. It has advanced airflow, efficient navigation, large dustbin, long runtime, and applicability with features only found on premium models.
It’s the only alternative under the $300 range I know with recharge and resume, which means if it’s low and doesn’t complete the cycle, it recharges and then resumes to finish the job.
To summarize, here are reasons to buy the Roborock E4:
- HIGH AIRFLOW: E4 has excellent airflow at more than 20 CFM, the same level as premium options like Roomba S9+ and Neato D7.
- Great on hard floors: High airflow translates to excellent pickup on hard surfaces, scoring close to 100%.
- Efficient Mobility: Even without LIDAR, the E4 will navigate efficiently, even around tight spaces around chairs. It’s the only option (apart from the E25 and E35) I’d recommend in this price range for cleaning larger homes.
- Extended Runtime: The 5200mAh Li-ion battery will last up to 200 minutes.
- Feature-rich app: The Xiaomi Home app has a lot of functionality, with features only found in the premium options.
One of the best budget robot vacuum options
- Mobility – 94%
- Surface cleaning – 98.73%
- deep cleaning – 69.86%
- Quality – 95%
- Design – 94%
- Values - 98%
- TOTAL AVERAGE: 92%
summary
The Roborock E4 is one of the best budget robot vacuums I’ve tested under $300. It’s so far the only one I’d recommend for cleaning large homes due to the large 5200mAh battery and efficient navigation, recharging and resuming. It has a high airflow that rivals high-end robots, but the navigation, I feel, lacks precision, which hurts it somewhat in the cleaning tests. The app is feature-rich with advanced scheduling features and customizations that are only found in the premium options. This is an excellent option for people who are looking for a budget robot capable of efficiently navigating large spaces.