Roborock Qrevo Slim review: How good is the ultra-slim robot vacuum without a laser tower?
Marcus Schwarten, 👁 Marcus Schwarten (translated by Daisy Dickson) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
At IFA 2024, Roborock officially presented its new Qrevo Slim alongside the Qrevo Curv. A few weeks later, the vacuum and mopping robot, which is ultra-slim thanks to its lack of a laser tower, is now available to buy.
But how good is the Roborock Qrevo Slim actually? Can its new StarSight system keep up with the established LiDAR technology used by most of its competitors in their laser towers? These and many more questions will be answered in our review of the Roborock Qrevo Slim.
Connectivity: StarSight system instead of a laser tower
An initial glance at the Roborock Qrevo Slim will reveal its special feature immediately. The usual laser tower that sits enthroned on the vast majority of robot vacuum cleaners, such as the otherwise very similar Roborock Qrevo Master ($1,399.99 on Amazon), is nowhere to be found on this model.
However, with a recommended retail price of around $1,400, this is no cheap vacuum that, for example, uses a gyroscope to navigate through its surroundings, or one that relies exclusively on camera navigation, which comes with its own weaknesses.
Instead, Roborock relies on a new technology called StarSight, which is based on lasers and 3D time-of-flight (ToF). It promises not only precise navigation but also reliable obstacle detection based on thousands of small and invisible sensor points that the robot permanently emits, as well as the 3D sensors built into the front and rear and an RGB camera. According to the manufacturer, 73 different objects from 3x3 cm in size can be detected. We will discuss how well this works in practice in our Roborock Qrevo Slim test report below.
The advantage of axing the classic laser tower on the top is its lower overall height. The Qrevo Slim measures in at just 8.2 cm tall. That's around 2 cm less than many other models.
Although that doesn't sound like much at first, it's actually a considerable 20 percent flatter. And when navigating under furniture and other obstacles, it can be the decisive centimeters that make the difference between success and failure—in other words, whether or not it can clean under a cupboard, for example. The prerequisite is, of course, that it is not a lazy compromise and that its lower height doesn't lead to navigation weaknesses.
Otherwise, the Qrevo Slim offers almost everything we already know from other Roborock models in this price range—apart from the AdaptLift case of the brand-new Qrevo Curv. The ultra-slim robot vacuum boasts 11,000 Pa suction power and the Roborock Carpet Boost+ system. On the bottom, the manufacturer has installed the DuoRoller Riser brushes already familiar from the S8 models, i.e. two lifting and counter-rotating solid rubber brushes. The side brush can also be extended thanks to the FlexiArm, making it easier to get into corners.
In theory, it should be able to mop without leaving any edges untouched, as one of the two mops—each rotating at 200 revolutions per minute—can additionally be extended sideways. With the help of DirTect technology, the robot adapts its cleaning strategy to the level of soiling, for example increasing the suction power in the case of there being a lot of dirt and the water flow in the case of stains.
Naturally, the Roborock Qrevo Slim comes with a comprehensive cleaning station. The multifunctional docking station 3.0 not only vacuums the robot's 220-ml dust container and collects the dirt into a 2.7-liter dust bag—two of which are included in the scope of delivery.
It also takes care of the mopping function. First, the mops are washed using 60 °C hot water. If required, the duration can be adjusted to the degree of soiling using intelligent dirt detection. The station also triggers additional floor cleaning for stubborn dirt.
This is followed by drying using warm air. Before its next use, the robot's rather small 72-ml water tank is filled from the docking station's 4-liter fresh water tank. However, the Roborock Qrevo Slim doesn't have an automatic detergent dispenser.
Roborock Qrevo Slim in comparison to the Roborock Qrevo Master
| Feature/model | Roborock Qrevo Slim | Roborock Qrevo Master |
|---|---|---|
| Navigation | StarSight | LiDAR |
| Obstacle avoidance | StarSight | Reactive AI |
| Suction power | 11,000 Pa | 10,000 Pa |
| Main brush | DuoRoller Riser | DuRoller Riser |
| Side brush extendable? | yes | yes |
| Mops | two rotating mops | two rotating mops |
| Mop extendable? | yes | yes |
| Mops liftable? | 10 mm | 10 mm |
| Dust bag size | 2.7 liters | 2.7 liters |
| Fresh water tank size | 4.0 liters | 4.0 liters |
| Waste water tank size | 3.5 liters | 3.5 liters |
| Overcoming obstacles | max. 20 mm | max. 20 mm |
| Max. runtimes | 180 min | 180 min |
| Suction station? | yes | yes |
| Mop cleaning? | yes | yes |
| Hot water cleaning? | yes | yes |
| Warm air drying? | yes | yes |
| Voice assistant? | yes | yes |
| Robot height | 8.2 cm | 10.2 cm |
| Price (MRSP) | 1,299 euros (approx. $1,400) | 1,299 euros (approx. $1,400) |
Setup and app: Familiar and sophisticated with lots of features
Before its first cleaning process, the Qrevo Slim first has to be set up in the usual manner using the Roborock app, which is available free of charge for Android and iOS. The process is well explained in the app and worked without any problems during our test. Anyone who has already set up a robot vacuum from Roborock or another manufacturer will encounter a familiar procedure.
First, click on the plus sign in the top right-hand corner of the overview to add a new device. Then scan the QR code, which can be found under the magnetically attached (but magically dust-attracting) cover on the top of the Qrevo Slim. Now all you have to do is connect to your home Wi-Fi and the Qrevo Slim is ready for use.
Before it can really get started cleaning your floor, it requires a short orientation drive during which the robot uses its sensors to get to know its surroundings and creates a virtual map (of up to four possible ones).
This can then be revised and perfected in the usual way, e.g. by naming individual rooms, creating exclusion zones or setting the cleaning sequence.
The Roborock Qrevo Slim is sent to work via the large Play button at the bottom. If the "SmartPlan" mode is activated by default, the robot uses AI and sensors to create a supposedly intelligent cleaning plan on its own.
Alternatively, you can specify whether it should vacuum and mop, only vacuum or only mop. In addition, the suction power (up to five levels depending on the mode), the amount of water (in three predefined settings and custom), the number of cleanings (once or twice) and the route taken (Fast, Standard, Thorough or Thorough+) can all be set individually.
While working, the Roborock app shows its progress on the virtual map. It also displays text to show what is currently being done, how many square meters have already been covered, how long it has taken and how full the battery is.
The menu can be accessed via the three-dot icon at the top right of the device entry. Not only can its cleaning history be found there, but there are also numerous options relating to the floor cleaning settings (carpet, FlexiArm, automatic re-mopping, etc.) and the docking station (mop wash interval and mode, emptying, drying time, etc.).
Users also have the option to create cleaning plans, refine the robot's reactive obstacle avoidance, receive information on its maintenance, download optional firmware updates and access an AI lab with features that are not yet officially available to try out.
Furthermore, the Roborock app offers a video ride-on feature on its Qrevo Slim, which we already know from other top-of-the-range models. This means that the robot's front camera can be accessed live (after prior activation including safety precautions) in order to ride along live on your cell phone screen. A nice gimmick that can be used in combination with the remote control for monitoring (e.g. pets) and taking snapshots.
In addition to app control on a smartphone or tablet including a launcher widget, Roborock also offers an Apple Watch app. Moreover, the Qrevo Slim can be commanded using your voice. This can be done via Roborock's own voice assistant "Hello Rocky", which worked reliably most of the time during our practical test. However, it was sometimes a little hard to hear. Alternatively, it is possible to use Amazon Alexa, Google Home and Apple Siri. The Qrevo Slim also supports the Matter standard, meaning it is ready for even more extensive networking.
Roborock has additionally installed the three usual buttons that control the most important commands such as "start cleaning" or "send home" in the usual manner on the robot. These are arranged in a round element where the laser tower is usually enthroned. So Roborock hasn't completely moved away from the classic design, but it does cut a good figure visually.
Navigation and obstacle recognition: Works even without a laser tower
We were particularly excited about the new navigation solution when testing the Roborock Qrevo Slim. Can it keep up with the established and familiar LiDAR navigation used inside laser towers? The short and sweet answer is yes.
In our practical test, the Qrevo Slim only showed minimal abnormalities. As a rule, it navigated through our test area as reliably and carefully as alternative models in this price range featuring a laser setup. Only very rarely did it appear somewhat disoriented, for example, it only occasionally wandered back to the station for any length of time. However, the same can also happen to laser tower vacuum robots. In addition, one time, our test device didn't follow a virtual exclusion zone as precisely as it did the other times.
The Roborock Qrevo Slim's obstacle detection worked well for the most part during the test. It reliably detected and avoided thin, black chair legs—this hasn't been the case with every robot vacuum we have tested in the past.
Plus, almost all the other test obstacles were recognized and mostly narrowly avoided. Even a Lego tower measuring just 3 x 2 cm in width and height and made of two classic 4x2 bricks—which is therefore even smaller than the manufacturer's specifications—did not fall victim to the device. It had already been ruthlessly knocked over by several other models.
The Qrevo Slim only failed with a single 4x2 Lego brick (approx. 3 x 1 cm), a thin cable and a shoelace hanging out of a shoe. As a result, you should continue to tuck shoelaces into shoes standing around so that they aren't sucked up by the robot vacuum, which usually leads to tangling and an error message appearing quite quickly.
Even in almost complete darkness, its navigation and obstacle detection worked reliably for the most part. The robot then switched on a small spotlight for its front camera.
The robot overcame a rounded, 1.5-cm tall wooden strip as a dummy for a door threshold without any problems. According to the manufacturer, a maximum of 20 mm is possible.
Vacuuming and mopping: Does its job really well
When vacuuming and mopping, the Qrevo Slim reliably detected carpets in our practical test; it optionally increased the suction power and raised its mop pads by 10 mm. This is slightly less than some other models, but is at least sufficient for short-pile carpets to prevent them from getting wet and dirty. For high-pile carpets, on the other hand, it is advisable to only vacuum them and run dry mop pads over them. This is because the Roborock Qrevo Slim cannot lay down its two mops, unlike the Dreame L40 Ultra, for example.
With its suction power of up to 11,000 Pa, the Qrevo Slim also managed to vacuum a lot of crumbs and other dirt out of a high-pile carpet. It wasn't perfectly clean afterwards, but it was still satisfactory. Its suction power is perfectly adequate for short carpets and smooth floors. The concealed squeegee on the double rubber brush worked for the most part during our test. However, a few long hairs did get tangled up there by the end of the test period—not to mention around the small side brush.
When mopping, the robot sometimes leaves the usual round tracks, as is the case with virtually all models that have two rotating mops. Overall, however, the Roborock Qrevo Slim's mopping function worked well. During the endurance test with a large amount of slightly dried ketchup on some tiles, it removed virtually all traces after cleaning twice with the maximum amount of water and double mopping.
The cleaning station, which is used to clean the mops at adjustable intervals, was then called upon. Apart from a few ketchup residues on the edge, it got the mops largely clean again. Not only does its hot water cleaning positively impact the result, but also its intelligent dirt detection, which extends the mop washing process depending on how dirty they are. The base of the station is self-cleaning and can also be completely removed.
A practical feature is that both the side brush and one of the two mops can be extended thanks to the FlexiArm design. This ensures more thorough cleaning in corners and along edges.
Noise emissions and power consumption: No surprises during our test
For one run with normal suction power, medium water level and a single standard cleaning of our test map—which consisted of an area of 25 square meters and four rooms with predominantly smooth floors—the Qrevo Slim needed around 35 minutes and just under 20 percent battery charge.
With one charge of its 5,200 mAh battery and the above settings, the Roborock Qrevo Slim cleaned around 110 square meters during our test (with several runs of the 25 square meter map) until it returned to the base to recharge after around 140 minutes with 15 percent battery power remaining.
The charging process to 100 percent then took around three hours and consumed a good 80 Wh, charging at up to 30 watts. Its standby consumption is 3 watts, while its maximum power consumption when cleaning in the station is approx. 1,250 watts.
If you use the Roborock Qrevo Slim to clean a 100-square-meter home daily—including subsequent mop drying over the preset three hours—and connect it to the mains for the rest of the time, its power consumption is a good 400 Wh per day or 12 kWh per month according to our measurements.
Then there are the costs for the dust bags. Two are included (one is pre-installed). The manufacturer promises up to 7 weeks of operation per bag without needing to replace it. In practice, of course, this depends on the amount of dirt (e.g. higher with pets), the frequency of use and the surface to be cleaned. The original six-pack of dust bags from Roborock has an MRSP of just over $30, but is usually available for less online. However, there are also non-name alternatives available for significantly less.
At around 72 dB (measured from a distance of 1 meter), the Roborock Qrevo Slim is normally the loudest when vacuuming its dust container, which is comparable to a classic vacuum cleaner. When vacuuming and mopping at normal suction power, the noise level is around 58 dB, which is audible but not particularly annoying. At maximum power, the level rises to around 70 dB. When drying the mops, the station makes a noise of around 37 dB and thus remains reasonably discreet in the background.
Pros
+ low build heigh thanks to the StarSight system without a laser tower
+ reliable navigation
+ good obstacle recognition
+ cleaning performance
+ extensive cleaning station
+ sophisticated app with wide range of features
Cons
– rare navigation issues
– expensive
– no detergent dosage
Roborock Qrevo Slim review verdict: StarSight reaches for the stars
All-in-all, the Roborock Qrevo Slim made a good impression during our test—even without a laser tower. Its cleaning performance is more than satisfactory, especially on hard floors, which are predestined for robot hoovers. It also performs well on carpets, but faces the usual issues when the pile gets too high.
The StarSight system worked reliably for the most part in practice. It only very rarely showed slight interruptions, but other robot vacuum cleaners in this price range are by no means completely immune to this.
Overall, the Roborock Qrevo Slim is a well-equipped robot vacuum and mop that offers almost everything that is commonplace today in the price range above $1,000. The side brush and mop extend to take care of corners and edges. Thanks to its low height, it cleans particularly well under furniture.
Roborock is pursuing an interesting approach with its Qrevo Slim, which we believe has worked best so far in our practical tests compared to other models without a laser tower. Even so, there is still some room for improvement here. Overall, however, a mature performance despite its innovative navigation solution.
If you don't necessarily need the low height, the Roborock Qrevo Master or the L40 Ultra from competitor Dreame are comparable alternatives, some of which are a little cheaper.
Price and availability
In the United States, the new Roborock Qrevo Slim is not yet available to purchase, but you can visit Roborock's website to find out as soon as it is. It will likely retail for around $1,400.
You can find the Roborock Qrevo Curv on Amazon for $1,599.99.
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
