Last year, we took a look at the pair of neat gadgets from Roborock with the S6 Pure and H6 Cordless Stick Vacuum. The company is back again with another fun tool to help you keep your gaming setup (and the rest of your house!) looking its best with the H7. It builds on everything that made the H6 great and is one of the most versatile modern home tools we’ve had the pleasure of testing. Buckle in, because it’s time for another edition of Just Fun Tech, clean home edition.
Specifications
- Current Price: $499 (Amazon)
- Model: H7
- Key Features
- Long-Lasting Power with 90-minute runtime and fast recharge
- Extreme 160AW suction with extensive air filtration
- Featherweight and agile
- Magnetic accessory storage
- Dust bag support
- Multi-surface brush
- Deeper carpet cleaning
- Child lock and an OLED screen for easy use
- Washable and reusable filters and dustbin
- Color: Space Silver
- Motor Voltage: 480W
- Suction: 160AW
- Noise:75dB
- Battery Capacity: 80Wh, 3610mah Lithium Polymer battery
- Using Time:
- 8 minutes – High Power Mode
- 45 minutes – Standard Mode
- 90 minutes – Eco Mode
- Charging Time: 2.5h
- Dust Tank Capacity: 0.5L
- Dimensions: 11 x 4 x 9 inches
- Weight: 3.2 pounds
Not Your Parent’s Vacuum Cleaner
The Roborock H7 might not be the first thing you think about when you think “smart home” but believe me when I say it fits right in. Even though it doesn’t have online features or voice controls through Google or Alexa, it’s a device that screams modernity and intelligent design. It’s modular, a shapeshifter if ever there was one, and is easier to use and store. Like Roborock’s line of robotic vacuums, it feels like a step into the future.
Modularity is one of its biggest selling points. The suction power is all handled inside of a small, lightweight motor that lives just in front of the handle and above the dust collection compartment. At the front is an adapter that will mate with any of the half dozen included accessories. The H7 comes with a baton, allowing it to be used like an upright vacuum, an extendable flex tube, a crevice tool, a dusting brush, a motorized mini brush (perfect for getting pet hair out of couches and recliners), and the full-size vacuum head. In just a few seconds, it can transform from a lightweight standing vacuum to a portable hand-vac for cleaning up small messes or vacuuming dust from your gaming PC or console.
The H7 is remarkably small for the amount of power it offers. The vacuum portion (the handle, motor, and collection bin, not the accessories) is only 11 x 4 x 9 inches; not much larger than a standard hand-vac. More importantly, it only weighs 3.2 pounds. Don’t underestimate what a game-changer this is. Compared to a full-size upright vacuum, the H7 is much more convenient, especially in a home with stairs. It makes the chore of vacuuming, well, less of a chore.
When it comes to suction power, I was surprised to find that the H7 manages to improve on the original. It now provides 160AW of suction, compared to the H6’s 150AW. This is still slightly less than a full-size upright vacuum but not by much as you would expect given its smaller size. The Dyson Ball Multifloor offers 196AW but is five times the weight and tethers you with a cord.
Roborock has also improved battery life and charging. The vacuum supports three levels of suction power, High, Standard, and Eco. At its highest setting, you can expect about eight minutes of continuous vacuuming. That may not sound like much, but consider this for your toughest vacuuming tasks. At Standard Mode, that jumps to 45 minutes, and in Eco Mode, it’s up to 90. Charging time has also been reduced from 3-4 hours to only 2.5 from a completely dead battery.
This isn’t a device without sacrifices. Like any cordless vacuum, you’ll feel that reduced suction power at times. And, yes, there will likely be times when you’ll need more than 8 minutes at maximum power. That’s the balancing act of this type of vacuum and something you just have to live with.
Another small but meaningful upgrade is with the charging stand. Like the H6, the H7 comes with a wall-mount so it can easily be hung up and charged so it’s always ready to go. This generation uses magnets to hold the accessories. Versus the usual clips offered by most vacuums, it’s a great solution that makes accessing and storing accessories more convenient.
Finally, the H7 now features support for dust bags. This is a welcome addition that helps keep the vacuum looking tidier over time. The dust chamber on the H6 could become grungy over time and would need to be scrubbed. The dust bags save all of that at the expense of buying more bags.
Performance
To test the H7, we used it in my home for several weeks. While it’s not a lab setting, I lead a family of six that includes four children under the age of 8, three cats, and a dog. The lab can keep its tests: this is as real-world as it gets.
Compared to the H6, the H7 felt more convenient and reliable to use. Functionally, they are very similar. Both are modular and adaptable to different situations, but the slight boost to suction power is noticeable. This is especially true reaching under beds for dust bunnies and pulling cat hair from comforters and couch cushions. Using the small motorized head on the H6, it would sometimes get jammed on cushions that were too plush. The H7 only experienced this when really pressed into the cushions, making it more effective for daily use.
I’m a big fan of the new wall mount system. Magnetic attachments are just easier to use compared to the last wall mount. This is a device that’s all about convenience. It should be easy to grab in a pinch, clean up a mess, and put back. It might not seem like much, but the wall mount absolutely contributes to its overall ease of use.
While I don’t have a Dyson to compare with, it’s clear that Roborock is aiming at the same audience as the Dyson V10 Cyclone. On paper, Roborock has multiple advantages in more suction, more battery life, and faster recharge time, all while being 2.7 pounds lighter. These are significant advantages, especially given their identical price. Point Roborock, at least on paper (I’ll update this review if I’m able to try the V10 for myself).
There are times when we still pulled out the big, bulky vacuum cleaner. When there was stubborn animal hair caught in the couch cushions, we needed the greater suction. But it’s never felt more cumbersome. Lugging that vacuum up and down the stairs is a chore all in itself and not one my wife or I want to continue.
I also love the versatility of its modular design. I recently used it to clean the dust from my PS5 and Xbox Series X using the crevice tool. I also used it to get behind my desk into the nooks and crannies by the baseboards. Another benefit is being able to clean my soft floor pad under my gaming chair, something I’m afraid to do with my fullsize vacuum out of concern it will damage the printed pattern. This modularity is even better if you disconnect the accessories every time. You simply pull it off the wall-mount, snap on what you need an go, perfect for kid-sized messes. The adaptability and effectiveness are its greatest features.
Final Thoughts
The Roborock H7 is a great modular vacuum. It may not be a smart device, but it certainly feels like a core element of a modern, tech-driven household. After getting used to a small and lightweight vac like this, it’s hard to go back to the bulky vacuums of yesteryear. You sacrifice some suction power, but it’s a worth investment to make vacuuming faster and easier, especially in those areas a robot vacuum can’t get to.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes.
