This Roborock F25 Ultra review finds a well-above-average mopper that is unusually easy to steer, but its best everyday results came in plain auto mode rather than steam, according to Vacuum Wars, an independent YouTube testing channel that bought one with its own money.
Roborock calls it the industry’s first cordless vacuum mop to offer both steam and hot water cleaning, and Amazon listed the F25 Ultra Steam at $469.99 on October 16, 2026.
Roborock F25 Ultra review: key specs
Prices checked on Amazon Oct 16, 2026. I may earn a commission from links, at no cost to you.
| Roborock F25 Ultra Steam | Roborock F25 XT | Tineco Floor ONE S9 Artist Steam | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | 356°F steam and 187°F hot water (listed) | Hot self-clean only (listed) | 320°F steam (listed) |
| Suction | 22,000Pa (listed) | 20,000Pa (listed) | 22kPa (listed) |
| Runtime | Up to 60 min in auto, per Vacuum Wars | See listing | Up to 75 min (listed) |
| Roller drying | 203°F hot air (listed) | 194°F, 5-min fast or 20-min quiet (listed) | 185°F hot air (listed) |
| Notable | SlideTech 2.0 powered wheels; app remote steering | AI-assisted wheels; auto solution; triple edge cleaning | Lays flat to about 5 inches; DualBlock anti-tangle scrapers |
| Buy | Check price | Check price | Check price |
What makes the F25 Ultra different
Roborock pairs two heated modes. VaporFlow is steam: Roborock lists 356°F steam released through outlets aimed at the floor, which Vacuum Wars said loosens dried-on messes without relying on cleaning solution. WaveFlow is hot water: Roborock lists 187°F water pushed through 32 nozzles to saturate the roller, designed for greasy kitchen and dining floors. Vacuum Wars also noted a built-in anti-scale system that Roborock says protects the internal pipes for up to three years.
Roborock F25 Ultra review: test results
- Stain test: 141 points in auto mode, just above Vacuum Wars’ 140-point running average.
- Water left behind: 0.8 g against a 1 g average, which Vacuum Wars said means less streaking and faster drying.
- Combined mopping score: 151.5 points versus a 115-point average across every hard floor cleaner the channel has tested.
- Floorhead suction: 1.05 kPa, slightly below the 1.17 kPa average, which Vacuum Wars said did not seem to hurt its cleaning.
- Weight: 5,506 g, about 12.1 lb, versus an average of about 4,670 g.
The surprise: Vacuum Wars got its best stain result in auto mode. Steam and hot water did fine but did not pull ahead, so the channel recommends auto for everyday cleaning, steam for stubborn dried-on messes or sanitizing, and hot water for greasy kitchen floors.
Runtime by mode
Vacuum Wars listed up to 60 minutes in auto mode, well above the roughly 35-minute average it sees, but said steam and hot water modes drop that to about 15 to 25 minutes. The French Glow measured close to 25 minutes in steam-only mode and noted the battery stops at about 15% and asks to return to the base. For whole-home cleaning, auto mode is the practical choice, both reviewers said.
Self-cleaning and the dirty tank
Roborock lists a self-clean that uses 356°F steam and 194°F water on the roller, then 203°F hot air to dry it, which Vacuum Wars timed at about five minutes. The dirty tank has a removable mesh separator that catches hair and crumbs so the liquid drains away separately, which Vacuum Wars said makes emptying noticeably less unpleasant. You still need to empty and rinse the dirty tank after each self-clean.
Handling: SlideTech 2.0
Roborock’s AI-assisted wheels use two brushless motors to drive each wheel independently. Combined with a 70-degree swivel and a lowered 1-liter tank, Vacuum Wars called it one of the easiest machines to maneuver in its whole lineup, even with the extra weight. It also lays flat to reach under furniture as low as 4.9 inches, and you can steer it under a bed or sofa with the Roborock app.
Roborock F25 Ultra vs Tineco S9 Artist Steam
The French Glow, a YouTube home-cleaning reviewer, compared the two flagship steam models after months of use. Both lifted dried coffee and ground beans with steam, and both handled a peanut butter test, which he uses to see whether sticky messes travel cleanly into the dirty tank. His verdict: the Tineco Floor ONE S9 Artist Steam is better if you plan to use steam often, because its bigger battery gave him about 40 to 45 minutes on steam versus about 25 for the Roborock. The Roborock F25 Ultra Steam is the better everyday value, he said, because it is cheaper and has a separate automatic detergent tank.
That detergent tank matters, The French Glow explained. The Tineco says no solution in steam mode, so switching between soapy mopping and steam means emptying and rinsing the tank. The Roborock keeps solution and water separate, so you can switch modes without changing the water, and its self-clean runs with soap. He also found the Roborock’s wider dirty tank easier to scrub out by hand.
Is there a cheaper Roborock?
The Roborock F25 XT ($359.99) drops steam and hot-water mopping but keeps 20,000Pa listed suction, AI-assisted wheels, automatic solution dispensing and 194°F roller drying with a five-minute fast mode, according to Roborock’s listing. Just A Dad Approved also named the Roborock F25 GT as a budget model whose base station dries the roller.
Verdict
Buy the F25 Ultra if you want steam and hot water in one cordless machine and value easy steering, and plan to do most cleaning in auto mode. Buy the Tineco S9 Artist Steam if long steam sessions matter most. For every top pick across brands, see Best Wet Dry Vacuum Mop.
Video: Vacuum Wars: “Roborock F25 Ultra Vacuum Mop Review – Our Final Verdict”. Embedded with credit; the findings are the creator’s own.
Video: The French Glow: “Tineco S9 Artist Steam vs Roborock F25 ULTRA – Don’t Buy the Wrong One!”. Embedded with credit; the findings are the creator’s own.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Roborock F25 Ultra worth it?
Vacuum Wars called it one of the most feature-rich hard floor cleaners it has tested, with well-above-average mopping and easy handling. The French Glow called it the better everyday value than the Tineco S9 Artist Steam.
How long does the Roborock F25 Ultra battery last?
Up to about 60 minutes in auto mode and about 15 to 25 minutes in steam or hot-water mode, according to Vacuum Wars.
How hot is the Roborock F25 Ultra steam?
Roborock lists 356°F steam and 187°F hot water.
How heavy is the Roborock F25 Ultra?
Vacuum Wars weighed it at 5,506 g, about 12.1 lb.
Can you use cleaning solution in steam mode?
The F25 Ultra has a separate automatic detergent tank, so you can switch modes without emptying the water tank, The French Glow said.
Sources
- Amazon product listings for the products linked above, checked October 16, 2026
- Vacuum Wars: “Roborock F25 Ultra Vacuum Mop Review – Our Final Verdict”
- The French Glow: “Tineco S9 Artist Steam vs Roborock F25 ULTRA – Don’t Buy the Wrong One!”
- Just A Dad Approved: “$20,000 of Wet Dry Vacuums Tested — Here Are the Winners”
Related: Best Wet Dry Vacuum Mop | Tineco vs Bissell CrossWave | Wet Dry Vacuum vs Steam Mop | How to Clean a Wet Dry Vacuum
Notes and disclosure
Note: Prices come from Amazon listings checked on October 16, 2026. Prices change often, so check the current listing. Suction, runtime, temperature and tank figures are the manufacturers’ listed numbers unless a reviewer is credited. Test scores belong to the reviewers named in each section. Test results and tips quoted above come from the YouTube creators credited in each section; they are their findings, not hands-on claims from me.
Affiliate Disclosure: If you purchase an item through the links on this page, I may receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel.