Roborock F25 Ultra Review: The Steam-Powered Wet Vacuum that changes everything

My first steam mop from Bissell a few years back gave me a taste of what I wanted to achieve – very clean, bacteria-free floors. But I was not satisfied enough. It was corded, making mopping feel like a chore and a hassle. I also expected to be able to see the steam coming out of the mop visually, but it didn’t. Now, with the Roborock F25 Ultra, it feels like a dream come true – and more.

The Roborock F25 Ultra is the industry’s first wet and dry vacuum cleaner featuring two powerful high-temperature cleaning modes: steam and hot water. This isn’t just another cordless vacuum with a mop attachment like we’ve seen for the past year – it’s a comprehensive floor cleaning solution that vacuums, mops, steams, self-cleans, and dries with a level of sophistication I haven’t seen before.

ROBOROCK F25 ULTRA REVIEW – PACKAGING CONTENTS

ROBOROCK F25 ULTRA REVIEW – DESIGN AND FEATURES

The Steam Mode is definitely my most favourite feature of the Roborock F25 Ultra and I just can’t get enough of using it. Sure, it’s meant to be switched to tackle stubborn dirt on your floor, but I ended up switching to it almost all the time – not just because it looks so cool with the steam vapour coming out from it, but also because it would kill bacteria and mould easily with that high temperature. Plus, it cleans better regardless of what you’re tackling. I’m always surprised to see how dirty my dirty water tank is after each cleaning session.

The steam system delivers an impressive 2,000mg per minute through six strategically positioned outlets at an optimised 48-degree angle. This spreads steam across the full cleaning width, meaning you’re not missing any spots. The temperature reaches 180°C, which is hot enough to blast through dried-on messes and stubborn stains without needing any chemicals. Tomato sauce and ketchups are just some examples that my 1 year old left on the floor when he’s eating.

However, I realise the Steam mode is using a good amount of water and at times, I can see light water streaks on my light-grey, glossy tiles. They dry up eventually though, and I actually see less streaking on wooden floors in other areas of my house. For the steam to work, you’ll have to wait for about a minute as the machine prepares the steam – though you can still start mopping if you want to.

The Hot Water mode operates at 86°C and is designed to dissolve greasy build-up in the kitchen and dining room. Roborock claims a 100% cooking oil removal rate, and from my testing, it handles kitchen spills and grease impressively well. The system uses 32 outlets to evenly heat the roller, ensuring consistent cleaning performance across the entire brush.

The built-in non-hazardous descaler box and filter prevent scale formation and protect pipes from clogging for up to three years. This is a practical consideration for longevity, especially if you have hard water in your area.

AUTO Mode is most likely the mode you’ll be on most of the time. It’s a no-brainer mode that lets the machine sense and decide what to do through its DirTect dirt detection system. The vacuum automatically adjusts cleaning power based on how dirty your floors are, which means you don’t need to constantly think about switching modes. This leaves the floor almost dry with no visible water streaks so if you just want a straight, drier floor after mopping, this is it.

The F25 Ultra packs serious suction power at 22,000 Pa, combined with 33N of downward cleaning pressure. This dual approach means it handles both wet and dry messes in a single stroke. I’ve thrown everything at it – spilled cereal with milk, muddy footprints, pet hair, and general dust – and it clears them all effectively.

The Blue Light Illumination illuminates hidden dust and fine particles that you’d normally miss under regular lighting. Quite helpful.

It is very easy to manoeuvre the F25 Ultra, due to the extra help you get through the SlideTech 2.0 system. This enhanced dual brushless motor setup independently controls each wheel, delivering ultra-smooth movement with millisecond response times. The system makes tight turns effortless whether you’re pushing or pulling.

Even my 5-year-old found it super easy to handle and he was having fun cleaning the house with it. That’s a testament to how well the assisted movement works – if a child can navigate it smoothly, anyone can. Through the app, you can also tweak the amount of assist it gives.

The lowered tank design combined with a 70-degree swivel lets it glide around furniture and obstacles without the awkward wrestling you get with bulkier machines. I really like the slim 12.5cm flat design, unlike the Tineco machines I’ve used and reviewed. This makes it easy to clean under tables and cupboards where traditional vacuums struggle to reach. The design maintains full suction even when laid completely flat at 180 degrees.

There’s even a remote-controlled feature where you can use the app to control the unit when it’s laid flat. It’s crazy, but actually practical when you need to push it under low furniture from a distance like underneath a king-sized bed frame in our Master Bedroom.

The dock serves as both the charging station and cleaning station for the roller. I really like how it’s cleaned and dried with high temperature at 90°C. Not only is this effective at killing germs, but it also makes drying much quicker. There’s even an option in the app to select 150°C steam disinfection for extra peace of mind – that means a removal rate of over 99.99% of bacteria.

You can choose between 30-minute quiet drying or 5-minute fast drying, depending on your needs (the quiet drying is handy when I need to clean up the house but my 1 year old is sleeping in the room nearby). I can confirm that the roller brush is left completely dry after the process so this is another amazing thing about the machine. You no longer need to hang the roller outside to dry, which was always a pain and a hassle with my old steam mop machine.

The F25 Ultra features a detachable wet-and-dry separation module in the dirty water tank. It has anti-tangle technology, and all hairs and dry dirt are separated from the water tank automatically. This makes maintenance and cleaning after each session way easier than expected. The JawScrapers system features a constant-pressure scraper to prevent watermarks and shark-tooth blades that capture hairs for a smooth, streak-free finish. In practice, this means less time dealing with tangled hair around the roller – something that plagued every previous wet vacuum I’ve tested.

The F25 Ultra delivers up to 60 minutes of runtime in AUTO Mode, which translates to approximately 500 square metres of cleaning area per charge. The 1,000ml clean water tank provides good capacity for larger homes without constant refilling. In real-world use, I found the battery life adequate for my entire home in one go, though using Steam Mode more frequently seems to drain it faster due to the higher power requirements.

The Roborock app provides useful customisation options. You can adjust the assistance level for manoeuvring, select cleaning modes, control the self-cleaning process, and even get voice alerts for various statuses. The remote control feature for flat-mode cleaning is accessible through the app as well.

The app isn’t essential for daily use – you can operate everything from the handle controls – but it adds convenience for those who want more granular control over their cleaning experience.

ROBOROCK F25 ULTRA REVIEW CONCLUSION

This is definitely the ultimate cleaning machine I’ve ever had and used so far. The Roborock F25 Ultra delivers on its promise of hassle-free, powerful floor cleaning through its innovative dual high-temperature cleaning system. The combination of 180°C steam and 86°C hot water cleaning, paired with strong suction and intelligent features, makes this a standout product in the wet vacuum category.

The Steam Mode alone justifies the investment for anyone serious about floor hygiene and cleanliness. Add in the effortless manoeuvrability, slim design for under-furniture cleaning, and the truly effective self-cleaning dock that leaves the roller completely dry and shiny, and you have a machine that transforms floor cleaning from a chore into something very enjoyable to use and have.

I’d highly recommend the Roborock F25 Ultra to everyone I know who wants properly clean, sanitised floors without the hassle of corded devices or manual steam mops. It’s an investment in both cleanliness and convenience that delivers on both fronts.

If you ask me what my favourite product to review this past year was, the Roborock F25 Ultra is it. It retails for A$1,499 and is available now for purchase.

Disclosure: Roborock F25 Ultra review sample was supplied for reviewing