I don’t know about you, but I loathe mopping the floor. It's the most annoying, tedious, and unrewarding chore. So, when the first robotic vacuums entered our lives, I thought, “Okay, nice, but when will they invent something that does the real dirty work?” Recently, the electronics chain BUG introduced the most advanced model from Roborock, the S8 MaxV Ultra, which promises to be the solution I’ve been waiting for. Does it deliver? I spent several weeks with it—or more precisely, I spent time doing other things while the S8 cleaned my floors—and here are my conclusions.
Docking Station
Let’s start with the end—and the less glamorous part: Roborock has indeed reduced the docking station to a more compact and visually pleasing design, but let's be honest—it’s not exactly the beauty queen of docking stations. Why the less attractive look? Well, the tanks sitting on top of the station—one for clean water and one for dirty water—aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing. They do have built-in handles, which makes them easy to detach and carry to the sink, but let's admit it, it’s not exactly chic, and it would have been better to conceal them.
The front panel of the S8 MaxV Ultra easily detaches, revealing the dustbin that automatically empties into a disposable bag. While the disposable bags prevent the familiar dust cloud associated with cleaning traditional vacuums, they also add extra cost for the user. However, each bag should last for about seven weeks, so the expense isn’t frequent. Unlike other vacuums, filling the cleaning solution here is automatic, using a dedicated tank. Additionally, the station self-cleans, and the mop and docking base dry at 60°C to prevent mold and odors.
The Robot
The S8 MaxV Ultra retains the clean and elegant lines characteristic of previous Roborock models. The glossy white finish and minimalist design blend well with any home environment. The buttons on the robot itself are minimalistic and functional. There are three physical buttons: power on/off, spot cleaning, and return to the charging station. The buttons are responsive to the touch and conveniently located on the top of the robot.
The S8 MaxV Ultra offers a suction power of 10,000Pa HyperForce, a flexible side brush for cleaning corners and edges, a mop, a small and rounded wiping brush for panels, and a pair of unique rubber brushes (called Riser DuoRoller by the company) for deeper cleaning of carpets and floors. Additionally, the robot includes FlexiArm Design technology, which automatically extends the side brush when it detects corners and low areas under furniture.
Performance
In terms of vacuuming performance, the S8 MaxV Ultra delivers big time—more than any model I’ve tested before. The dual silicone brush system does an outstanding job of picking up dirt and hair from carpets, and the flexible arm, designed to help the robot clean corners better throughout the house, is also an important upgrade that gets the job done.
And what about mopping? Here too, it’s a beast. Its mop doesn’t just wipe; it scrubs the floor with rapid vibrations at 4,000 times per minute. From my several weeks of experience, the S8 MaxV Ultra handled every stain, dirt, sauce, or mark, leaving the floor shinier than any previous mopping.
By the way, the mop rises to an impressive height of 20mm, meaning it shouldn’t soil the carpets. However, if you have particularly thick carpets, you should set up no-go zones in the app to avoid mishaps, or even set (in the app) the robot to vacuum the carpets before it starts mopping the floor.
Under the hood, the S8 MaxV Ultra is equipped with a wide range of advanced sensors, including a PreciSense LiDAR system for precise navigation, RGB cameras for obstacle detection (including night light), and infrared sensors to prevent falls. This combination allows it to identify and map the home with incredible accuracy, navigate efficiently between rooms, and avoid obstacles, including my cats.
In fact, even the cables around the house or the cats’ toys, which were previously death traps for robotic vacuums, couldn’t confuse it. Moreover, if it detects a dog’s bowl or water dish, it carefully cleans around it to avoid spilling it.
App and Voice Assistant
The Roborock app is considered one of the best on the market—it's polished, stable (unlike competitors), and offers a wide range of customization options for the vacuum. You can ask the robot to take pictures of your pets during cleaning, see images of obstacles in its path, choose predefined cleaning routines, edit home maps and floor types, set up spot cleaning, create schedules, adjust docking station settings, and more.
Like other vacuums, the built-in camera allows you to use the robot as a mobile security camera. With the app, you can control the robot’s movement, see what’s happening at home from anywhere in the world, and even talk to your pet through the built-in speaker (admit it, you do that).
Also, what makes the S8 MaxV Ultra truly smart is the built-in voice assistant with the command "Hello Rocky." You can control the robot using simple voice commands, like "start cleaning" or "clean the living room" (in English). In practice, it works excellently, responds quickly, and understands the commands.
Bottom Line
Let’s talk facts: the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra isn’t cheap. With a price tag of NIS 5,890, it’s definitely not affordable for everyone, and it’s not a trivial amount for a device designed to save us a daily chore, even if it’s an annoying one. And yes, there are cheaper models on the market, but they won’t reach the performance and intelligence level of the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra.
So, is the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra worth the investment? If you’re like me and looking for the best, the vacuum that will do the job perfectly and free you from the bucket and mop, then the answer is yes. But if you’re looking for a cheap and simple solution, you might want to look elsewhere.