Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: a first-class hybrid bot for hands-free floor cleaning

Welcome to T3's review of the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, a sensational fully-autonomous robot vacuum cleaner-cum-mop for all varieties of flooring.

The S8 MaxV Ultra has been on the international market for a few months now but we’ve been holding back our opinion until it became more widely available here in the UK. After all, there’s nothing worse than reading a rave review about a product that you can’t easily buy.

A direct replacement for the S7 MaxV Ultra and higher-end alternative to the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra – which still sits comfortably atop our guide to the best robot vacuum cleaners – this accomplished autonomous floor cleaner comes with a smorgasbord of tantalising specs and features limpet-like suction power, an excellent mopping system and fuss-free self-cleaning.

Let’s get down to the nitty gritty.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: price and availability

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is available in the UK from Amazon (£1,299) and Sotel (£1,455). If shopping in the US, try Amazon US or Best Buy where it’s selling for around $1,800.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: design and features

Roborock has a very complex naming system for its robot vacuums so it’s easy to confuse the model numbers. In a nutshell, the MaxV moniker is applied to models with a 'Vision’ camera that uses Reactive AI 2.0 for most kinds of obstacle avoidance. Vision models also allow the user to drive the unit around like an RC car while viewing what the front camera sees on a phone. The driving bit is a bit gimmicky, to be honest, but the camera-enhanced obstacle avoidance is a must if you have a cluttered home and several kids and pets running about. 

Like most robot vacs these days, the S8 MaxV Ultra can also wet mop hard floors using its VibraRise 3.0 mopping pad which automatically lifts off the floor whenever the front camera and sensors detect carpet or rugs.

The robot itself is similar in size and form to its predecessor though this time it is equipped with a clever FlexiArm side brush that extends outwards whenever the sensors and camera detect a corner. It also features a mini circular mop that pops out of the side when mopping along edges and corners.

Available in black or white, the S8 MaxV Ultra measures 35 x 35.3 x 10.3cm which is roughly the same size and height as every other robot vac on the market. However, this particular variant sports an impressive suction power rating of 10,000 Pascals, which is more than enough oomph for every household eventuality. It also features adaptive cleaning in both vacuum and mopping modes – when it detects an especially dirty area it either boosts suction or increases water for stubborn stains.

Although the S8 MaxV Ultra’s rubber DuoRoller Riser Brush system is centred between the wheels and well away from the edges of the chassis, it still does a sterling job of cleaning hard floor and especially carpets and rugs up to medium pile. And what’s more, the DuoRoller brush lifts out of the way when mopping and the mop lifts when vacuuming. When it returns to its dock, both the brush roller and mop lift off the floor to prevent any contamination.

Many robot vac manufacturers are opting for LiDAR navigation these days and it’s a much faster and more efficient mapping system than camera-based models. You can see how this amazing navigation system works from the moment you start the S8 MaxV Ultra’s first exploratory mission. Simply open the app and watch in wonder as a map of the room its exploring literally develops before your eyes.

Although I think the iRobot Roomba J7+ has better obstacle avoidance, the S8 MaxV Ultra is at least a lot better than its stablemate, the S8 Pro Ultra, mostly because of its front-mounted camera and the aforementioned Reactive AI 2.0 obstacle recognition which uses its own database to help detect and avoid a myriad of household obstacles.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: RockDock Ultra features

Roborock was one of the very first robot vac manufacturers to introduce a charging base that gives its entire mopping system a thorough clean as well as self emptying the robot’s small 270ml dust bin. Well, the S8 MaxV Ultra’s RockDock is on another level of technological razzmatazz. 

Where this model’s predecessor – the S7 MaxV Ultra I reviewed in 2022 – impressed in almost every area bar the large and slightly ugly grain solo-like charging-cum-cleaning dock, this model’s dock is much more aesthetically pleasing and comprises a magnetic front fascia panel that hides the new dust bag arrangement and brand new floor cleaning solution dispenser. 

The rest of the dock has also been given a facelift with a smooth frontage that completely hides the two water reservoirs (one for clean water and the other for the dirty stuff that’s collected whenever the dock is in mop-washing mode). Incidentally, for those who prefer complete integration of their appliances, this model is also available as a svelte plumbed-in ‘Refill & Drainage’ variant that draws water from the mains while pumping the mop's dirty water down the drain.

Rather cleverly, this model washes the mop using heated water for better dirt removal and, as before, the mop is then dried using hot air to prevent mould from setting in when not used for a period of time.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: vacuum performance

I’ve had this hybrid bot running for the past few months and it continues to function with very few issues. Yes, it occasionally gets stuck on cabling – it’s small obstacle avoidance isn’t quite up to the same level as iRobot’s – but mostly it’s as reliable as you would wish a robot to be.

I have mine set up to perform several different schedules during the week and like clockwork it sends me a notification along with an English-accented voice prompt before setting off to sweep the kitchen floor, give the hall a quick whizz or deep-clean the dog hair-strewn carpeted rug in the living room. Indeed, the amount of pet hair this vacuum collects is mind-blowing and I’m having to change the dock’s main dust bag every two weeks or so. Mind, I should add that I have two Labradors and three cats, so it’s hardly surprising there’s so much hair about. If you don’t have any pets you should theoretically get over a month’s worth of dust and carpet detritus into the dock’s dustbag before you even need to think about changing it.

One interesting aspect with the S8 MaxV Ultra is the wherewithal to select the direction of wooden flooring in the accompanying app so that the bot follows the path in which the floor is laid. This is supposedly to prevent dust and small debris from gathering in the joins. However, I have since discovered that this floor direction setting seems to prevent the robot from tackling edges and corners as it should. I have now turned it off and, while the robot’s movement is less linear and indeed more erratic, it now vacuums all edges and the tightest of corners using its clever extendable side brush.

While the S8 MaxV Ultra isn’t as good as an iRobot at detecting very small obstacles and some wiring, it is absolutely expert at negotiating chairs and tables, with no touching at all. I’ve also been really impressed by the way it heads back to its dock by taking the shortest route possible, even if that route involves going under furniture.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: mopping performance

Like almost all robot vacuums these days, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra both vacuums and mops. However, in most instances this reviewer hasn’t been that impressed with any robot vacuum’s mopping efficiency though I do agree that if it’s available on the machine you may as well use it from time to time. After all, nearly all robot vacuums ship with a mop attachment these days whether you like it or not. 

Granted the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra does a better-than-average job of mopping and I love the way the mop lifts up when the sensors detect carpet or rugs. Just don’t expect it to perform as comprehensively as a dedicated upright hard floor cleaner, let alone an old fashioned mop and bucket, which is still the best method for properly mopping a floor. 

On the plus side, there’s plenty of evidence that this model’s mopping system does lift a staggering amount of ingrained dirt from hard flooring by simply looking at the state of the dirty water container, which you will need to empty from time to time. Tip – use the toilet to empty its contents then rinse the container under a hot tap.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: Roborock app

Although it’s a little confusing to use first time out, once you’ve grasped the complexity of menus you’ll come to love this app’s huge range of options and configuration possibilities. Aside from all the usual functions like setting no-go zones, creating daily schedules and setting specific routines for specific zones, the app also lets you view the robot’s movement in real time on a map, select the direction of your wooden flooring so the bot vacuums and mops in the direction of the floor’s layout and even place furniture icons in each room.

As mentioned earlier in this review, you can also drive this robot vac around the home like an RC car. I was really impressed with this aspect when I reviewed the earlier S7 MaxV Ultra since it allowed me to check on my dogs while out of the house. However, I’ve hardly used this feature on this model because it now seems more gimmicky than practical, especially if the remote wi-fi signal isn’t stable. 

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: verdict

If you’re okay with the fact that no robot vacuum is as fully comprehensive at cleaning floors as a human pushing a standard vacuum, you’ll get along just fine with this excellent contender. It’s unquestionably one of the most fuss-free hybrid robot cleaners I’ve reviewed and it rarely requires any kind of human intervention aside from changing the dust bag and emptying and filling the dirty and fresh water tanks from time to time. It also vacuums and mops like a trouper.

However, at well over a grand to buy, it's much more expensive than many other equally efficient hybrid bots and with so much competition around these days, you might find it hard to justify that kind of outlay even if it is on one of the very best all-round models money can buy.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra review: alternatives to consider

If you don’t require the S8 MaxV Ultra’s higher level of camera-based AI obstacle avoidance and the wherewithal to drive it around like an RC car, consider the marginally cheaper S8 Pro Ultra (£1,200) which shares a huge amount of similarities, including the VibraRise mop and self-washing facilities. While its suction power is lower (6,000Pa), it’s still a smooth operator on all types of flooring. If you want to spend even less (around £950), consider the new Roborock Qrevo Master which we also rate very highly.

Alternatively, shoot for the excellent iRobot Roomba Combo J9+, the older eufy Clean X8 Pro or the aforementioned iRobot Roomba j7+ if you're after a different brand.