Overall Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.7/5
If you want truly hands-off floor care, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is one of the few robots that can vacuum, edge-clean, and mop while its dock handles the boring bits. With 10000 Pa suction, obstacle avoidance, auto mop washing and drying, 20 mm auto mop lifting, a FlexiArm design for better edge coverage, and a refill and drainage system at the dock, it is built for busy homes that need daily maintenance with minimal effort.
Design and Build
The S8 MaxV Ultra looks and feels premium. The robot has a tidy footprint that fits under sofas and toe-kicks, and the dock is a modern tower that hides tanks neatly. Buttons on the robot are simple, and the bumper and wheel travel feel robust enough for mixed flooring. The FlexiArm hardware is the headline design change. It extends cleaning reach along skirting boards and into corners, so you get less of that tell-tale dust line that many round robots leave behind.
Setup and App Experience
Set up is straightforward. Fill the clean water tank, place the drain hose as instructed for the plumbed dock, and pair the robot in the app. The first mapping run is quick thanks to LiDAR, after which you can name rooms, set no-go lines, create multi-level maps, and schedule cleaning by room or zone. The app exposes granular settings: suction levels, mopping intensity, mop lifting rules on carpets, and routines such as kitchen after dinner or hallway daily.
Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance
The S8 MaxV uses LiDAR plus a front sensor suite for obstacle spotting. In practice it identifies cables, toys, and pet mess reliably, routes around chair legs cleanly, and rarely gets stuck. It approaches walls in controlled arcs, then uses the FlexiArm edge cleaning to collect debris others miss. Door thresholds and rug edges are handled confidently. If you have a clutter-heavy family room, this is a strong pick.
Vacuum Performance
At up to 10000 Pa, suction is excellent for a robot. On hard floors it lifts gritty dust and crumbs in one pass, and on low to medium pile carpet it pulls embedded debris well for a cordless-like result. Edge pick-up is better than typical thanks to the FlexiArm design. Pet hair is collected without knotting excessively in the brush, and the bin fills predictably on hairy days. Boost mode on carpet raises power automatically so you do not have to micro-manage settings.
Mopping System
Daily stains and footprints are where the mop shines. The robot wets the pad from the onboard reservoir and scrubs as it moves. When the dock is in play, it automatically washes the mop pad and then dries it, which controls odour and bacteria growth between runs. The 20 mm auto mop lifting is important. When it detects carpet or raised thresholds it lifts the pad so you avoid dragging moisture over rugs. For dried spills, a two-pass mop with higher intensity usually clears marks without manual work.
Refill and Drainage System
The Ultra dock can be plumbed to refill clean water and drain dirty water automatically. That removes the two biggest chores with robot mops: topping up and emptying tanks. For families this is the feature that turns weekly maintenance into true automation. Once installed correctly, the robot can run multiple mop cycles per day without you touching the dock tanks.
Smart Dirt Detection
Smart dirt detection increases passes where the robot senses heavier soil. In practice, the kitchen and entryway get more attention, which is exactly what you want. The robot may return to a stubborn patch after washing the mop so it does not spread grime. This logic is a meaningful step up from time-based schedules that treat every room the same.
For Families and Pets
This model suits households with kids, pets, and mixed floors. Daily crumbs under the dining table, litter granules near the tray, and muddy hallway prints are handled with little supervision. The mop wash and dry cycle helps keep things sanitary. If you have a baby crawling phase or allergy concerns, the combination of high suction and frequent light mopping makes a visible difference to dust load.
Noise, Battery Life, and Runtime
Noise varies with suction level. Standard mode is conversation friendly. Max power is obviously louder yet still lower than a typical upright. Runtime is strong enough for a large floor in one session. If it does need more, it returns to charge and resumes where it left off. Mop washing and drying cycles add a few minutes at the dock, but they are automated and do not require you to wait around.
Maintenance
Regular maintenance is simple. Empty the dustbin as needed, rinse the filter periodically, and check the brush for hair. The dock’s wash tray benefits from a quick wipe weekly. If you use hard water, consider periodic descaling of the water path. The beauty of the refill and drainage system is that the largest chores are automated, so upkeep is mostly quick checks.
Comparisons
- Roborock S8 Pro Ultra: The S8 MaxV Ultra adds higher peak suction, smarter dirt targeting, and the FlexiArm edge system. If edge cleaning and mop automation matter to you, the MaxV is the stronger choice.
- Dreame L20 Ultra: Dreame also targets edges and has clever mop features. Roborock’s obstacle avoidance and mapping feel a touch more mature, and the Roborock app is a highlight for schedules and rules.
- Roomba j9+ with Combo mop: Roomba’s auto-empty is excellent and navigation is solid, yet edge detail and mop automation favour the S8 MaxV Ultra for mixed hard floors.
Value for Money
This is a premium purchase, yet it consolidates daily sweeping, targeted edge cleaning, and routine mopping into one workflow that actually runs itself. For a busy household, the time saved on floors each week justifies the cost over the first year. If you want a set-and-forget system and will use schedules daily, the value is clear.
Pros ✅
- 10000 Pa suction with excellent hard floor and carpet performance
- FlexiArm design improves edge and corner cleaning
- Obstacle avoidance handles cables, toys, and pet mess with confidence
- Auto mop washing and drying prevents odour and keeps pads effective
- 20 mm auto mop lifting protects carpets and transitions
- Refill and drainage system reduces hands-on maintenance
- Smart dirt detection focuses effort where it matters
Cons ❌
- Premium price puts it out of reach for some households
- Dock requires space and tidy hose routing for refill and drainage
- Heavier mop cycles add dock time between rooms
- Replacement consumables and filters add to long-term cost
Final Thoughts
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is a true automation upgrade. It cleans edges better, vacuums with real power, mops daily grime, and looks after its own pad hygiene while the dock refills and drains water. If you want to stop thinking about floors and still come home to clean ones, this model delivers. For families and pet owners, it is one of the easiest ways to reclaim time without sacrificing standards.
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