Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra: For Those Who Want It All

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra sits firmly in the luxury tier of robot vacuums, promising to handle your entire floor cleaning routine without any human intervention. At £1099.99, it's targeting homeowners who want premium performance and are willing to pay for genuinely hands-off cleaning. After living with this machine for several weeks, I can say it largely delivers on that promise – though you'll need deep pockets and realistic expectations.

Design and Build Quality

The S8 MaxV Ultra follows Roborock's established design language – a circular robot in matte black with gold accents. The 400ml dustbin sits beneath a spring-loaded top panel that feels reassuringly solid. The build quality is excellent throughout, from the main brushes to the side sweeper, though the mop pads feel slightly flimsy compared to the rest of the construction.

The real star is the RockDock Ultra base station. This substantial unit (and I mean substantial – measure your space carefully) handles emptying, mop washing, water refilling, and even drying the mop pads with hot air. The dock connects to your plumbing if you want true hands-off operation, though the standard water tanks work perfectly well for most households.

Performance: Where the Money Goes

That 14,500Pa suction figure isn't marketing fluff – this thing genuinely shifts dirt that lesser robots leave behind. On medium-pile carpets, it outperformed my previous Eufy X10 Pro Omni noticeably, pulling embedded pet hair and dust that I didn't even know was there. The difference is less dramatic on hard floors, but still present.

The VibraRise 3.0 mopping system deserves particular praise. The sonic vibration tackles dried-on spills effectively, whilst the automatic mop lifting when transitioning to carpet works flawlessly. I tested this extensively around my kitchen-to-living room threshold, and it never once dragged wet mops across the rug.

Navigation is where Roborock shows its maturity. The PreciSense LiDAR creates detailed maps quickly, whilst the ReactiveAI 2.0 handles obstacles with impressive intelligence. It navigates around chair legs, avoids pet bowls, and even identifies cables to clean around them rather than pushing them about. Compared to the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, which sometimes gets confused by complex furniture arrangements, the S8 MaxV Ultra feels more confident and systematic.

Battery life hits the claimed 180 minutes on standard suction, dropping to around 120 minutes on maximum power. The 4-hour recharge time feels lengthy, but the intelligent room sequencing means it rarely needs to pause mid-clean for smaller homes.

Features: Genuinely Useful Tech

The Roborock app deserves recognition for actually being intuitive. Setting no-go zones, scheduling different cleaning modes for different rooms, and monitoring cleaning progress all work smoothly. The 3D mapping visualisation helps you understand exactly what the robot sees, which proves useful for troubleshooting.

Smart home integration covers all the major platforms properly. Voice commands through Alexa work reliably for basic functions, though you'll still need the app for detailed scheduling.

The obstacle avoidance genuinely impresses daily. Pet toys, charging cables, and random household detritus get navigated around rather than bulldozed. However, very dark objects on dark floors can still cause confusion – my black laptop charger on dark hardwood occasionally gets the 'nudge treatment'.

One standout feature is the carpet detection sensitivity. You can adjust how aggressively it increases suction on rugs, preventing the annoying behaviour some robots exhibit of going full-throttle on lightweight mats.

Value: Premium Performance, Premium Price

At £1099.99, the S8 MaxV Ultra costs significantly more than capable alternatives. The ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S Combo at £649.99 handles basic cleaning well, whilst the Dreame L40 Ultra at £899.99 offers similar features with slightly less refined execution.

The price premium buys you genuinely superior suction power, more intelligent obstacle avoidance, and a more comprehensive dock system. Whether that's worth £200-450 extra depends entirely on your priorities and budget.

Compared to the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ at £799.99, the Roborock offers better value. The suction power difference is substantial, the mopping system is more effective, and the dock functionality is more comprehensive.

Running costs remain reasonable. Replacement parts are readily available, and the main brushes show minimal wear after months of use. The mop pads need replacing every few months with heavy use, but they're affordably priced.

Verdict

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra succeeds at being a genuinely hands-off cleaning solution for those willing to pay premium prices. The combination of powerful suction, intelligent navigation, and comprehensive dock functionality delivers on the promise of automated floor care.

However, that £1099.99 price tag puts it firmly in luxury territory. The cleaning performance genuinely justifies some premium, but you're also paying for convenience features that cheaper alternatives approximate adequately.

Buy this if you want the best robot vacuum available and budget isn't your primary concern. The Dreame L40 Ultra offers similar capabilities for £200 less, whilst the ECOVACS DEEBOT T30S handles basic needs at nearly half the price.

For households with pets, mixed flooring, and complex layouts, the S8 MaxV Ultra's intelligence and power make the premium worthwhile. Everyone else should consider whether they really need this level of sophistication.