Is the S8 MaxV Ultra worth it over the S8 Pro Ultra?

Most Redditors say yes if you can afford it. The camera-based obstacle avoidance is a significant upgrade that prevents the robot from running over cables and pet toys. The hot water washing is also a meaningful improvement. However, if budget is tight, the S8 Pro Ultra at $1200 delivers 85% of the experience.

How does it compare to the Dreame X40 Ultra?

This is the most debated comparison on r/RobotVacuums. The Dreame X40 has stronger suction (12000Pa vs 10000Pa) and the extending side brush, but Roborock wins on app quality, reliability, and US customer support. Most recommend Roborock for first-time buyers and Dreame for tech enthusiasts.

Does the obstacle avoidance actually work?

Overwhelmingly yes, according to owners. It reliably avoids shoes, cables, pet toys, and socks. It's not perfect — very small or flat items can still be missed — but it's described as the best in the industry. The camera sends photos to your phone of detected objects.

How often do you need to maintain the dock?

Most owners report refilling the water tank every 3-4 cleans and emptying the dirty water tank at the same time. The self-empty dustbin bag needs replacing roughly every 2 months. Monthly dock cleaning is recommended to prevent buildup in the mop washing tray.

Does it work well on thick carpet?

It's the best robot vacuum for carpet according to most Redditors, but set expectations appropriately — it won't match a upright Dyson. The 10000Pa suction pulls embedded dirt that other robots miss, and the dual rubber rollers are praised for handling pet hair without tangling.

How big is the dock really?

Multiple Redditors post photos showing it's roughly the size of a small nightstand — about 16 x 19 x 17 inches. You need clearance on both sides and in front. Many recommend a closet alcove or laundry room placement.

Robot Vacuum & Mop

~$800

Roborock

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra

Name: Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
Brand: Roborock
Price: 800 USD
Availability: InStock

If you want the robot that owners keep calling the best overall money can buy, this is Roborock's case for it. The 10000Pa suction pulls pet hair, cereal, and fine dust out of carpet that older robots left behind, and the dual rubber rollers shrug off long hair that tangles bristle brushes. Hot water mop washing is the sleeper feature — it prevents the musty pad smell that cold-water docks develop within weeks, and the obstacle avoidance dodges shoes, cables, and pet toys reliably enough that pet owners trust it unsupervised. Carpet detection lifts the mop high enough to keep even medium-pile carpet dry, and per-room suction and mop settings make mixed flooring easy. Be honest with yourself about two things, though: the $1800 price stings (long-term reviews say wait for sales), and the dock is genuinely massive — some owners rearranged furniture to fit it. The mopping is better than most robots but still won't rescue dried-on or sticky messes, so keep a real mop for those.

Approx. price

~$800

Suction

10000 Pa

Navigation

LiDAR + Camera

Best For

Large homes with pets

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Specifications

LiDAR + Camera

10000 Pa

180 min

Yes

Auto Mop Washing

Yes

Obstacle Avoidance

Yes

Carpet Detection

Yes

Auto Mop Lifting

Yes

Multi-Floor Mapping

Yes

Type

Robot Vacuum & Mop

Noise Level

67 dB

Dustbin Capacity

400 ml

Water Tank

300 ml

App Control

Yes

Dimensions

13.8 x 13.8 x 3.8 in

Weight

9.3 lbs

Warranty

1 year

Model

S8 MaxV Ultra

Highlights

10000Pa SuctionHot Water Mop WashAI Obstacle Avoidance

Pros

✓Industry-leading 10000Pa suction picks up pet hair, cereal, and fine dust with ease
✓Hot water mop washing keeps pads genuinely clean and odor-free
✓AI obstacle avoidance reliably dodges cables, shoes, and pet toys
✓Dual rubber brush rolls resist hair tangles better than bristle brushes
✓Excellent carpet detection lifts the mop pad high enough to avoid wetting carpet

Cons

✗Premium price point at $1800 puts it out of reach for many budgets
✗Dock is very large and requires significant floor space
✗Mop pressure is lighter than dedicated mopping robots
✗App has a steep learning curve with many nested menus

Owner Insights(2,800 discussions)

The S8 MaxV Ultra is widely regarded on r/RobotVacuums as the best overall robot vacuum money can buy in 2025-2026. Owners consistently praise the 10000Pa suction as a massive leap over previous generations, with many reporting visible improvement on carpet cleanliness after switching from older Roborocks or Roombas. The AI obstacle avoidance gets particular love from pet owners — it's described as the most reliable in the industry, with rare misses.

The hot water mop washing dock is frequently cited as the feature that separates it from competitors. Multiple threads compare it to Dreame and Ecovacs docks, with the consensus being that hot water washing genuinely prevents the musty smell that develops in cold-water-only docks within weeks. Vacuuming performance on hard floors is described as "overkill" — it picks up everything. On carpet, the dual rubber rollers handle pet hair without tangling, which is a constant complaint with bristle-brush competitors.

The main criticisms center on price and dock size. At $1800 MSRP, many Redditors recommend waiting for Amazon sales where it frequently drops to $1200-1400. The dock takes up significant floor space — comparable to a small side table. Several owners also note that while mopping is better than competitors, it still won't replace a manual mop for seriously dirty floors. For pet owners with large homes and budget flexibility, it's the consensus pick.

Pros

+10000Pa suction picks up pet hair, cereal, litter, and fine dust from carpet that previous robots left behind
+Hot water mop washing eliminates the gross mildew smell that cold-water docks develop after a few weeks
+Obstacle avoidance is genuinely reliable — dodges shoes, cables, and even dog toys consistently
+Dual rubber rollers resist hair tangling far better than any bristle brush robot
+Carpet detection lifts the mop high enough that even medium-pile carpet stays dry
+App lets you set per-room suction and mop intensity which is a game changer for mixed flooring

Cons

−$1800 is a hard pill to swallow even if the tech justifies it — wait for sales
−Dock is absolutely massive — multiple owners had to rearrange furniture to fit it
−Mopping is better than most robots but still can't handle dried-on spills or sticky messes
−Rubber rollers can launch small items like Legos across the room instead of picking them up
−Dock water tank needs refilling every 3-4 cleans for a typical house
−Edge cleaning along baseboards still leaves a thin strip untouched