Is the S8 Pro Ultra still worth buying in 2026?

Most owners say absolutely yes, especially at sale prices. The hardware is still excellent, and Roborock continues to push firmware updates. The only reason to pay more for the MaxV Ultra is if you need obstacle avoidance or hot water washing.

How does it handle pet hair?

The dual rubber brush system is universally praised. Multiple-pet households report zero hair tangling after months of daily use. This is the single most recommended feature and the main reason pet owners choose this over competitors with bristle brushes.

Does the mop actually clean well?

For daily maintenance — yes. The sonic mopping at 3000rpm handles dust, light spills, and general grime on hard floors. For dried-on messes, sticky spills, or deep cleaning, you still need a manual mop. Think of it as keeping floors presentable between real mops.

How noisy is the self-empty cycle?

The self-empty cycle is loud — comparable to a regular vacuum running for about 10 seconds. Most owners schedule cleaning to finish when they're out, so the dock empties while they're away. You can also disable auto-empty and trigger it manually.

Should I get this or the Dreame L20 Ultra?

The Dreame L20 Ultra has stronger mopping (extending mops, hot water washing) but worse brushes for pet hair. If mopping is your priority, get the Dreame. If pet hair vacuuming matters most, the S8 Pro Ultra's dual rubber brushes are unmatched.

Robot Vacuum & Mop

~$470

Roborock

Roborock S8 Pro Ultra

Name: Roborock S8 Pro Ultra
Brand: Roborock
Price: 470 USD
Availability: Discontinued

The S8 Pro Ultra was the consensus best-overall pick before the MaxV version arrived, and long-term owners argue it's still the better value at today's clearance prices. The dual rubber brush system is the headline for pet households — genuinely zero tangling even with multiple shedders — and the self-washing dock spares you the grossest chore in robot mop ownership. Sonic mopping at 3000rpm handles daily maintenance surprisingly well, and the 180-minute battery covers 2000+ sq ft in one pass. The catch is that there's no camera, so it bumps into shoes, cables, and pet bowls; if your floors stay reasonably clear that's a non-issue, but a cluttered home should step up to the MaxV. The dock also washes with cold water only, so plan on cleaning it monthly to keep the pads from developing a musty smell, and the 5mm mop lift isn't enough for high-pile carpet.

Approx. price

~$470

Suction

6000 Pa

Navigation

LiDAR

Best For

Multi-room homes on a moderate budget

Discontinued — no longer sold new

The manufacturer has retired this model; remaining listings are typically refurbished or leftover stock at odd prices. We keep the page for owners. Its current replacement is Roborock Saros 10R.

Specifications

LiDAR

6000 Pa

180 min

Yes

Auto Mop Washing

Yes

Obstacle Avoidance

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

13.9 x 13.9 x 3.8 in

Weight

9.1 lbs

Warranty

1 year

Model

S8 Pro Ultra

Highlights

6000Pa SuctionDual Rubber BrushesSelf-Wash Dock

Pros

✓Dual rubber brush system excels at picking up pet hair without tangles
✓Self-washing dock eliminates the grossest part of robot mop ownership
✓Sonic mopping vibrates at 3000rpm for surprisingly effective floor cleaning
✓Excellent multi-floor mapping — remembers up to 4 floors reliably
✓Consistently strong owner sentiment across thousands of verified reviews

Cons

✗No camera means it can bump into small obstacles like shoes or cables
✗6000Pa suction struggles with heavier debris on thick carpet
✗Dock does not use hot water, so mop pads can develop odor over time
✗VibraRise mop lift is only about 5mm, not enough for high-pile carpet

Owner Insights

The S8 Pro Ultra is one of the most discussed robot vacuums in owner discussions, with thousands of owner reports building a very clear picture. It was the consensus "best overall" before the S8 MaxV Ultra launched, and many owners argue it's still the better value, especially at current sale prices under $900. The dual rubber brush system is consistently praised as the single best feature for pet owners.

Mopping gets mixed but generally positive reviews — the sonic mopping handles daily maintenance well, but don't expect it to replace a manual mop for serious cleaning. The self-washing dock eliminates the worst part of robot mopping (hand-rinsing pads), but the lack of hot water means you should clean the dock itself monthly to prevent odor. Vacuuming performance is strong on hard floors and low-to-medium carpet.

The main limitation discussed is the lack of obstacle avoidance. Without the camera, it bumps into everything — shoes, cables, pet bowls, kids' toys. Owners consistently say that if you keep your floors reasonably clear, this is a non-issue. If you have a cluttered home with cables everywhere, consider stepping up to the MaxV version. For the typical home, the S8 Pro Ultra at its current price point remains one of the best values in the premium robot vacuum space.

Pros

+Dual rubber brush system is genuinely the best for pet hair — zero tangling even with multiple pets
+Self-washing dock is life-changing for people who hated hand-rinsing mop pads
+Sonic mopping vibrates at 3000rpm and handles daily dirt surprisingly well
+Price has dropped significantly since launch — frequently found under $900 on sale
+Battery life at 180 minutes comfortably covers 2000+ sq ft in one session

Cons

−No camera means it will run into small obstacles like shoes, cables, and pet bowls
−6000Pa suction struggles with heavier debris embedded in thick carpet
−Dock does not use hot water — mop pads develop musty smell after a few weeks
−VibraRise mop lift is only 5mm — not enough for high-pile carpet
−Sonic mop can't handle dried-on or sticky spills — still need manual mopping for those
−Self-empty bags need periodic replacement which adds ongoing cost
−Dock is quieter than some but still quite loud during the self-empty cycle