Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
VERDICT
This is currently the smartest home appliance money can buy. It solves the biggest complaints about robot vacuums: missing corners and smelly mops. With its extending arm, hot water washing dock, and built-in "Hello Rocky" voice assistant, it offers a truly hands-off experience for months at a time.
The Big Picture
Round robots can't clean square corners. It's a geometry problem. Roborock solved it with the FlexiArm Design. When the S8 detects a corner, a mechanical side brush physically extends outwards to sweep dust into the suction path. Combined with a vibrating mop that scrubs stains 4,000 times a minute, it leaves floors spotless.
🔥 Hot Water Mop Washing
The Hygiene Upgrade: Cold water just spreads grease around.
How it works: The dock heats water to 60°C (140°F) to wash the mop pads after cleaning the kitchen. This dissolves oil and stubborn stains, ensuring the mop is actually clean before it goes back to your bedroom floors.
👀 Reactive AI 2.0
It sees everything.
Obstacle Avoidance: Using RGB cameras and structured light, it identifies 73 types of objects (shoes, cables, pet waste). It takes photos of obstacles and puts them on the map so you know why it missed a spot. It even has a pet-friendly mode that stops the main brush to avoid scaring your cat.
✅ The Pros
- FlexiArm: Actually cleans corners (100% coverage).
- 10,000 Pa Suction: Insane power for deep carpet cleaning.
- "Hello Rocky": Works offline without needing Alexa or Siri.
- Auto Detergent: Dispenses the exact amount of soap needed.
❌ The Cons
- Price: Extremely expensive ($1,800+).
- Size: The dock is massive and needs significant space.
- Camera Privacy: Having a moving camera in your house might worry some (though it is certified secure).
🤔 Should you buy it?
YES if you have pets, carpets, and hard floors, and want the absolute best cleaning performance regardless of price.
NO if you have high-pile rugs that shouldn't get wet (the Dreame X40 Ultra can completely detach its mops to solve this).
See the showdown: Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs. Dreame X40 Ultra Comparison