Roborock S8 Max Ultra review: a complete cleaning system, one generation back
The S8 Max Ultra is a lidar robot with a vibrating mop, an extending side brush and a dock that empties, refills, washes and dries. Tests found excellent pickup and mopping, and owners report easy setup. It has no camera, lower suction than newer models and a taller body, and it’s now an older model.
In this review
I find the Roborock S8 Max Ultra appealing because it’s designed as a complete cleaning system rather than a vacuum you empty after every run. The dock empties, refills, washes and dries, and the app lets you schedule rooms so cleaning happens without you starting it. In Vacuum Wars’ testing, pickup and mopping were excellent, and owners describe setup and mapping as painless. But it has no camera, lower suction than newer models and a tall lidar tower, and it now looks discontinued in some markets. Buy it only at a clear discount over a Saros 10 or Qrevo Edge 3 Pro.
Roborock S8 Max Ultra at a glance
Roborock S8 Max Ultra pros and cons
- Dock empties, refills, washes, dries and adds detergent
- Nearly perfect pickup on hard floor, carpet and hair in testing
- VibraRise 3.0 mop handled dried coffee and juice
- FlexiArm side brush and edge mop for corners
- Easy Wi-Fi setup and quick, accurate mapping
- Efficient battery use
- Works with Alexa, Siri and Google Home
- No RGB camera, so weaker object recognition
- 8,000 Pa suction, lower than newer models
- 3.8 inches tall with a fixed lidar tower
- Can push lightweight furniture instead of steering around it
- Easy to confuse with the S8 MaxV Ultra
- Appears discontinued in some markets
Who should buy the Roborock S8 Max Ultra?
- Buyers who want full automation for less
- Homes with mostly hard floors
- Routine-driven households that schedule cleaning
- Owners who already know Roborock’s app
- Anyone who finds it heavily discounted
- Homes with lots of floor clutter
- Low furniture under about 4 inches
- Rooms with light, movable furniture
- Buyers who want the newest features
- Anyone paying full price
First impressions of the S8 Max Ultra
The S8 Max Ultra comes from Roborock's 2024 lineup, before the Saros models arrived.
That matters, because it shapes how you should judge it.
On its own terms, it's a complete cleaning system.
It vacuums, mops, empties itself, refills its water, washes its mop and dries it.
That's the appeal for me: one appliance looking after dust and routine floor cleaning while I focus on other things.
The question in 2026 is whether it still makes sense next to newer, slimmer and more powerful robots.
The answer depends almost entirely on price.
What I looked at
For this review, I focused on three questions.
How well does it clean, based on the test data that exists?
How much of the routine work does the dock really take off your hands?
And does it still make sense to buy one now that newer models are on sale at similar prices?
I also looked at what an owner reported after setting one up at home, because day-to-day experience often tells you things a spec sheet can't.
What the Roborock S8 Max Ultra is
The S8 Max Ultra was announced at CES 2024 and went on sale on Amazon in April 2024.
It sits in the S8 Max series alongside the S8 MaxV Ultra, and the names are easy to mix up.
Max vs MaxV
The MaxV Ultra has an RGB camera, 10,000 Pa of suction and Reactive AI 2.0 object recognition.
The Max Ultra drops the camera and uses Reactive 3D, which combines 3D structured light with infrared.
It also has 8,000 Pa of suction.
Without a camera, the Max Ultra can detect obstacles but can't identify what they are.
Tip: Some spec-comparison sites list 10,000 Pa for the Max Ultra. That's the MaxV Ultra's figure. Roborock rates the Max Ultra at 8,000 Pa, so check the exact model name and dock features on the listing before you buy.
The core specs
Navigation is PreciSense lidar, with a fixed tower that makes the robot 3.8 inches tall.
The main brush is DuoRoller Riser, with two rubber rollers that lift off the floor when mopping.
The FlexiArm side brush extends to reach corners.
Mopping is VibraRise 3.0: a dual vibration module at 4,000 vibrations per minute, with about 0.8 inch of lift.
A spinning edge mop at 185 rpm reaches along baseboards.
The battery is 5,200 mAh, rated for up to 180 minutes in quiet mode.
The RockDock Ultra: what it handles
The RockDock Ultra is the reason to buy an Ultra model.
It empties the robot's small onboard bin (about 9 fluid ounces) into a bag, refills the robot's water tank and adds detergent automatically.
It washes the mop and dries it with heated air.
Reports from the 2024 launch put both the wash water and drying air at about 140°F, although I couldn't confirm those figures on an official US page.
There's also a version with automatic refill and drainage for homes that can connect it to plumbing.
I appreciate this setup because it reduces the hands-on work to a few periodic jobs.
I'd also check the dock's dimensions before ordering.
It's a large unit, and it needs space around it for the robot to dock cleanly.
Before you order: Pick the dock's spot first. It needs a nearby outlet, open floor in front for the robot to line up, and room above to open the lid and lift out the water tanks.
The RockDock Ultra empties, refills, washes and dries automatically.
What an owner found after setting it up
Lab tests tell you how a robot cleans. Owner reports tell you what living with it is like.
One of the more detailed owner write-ups, published on Medium, covers the first days with the S8 Max Ultra in a home with two carpeted rooms and hardwood floors everywhere else.
The owner found connecting the robot to home Wi-Fi simple, with clear instructions, and had no trouble downloading and setting up the Roborock app.
The first mapping run worked on the first try. Afterward, the owner named each room in the app and could pick which rooms to clean and whether to vacuum, mop or do both.
Obstacle avoidance handled most of the home well. The exception was a portable desk that was too light and too low for the robot to treat as an obstacle, so it pushed the desk along instead of going around it.
How setup went, step by step
- Connect to Wi-Fi
The owner described this as easy, with clear instructions in the box and in the app.
- Install the Roborock app
Downloading and configuring the app took little effort.
- Run the first map
The robot mapped the whole living space successfully on its first run.
- Name your rooms
Once the map is saved, you can label each room so you can send the robot to just the kitchen or just the bedrooms.
- Choose a mode per room
Set vacuum, mop or both for each room, so carpeted rooms get vacuumed and hard floors get mopped.
Heads-up: Light, movable furniture can fool the robot. If you have a rolling desk, a folding table or a light side table, move it before a run or draw a no-go zone around it in the app.
That owner reported paying about A$2,000 in Australia after discounts, or roughly $1,300 at the time. That reflects one purchase in another market, not a current US price.
The write-up stops before giving detailed cleaning results, so for vacuuming and mopping performance I rely on lab testing below.
S8 Max Ultra cleaning performance
Independent test data for the S8 Max Ultra is limited.
The most useful source is Vacuum Wars, which tested it head to head against the S8 MaxV Ultra.
Vacuuming
Vacuum Wars found pickup nearly perfect on hard floor, carpet and hair.
That's a strong result for a lidar robot of this generation.
Vacuum Wars also found its bench suction lower than the MaxV's, at about 0.44 inches of water lift against 0.72, and airflow of 12 CFM against 13.
It described the power as artificially limited, with below-average deep cleaning.
In everyday terms, it cleans visible debris very well but won't pull as much embedded dirt from carpet as stronger models.
How its suction compares
On paper, the S8 Max Ultra sits at the low end of Roborock's current lineup.
Advertised suction in pascals (Pa), from Roborock. Higher numbers help most with deep carpet cleaning, but brush design, airflow and cleaning pattern matter too.
Edges and corners
The FlexiArm design held up in testing, with corner cleaning matching Roborock's claims.
Mopping
Mopping was excellent.
The VibraRise 3.0 module handled dried coffee and grape juice well with minimal streaks.
Vacuum Wars found its mopping identical to the MaxV's.
Tip: For homes with area rugs and wall-to-wall carpet, raise suction for carpeted rooms in the app and let carpet detection lift the mop. That gets more out of the 8,000 Pa motor without wetting your rugs.
Navigation and obstacle avoidance
Lidar mapping is the S8 Max Ultra's strong side.
Vacuum Wars found it mapped a home in about five minutes, with near-perfect coverage and no stuck events.
It cleaned about 7 square feet per minute, slightly faster than the MaxV.
The owner report matches that: the first map was complete and accurate, and rooms were easy to label afterward.
Obstacle avoidance is the weak side.
Without a camera, Reactive 3D can see that something is in the way, but it can't tell a sock from a shoe.
Vacuum Wars rated its avoidance below the MaxV, though better than the Qrevo MaxV.
The owner's portable desk shows the other side of this: detecting an object isn't the same as handling it well, and light furniture can get shoved around.
In practice, I'd pick up cables, socks and small toys before a run.
The 3.8-inch height also means it won't reach under some low sofas and beds.
Quick check: Slide a 4-inch-tall box under your sofa and bed. If it doesn't fit, the S8 Max Ultra won't either. Door thresholds up to about 0.8 inch are fine.
Lidar mapping is quick and accurate, but there’s no camera to identify objects.
Battery, app and smart home
Battery efficiency was a highlight.
Vacuum Wars measured 1.89 minutes of cleaning per percent of battery, the best of the pair it tested.
The 5,200 mAh battery is rated for 180 minutes in quiet mode, and a full recharge takes about four hours.
Real runtime will be shorter at higher suction, on carpet or when mopping.
The Roborock app handles schedules, room settings, no-go zones, virtual barriers and suction and water levels per room.
I value being able to schedule cleaning and organize rooms in the app, because that keeps a routine going without starting each run by hand.
There's also an Apple Watch app.
The robot works with Alexa, Siri and Google Home.
Matter support was promised for the S8 Max series, but I couldn't confirm whether the Max Ultra received it.
Tip: One spec listing puts its noise at about 67 dB, a little louder than normal conversation. Schedule runs for when you're at work or out of the house.
Schedules and room settings keep a routine going without starting each run by hand.
Is the S8 Max Ultra still a good buy in 2026?
This is the most important question for this model.
Roborock's Australian store lists the S8 Max Ultra as sold out, which suggests it's being phased out.
In the US, availability and pricing vary by seller, so check the listing carefully.
Since it launched, Roborock has released much more capable robots.
The Saros 10 has 22,000 Pa, a lidar that lowers under furniture and camera-based object recognition.
The Qrevo Edge 3 Pro has 36,000 Pa and a hot-water dock.
Both are often discounted.
I'd also consider replacement accessories.
Bags, pads, filters and brushes for older models can become harder to find over time, so check availability before you buy.
Buying tip: Buy new from Roborock's own store or an authorized seller. The standard warranty is one year, and a used or gray-market unit may not be covered.
Who the S8 Max Ultra still suits
Bargain hunters who want full automation
If you find it at a clear discount, you get a complete self-maintaining dock and excellent cleaning results.
Homes with mostly hard floors and little clutter
Strong pickup and mopping suit tidy homes with hard floors.
Without a camera, it's better suited to homes where the floor is usually clear.
Mixed-floor homes with a few carpeted rooms
Per-room modes let you vacuum the carpeted bedrooms and vacuum and mop the hardwood, all in one scheduled run.
Existing Roborock owners
If you already know the app and want a dependable second robot, it's a familiar choice.
Who should skip it
If you have pets, kids' toys or cables on the floor, a camera-equipped model will avoid them better.
If you have low furniture, a slimmer Saros will reach further.
It suits tidy homes with mostly hard floors best.
Running costs and long-term ownership
An all-in-one robot like the S8 Max Ultra isn't just a one-time purchase.
It's worth thinking about what it costs to keep running.
Consumables
The dock uses disposable dust bags.
The mop pads, main brush, side brush and filter all wear out and need replacing on Roborock's schedule.
Detergent is an ongoing cost if you use the automatic dosing.
Older-model parts
For a model from 2024 that appears to be winding down, spare parts are the main long-term risk.
Accessories for popular Roborock models usually stay available for a while, including from third-party sellers.
Still, newer models will get priority, so I'd buy a set of spare bags, pads and filters up front.
Electricity and water
Heated mop drying uses some extra power after each run, and the dock uses water for every wash.
Neither is a big expense, but both add up over a year of daily cleaning.
Software support
Older robots get fewer feature updates over time.
The S8 Max Ultra works well with its current app features, but don't expect it to gain much new.
Money-saving tip: Order a spare-parts kit with bags, pads, a filter and brushes at the same time as the robot. Kits are usually cheaper than buying each part separately, and you won't be hunting for parts later.
How to get the best results from the S8 Max Ultra
- Confirm the model
Check that the listing is the Max Ultra, not the MaxV Ultra, and that it includes the dock functions you expect.
- Clear the floor first
Without a camera, it relies on you to pick up cables, socks and small toys.
- Fence off light furniture
Add no-go zones or virtual barriers around rolling desks, folding tables and anything light enough to push.
- Name rooms right after mapping
Labeling rooms early makes it easy to send the robot to one room or build schedules later.
- Use room schedules
Set daily runs for kitchens and entryways and less frequent runs for bedrooms.
- Use deep clean on carpet
Lab tests found below-average deep cleaning, so a deep-clean pass on rugs helps.
- Stock up on consumables
Buy spare bags, pads and filters while they're easy to find.
- Keep the dock clean
Clean the wash tray, the dirty water tank and the sensors regularly to keep results consistent.
A sensible cleaning schedule for the S8 Max Ultra
The S8 Max Ultra is at its best on a steady routine in a tidy home.
Is the Roborock S8 Max Ultra worth the money?
The S8 Max Ultra launched at $1,599.99 in 2024.
Prices today vary a lot by seller, and it appears to be on its way out in some markets.
That makes value the deciding factor.
At a deep discount, it offers a complete all-in-one dock and excellent everyday cleaning.
At anything close to the price of a Saros 10 or Qrevo Edge 3 Pro, the newer models are the better buy.
They're slimmer, stronger and better at avoiding obstacles.
Home size matters too. In a large home, the dock's automation saves more time. In a small apartment with mostly hard floors, a cheaper robot may do the job.
Before buying, I'd also think about replacement accessories, dock size and the ongoing cleaning needed for the sensors and mop.
Our price rule: If the S8 Max Ultra isn't clearly cheaper than a discounted Saros 10, buy the Saros 10.
Prices change often, so check the current price on Amazon before you buy.
S8 Max Ultra vs Saros 10
The Saros 10 is the natural upgrade and is often similarly priced.
| S8 Max Ultra | Saros 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Suction | 8,000 Pa | 22,000 Pa |
| Height | 3.8 in | 3.1 in (lidar lowered) |
| Camera | No | Yes |
| Mop | VibraRise 3.0 | VibraRise 4.0 |
| Battery | 5,200 mAh | 6,400 mAh |
| Launched | 2024 | 2025 |
Pick the S8 Max Ultra only at a clear discount.
Pick the Saros 10 for more suction, a camera and a lower profile.
Roborock S8 Max Ultra specifications
From Roborock's published specifications, the Amazon listing and independent reviews.
Best Roborock S8 Max Ultra alternatives
The Saros 10 is the direct successor in spirit, with a vibrating mop, a lidar that lowers and far more suction.
The Qrevo Edge 3 Pro brings 36,000 Pa and a 212°F mop wash.
For a lower price, the Qrevo 2 Pro covers the basics well.
How I researched and rated the Roborock S8 Max Ultra
This is a researched review, not a long-term test of our own.
I started from Roborock's published specifications and the Amazon listing, then compared the hands-on results published by Vacuum Wars (a head-to-head test with the S8 MaxV Ultra) and Roborock’s official listings.
I also used an owner's review on Medium for setup, mapping and everyday obstacle handling, and a spec-comparison listing from Versus for charging time, noise and warranty.
Where those sources disagreed, I say so above. For example, Versus lists 10,000 Pa of suction, but Roborock rates this model at 8,000 Pa, and I use Roborock's figure.
- Automation (9.0): how much routine work the RockDock Ultra takes off your hands.
- Cleaning (8.4): pickup on hard floor, carpet and hair, plus mopping results in published tests.
- Navigation (7.4): mapping, coverage and obstacle avoidance without a camera.
- Value (6.6): price and availability against newer Roborock models.
The overall score of 7.8 is an editorial rating.
Roborock S8 Max Ultra FAQ
Is the Roborock S8 Max Ultra worth it?
Only at a clear discount. It rates 7.8 out of 10 in our review: excellent pickup, mopping and automation, but older, taller and less powerful than current models.
What is the difference between the S8 Max Ultra and S8 MaxV Ultra?
The MaxV Ultra has an RGB camera, Reactive AI 2.0 and 10,000 Pa. The Max Ultra has no camera, uses Reactive 3D and has 8,000 Pa.
Does the S8 Max Ultra have a camera?
No. It detects obstacles with 3D structured light and infrared but cannot identify them.
Is the S8 Max Ultra discontinued?
It appears to be in some markets, such as Australia, where Roborock lists it as sold out. US availability varies by seller.
How tall is the S8 Max Ultra?
3.8 inches, with a fixed lidar tower. It won't fit under furniture with less clearance than that.
How long does the battery last?
Up to 180 minutes in quiet mode, from a 5,200 mAh battery. Expect less at higher suction or when mopping. A full recharge takes about four hours.
Is the S8 Max Ultra hard to set up?
No. Owners report that connecting it to Wi-Fi and setting up the Roborock app is simple, and the first mapping run usually completes without trouble.
Will it push light furniture around?
It can. One owner found it pushed a light portable desk instead of avoiding it. Move light furniture or set a no-go zone around it.
Does it mop well?
Yes. Vacuum Wars found VibraRise 3.0 handled dried coffee and grape juice well with minimal streaks.
Does it work with Alexa and Google?
Yes, plus Siri and an Apple Watch app.
- Vacuum Wars: S8 MaxV Ultra vs S8 Max Ultra
- Roborock Australia: S8 Max Ultra
- HomeKit News: S8 Max series and Matter
- Owner review of the Roborock S8 Max Ultra on Medium (Me Writes)
- Versus: Roborock S8 Max Ultra specifications and comparison
- Amazon product listing for the Roborock S8 Max Ultra (ASIN B0CTZYLMR9), October 2026
- Images: illustrations created from Roborock's product photo, not photos from testing
- Added owner setup and obstacle findings, tips, a suction comparison and FAQs; converted all measurements to US units.
- Review published.