In a world increasingly reliant on convenience and automation, the Roborock S8 Max Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop promises to take your cleaning routine to the next level. Packed with impressive features, including self-emptying capabilities, 8000Pa suction, and advanced LiDAR navigation, this all-in-one cleaning solution aims to simplify your life while delivering a deeper, more thorough clean. This review will dive deep into its capabilities, advantages, and potential drawbacks to help you decide if it fits your home.
Unboxing & Setup
Upon unboxing the Roborock S8 Max Ultra, you’ll first notice the premium build quality. The vacuum and mop combo is sleek and modern, and looks more like a high-tech gadget than a cleaning appliance. The package includes the vacuum unit, the all-in-one dock (the charging station and self-emptying base), cleaning accessories, a mop cloth, and a user manual.
Setting up the S8 Max Ultra is straightforward. After downloading the Roborock app (available for Android and iOS), the setup process walks you through connecting the vacuum to your Wi-Fi network and syncing it with the app. The self-emptying dock needs a quick setup as well. It’s easy to position it in a central location, and the unit’s intuitive design makes plugging it in and securing it in place simple. Within minutes, you’ll be up and running.
Features & Performance
PreciSense LiDAR Navigation
One of the standout features of the Roborock S8 Max Ultra is its PreciSense LiDAR navigation system. LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology allows the vacuum to map your home accurately. This system creates a detailed floor plan, ensuring the vacuum moves systematically, covering every area of your home efficiently without unnecessary back-and-forth movements. Unlike lower-end robots that rely on bump sensors, LiDAR allows for a smoother and more precise cleaning path, preventing missed spots.
The mapping process is impressively quick, and you can customize virtual no-go zones directly through the app. Whether you have delicate furniture or areas you prefer the vacuum to avoid, you can set up exclusion zones to keep the cleaning process as tailored as possible.
8000Pa Suction Power
Regarding suction, the Roborock S8 Max Ultra delivers a powerful 8000Pa suction force. This is enough to tackle dirt, dust, and debris on various surfaces, from hardwood floors to plush carpets. The strong suction is especially noticeable on carpeted floors, picking up dirt deep within the fibers without much trouble. The vacuum automatically adjusts its suction power depending on its cleaning surface, ensuring optimal performance on hard floors and carpets.
This suction power, coupled with the high-efficiency filter system, ensures that allergens like dust mites and pet dander are trapped and not recirculated back into the air, making it an excellent option for allergy sufferers.
Smart Dirt Detection
The Roborock S8 Max Ultra is equipped with smart dirt detection, a feature that allows the robot to detect areas of high dirt concentration and adjust its cleaning intensity. When the vacuum detects a filthy area, it will slow down and focus on that section, ensuring that stubborn dirt and debris are picked up effectively. This feature is handy in high-traffic areas or spots where dirt accumulates more quickly.
Self-Emptying Station
The self-emptying base is a game-changer. After each cleaning cycle, the Roborock S8 Max Ultra returns to the dock, and the waste bin is automatically emptied into the base’s dustbag. This eliminates the need for manual emptying after every clean, which is a significant time-saver. The dustbag in the base holds up to 60 days of dirt and debris, depending on how often the vacuum runs and the size of your home. When it’s full, the app will notify you that it’s time to replace the bag.
It’s worth mentioning that the self-emptying feature does make some noise, but it’s relatively quiet compared to many other robot vacuums that lack this feature. It also helps ensure that the vacuum can continue to operate without you having to worry about constant maintenance.
Auto Lifting for Carpet
Another impressive feature of the S8 Max Ultra is its auto-lifting mop. When the vacuum detects carpeted surfaces, the mop automatically lifts 20mm to avoid getting wet. This is particularly useful for homes that have both hard floors and carpets. It ensures that the vacuum performs optimally on carpets without dragging the mop around, which could leave them damp or dirty.
Mopping Function
The S8 Max Ultra offers a mopping function in addition to its vacuuming capabilities. The robot uses a water tank and a microfiber mop cloth to scrub and sanitize your floors. The mopping feature is especially effective on sealed hard floors like tile, laminate, and wood, and it helps remove stains that might be missed by traditional vacuuming alone.
The water tank is sizable enough to handle multiple rooms before needing a refill. However, it’s worth noting that the mopping function isn’t a replacement for a deep manual clean—more of a supplementary cleaning tool for daily maintenance.
App & Voice Control
The Roborock app offers many options to customize your cleaning experience. From setting no-go zones to adjusting cleaning schedules, the app allows you complete control over the vacuum’s movements and cleaning cycles. You can also monitor the vacuum’s battery life, cleaning history, and filter status through the app.
For those who prefer voice control, the Roborock S8 Max Ultra integrates with popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, enabling you to start, stop, or pause cleaning with simple voice commands.
Advantages
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Powerful Suction (8000Pa): The vacuum’s powerful suction easily picks up dirt, debris, and even pet hair on hard floors and carpets.
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LiDAR Navigation: The advanced LiDAR navigation ensures precise and systematic cleaning, preventing missed spots and unnecessary backtracking.
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Self-Emptying Station: The self-emptying feature saves time and eliminates the need to empty the dustbin manually after each cleaning session. The dustbin can hold up to 60 days of debris.
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Mopping Function: The S8 Max Ultra combines vacuuming and mopping, providing a complete cleaning solution in one device.
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Smart Dirt Detection: This feature ensures that areas with heavy dirt are thoroughly cleaned, making it an excellent option for high-traffic zones.
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User-Friendly App & Voice Control: The app is intuitive and feature-packed, allowing for detailed customization, and voice control adds extra convenience.
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Auto-Lifting Mop for Carpet: The ability to lift the mop when transitioning onto carpets ensures that your floors are cleaned without dampening your carpet.
Disadvantages
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Mopping Performance: While the mopping function is handy, it might not provide the deep clean you’d get from a traditional mop, especially on stubborn stains.
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Noise Level: Although the self-emptying station is relatively quiet, the overall vacuuming process can be somewhat noisy, particularly on higher suction settings. This could be an issue if you have sensitive hearing or need quiet cleaning.
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Price: The Roborock S8 Max Ultra is pricier than other robot vacuums. While it’s packed with features, the cost might be a factor for some buyers.
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Water Tank Refills: For those with larger homes, the water tank may need to be refilled during extended mopping sessions, although this isn’t a huge inconvenience.
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Size: While the vacuum is compact, the all-in-one dock is large and requires a lot of space to function correctly.
Conclusion
The Roborock S8 Max Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop is a top-tier device that combines powerful suction, advanced navigation, and a self-emptying station to deliver a near-effortless cleaning experience. It’s particularly well-suited for those who want a robot vacuum that can handle both vacuuming and mopping in one device, and those with multiple floor types in their home. While it’s not without its drawbacks, the convenience, performance, and technology packed into this vacuum make it a strong contender for anyone looking to upgrade their cleaning routine. If you’re willing to invest in a high-end, efficient cleaning robot, the S8 Max Ultra is a fantastic option.
