Question

Is the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra worth it in 2026?

Emma W.Contributor2026-02-182.8K views

I've been looking at the S8 MaxV Ultra for a few months. The price is steep at $1,400+. For those who own it — is the auto-empty dock actually reliable? Does the mopping system leave streaks? I have a mix of hardwood and carpet with a golden retriever, so pet hair performance is make or break for me. My budget can stretch to $1,600 but I want to make sure I'm not overpaying for features I won't use.

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34 Replies

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Sarah K.ExpertVerified OwnerTop Answer2026-02-18

Owner of 10 months here. Short answer: yes, absolutely worth it for pet owners. The auto-empty dock handles golden retriever hair without clogging — I was shocked. The mopping leaves very faint streaks on dark hardwood but it's 90% better than my old Roborock S7. The obstacle avoidance is the real game changer though — it dodges dog toys, shoes, cables without hesitation.

72 found helpful

Emma W.Contributor2026-02-19

This is exactly what I needed to hear! Does it handle the transition from hardwood to carpet well? My living room has a thick area rug.

3 found helpful

Sarah K.ExpertVerified Owner2026-02-19

Handles it perfectly. It automatically increases suction on carpet and lifts the mop pads so they don't wet the carpet. The transition is seamless even with thick rugs. Only issue I've had is with very dark/black rugs — it sometimes thinks they're cliffs and avoids them. A firmware update mostly fixed this though.

28 found helpful

Tom H.Trusted MemberVerified Owner2026-02-20

I've had mine for 6 months. The dock self-cleaning works well but uses a lot of water and cleaning solution. Budget about $15/month for supplies. Also, the dock is HUGE — measure your space before buying. Other than that, it's the best robot vacuum I've ever owned (had 4 different brands over the years).

38 found helpful

David R.Contributor2026-02-22

Counter-opinion: I returned mine after 2 months. For the price, I expected perfection and it wasn't. The AI obstacle avoidance failed on small items like USB cables. The mopping was mediocre on stubborn stains. And the app pushes notifications constantly. Ended up with the Dreame L20 for $400 less and I'm happier with it. The Roborock is good but not $1,400 good IMO.

15 found helpful

Sarah K.ExpertVerified Owner2026-02-23

Fair points, but I'd push back on the mopping — no robot vacuum replaces manual mopping for stubborn stains. They're maintenance tools, not deep cleaners. You can also disable all notifications in the app settings. Different expectations I think.

22 found helpful