New S8 MaxV Ultra vs S8 Max Ultra: Which is the Best Choice?

Roborock has released the S8 Max Ultra and S8 MaxV Ultra, positioning them as their flagship robot vacuum mop combos. They are both similar but feature minor differences and are offered at slightly different price points. We bought both and evaluated each extensively over the past few weeks to see how they stack up against each other and competing models. This Roborock S8 Max Ultra and S8 MaxV Ultra review will delve into the pros and cons and highlight the key differences between these two products.

The S8 MaxV Ultra vs the S8 Max Ultra: key differences

Roborock released the S8 Max Ultra and the S8 MaxV Ultra simultaneously, and at first glance, it’s challenging to distinguish between the two. 

Both models are top-tier robot vacuum mop combos featuring fully loaded auto dock systems and front-mounted obstacle avoidance systems. 

However, there are some differences in these robotic vacuums, which are as follows.

Vision

The most obvious difference between the two models lies in the “V,” which stands for vision. The S8 MaxV Ultra features a front-mounted camera that aids in obstacle avoidance, while the S8 Max Ultra relies solely on structured light for this function. 

The camera on the S8 MaxV also enables additional features. For example, it can identify stains that require extra attention during mopping and offers more pet-related functionalities, which we’ll discuss shortly.

Power

Another difference is their power. According to Roborock, the S8 MaxV boasts slightly more suction power than the S8 Max, a claim we confirmed through various bench evaluations. 

We found the S8 MaxV had better suction and airflow than the S8 Max. 

The S8 MaxV also performed slightly better in practical performance evaluations, such as the Crevice Pickup Test and Carpet Deep Clean Test.

Intelligence

The S8 MaxV has a new voice assistant feature, which is absent in the S8 Max. Additionally, it includes the new DirTect feature, a dust sensor that increases suction power when vacuuming particularly dirty areas.

The S8 MaxV Ultra and the S8 Max Ultra features

Debris pickup

Roborock’s sweeping ability stands out compared to other robot vacuums, and the S8 Max and S8 MaxV are no exception. Both excel at debris pickup on hard floors and carpets. They performed nearly perfectly in picking up various shapes and sizes of debris, including pet hair and human hair, in our Debris Pickup Test.

Brushes

Both the S8 Max Ultra and S8 MaxV Ultra have single-side brush and dual brush rollers housed in a floating brush assembly. 

One new hardware feature introduced with the S8 Max series is FlexiArm, which is present on both models. It’s an automatically extending side brush that enhances corner cleaning. 

According to Roborock, the FlexiArm can achieve 100% coverage in corners, a claim supported by impressive performance in our evaluations.

Mopping

A strong standout feature of both models is their mopping capability. The S8 Max series introduces Roborock’s VibraRise 3.0 mopping system. Essentially, the two modules on the microfiber pads vibrate faster than those on the previous S8 Pro version. 

Plus, the pads for both robot vacuum mop combo models now lift much higher, at 20 millimeters, compared to just 5 millimeters on the previous model. 

This significantly reduces the likelihood of the wet mop pad touching your carpets while elevated. The pad-lifting feature allows the robot to vacuum and mop houses with mixed flooring in a single run, enhancing efficiency compared to robots without mop-lifting capabilities. 

Also, Roborock’s S8 Max series features a new spinning module on the side, which ensures better edge coverage during mopping. There’s also a place on the dock to wash this extra pad.

Both models’ mopping performance was excellent in our evaluations. They effortlessly handled dried-on coffee and dried-on grape juice stains. And in our glow-in-the-dark wet evaluation, both managed damp floors with minimal streaks. 

There was no discernible difference between the two in terms of mopping ability, which is expected given that they feature identical mopping systems.

Docking station

Another significant advantage of both models is the newly upgraded all-in-one docking station, which is essentially the same.

This dock automatically empties the robot vacuum’s dustbin into a disposable bag, washes the mop pad with hot water, and dries it with hot air. It also refills the water tank and has a new auto detergent dispenser that accommodates any detergent of your choice. 

It also includes a self-cleaning mode, which is exclusive to flagship models like these.

Dirt sensor and drainage system

The S8 Max Ultra and S8 MaxV docking stations have a new dirt sensor in the dirty water tube. This sensor detects if the mop water is still dirty and, if so, initiates another washing cycle for the mop pad. 

This brings these models closer to fully automated cleaning, akin to Rosie the Robot. The only remaining thing is to find a way to automatically fill and empty the water tanks—and Roborock has thought of that feature.

There are versions of the S8 Max designed to connect to specialized plumbing for automatic tank drainage and refilling. While not practical for most users, it’s an impressive innovation.

Obstacle avoidance

Another great thing about the S8 MaxV and S8 Max is the obstacle avoidance system. This front-mounted sensor detects household objects, significantly reducing the likelihood of the robot vacuum getting tangled in cords or becoming stuck. 

The S8 MaxV, with its camera, performed better in our obstacle avoidance evaluation than the S8 Max. However, both outperformed the Roborock Q Revo MaxV, the next model down in the lineup. 

It’s likely that Roborock offers the S8 Max to accommodate households with security concerns about the camera on the S8 MaxV.

Battery life

Both robot vacuum models have an official battery life of 180 minutes on low power, which is above average. During our navigation evaluations, the S8 Max demonstrated slightly better battery efficiency, though the difference was minimal.

Navigation

Regarding navigation, the S8 Max and S8 MaxV create maps and navigate using LiDAR sensors. They mapped our floor plan in about five minutes, navigating efficiently with nearly perfect coverage and without getting stuck. 

Our evaluations showed very similar navigation efficiency, and both robot vacuums performed about average for products in this price range.

App

The Roborock robot vacuum app is one of the best ones we’ve evaluated. It’s super easy to use and packed with every major feature—from virtual barriers to multi-level mapping, advanced scheduling features, lots of control over bin behaviors, mopping and power settings, and more.

New pet care feature

There are also many interesting all-new pet-related features, though most are exclusive to the S8 MaxV due to its camera. 

For example, the robot vacuum can automatically locate your pet if you’re worried about them while away. It can also take pictures of your pet while cleaning and allows for video calls through the robot’s speakers and microphone.

Cons of the S8 MaxV Ultra and S8 Max Ultra

While the S8 MaxV Ultra and S8 Max Ultra are impressive robot vacuums with numerous advanced features, they aren’t without potential drawbacks. Here are some of the cons associated with both models.

Price

We found that the primary drawback is the price. The S8 MaxV is the most expensive robot vacuum we’ve reviewed to date, and while the S8 Max is slightly cheaper, the difference isn’t significant.

Power difference

Another downside is the power difference in the S8 Max. It seems the S8 Max was intentionally limited in power to create a selling point for the S8 MaxV, which isn’t ideal. 

While the S8 MaxV performs well in metrics like airflow and deep clean evaluation, the S8 Max’s artificially reduced power results in below-average performance in these important areas. This limitation makes it difficult to recommend the S8 Max, even for those concerned about security.

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vs S8 Max Ultra: value and final thoughts

It’s challenging to find faults with the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra. Its feature score is the highest ever recorded in our scoring system, making it one of the best-automated floor care systems on the market.

Vacuum Wars

So at this point in time, while the S8 Max Ultra is a strong option, the S8 MaxV Ultra offers the higher level of automation and performance and holds a top spot among the many robot vacuums we’ve evaluated.