The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra has a comprehensive docking station known as the RockDock Ultra, an all-in-one solution that handles everything from emptying the dustbin to washing and drying the mop, and even refilling the water tank. Its built-in hot air mop dryer can help keep mold and odors at bay, and additional noteworthy features include a dual roller-brush system and Dynamic Lift mode, which automatically detects carpeted areas and adjusts its cleaning setting accordingly. Right now, it's on sale for $949.99, 41% off the original price of $1,599.99.
It has three primary cleaning modes: mop, vacuum, and vacuum and mop together. The customize mode lets you independently set the mode, suction power, and scrub intensity for each room represented on your map. The S8 Pro Ultra's obstacle recognition relies on 3D light and infrared imaging technology, which Roborock dubs "Reactive 3D Obstacle Avoidance." This feature allows the robot to identify and navigate around various objects (up to 42 different types), including pet toys. You can save up to four maps, and based on the smart cleaner's location, it automatically switches between them for multi-room or multi-floor cleaning. However, mastering the app's extensive cleaning customization options might take some time and patience—so be prepared to reference the manual more than once.
The S8 Pro Ultra allows control through the unit, its app, or voice commands via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Roborock claims that the S8 Pro Ultra can operate for up to 180 minutes in Quiet mode, and requires approximately four hours to fully recharge. According to PCMag's review, the S8 Pro Ultra is quick to cover ground, taking about an hour to vacuum and mop a 1,000-square-foot area, consuming about half of its battery in the process.
When compared to its rivals, the S8 Pro Ultra lacks a few bells and whistles, such as a built-in voice assistant and security camera functions. If you’re the type who likes to check in on your home remotely through your smart cleaner, you might want to consider the Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni, which is currently $740.29—that's 52% off it's regular price of $1,549.99. The S8 Pro Ultra's main drawback, aside from the lack of remote monitoring, is that its mop cloth mount isn’t removable, which can make swapping out the mop cloth a bit of a hassle. Additionally, if you have hardwood or laminate floors, enabling the “clean along floor direction” setting in the app is recommended to avoid scratches.
