Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra Robot Vacuum Review
Volume 38: Hair Management Part 3 - Tackling the Never Ending Battle of Golden Retriever Fur in the Home
Golden Retriever’s shedding can overwhelm any home. After over a decade of dealing with the fur, we needed a serious way to manage it. Enter the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, a premium robot vacuum and mop combo, that aims to tackle this furry challenge with powerful suction, pet-friendly features, and a self-maintaining dock. Originally priced at $1,799.99 but has been seen as low as $800, here’s how it performs for Golden Retriever owners.
Key Features
The S8 MaxV Ultra combines vacuuming and mopping in a sleek, LiDAR-guided design with 10,000Pa suction—among the highest available. Its dual rubber roller brushes resist tangles, ideal for pet hair, while the FlexiArm side brush sweeps fur from corners. The Reactive AI 2.0 system avoids pet toys and cords, and even snaps photos of your pet. The self-emptying dock, with a dust bag lasting up to seven weeks, washes and dries mop pads, and an optional $100 plumbing connection eliminates water tank refills.
Fur-Cleaning Performance
The vacuum excels at collecting Golden Retriever fur, removing 99.8% of debris on hardwood and 95.7% on low-pile carpets. The dual rollers grip hair without tangling, though some fur may wrap around brush ends during heavy shedding. The CarpetBoost+ system pulls fur from carpets, but thick rugs may need manual vacuuming. The FlexiArm effectively clears corners on hard floors but is less consistent on carpets.
The dustbin fills quickly in high-shedding homes, but the auto-emptying dock mitigates this if set to empty frequently. A washable HEPA filter traps dander, though fine particles may escape, a concern for allergy sufferers.
Pet-Friendly Smarts
The AI avoids pet obstacles and pauses brushes near pets to avoid startling them. Pet-monitoring features, like finding your Golden Retriever, add convenience, though the floor-level camera may miss elevated pets. The mopping system cleans paw prints well, but its 20mm lift struggles on thicker carpets, risking wet fur spread.
Maintenance and App
The dock minimizes upkeep by handling dust, mop cleaning, and water refills. Regular tasks include replacing dust bags ($31.99 for six) and checking brushes during shedding season. The Roborock app offers scheduling and pet-specific settings but lacks multi-floor mapping and custom room labels. Navigation is efficient, covering homes in about 75 minutes, though cords or low furniture may pose challenges.
Drawbacks
The high price, even at $999.99, is steep. The FlexiArm and voice assistant (“Hello Rocky”) can be inconsistent, and obstacle avoidance isn’t flawless. Thick carpets and multi-level homes may expose limitations, and the filter may leak fine allergens.
Verdict
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is a top-tier solution for Golden Retriever owners with hard floors or low-pile carpets. Its powerful suction, tangle-free brushes, and automated dock make fur management nearly effortless, with added perks like pet monitoring. While costly and less ideal for thick carpets or multi-floor homes, it’s a game-changer for those seeking a low-maintenance, high-performance vacuum. This robot vacuum has been Golden Pupper approved for managing golden fur!
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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