Now that CES 2023 is over, we can reflect on some of the best parts, one of which was when Roborock dished the dirt on their new robot vacuum cleaners, the Roborock S8 series. The Roborock S8 range will be the successor of the hugely popular Roborock S7 robot vacuums, which were first released in 2021. The new Roborocks are smarter and more powerful than their predecessors, thanks to several innovative features. Keep reading for all the details!
When was the Roborock S8 released?
The Roborock S8 series was released for purchase in the US on the 27th April 2023 and was available from the 16th March 2023 in the EU.
What are the new Roborock S8 vacuums?
In total, Roborock announced three new models of robot vacuums:
- Roborock S8
- Roborock S8+
- Roborock S8 Pro Ultra
The three robots directly upgrade the S7, S7+ and S7 Pro Ultra. The S8 is a robot vacuum with a standard charging dock. The S8+ is the same robot, but with a self-emptying dock, then the S8 Pro Ultra will be their new flagship with the RockDock Ultra, the all-in-one docking station, but more on that in a bit.
All of the Roborock S8 series will be available in either white or black.
There has yet to be a word on a Roborock S8 MaxV or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra model, but if the usual pattern is to be followed, we can expect them as upgrades early next year.
How much will the Roborock S8 Series cost?
The expected release price of the Roborock S8 is around $750 (in Europe, €699). The S8+ with the self-empty dock will be about $950 (in Europe, €899), and the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra will cost around $1500 (€1350).
Key features
Improved cleaning performance
To be fair, you’d expect this with every new generation, but this one has more going on than just a suction boost. While all the vacuums boast a boost in suction power from 5100 pa (in the S7 generation) to 6000 pa cleaning power, the bit that caught my eye is the introduction of dual rubber roller brushes.
This is an innovation that Roomba robot vacuums have had for a while, and I love that it is now part of my favored Roborock vacuums. The dual brush system is proven to pick up more dirt and reduce hair tangles, so I’d expect to see the same here.
Upgraded VibraRise® 2.0 Mopping System
There is an upgrade to the VibraRise sonic mopping technology, another loved feature first introduced with the S7, and creatively named VibraRise 2.0. This helped to set the Roborock vacuums apart from traditional vacuum and mop combos. The advanced mopping technology uses a frequency of 3000 oscillations per minute to scrub floors clean. At the same time, the carpet detection system allows it to automatically lift the mopping pad by 5mm when cleaning carpets to avoid staining.
Smarter than ever
The new Roborock S8 Series is prepared to detect and avoid obstacles on its path, no matter the lighting conditions. Featuring a Reactive 3D Obstacle Avoidance system that combines 3D structured light and infrared imaging technology, this intelligent robot can recognize objects on the floor, ensuring it won’t get stuck by trying to gobble up a sock or smear something unspeakable across the carpet. With this cutting-edge system, you can enjoy a seamless and worry-free experience every time your robotic vacuum runs!
Other minor improvements
- Off-peak charging – I love this. You can choose when to charge your vacuum to take advantage of off-peak power rates.
- Updated PreciSense LiDAR Navigation intelligently adapts cleaning power for optimal route planning and efficiency.
- Faster home mapping in the app and auto no-go zone detection.
More on the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra
All of the above upgrades will feature across the range, but I wanted to focus on the S8 Pro Ultra for a moment. Taking over from last year’s Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra as the company’s flagship is no easy task. It was widely regarded as the best robot vacuum money can buy, so let’s look at what it does differently to become what they claim to be “the most powerful cleaning system yet.”
The new and improved RoboDock Ultra
The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra’s new RockDock Ultra System is the ultimate zero-maintenance dock. With its intuitive and thoughtfully designed automatic mop washing, you won’t have to worry about any of the manual labor associated with cleaning up after your robot vacuum.
It’s self-washing, self-drying, and self-emptying—all while safely refilling its water tank.
The warm air drying feature will prevent mold growth, ensuring that mop pads remain dry and safe from those dank smells of mildew and prevent cross contamination from bacteria growth that can plague some robot vacuum and mop combos models.
Not to mention, you can rest assured that the dual roller brushes and the bottom plate of the dock stay clean thanks to the additional self-cleaning design.
Finally, although less important, it does have a smart new look. The first generation of Roborocks Ultra line clearly had the three separate containers visible in what I felt gave it more of an industrial look. For the new RockDock there is a cover placed in from that gives it a more elegant look that will blend into homes a bit nicer. It’s similar to the Ecovacs X1 Omni in this respect.
Self lifting brushes
So we have spoken about the rising mop (this was also on the S7), but a feature unique to the S8 Pro Ultra is the liftable brush, known as the DuoRoller Riser.
The innovative DuoRoller Riser brush has a liftable design that raises the brush by 6 mm in mop only mode. This allows it to prevent dirt transfer when mopping and effortlessly switch between vacuuming and mopping for a deeper and quieter clean when you just need the mop. It will also act as a bit of protection for the machine’s guts if you want to use the mop to clean up a heavier spill, preventing any liquid from being sucked in by mistake.
Pretty helpful if you have 2 littles ones that enjoy an overly splashy bathtime (talking from experience here).
What else is new?
At the same event, Roborock also announced the Dyad Pro, the new manual floor washing machine for those who prefer to take a more active role in house cleaning.
It sports an impressive 17000Pa of suction power and doubles as a floor washer and dry vac all in one handheld device. This means that you can tackle any mess at hand with ease and speed. Just like its robotic vacuum counterparts, the Dyad Pro can even clean and dry itself while docked.
Final thoughts on the Roborock S8 series
So … should you buy one? Well, it’s only January, but we could already be looking at some contenders as the best robot vacuums of 2023. I love the introduction of the double brush, and the bump in suction. Also the Reactive 3D Obstacle Avoidance promises to be a nice touch.
However, if you have bought any of the S7 models, especially the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra, I don’t think it is worth trading it in just yet. Wait to see what the MaxV versions bring in a year or twos time.
If you have been considering upgrading an older machine to the S7, hold on for now. Even if you feel that the new S8 series doesn’t offer enough for the price difference, just remember the release usually means significant reductions on older models.
From now on, I’d expect to see deals on the S7 range, especially the epic Roborock S7 Pro Ultra.
Either way, whichever one you end up with, if it is a Roborock, you’ve made a great choice and are unlikely to be disappointed.
