At last, a robot vacuum and mop that embodies the spirit of an autonomous housecleaner rather than a demanding houseguest.

When I made my initial foray into the world of robot vacuums five years ago, my enthusiasm was dampened by the amount of ongoing maintenance the device demanded. Even with a self-emptying tower, the vacuum still needed constant attention—regular emptying, rescuing from tight spots, and clearing rollers of obstructions. The accompanying mop-bot was so ineffective that I relegated it to a forgotten spot under the couch for a whole year. However, the latest generation of floorbots goes beyond mere vacuuming and mopping—they are evolving into truly autonomous entities. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra, priced at $1,199.99, stands out as an incredibly efficient vacuum and mop that demands minimal upkeep. With this level of convenience, there’s no turning back to the robots of the past.

This generation of robot vacuums is far more autonomous

The landscape of robot vacuums has witnessed a significant decrease in prices in recent years, with many now incorporating self-emptying towers. Simultaneously, there has been the existence of robot mops, requiring users to go through the process of stripping the mop pad, washing it, replacing it, and subsequently navigating the pad (along with all the collected germs and dirt) across the floor. Occasionally, as observed in models like the Roomba i7 and Braava, there is an attempt to have the vacuum and mop collaborate (spoiler alert: they don’t always seem to get along).

The S8 represents a new era of floorbots that not only vacuum but also mop. What sets them apart is their ability to autonomously fill, empty, wash, and dry themselves, ensuring that only clean water is applied to your floor. With the need to refill the clean-water station and empty the dirty-water station occurring once every few weeks, coupled with a monthly vacuum-cleaner bag replacement, these floorbots offer a level of convenience that significantly reduces user involvement in maintenance tasks.

These bots demand more floorspace

To accommodate the advanced capabilities of these floorbots, a slightly more substantial tower is required. The latest robot-vacuum stations have grown to roughly the size of a toilet. Although the S8 is larger than the Switchbot K10+, it maintains a compact design that easily fits into small spaces without necessitating furniture rearrangement. The robot itself isn’t imposing either, and this aspect proves crucial for its effectiveness—it can get closer to walls, navigate under toe kicks, and weave between chair legs. This closer proximity allows for more passes over a given space, ensuring that the brushes make more passes as well. The Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is a well-sized bot with a low profile, available in black or white. Its simplicity is evident in a few buttons on top, while the remaining controls are discreetly hidden under the lid. The base, crafted from matte molded plastic, is noticeable but not ostentatious—it could easily blend in under a side table without causing embarrassment.

This robot uses lasers

Similar to many of the newer bots I’ve tested, Roborock employs Lidar technology, which means it doesn’t rely on bumping into objects to detect them. Instead, it utilizes light detection and ranging (lasers!) to intricately map out the space. Within moments of departing the base for the first time, a near-perfect outline of the room appeared on the map. One notable difference with Lidar compared to the bump and turn approach is that newer robots equipped with Lidar won’t attempt to enter spaces if they perceive a blockade; they’ll navigate around it. For instance, while my Roomba i7 might push through a curtain between two rooms, the newer bots, including the Roborock, interpret it as a wall. On the positive side, the Roborock excels in getting closer to walls than any other new robot I’ve experimented with.

The S8 mop can even clean up heavy-duty mop jobs

The Roborock stands out by simultaneously mopping and vacuuming, consistently demonstrating a remarkable precision in avoiding accidental mopping on rugs. It offers the flexibility to adjust the intensity for both vacuuming and mopping or opt for either function separately. During the month I tested this bot, dealing with a dog bringing in copious amounts of mud through a doggie door onto white tile became a frequent challenge, with new muddy paw prints appearing around 30 times a day. However, the Roborock efficiently and quietly addressed this issue by swiftly mopping the affected area. Remarkably, it successfully tackled both wet and dried-on mud, outperforming even the latest Dyson mop I’ve been experimenting with. Notably, it left the entire floor immaculate, with the mop pad rinsed to a pristine white after cleaning the muddy path (verified!). The Roborock’s efficiency was further evident in its ability to resume cleaning every 30 minutes or so without requiring extended recharging time.

Getting stuck is a lot less likely with the Roborock

The Roborock’s vacuuming performance left a lasting impression. Equipped with the same rollers as other floorbots, it exhibited remarkable resilience to larger pieces of detritus on the floor. Labels, toy fluff, and even the occasional dog treat posed no challenge, whether the vacuum was patrolling the floor or emptying itself at the base. The bot’s wheels encountered minimal issues, getting stuck only once or twice on cords under the couch. Common obstacles that often troubled other bots, such as rug transitions or thresholds, didn’t seem to faze the Roborock. Despite the occasional incident involving yarn that needed unwinding from the bot sweeper, it proved to be a minor inconvenience. Simply placing the bot back on the floor allowed it to quickly orient itself and resume its cleaning duties without significant disruption.

The S8 integrates in your home and workflow

The Roborock seamlessly integrates with Google Home, Alexa, and HomeKit, streamlining the process of instructing it to address specific cleaning tasks, such as attending to the muddy paw prints. This integration also opens up possibilities for automations, enabling the use of presence sensors to command the robot to return to the base when someone is in the space. Additionally, automation can be leveraged with a water sensor to prompt mopping in the event of a leak. An imaginative application involves attaching a vibration sensor to a high chair, prompting the vacuum to start cleaning once your child begins eating and inevitably dropping food. The versatility provided by these smart home integrations enhances the overall convenience and efficiency of the Roborock.

The S8 comes with the latest features, like joystick control

The S8 introduces several new features that I consider indispensable in a robot vacuum, such as the joystick feature. This feature minimizes the likelihood of having to rescue your bot, as you can use the joystick to direct it out using the map, which provides a highly precise view of the bot’s location in the space. The ability to set zones for more focused cleaning in specific areas, like under a high chair or in front of a doggie door, is another valuable feature. Particularly noteworthy is the option to set a pin on the map, prompting the bot to navigate directly to that location.

The inclusion of a visually appealing 3D version of the map, which vividly depicts furniture in the space, adds a touch of delight. However, for practical functionality, I found myself favoring the 2D version. One standout feature is the detailed information provided by the Roborock about the remaining lifespan of every replaceable part, including sensors, brushes, filters, and dust bags. This level of precision and transparency contributes to a more informed and efficient user experience.

Gets the job done quickly and quietly, as it should

I am particularly impressed by the efficiency and speed with which the S8 accomplishes tasks, paired with its relatively low noise level, allowing for undisturbed phone calls while it’s in operation. Although it takes a few minutes for the Roborock to leave the dock when summoned (as it preps the mop), once it starts, it operates with swift precision. The robot follows a logical path across the floor, and users even have the ability to influence this pattern for varying degrees of cleaning efficacy—perfect for those who derive satisfaction from observing the bot meticulously cover every inch of the floor in back-and-forth rows.

It’s still a robot

The S8 has limitations when it comes to navigating around cords or toys, as it cannot lift them and go underneath. Living with a robot entails a constant awareness of clearing the floor space, especially with regard to cords. In my case, I tend to toss laundry towards the washer and dryer, letting it accumulate at the base of the machines. On two occasions, the Roborock got entangled in a towel left in its path—a result of my oversight.

Similar to most floorbots, the S8 offers a multitude of settings that can be fine-tuned, ranging from how it interacts with carpets to its response to obstacles in its path, and even whether it should anticipate encounters with pets. Here’s a helpful tip: If your pet tends to steer clear of the bot, consider turning off this feature, as it can impact the bot’s cleaning effectiveness. Interestingly, the challenge with many floorbots lies in the fact that the more settings you tweak in the hope of improving their performance, the less effective they often become. In many cases, letting the floorbot operate freely, unimpeded by excessive app settings or floor clutter, tends to yield the best results.

An expensive bot, but worth every cent

The S8 is, pardon my enthusiasm, an absolute delight. Its effectiveness is so impressive that I hesitate to replace it with another floorbot for testing purposes. While it’s in operation, I no longer experience the bot-related anxiety that plagued me in the past—no need to constantly monitor its location, worry about it getting stranded, stuck, or tangled, or wonder if it will successfully complete the task on the first attempt. This marks my first experience with a Roborock product, and considering its price tag of over $1000, it has proven to be worth every penny. If you’ve previously invested in a more budget-friendly bot that required excessive handholding and left you disappointed, the S8 is sure to restore your faith in robot vacuums.