I’ve spent weeks testing the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Dreame X30 Ultra, two flagship robot vacuums that promise to make floor cleaning effortless. My goal? To figure out which one truly delivers for busy households with pets, kids, and a mix of flooring.
In this article, I’ll share my hands-on experience, breaking down their features, pros, and cons, to help you decide which vacuum is worth your investment.
Let’s see how these high-end robots stack up in a head-to-head battle for cleaning supremacy.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra | Dreame X30 Ultra |
| Price | $1,799.99 | $1,699.99 |
| Suction Power | 10,000Pa | 8,300Pa |
| Mopping System | Vibrating mop (4,000 times/min), side mop | Dual spinning mop pads, extendable mop |
| Obstacle Avoidance | AI camera, LiDAR, 73 object recognition | AI camera, 3D structured light, lasers |
| Base Station Features | Self-emptying, mop washing, drying, plumbing option | Self-emptying, mop washing, drying, mop detachment |
| Voice Control | Built-in “Rocky” assistant, Alexa, Google, Siri | Alexa, Google, Siri (no built-in assistant) |
| Mop Lifting Height | 20mm | 10.5mm |
| App Features | Custom cleaning, multi-level mapping | Custom cleaning, multi-level mapping, 32 mop wetness levels |
| Carpet Cleaning | Dual roller brushes, strong suction | Anti-tangle brush, mop detachment |
| Smart Home Compatibility | Matter-certified | No Matter support |
My Testing Journey
When I unboxed the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Dreame X30 Ultra, I was excited but skeptical. Both claim to be the ultimate in hands-free cleaning, but at $1,800 and $1,700 respectively, they needed to prove their worth.
My home—a 1,800-square-foot space with hardwood, tile, and medium-pile carpets, plus a dog and two cats—became the testing ground.
I ran each vacuum through daily cleaning routines, tackling pet hair, spilled cereal, and muddy paw prints, while also evaluating their docks, apps, and smart features. Here’s what I found.
Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra feels like a futuristic cleaning companion. Its sleek design, complete with a glowing LiDAR dome, caught my eye immediately. But it’s the performance that matters, so let’s break it down.
- Suction Power and Vacuuming
With 10,000Pa of suction, the S8 MaxV Ultra is a beast.
It effortlessly sucked up cat litter scattered across my hardwood floors and dug deep into carpets to remove embedded pet hair.
I spilled coffee grounds in the kitchen to test its limits, and it cleared 95% of the mess in a single pass.
The dual roller brushes are a standout, preventing tangles and ensuring consistent pickup.
However, I noticed it occasionally left small debris in tight corners, requiring a second pass.
- Mopping Performance
The vibrating mop, pulsing at 4,000 times per minute, is designed to scrub tough stains. I tested it on dried juice stains in my kitchen, and while it did a decent job, I noticed faint streaks on my dark tile floors.
The side mop, a new feature, extends to clean along baseboards, which worked well around my dining room table. The 20mm mop-lifting capability is a game-changer for homes with mixed flooring—it seamlessly transitions to carpets without dampening them.
However, without cleaning solution (sold separately), the mopping felt less effective.
- Obstacle Avoidance and Navigation
Using LiDAR and an AI-equipped camera, the S8 MaxV Ultra mapped my home in 11 minutes, accurately labeling rooms like my bathroom and bedroom. It recognizes 73 types of obstacles, dodging everything from dog toys to stray socks.
During testing, it only got stuck once on a phone cord, which is impressive given my cluttered floors. The navigation is smooth, but I had to manually tweak the map to separate my kitchen and living room.
- Base Station and Maintenance
The base station is a marvel, handling self-emptying, mop washing, and drying. The optional plumbing connection (a rare feature) means I didn’t need to refill water tanks, making it truly hands-free.
The dustbin holds seven weeks of debris, but the station’s size—over 16 inches tall—requires significant space. I also had to clean the mop-washing tray occasionally, as it collected residue over time.
- Smart Features
The built-in “Rocky” voice assistant is a standout. I could say, “Hello, Rocky, clean the kitchen,” and it obeyed without needing my phone. The Roborock app is intuitive, offering custom cleaning schedules and no-go zones.
Its Matter certification is a bonus for smart home enthusiasts, though I didn’t test this feature since my platform doesn’t yet support it.
Pros of The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
- Incredible 10,000Pa suction power for deep cleaning.
- Advanced obstacle avoidance with AI and LiDAR.
- Built-in voice assistant for hands-free control.
- Plumbing connection option for ultimate automation.
- Matter-certified for future-proof smart home integration.
Cons of The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
- Expensive at $1,799.99, with cleaning solution sold separately.
- Mopping leaves minor streaks on dark floors.
- Large base station takes up significant space.
- Occasional misses in tight corners.
Dreame X30 Ultra: The Mopping Maestro
The Dreame X30 Ultra arrived with a sleek, modern base station that blends into my home better than I expected. Its gold accents give it a premium vibe, but does it clean as well as it looks? Let’s find out.
- Suction Power and Vacuuming
With 8,300Pa of suction, the X30 Ultra is slightly less powerful than the Roborock, but it still impressed.
It handled pet hair and cereal crumbs on my hardwood floors with ease, though it struggled slightly with deeply embedded sand in my carpets, picking up about 80% compared to the Roborock’s 90%.
The anti-tangle brush is a blessing for pet owners—my dog’s long hair didn’t wrap around it once.
- Mopping Performance
The Dreame’s dual spinning mop pads are where it shines. They apply downward pressure, scrubbing away dried coffee and grape juice stains in my kitchen without streaks. The extendable mop pad reaches under furniture and along baseboards, cleaning areas the Roborock missed.
With 32 levels of mop wetness, I could fine-tune it for my delicate hardwood floors. The mop detachment feature is genius—it drops the pads at the dock when vacuuming carpets, ensuring no damp spots.
- Obstacle Avoidance and Navigation
The X30 Ultra uses a camera, 3D structured light, and lasers for navigation. It mapped my home in 12 minutes, slightly slower than the Roborock, but just as accurate. It avoided most obstacles, though it struggled with low-lying objects like a flat extension cord.
In one test, it got briefly stuck in my bathroom between the toilet and trash can, requiring a manual nudge.
- Base Station and Maintenance
The Dreame’s base station is a powerhouse, offering self-emptying, mop washing, drying, and water refilling. The mop detachment feature reduces maintenance, as the pads are cleaned and stored separately.
However, the dock is noisy during mop washing, and its 18-inch depth makes it bulkier than the Roborock’s. I appreciated the self-cleaning washing board, which kept maintenance minimal.
- Smart Features
The Dreame app is robust, with customizable cleaning modes and detailed maps. The 32 mop wetness levels gave me more control than the Roborock’s app, but the lack of a built-in voice assistant was a letdown.
I had to pair it with Alexa, which worked fine but felt less seamless. No Matter support is a drawback for smart home enthusiasts.
Pros of The Dreame X30 Ultra
- Superior mopping with dual spinning pads and extendable mop.
- Mop detachment prevents carpet dampening.
- Anti-tangle brush ideal for pet hair.
- 32 mop wetness levels for precise cleaning.
- Stylish base station design.
Cons of The Dreame X30 Ultra
- Slightly weaker suction (8,300Pa) for deep carpet cleaning.
- No built-in voice assistant.
- Noisy mop-washing process.
- Struggles with low-lying obstacles.
- Bulky base station.
Head-to-Head Comparison of Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra And Dreame X30 Ultra
- Cleaning Performance: The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra takes the lead in vacuuming, thanks to its 10,000Pa suction and dual roller brushes. It’s my go-to for carpets and heavy pet hair. The Dreame X30 Ultra, however, dominates mopping. Its spinning pads and extendable mop cleaned my kitchen tiles flawlessly, while the Roborock left faint streaks. If your home is mostly hard floors, the Dreame is hard to beat.
- Navigation and Obstacle Avoidance: Both robots use advanced navigation, but the Roborock’s AI and LiDAR combo feels slightly more polished, dodging obstacles with fewer hiccups. The Dreame’s system is excellent but occasionally stumbles on low objects. For cluttered homes, the Roborock has a slight edge.
- Base Station Functionality: The Roborock’s plumbing option is a game-changer for hands-free maintenance, but it’s not essential if you don’t mind refilling tanks. The Dreame’s mop detachment and self-cleaning washing board make it equally low-maintenance, though its noisy operation might annoy light sleepers.
- Smart Features and App: The Roborock’s built-in voice assistant and Matter support give it an edge for tech-savvy users. The Dreame’s app offers more mopping customization, but its reliance on third-party voice assistants feels less integrated. Both apps are user-friendly, with detailed maps and scheduling options.
- Price and Value: At $1,799.99, the Roborock is pricier than the Dreame’s $1,699.99. The Roborock justifies its cost with superior suction and smart home integration, but the Dreame offers better value for hard-floor homes, especially if you catch it on sale.
Real-World Scenarios
To give you a sense of how these robots perform in everyday life, here are some scenarios from my testing:
- Pet Hair Chaos: My dog sheds like it’s his job. The Roborock’s dual rollers handled thick fur on carpets better, while the Dreame’s anti-tangle brush was a lifesaver on hardwood.
- Spill Central: My kids spilled juice in the dining room. The Dreame’s spinning mops cleaned it up without a trace, while the Roborock left slight streaks.
- Tight Spaces: The Dreame’s extendable mop reached under my couch, cleaning dust bunnies the Roborock missed. However, the Roborock navigated around furniture more confidently.
- Busy Schedules: Both robots let me set schedules via their apps, but the Roborock’s voice assistant made spot-cleaning commands easier when I didn’t have my phone.
Which One Should You Choose?
Your choice depends on your home and priorities. If you have carpets or prioritize vacuuming power and smart home integration, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is the better pick. Its suction, voice assistant, and plumbing option make it a premium choice for tech lovers.
If hard floors dominate your space or you want the best mopping performance, the Dreame X30 Ultra is your match. Its spinning mops and mop detachment feature are unbeatable for tile and hardwood.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
It depends on your needs. The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra excels in vacuuming and smart features, while the Dreame X30 Ultra is superior for mopping and hard floors.
The S8 Pro Ultra has stronger suction (6,000Pa vs. 5,300Pa) and better obstacle avoidance, but the L10s Ultra’s dual mops are great for hard floors. Choose based on your flooring type.
Yes, if you value powerful suction, smart home integration, and hands-free maintenance. It’s pricey, but ideal for busy, pet-filled homes with mixed flooring.
Absolutely. Dreame vacuums, like the X30 Ultra, offer excellent mopping and solid vacuuming, making them a strong choice for hard-floor homes.
Wrapping Up
After weeks of testing, I’m impressed by both the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Dreame X30 Ultra, but they cater to slightly different needs. The Roborock’s raw power and smart features make it a top pick for carpet-heavy homes or tech enthusiasts like me.
The Dreame’s mopping prowess and anti-tangle design stole my heart for my hardwood floors. You can’t go wrong with either, but consider your flooring, budget, and smart home setup to choose the one that’ll keep your home spotless and your stress low.