Robot vacuums don’t have the most creative names. The vast majority of products available today largely carry names comprised of a random assortment of numbers and words, and it can be hard to discern how one product compares to another unless you do some serious digging. That’s especially true of the Dreame X40 Ultra and Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, which both carry a hodgepodge of characters followed by the “Ultra” moniker. But naming quirks aside, there’s no denying these are two of the best robot vacuums money can buy.
That begs the question — should you purchase the Dreame X40 Ultra or Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra for your smart home? You truly can’t go wrong with either, but here’s a closer look at both to ensure you’re getting the right robot for your needs.
Pricing and availability
The Dreame X40 Ultra costs $1,900, though you’ll often find it on sale for $1,750. That aligns it with the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, which costs $1,800. The Dreame is only available in black in the U.S., while the Roborock is available in black or white.
Winner: Tie
Vacuuming
The Dreame X40 Ultra offers up to 12,000Pa of suction, beating out the 10,000Pa offered by the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra. However, that doesn’t tell the whole story. Part of what makes the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra so great for carpets and vacuuming is its dual roller construction, which helps eliminate tangles and more effectively pulls debris from the floor. Both products also employ a swinging side brush, helping the robots clean near baseboards or around tables. Once the cleaning cycle is complete and the robots are docked, their dustbins will automatically be emptied.
Winner: Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
Mopping
The Dreame X40 Ultra uses dual rotating mopping pads to clean floors, and it offers 32 levels of mop wetness to tailor the cleaning to the mess at hand, allowing it to expertly clean hard floors. Better yet, one of the mopping pads can extend outward (just like the side brush), enabling it to clean under furniture and near baseboards. The robot will also lift its mop while traveling on carpet. When it returns to the dock, it’ll automatically rinse its mops with hot water and dry them with warm air.
Roborock handles mopping in a very different way. Instead of two rotating pads, it uses a single large mopping plate. This vibrates back and forth as it travels across the floor, applying downward pressure as it goes. It works pretty well, though it lacks the extendable arm of the Dreame, meaning it won’t cover quite as much of your home. Our testing found it to do a good job of handling daily messes — such as spills or small stains — but the Dreame is slightly better at tackling your hard floors.
Winner: Dreame X40 Ultra
Additional features
These two robot vacuums are highly autonomous. Not only can they mop and vacuum in a single run (thanks to liftable mops), but they’ll empty their dustbins, wash their mops, and dry their mops without any manual input. They’re also great at navigating through your home, though the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra tends to do a better job of navigating obstacles and keeping track of its location in your home.
Roborock uses a built-in voice assistant (Rocky), so you can dish out commands to the robot, while the Dreame X40 Ultra needs to pair with Alexa, Siri, or Google Home.
Another big selling point of the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is the availability of a docking station that can connect to your plumbing. This allows the robot to automatically dump its dirty water and refill its clean water — meaning you no longer need to monitor water reservoirs or clean a dirty water tank.
Winner: Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra
Which “Ultra” is the best?
While it’s hard to go wrong with either, the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra is likely the better choice. Not only does it carry a lower starting price, but the availability of a docking station that connects to your plumbing is a game changer. Even if you opt for the standard model with a clean and dirty water reservoir, you’re getting an autonomous robot vacuum that’s great at keeping your floors clean.
The Dreame X40 Ultra is a solid alternative, especially if you catch it on sale. In fact, it might be the better choice for homes composed primarily of hard floors, as its mopping skills surpass those of the Roborock.
