Roborock Saros 10 vs. S8 MaxV Ultra: All the new upgrades

While the Roborock Saros Z70's futuristic prehensile arm monopolised the spotlight at CES, it wasn't the only new robot vacuum the company showed off in January. Roborock also unveiled its new Saros 10, its new flagship robovac and successor to last year's S8 MaxV Ultra.

Here's everything you need to know about the Roborock Saros 10, including how it compares to the S8 MaxV Ultra.

Where is the Roborock S9?

If you're a Roborock fan, you were probably waiting for them to announce the Roborock S9 MaxV Ultra in 2025, with the S8 MaxV Ultra having previously been preceded by the S7 MaxV Ultra. However, Roborock has decided to overhaul its naming conventions instead, replacing the S series' string of titles with the simpler Saros.

As such, there will be no Roborock S9 MaxV Ultra. Instead, the Roborock Saros 10 is its equivalent, and the company's 2025 flagship model.

What's the difference between the Roborock Saros 10 and Roborock Saros 10R?

While the Roborock Saros 10 is the company's 2025 flagship, the company has also released the Saros 10R this year. The two new models are alike in many ways — including their price tags — however there are a few differences. 

The most notable feature differentiating the two is that while the Saros 10 has a D-shaped vibrating mop pad, the Saros 10R utilises dual spinning mops. The Saros 10 also has a small, independent edge mop which lowers when it detects edges, while the Saros 10R tackles edges by swinging one of its mop pads out on a hinged arm.

There are a few less immediately obvious differences as well, such as with the robot vacuums' navigation systems (Roborock says the Saros 10 uses LDS laser navigation while the Saros 10R utilises a 3D time-of-flight system). The Saros 10R is also suited to smaller 200sqm areas, has a shorter 180 min runtime, only comes in black rather than also having a white option, and its dock has a slightly curved top unsuitable for resting anything on.

Roborock Saros 10 vs. S8 MaxV Ultra: Similarities and differences

The Roborock Saros 10 has many of the same features from last year's S8 MaxV Ultra, including automatic mop washing and drying, automatic detergent dispensing, and of course automatic tank refilling and dust emptying at their charging bases. These features are fairly standard across higher-end robot vacuums now, so it would be more surprising if any of them were missing.

Where the Roborock Saros 10 and S8 MaxV Ultra differ most significantly is in the design of the robots themselves. While both have D-shaped mop pads and round form factors, a lot of other features have been added or changed.

• The Saros 10 clears higher thresholds. Roborock states that the Saros 10 can clear 1.18-inch (3cm) thresholds due to its new AdaptiLift Chassis, or a maximum of 1.57-inch (4cm) thresholds if it reaches that height in multiple steps. In contrast, the S8 MaxV Ultra doesn't have any such lifting system, restricting it to tiny thresholds measuring around 0.8 inches (2cm).

  Of course, you won't want to push those limits if you can help it. Even if your house's thresholds are around the 0.8-inch mark, the Saros 10 will be much less likely to get stuck than the S8 MaxV Ultra. There's nothing sadder than watching a robot vacuum repeatedly ram itself against a tiny lip that's just millimeters too high for it to handle.

  Aside from clearing thresholds, the Saros 10 also uses its lifting system to tip itself and apply extra pressure to the mop when wet stains are detected, as well as elevate the robot on higher pile carpets so suction isn't blocked.

• Different side brushes. One of the big changes is that instead of the S8 MaxV Ultra's FlexiArm Design Side Brush, the Saros 10 has a Flexiarm Riser Side Brush. While the S8 MaxV Ultra's side brush extends when it detects corners, the Saros 10's brush also automatically retracts and lifts into the robot's body when not needed, ensuring it isn't in danger of accidentally colliding with anything. 

  The Saros 10's brush also has an asymmetrical design intended to reduce tangling from hair, as opposed to the S8 MaxV Ultra's symmetrical three-pronged brush design. While the S8 MaxV Ultra didn't suffer from significant tangling issues, the Saros 10's design should theoretically reduce the need for manual intervention even further.

• Different roller brush configuration. Another significant change Roborock made to the Saros 10 was to swap out the S8 MaxV Ultra's DuoRoller Brush for a DuoDivide Anti-Tangle Brush. Previously seen in Roborock's Qrevo series, the DuoDivide Brush is actually two shorter rollers placed side by side. While their short bristles sweep up debris, their rubber blades are designed to guide hairs toward the centre gap between the rollers so they can be sucked up. Meanwhile, S8 MaxV Ultra's DuoRoller Brush features two full-length rollers placed one in front of the other.

• The Saros 10 automatically detaches its mop pad when not in use. Both the Saros 10 and S8 MaxV Ultra can lift their mop or main brush when either isn't in use. Even so, most people would probably prefer not to have a wet mop hovering millimetres above their carpet as it's vacuumed. The Saros 10 can automatically detach its mop pad when vacuuming, leaving it in its charging dock to be picked up when needed.

  While you can simply instruct the S8 MaxV Ultra to vacuum your carpets before moving on to mop the rest of your home, the Saros 10's detachable mops means you don't have to worry about such matters.

• The Saros 10 has a retractable LiDAR for a thinner design. If you have a robot vacuum, you'll know that ensuring it can actually fit under low furniture can be a problem. The Saros 10 addresses this issue by automatically retracting its LiDAR sensor like a periscope when it detects such obstacles, giving the robot vacuum an exceedingly slim 3.14-inch (7.98cm) design. This is a significant reduction compared to the S8 MaxV Ultra's 4.96 inches (12.6cm), which includes its fixed protruding sensor.

  The result is that the Saros 10 is noticeably more thorough, slipping into difficult areas that the S8 MaxV Ultra can't reach for a more satisfying clean.

There are a few other changes as well. Roborock claims that the Saros 10 has over twice the suction power of the S8 MaxV Ultra, with 22,000Pa compared to 10,000Pa. The Saros 10 is also noticeably quieter than its predecessor, measuring 64dB in Balanced Mode instead of the S8 MaxV Ultra's 67dB. This may not seem like much, but it is a significant difference — especially if you like setting your vacuum to run while you sleep.

The Saros 10's larger 6400mAh battery capacity further enables it to run for 220 minutes in quiet mode, while the S8 MaxV Ultra has a 5200mAh capacity and 180 minutes of quiet mode runtime. 

However, not everything about the Saros 10 is an upgrade. Despite it offering an extra 40 minutes of runtime, Roborock states that the Saros 10 is suited to a smaller 240sqm area as opposed to the S8 MaxV Ultra's 300sqm. This may not be a concern unless you're one of the few people fortunate enough to have a home that large, but it's still worth noting. Presumably the difference is due to the Saros 10's smaller water tank capacity of 70ml compared to the S8 MaxV Ultra's 100ml, meaning it can't mop as large an area as its predecessor.

Roborock Saros 10 vs. S8 MaxV Ultra: Which one should you buy?

Choosing the best robot vacuum for typically comes down to your own personal needs and preferences. If you have hard floors, no low furniture, and no thresholds you'd like your robot vacuum to climb, the S8 MaxV Ultra might be all you need. On the other hand, if your home has even small thresholds, low furniture, or plush carpet — or if you're concerned about long hair getting tangled in your robot vacuum's brush — you're likely better off looking at Roborock's upgraded Saros line.

It's also worth remembering that older robot vacuums may not enjoy support for as long as newer ones, so consider that when deciding on which gadget to invest in. Though U.S. customers are unaffected, the S8 MaxV Ultra is already listed as an end-of-life product in Roborock's Australian store despite being released just last year.