Robot vacuums · owner-verdict comparison

Roomba 694 vs Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra: what real owners say

Real owners lean toward the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra: 61% of 158 owners recommend it, vs 54% of 13 for the Roomba 694.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Roomba 694

54%of 13 owners recommend

54% recommend · 23% neutral · 23% don't

Owners praise

Reliably gets the job done on daily cleaning runs, with owners calling maintenance easy and saying it was money well spent
Effective at picking up pet hair from cats and dogs on carpet and hardwood, including overnight runs that leave floors fur-free by morning
Seen as a affordable, budget-friendly robot vacuum that still keeps floors clean without breaking the bank

Owners complain about

Cleaning coverage is inconsistent, owners report it randomly missing spots, leaving areas half-cleaned, and being among the weaker performers in the 600 series
Docking, charging, and base-station navigation can be unreliable, with units failing to charge, not docking properly and getting stuck, or refusing to leave the room where the base station is located
Missing the carry handle found on older Roomba models, which owners say makes it harder and more painful to pick up and move

Full owner report →

Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra

61%of 158 owners recommend

61% recommend · 14% neutral · 25% don't

Owners praise

Cleans floors thoroughly, leaves them spotless
Worth the money despite the high price
Strong suction, excellent on pet hair and carpets

Owners complain about

Weak obstacle avoidance, tangles on cords and cables
Hardware failures (mop/arm jams, LIDAR errors, DOA, flooding dock)
Mopping underwhelms, leaves streaks or dirt behind

Full owner report →

Which should you buy?

Get the Roomba 694 if

✓Pet owners wanting daily dog/cat hair pickup without manual sweeping
✓Budget shoppers wanting a simple, affordable robot vacuum for basic upkeep
✓Single-room or simple-layout homes with carpet needing consistent coverage
✓Owners who value easy DIY maintenance and repairability over smart features

Skip it if

Multi-room or larger homes expecting full-house coverage beyond the base's room
Buyers wanting app mapping, no-go zones, or advanced smart-home navigation

Get the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra if

✓Pet owners battling shedding and hair on floors
✓Busy families wanting near hands-off daily cleaning
✓Mixed hard-floor and carpet homes
✓Buyers wanting a self-refilling, plumbed-in dock

Skip it if

Homes with lots of loose cords and floor clutter
Low couches and tables (tall unit gets stuck)

What Roomba 694 owners say

“Omg not having to sweep dog/cat hair daily is such a blessing.”
— JurassicParkTrekWars on Reddit

“I encountered this issue after installing the comb dust bin modification (10/10 highly recommend it)”
— @ai522 on YouTube

“694 does not have handle. For me, who loves handles this is pretty painful”
— @robovaccollector on YouTube

What Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra owners say

“it has been amazing so far. All I have to do is clean the air filter on the dust bin every 3 days and change the bag out every 3 weeks or so when I refill the detergent. Come home every day to perfectly clean floors with extremely minimal maintenance.”
— @mint88rx8 on YouTube

“My Roborock is second to none… well worth the high price tag.”
— @lackr0073 on YouTube

“It’s… soooooo expensive tho…”
— @MrBlueCreeper on YouTube

Roomba 694 vs Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra: frequently asked questions

Is the Roomba 694 or the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra better?

Real owners lean toward the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra: 61% of 158 owners recommend it, vs 54% of 13 for the Roomba 694.

Who should get the Roomba 694?

Owners point the Roomba 694 at pet owners wanting daily dog/cat hair pickup without manual sweeping, and budget shoppers wanting a simple, affordable robot vacuum for basic upkeep.

Who should get the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra?

Owners point the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra at pet owners battling shedding and hair on floors, and busy families wanting near hands-off daily cleaning.

What do owners complain about?

The most-cited downside of the Roomba 694 is cleaning coverage is inconsistent, owners report it randomly missing spots, leaving areas half-cleaned, and being among the weaker performers in the 600 series. For the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, it's weak obstacle avoidance, tangles on cords and cables.