Which robot here can start a clean without Wi-Fi?

The iRobot Roomba 694 record cites an independent review noting it can be sent on a full clean, a spot clean or back to its dock from its own buttons without Wi-Fi. The Roborock Qrevo MaxV record lists a built-in offline voice assistant that responds to "Hello Rocky" without a cloud relay. The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ records do not describe starting a clean without Wi-Fi.

Does the Roborock Qrevo MaxV work at all without internet?

The Roborock Qrevo MaxV record lists a built-in offline voice assistant that responds to "Hello Rocky" without a cloud relay, and notes that Roborock documents on-device processing for its obstacle camera. Setup requires the Roborock app and a mapping run. Whether scheduled cleaning, map editing or app control continue without internet is not verified on its record.

Does the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra work without Wi-Fi?

The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra record does not describe a local-only mode. It states that the robot needs Wi-Fi setup, an app account and a mapping run before scheduled cleaning. Whether saved maps and schedules run without a connection, and how obstacle detection behaves offline, are not verified on its record.

Does the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ have any local-only control path?

No, according to its record. The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ record states that Wi-Fi and the cloud-based app are central to its operation, with no offline-only mode and no local-only control path. Smart Maps, zones and scheduling run through the iRobot Home app, and firmware updates install automatically when the robot is docked.

Does a subscription change how these vacuums behave offline?

None of these records ties offline behavior to a subscription. The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ record states that mapping, room labels, zones, Keep Out Zones and scheduling are free in the iRobot Home app, with an optional paid add-on for extras. The iRobot Roomba 694 record notes it carries no subscription. The Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra and Roborock Qrevo MaxV records do not mention one.

Comparisons · Robot Vacuums3 robots · checked 16 Oct 2026

A situation

Which robot vacuums still clean when Wi-Fi is down?

When the home network drops, the question is what the robot itself still does. This page checks each maker's pages for starting a clean, voice control and scheduling with Wi-Fi down.

This page checks

Starting a cleanFrom a button on the robot
Voice controlWith no network connection
What waits for Wi-FiFeatures the maker ties to the app

Roborock

S8 MaxV Ultra

IIIConditionalExemplary

$1,799list

Where to buy

Manufacturer site Amazon

Out of stock at Roborock US

Roborock

Qrevo MaxV

IIIConditionalExemplary

$1,399.99list

Where to buy

Manufacturer site Amazon

Out of stock at Roborock US

Aug 2024Firmware update addresses Qrevo MaxV obstacle detection and mop lift accuracy

iRobot

Roomba Combo j9+

IIIConditionalStrong

$1,399list

Where to buy

Amazon

Out of stock at iRobot US; select retailers only

Jun 2024iRobot j-series firmware update expands obstacle recognition and carpet detection

Full specifications18 figures on record · 16 differ

Figure

S8 MaxV Ultra

Qrevo MaxV

Roomba Combo j9+

List price

S8 MaxV Ultra$1,799

Qrevo MaxV$1,399.99

Roomba Combo j9+$1,399

Released

S8 MaxV UltraApr 2024

Qrevo MaxVApr 2024

Roomba Combo j9+Sep 2023

Dock

S8 MaxV UltraAuto-empty, mop washing, hot-water washing, drying, detergent dosing

Qrevo MaxVAuto-empty, mop washing, hot-water washing, drying, auto water refill

Roomba Combo j9+Auto-empty, auto water refill

Onboard bin

S8 MaxV Ultra270 mL

Qrevo MaxV330 mL

Roomba Combo j9+170 mL

Water tank

S8 MaxV Ultra100 mL

Qrevo MaxV80 mL

Roomba Combo j9+170 mL

Dock dust bag

S8 MaxV Ultra2.7 L

Qrevo MaxV2.7 L

Roomba Combo j9+Not on record

Mop lift

S8 MaxV Ultra20 mm

Qrevo MaxV10 mm

Roomba Combo j9+Not on record

Threshold climb

S8 MaxV Ultra0.8 in

Qrevo MaxV0.8 in

Roomba Combo j9+0.6 in

Weight

S8 MaxV UltraNot on record

Qrevo MaxV9.9 lb

Roomba Combo j9+8.9 lb

Runtime

S8 MaxV Ultra180 min

Qrevo MaxV150 min

Roomba Combo j9+120 min

Charge time

S8 MaxV Ultra180 min

Qrevo MaxV240 min

Roomba Combo j9+180 min

Battery capacity

S8 MaxV Ultra75 Wh

Qrevo MaxV75 Wh

Roomba Combo j9+82.5 Wh

Suction

S8 MaxV Ultra10,000 Pa

Qrevo MaxV7,000 Pa

Roomba Combo j9+10,000 Pa

Noise

S8 MaxV Ultra67 dB

Qrevo MaxV67 dB

Roomba Combo j9+75 dB

Navigation

S8 MaxV UltraLiDAR + camera-based visual SLAM with AI obstacle detection.

Qrevo MaxVLiDAR SLAM (PreciSense) + RGB camera + structured light obstacle classification

Roomba Combo j9+PrecisionVision Navigation: front-facing camera with iRobot OS object recognition for pets, cords, socks, and shoes

Connectivity

S8 MaxV UltraWi-Fi, Bluetooth, Alexa, Google Home

Qrevo MaxVWi-Fi, Alexa, Google Home

Roomba Combo j9+Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Matter, Alexa, Google Home

Size

S8 MaxV Ultra13.8 × 13.8 × 4.1 in

Qrevo MaxV13.8 × 13.8 × 4 in

Roomba Combo j9+13.7 × 13.7 × 3.4 in

The same on all three

Battery type

S8 MaxV UltraLi-ion

Qrevo MaxVLi-ion

Roomba Combo j9+Li-ion

Add a robot205 robot vacuums on record + Add a robot205 robot vacuums on record

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Wi-Fi down

What each robot is documented to do on its own

Roborock's Qrevo MaxV FAQ and a hands-on guide for the S8 MaxV Ultra show a clean can start from the robot's button with Wi-Fi down. Nothing was found for the Roomba Combo j9+. Setting a schedule needs the app on every robot checked.

RoborockS8 MaxV UltraRoborockQrevo MaxViRobotRoomba Combo j9+

Start a clean from the robot

Wi-Fi down, no app

S8 MaxV Ultra: Clean buttonA hands-on guide says basic vacuum and mop runs start from the physical Clean button.Hands-on guide, May 2025
Qrevo MaxV: Button startRoborock's FAQ: full-home and spot cleans and a return to the dock, all by button.Roborock help FAQ
Roomba Combo j9+: Not foundiRobot's offline-use support articles would not load, so nothing was read for this model.Searched iRobot support pages

Voice commands with no network

Asking the robot out loud

S8 MaxV Ultra: Works offlineRoborock's US page says the Hello Rocky voice assistant works even without a network connection.Roborock US product page
Qrevo MaxV: Works offlineRoborock's US page says Hello Rocky voice commands work without a Wi-Fi connection.Roborock US product page
Roomba Combo j9+: Tied to the appiRobot says Wi-Fi robots take voice commands as long as you can connect to the app.iRobot support feature table

What waits for Wi-Fi

Features the maker ties to the app

S8 MaxV Ultra: New schedules

Smart features

The hands-on guide says schedules cannot be saved without internet and smart features are unavailable.Hands-on guide, May 2025
Qrevo MaxV: Schedules

Suction choice

Roborock's FAQ says Wi-Fi unlocks scheduled cleaning, suction selection and more.Roborock help FAQ
Roomba Combo j9+: Schedules

Voice commands

iRobot's feature table lists scheduling for this model as done via the app.iRobot support feature table

S8 MaxV Ultra Hands-on guide, May 2025 · Roborock US product pageQrevo MaxV Roborock help FAQ · Roborock US product pageRoomba Combo j9+ Searched iRobot support pages · iRobot support feature table

Same on all three: a schedule is set through the maker’s app, so Wi-Fi is needed to create one. No page opened says whether a schedule already saved still runs with Wi-Fi down.

In the kitchen, the white Roborock Qrevo MaxV sits in a clean circle it has spot-cleaned out of rice spilled across the slate tiles from a canister that fell off the counter.

Your home

How each one fits a home like yours

Set the conditions that describe your home. Each robot answers from its own Fit Check; nothing is scored until you choose.

Fit check

Describe your home

Pick what applies. Each robot answers from its own record.

Home size

Primary floors

Across what you setEach robot’s own Fit Check

S8 MaxV UltraSet a condition

Qrevo MaxVSet a condition

Roomba Combo j9+Set a condition

Home sizeNot set

S8 MaxV UltraNot set

Qrevo MaxVNot set

Roomba Combo j9+Not set

Primary floorsNot set

S8 MaxV UltraNot set

Qrevo MaxVNot set

Roomba Combo j9+Not set

Everything else

Where they land among 260 robot vacuums

Only the measures on which these three differ. The bar is the whole category; the block is the typical middle half; the tick is the median.

RuntimeOne charge, maker figure

S8 MaxV Ultra

180 min

Qrevo MaxV

150 min

Roomba Combo j9+

120 min

60typical 120–210 · median 180360

List priceMaker list price

S8 MaxV Ultra

$1,799

Qrevo MaxV

$1,400

Roomba Combo j9+

$1,399

$160typical $549–$1,199 · median $800$2,600

Sources

Where every figure comes from

S8 MaxV Ultra · us.roborock.com product page (voice); Vacuum Wars offline guide, updated 14 May 2025 (button start, schedules)
Qrevo MaxV · help.roborock.com Qrevo MaxV FAQ (button start, schedules); us.roborock.com product page (voice, stock)
Roomba Combo j9+ · iRobot support article 163 feature table (voice, schedules); irobot.com product page (stock). iRobot's offline-use articles returned errors

Every value was read from a page opened on 2 Oct 2026. Not found means the pages listed were searched and say nothing, or would not load; it never means the robot lacks the feature.

Questions

What readers ask

Can a Roborock Qrevo MaxV clean with no Wi-Fi?

Yes, by button. Roborock’s help FAQ says it can run full-home and spot cleans and return to the dock with a button press. Scheduled cleaning and suction selection need Wi-Fi.

Does a subscription change how these robots behave offline?

No paid plan was found for the Roborock models or the Roomba Combo j9+. iRobot Select, a leased-robot plan, closed to new members in May 2024. Offline behavior was not found tied to any plan.

Does a saved schedule still run when Wi-Fi is down?

Not found. No maker page opened for these three says. Roborock’s FAQ and the hands-on guide only say creating a schedule needs Wi-Fi.

Common questions

What readers ask about this comparison.

Next up

Do Robot Vacuums Cover 2,500 Sq Ft Without Recharging?

Read the comparison

Comparison ID: RV–CMP–7945 · Last reviewed Jul 28, 2026 · Based on owner reports, manufacturer documentation, and firmware release notes

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