Products
iRobot Roomba S9
iRobot Roomba 981
Tested using Methodology v1.0
Updated Jun 25, 2025 02:42 PM
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Tested using Methodology v0.7
Updated Jun 10, 2025 01:59 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Wet Compatible
No
Lowest Height Cleared
9.5 cm (3.7'')
Obstacle Avoidance Technology
Light-Based
Max Threshold Height
1.9 cm (0.7")
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Wet Compatible
No
Vacuum Type
Robot
Bagless
Yes
Cordless
Yes
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Our Verdict
iRobot Roomba S9
iRobot Roomba 981
The iRobot Roomba S9 is better than the iRobot Roomba 981. The S9 feels better built, has a longer battery life, charges faster, delivers better performance on low- and high-pile carpets, and has a more advanced mapping system that stores a permanent map of its coverage area, allowing you to set up virtual boundary lines or schedule cleaning sessions for specific rooms. Meanwhile, the 981 incurs lower recurring costs.
Variants
- Roomba S9 (Black)
- Roomba S9+ (Black)
- Roomba 981 (Black)
- Roomba 980 (Black)
- Roomba 981 (Night Blue)
Check Price
Black
Roomba S9
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Black
Roomba 981
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Roomba S9+
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Roomba 980
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Night Blue
Roomba 981
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Main Differences for
Multi-Surface Household
Multi-Surface Household
Threshold
Multi-Surface Household
6.4
Full Comparison
Design
Build Quality
8.0
Vacuum Type
Robot
Build Quality Picture
Build Quality
8.5
Build Quality Picture
Vacuum & Mop Combo
No
User Maintenance
7.5
7.5
Maintenance Picture
Brushroll Cleaning Video
Recurring Cost
4.5
5.5
Recurring Cost Picture
Bag Part Number
No bag
No bag
Filter Part Number
4643682
4636433
HEPA Filter Part Number
4643682
4636433
Storing
8.9
Storing Picture
Height
3.94" (10.0 cm)
Width
13.58" (34.5 cm)
Depth
15.75" (40.0 cm)
Cord Storing
Not Needed
On-Board Tool Storage
Not needed
Vacuum Rack/Station
Yes
Dimensions
Robot Vacuum Dimensions
Robot Vacuum Height
9.6 cm (3.8")
Robot Vacuum Width
31.6 cm (12.4")
Robot Vacuum Depth
31.6 cm (12.4")
Docking Station Dimensions
Docking Station Height
10.7 cm (4.2")
Docking Station Width
25.9 cm (10.2")
Docking Station Depth
36.0 cm (14.2")
Dirt Compartment
7.2
Dirt Compartment Picture
Bagless
Yes
Volume
0.12 gal (0.45 L)
Full Indicator
Yes
Bag Included
No Bag Needed
Internal Dirt Compartment
8.1
Dirt Compartment Photo
Dirt Compartment Capacity
0.50 L
Full Indicator
Yes
Station Maintenance Capabilities
0.0
Station Photo
Auto Empty
No
Bagless Station
No Dirt Compartment
Dirt Compartment Capacity
0.00 L
Automatic Tank Refill
No
Mop Washing
No
Mop Drying
No
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Range
10
Cordless
Yes
Cord Length
N/A
Hose Length
N/A
Minimum Wand Length
N/A
Maximum Wand Length
N/A
Total Range
N/A
Portability
8.8
Total Weight
8.64 lbs (3.92 kg)
Weight In Hand
0.00 lbs (0.00 kg)
Carrying handle
Yes
Battery
9.2
9.0
Minimum Battery Life
49 min
57 min
Maximum Battery Life
155 min
123 min
Recharge Time
92 min
134 min
Recharge Dock
Yes
Battery Life Indicator
Yes
Removable Batteries
Yes
Yes
Quality-Of-Life Features
Picture Of Controls
Power Adjustment
Yes
Yes
Easy On/Off
Yes
Yes
Surface Type Adjustment
Only Automatic
Rotating Head
No
Self-Propelled
Yes
Headlights
No
Head Surface Type Adjustment
Only Automatic
Brushroll And Tools
Brushroll And Tools Photo
Brushroll Setup
Dual
Brushroll Type
Rubber
Side Brush Setup
Single
Side Brush Type
Fixed
Tools And Brushes
Tools And Brush Picture
Brushroll
Yes
Brushroll On/Off
No
Removable Brushroll
Yes
Turbo Brush
No
Crevice Tool
No
Upholstery Tool
No
Soft Bristle Brush
No
Hard Bristle Brush
No
Extension Wand
No
Ceiling Fan Tool
No
Pet Grooming Tool
No
Alternative Configuration
Alternative Configuration Photo 1
Alternative Configuration Photo 2
Blower Mode
No
Performance
Bare Floor Performance (Hardwood, Laminate, Tiles)
9.4
Setting Used
"Turbo" (App)
Bare Floor Large Debris Graph
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)
100%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)
80%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)
N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)
N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)
N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)
N/A
Bare Floor Small Debris Graph
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L)
100%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)
99%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)
N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)
N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)
N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)
N/A
Hard Floor Pickup
8.5
Hard Floor Pickup Video
Hard Floor Pickup Post Test
Low-Pile Carpet Performance
5.9
Setting Used
"Turbo" (App)
Low Carpet Large Debris Graph
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)
66%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)
62%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)
N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)
N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)
N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)
N/A
Low Carpet Small Debris Graph
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L)
37%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)
25%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)
N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)
N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)
N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)
N/A
High-Pile Carpet Pickup
8.0
High-Pile Carpet Pickup Video
High-Pile Carpet Pickup Post Test
High-Pile Carpet Performance
6.7
Setting Used
"Turbo" (App)
High Carpet Large Debris Graph
Large Debris at 0 gal (0L)
67%
Large Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)
64%
Large Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)
N/A
Large Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)
N/A
Large Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)
N/A
Large Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)
N/A
High Carpet Small Debris Graph
Small Debris at 0 gal (0L)
26%
Small Debris at 0.07 gal (0.25L)
17%
Small Debris at 0.2 gal (0.75L)
N/A
Small Debris at 0.4 gal (1.5L)
N/A
Small Debris at 0.8 gal (3L)
N/A
Small Debris at 1.6 gal (6L)
N/A
Low-Pile Carpet Pickup
7.5
Low-Pile Carpet Pickup Video
Low-Pile Carpet Pickup Post Test
Pet Hair Floor Performance
9.2
Pet Hair Graph
Bare Floor
100%
Low-Pile Carpet
86%
High-Pile Carpet
91%
Pet Hair Pickup
7.5
Pet Hair Pickup Video
Pet Hair Pickup Post Test
Suction
0.1
Suction Video
Maximum Hose Suction
N/A
Maximum Head Suction
0.2 inH₂O (0.05 kPa)
Normal Head Suction
0.0 inH₂O (0.01 kPa)
Setting Used For Normal
"Standard" (App)
Hose Diameter
N/A
Airflow
8.2
2.4
Maximum Airflow Video
Maximum Head Airflow
16.0 CFM (0.5 m³/min)
11.4 CFM (0.3 m³/min)
Noise
7.0
8.7
Noise Video
Bare Floor
65.2 dBA
65.5 dBA
Low-Pile Carpet
64.7 dBA
74.9 dBA
Household Adaptability
7.0
8.5
Household Adaptability
Pet Hair Furniture Performance
0.0
Sofa Pickup Video
Sofa Pickup Post Test
Obstacle Avoidance
2.0
Obstacle Avoidance Technology
Light-Based
Object Recognition
No
Obstacle Video
Bare Floor: Avoidance Rate
0%
Bare Floor: Intervention Rate
40%
Carpet: Avoidance Rate
0%
Carpet: Intervention Rate
42%
Always Avoided Pet Waste
No
Height Clearance
7.0
Height Clearance Video
Lowest Height Cleared
9.5 cm (3.7'')
Threshold Clearance
7.0
Low Threshold Video
High Threshold Video
Max Threshold Height
1.9 cm (0.7")
Air Quality
Sealing Quality Video
Anti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)
Yes
Yes
Cracks
4.5
5.5
Cracks Video
Wood Cracks Post Test
Stains
1.0
1.0
Stain Video
Stain Pickup Post Test
Water
0.0
0.0
Wet Compatible
No
No
Water Video
Water Pickup Post Test
Automation
Physical Automation
8.9
7.1
Recharge And Resume
Yes
Automatic Recharging
Yes
Automatic Bag Emptying
No
Pathing Algorithm
Smart
Smart
Physical Boundary Markers
No
No
Scheduled Start Buttons
No
No
Cycle Control Buttons
On-Board Only
Onboard Only
Navigation Control Buttons
Return To Base Only
Return to Base Only
Companion App Automation
8.0
7.5
Companion App Screen Grabs
App Name
iRobot HOME
iRobot HOME
Software Boundary Markers (No-Go Zones)
Yes
No
App Scheduled Start
Yes
Yes
App Cycle Control
Yes
Yes
Navigation Control Within App
No
No
iOS Availability
Yes
Android Availability
Yes
To Be Deleted
Check Price
Black
Roomba S9
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Black
Roomba 981
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Roomba S9+
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Roomba 980
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Night Blue
Roomba 981
SEARCH
Amazon.com
To access
and
Become an Insider
unlimited full product reviews,
product prices
other exclusive site features
iRobot Roomba S9
iRobot Roomba 981
Comments
iRobot Roomba S9 vs iRobot Roomba 981: Main Discussion
What do you think of these products? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.