- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The iRobot Roomba S9 is a premium robot vacuum in the manufacturer's high-end S Series lineup. It performs quite well across a wide variety of surfaces, is very well-built, and maneuvers effectively on a wide range of surfaces. It also has outstanding battery life, allowing it to clean fairly large spaces without running out of charge. Unfortunately, it has quite a few parts that require regular maintenance or replacement. Still, if you're looking for a robot vacuum that can cope with a broad mix of different floor types, it's a good choice.
Our Verdict
The iRobot Roomba S9 is very good on bare floors. It clears pet hair and small debris such as rice without an issue, though it does experience a slight drop-off in performance with a full dirt compartment. It feels quite premium and has a long battery life that allows it to clean big rooms without running out of charge. Unfortunately, it has a lot of parts that need to be serviced regularly and has relatively high recurring costs.
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Excellent build quality.
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Fantastic battery performance.
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Amazing maneuverability.
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Clears debris effectively on bare floors.
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Bulky design lacks a carrying handle.
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High recurring costs.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is good on low-pile carpet. It clears pet hair and coarse material like sand very easily, but it may take a couple of extra passes to clear finer debris, like baking soda. It's also well-built and has a very long battery life, which helps when cleaning big spaces. That said, it has quite a few recurring costs and can be a little finicky to maintain.
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Excellent build quality.
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Fantastic battery performance.
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Good performance on carpeted surfaces.
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Amazing maneuverability.
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Bulky design lacks a carrying handle.
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High recurring costs.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
The iRobot Roomba S9 performs decently on high-pile carpet. It maneuvers effectively even on densely-woven carpet and does a good job of clearing various kinds of debris on this surface, though it struggles somewhat with messes like baking soda spills. However, it can be quite pricey to maintain and has quite a few parts that you need to maintain regularly.
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Excellent build quality.
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Fantastic battery performance.
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Good performance on carpeted surfaces.
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Bulky design lacks a carrying handle.
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High recurring costs.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is an excellent choice for pet owners. It does a superb job of sucking up pet hair on a wide mix of surface types and feels quite well built. While the vacuum has quite a few parts that need to be serviced or replaced, you can remove its brushroll to detangle hair wraps. It also has a HEPA filter to trap allergens as you clean.
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Excellent build quality.
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Clears pet hair effectively.
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HEPA filter traps allergens as you clean.
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High recurring costs.
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Demanding maintenance requirements.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is a robot vacuum that isn't suited for cleaning stairs.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is a robot vacuum that isn't designed to clean the inside of cars.
- 7.7 Bare Floor
- 7.3 Low-Pile Carpet
- 7.2 High-Pile Carpet
- 5.7 Pets
- 5.6 Stairs
- 4.4 Cars
- 6.0 Workshop
- Updated Apr 25, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated May 26, 2021: Corrected input error in 'Automation (Robot Vacuum)' section.
- Updated Oct 16, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Oct 08, 2020: Early access published.
Test Results
The iRobot S9 is very well-built. Its D-shaped body, similar in profile to that of the Neato Botvac D7, is made of high-grade plastic, accented with a matte-finish copper lid. Its dirt compartment feels mostly sturdy, though its bottom does feel somewhat flimsy and could potentially break if it's dropped. It comes out of the box ready to use, with no assembly required except for setting up its dock station.
This vacuum is quite demanding in terms of maintenance, with quite a few parts that need to be serviced regularly. Consider the Neato D8 if you're looking for a robot vacuum with fewer maintenance requirements. On the plus side, this vacuum's parts are quite easy to access.
- Dirt Compartment: The dirt compartment is found under the copper bin lid. It features a built-in carrying handle and a release button to open the bottom of the compartment and drop any stored debris. Aside from releasing debris, you can clean it by tapping it against the side of a garbage bin or washing under water. You need to remove the filter before doing so since it isn't washable.
- Filter: The filter is located inside the vacuum's dirt compartment. You can tap it against your garbage bin to dislodge any stuck-on debris, though this component isn't washable and shouldn't be cleaned with water. Like most other parts here, it needs to be cleaned once or twice a month, depending on if you're a pet owner.
- Brushrolls: The brushrolls are accessed by removing the brush guard under the vacuum. You can clear stuck debris or hair wraps by hand once or twice a month, depending on use. It can be a little hard to reinsert the brushroll since it needs to be precisely aligned.
- Side Brush: You need a screwdriver to remove the side brush. You should clean it by removing tangled hairs once or twice a month, depending on whether or not you have pets.
- Wheel: You can pull the wheel out of its cavity and push it out of the socket to clear any tangled hair or stuck-on debris. It should be cleaned every two weeks.
Any part that's washed in water should dry for 24 hours before use again.
This vacuum has quite a few sources of recurring costs that can add up over time.
- HEPA filter: The HEPA filter needs to be replaced every two months.
- Rubber brushrolls: The rubber multi-surface brushrolls should be replaced every 12 months.
- Side brush: The side brush can be removed and replaced every three months.
- Rear caster wheel: The wheel should be removed and replaced every 12 months.
If you don't want to buy these parts individually, the manufacturer sells a 'Replenishment Kit' that includes three side brushes, multi-floor rubber brushrolls, and three HEPA filters. Take a look at the Roborock S7 if you're looking for a premium robot vacuum with fewer recurring costs.
This vacuum has outstanding storage capabilities. It's quite small and comes with a low-profile charging station with a nook to store any excess length of power cable.
This vacuum has an okay dirt compartment. It's fairly sturdy, though its bottom feels like it could potentially break if dropped. It features sensors to let you know once it's full, either via an in-app notification or with the indicator light on top of the vacuum turning from white to solid red.
- iRobot Roomba S9 robot vacuum
- Charging dock
- Charging cable
- 2x HEPA filter
- 2x multi-surface rubber brushrolls with bearings
- 2x side brush (one already inside the vacuum)
- Dirt compartment
- User guide
This vacuum's range is limited only by remaining battery life, though it can't climb up or down staircases.
The iRobot S9's portability is mediocre. It's heavier than alternatives like the iRobot Roomba j7+ and lacks a carrying handle to help you carry it from room to room or up and down flights of stairs.
The iRobot Roomba S9 has remarkable battery performance. It automatically adjusts to different surface types, though you can manually adjust its power setting through three levels: 'Lower', 'Balanced', which is the default, and 'Exceptional'. Even in its strongest suction mode, it supplies just under 50 minutes of continuous runtime. Used more conservatively, its continuous battery life extends to over two and a half hours, which is fantastic. The LED light on top of its body notifies you of the current charge status, with the light going from white to red when its battery level is low.
This robot vacuum has a couple of different quality of life features. It features a dirt sensor to detect high concentrations of debris and focus its power in those areas. It also has three power levels and an auto-adjusting vacuum head to suit different floor types.
The iRobot S9 comes with two multi-floor rubber brushrolls. Unlike the more common three-armed side brush used by other vacuums in the manufacturer's lineup such as the iRobot Roomba i7+, it comes with a five-armed side brush.
The iRobot S9 is a robot vacuum with no alternative configurations.
The iRobot S9's performance on bare floors is excellent. It clears pet hair and small debris like rice without an issue, with no noticeable drop in suction power as the dirt compartment fills up. While it sucks up larger debris quite easily with an empty dirt compartment, it struggles more when the dirt compartment is filled. If you want a robot vacuum that does a better job clearing bulky debris even as its dirt compartment fills up, take a look at the iRobot Roomba 981.
The iRobot S9 is great on low-pile carpet. It clears pet hair without an issue and doesn't have too much trouble dealing with coarse material, such as sand. However, it may take a couple of extra passes to fully clear finer debris on this kind of surface, like baking soda spills.
The iRobot S9 delivers good performance on high-pile carpet. Unlike the ONSON GOOVI F007 Robot Vacuum, the S9 picks up pet hair easily and clears quite a bit of coarse and fine debris on its first go-around. However, it may take a couple of extra passes to clean up everything.
This robot vacuum has amazing maneuverability. Like the iRobot Roomba i7+, it uses the iAdapt 3.0 navigation system to create an efficient cleaning route and maneuver around obstructions. It also goes over spots that it deems in need of additional cleaning. The vacuum itself isn't very tall, so it shouldn't get stuck under tables or couches. While it can get stuck on rug tassels, it doesn't get tangled on obstructions like power cables, though it may push them around.
Update 05/26/2021: Changed 'Remote Controller' field from 'No' to 'Yes (App Only)'. The score has been changed.
The iRobot Roomba S9's automation features are passable. During setup with the iRobot Home companion app, it uses its navigation system to create a virtual map of the layout of your home. This allows you to schedule cleaning times for individual rooms and set up virtual boundary markers. The app also shows your previous cleaning history and remaining battery life. One convenience is that if the vacuum runs out of battery while cleaning a room, it will remember the incomplete job and return once it's been recharged.
You can purchase a charging station/dirt bin separately or as part of a more expensive S9 variant, called the S9 Plus, which gives the vacuum a standalone dirt compartment built into its charging dock to automatically empty itself of debris and continue cleaning.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
Another variant of the iRobot Roomba S9, referred to as the iRobot Roomba S9+, comes with an external dirt bin/charging station for automatic debris disposal. It's also currently the only other vacuum in iRobot's S Series model range. We can't confirm that this model performs similarly, as its automatic dirt emptying capabilities could have an impact on performance. We tested the base variant with no external dirt compartment, and you can see its label here.
If someone comes across a differently-equipped iRobot S9, let us know in the discussions below so that we can update our review.
Compared To Other Vacuums
The iRobot Roomba S9 is a versatile robot vacuum. It cleans effectively on a wide mix of surfaces, feels quite sturdy, and offers exceptional battery performance. it also comes with a HEPA filter to trap allergens as it cleans. Unfortunately, it also has quite a few recurring costs and can be a little tricky to maintain, with quite a few parts that require regular servicing. If you're looking for alternatives, take a look at our list of recommendations of the best robot vacuums, the best robot vacuums for pet hair, and the best robot vacuums for carpet.
The iRobot Roomba S9 and Roborock S7 each have their advantages, and one may suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The iRobot has a bigger dirt compartment, maneuvers itself a little more easily, and clears far more debris on low and high-pile carpet. It also takes much less time to recharge, though the Roborock has longer battery life. The Roborock is also a little less demanding in terms of regular maintenance, incurs lower recurring costs, and performs slightly better overall on bare floors. It also comes with a mopping attachment, though we don't currently test for this.
The iRobot Roomba S9 and the Roborock S6 MaxV have different strengths, and you may prefer either one depending on your needs. The iRobot delivers a much better cleaning performance on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpets. It uses a sensor to detect areas that need extra cleaning and can automatically adjust the height of its brushroll. However, the S6 Max has better automation. It has a unique 'ReactiveAI' feature intended to detect obstacles and allow the vacuum to avoid them.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is better than the iRobot Roomba j7+. The S9 incurs lower recurring costs, charges faster, has an automatic suction power adjustment feature, and performs better on all surface types. Like the j7, it can also be purchased with an external dustbin and a corresponding self-emptying capability at an additional cost, though we haven't tested this variant. Meanwhile, the j7 has its unique hazard identification feature and weighs notably less.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is better overall than the iRobot Roomba i7+. The S9 performs better on all surface types, feels better-built, has lower recurring costs, and has a maximum battery life more than twice as long as the i7+. The i7+ does come with an automatic dirt disposal feature. This effectively gives it a much larger dirt compartment via an external dirt bin that it can return to when full. However, it should be noted that the same option is available for the S9 at an added cost.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is a better robot vacuum than the Ecovacs DEEBOT OZMO T8 AIVI. The iRobot is easier to maintain and offers a better cleaning performance on all surface types. However, the Ecovacs has fewer recurring costs and has a mop attachment, although we don't currently test this feature.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is better than the iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO. The S9 is better-built, incurs fewer recurring costs, has a longer battery life, maneuvers itself more effectively, and performs better on all surface types. Meanwhile, the i3+ has a self-emptying function, though it's worth noting that this feature is also available for the S9 at an additional cost.
The Roborock S6 and iRobot Roomba S9 are somewhat evenly matched, but for different reasons. The Roborock is slightly easier to maintain, incurs marginally lower recurring costs, has a longer overall battery life, and is more effective with clearing large debris, like cereal, on bare floors. It also has a mop attachment to deal with wet messes, but we don't test that particular feature. Conversely, the iRobot performs better on carpeted surfaces, has a slightly larger dirt compartment, and charges almost twice as fast.
The Neato Botvac D7 and the iRobot Roomba S9 have different strengths. The Neato is much easier to maintain, has a considerably longer minimum battery life, and performs better on bare floors. The Roomba feels better-built, clears more debris on both low and high-pile carpet, and can maneuver around obstructions like electrical cords more easily.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is a better overall robot vacuum than the Roborock S5. The Roomba is better-built, charges faster, and performs much better on carpeted floors. That said, the Roborock is easier to maintain, has lower recurring costs as well as longer minimum battery life, and performs slightly better on bare floors. I
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 carpet, 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.
The iRobot Roomba S9 and Neato D8 each have their strengths, so one may suit you better depending on your exact needs. The iRobot feels better-built, has a longer maximum runtime, delivers better performance on low-pile carpet, and maneuvers itself more effectively. That said, the Neato clears more debris on bare floors and high-pile carpet, is less demanding in terms of maintenance, and is notably lighter in weight.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is better than the Shark AI Robot. The iRobot is better-built, has fewer parts requiring regular maintenance, charges much faster, has an automatic surface detection system, maneuvers itself more effectively, and clears more debris on bare floors and low and high-pile carpet. Conversely, the Shark incurs lower recurring costs and has a longer maximum battery life.
The iRobot Roomba S9 and yeedi vac station each have their own advantages, so one may suit you better than the other depending on your needs. The iRobot is better-built, incurs lower recurring costs, is equipped with an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, and performs considerably better on low-pile carpet. It also charges considerably faster than the yeedi. Meanwhile, the yeedi's self-emptying feature reduces hands-on maintenance requirements and gives it a much larger effective debris capacity. The yeedi also delivers better performance on bare floors and high-pile carpet. It's also equipped with a mopping attachment for clearing messes on bare floors, but we don't currently test for that.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is better than the iRobot Roomba 694. The premium-priced S9 feels better-built, has an onboard HEPA filter, uses a larger dustbin, has a far more advanced suit of automation capabilities, does a better job of maneuvering itself, and performs better on all surfaces. However, the 694 incurs lower recurring costs.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is a significantly better robot vacuum than the ONSON GOOVI F007 Robot Vacuum. The iRobot feels better-built, is easier to maintain, and recharges in less time. It also offers significantly better performance on all surface types and has better maneuverability. However, the ONSON is much more portable as it weighs less.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is a better robot vacuum than the Narwal T10. The iRobot is easier to store due to the absence of a docking station, has a much larger internal dustbin, can maneuver around or over obstacles like rugs more effectively, and clears more debris on almost all surface types. However, the Narwal does have a mopping system for dealing with messes on bare floors.
The iRobot Roomba S9 is a much better robot vacuum than the iRobot Roomba 692. The S9 feels better-built, has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, is fitted with a bigger dustbin, lasts longer on a single charge, and clears more debris on bare floors as well as low and high-pile carpet. Its iAdapt 3.0 navigation system is far more advanced, resulting in better overall maneuverability and allowing you to set up virtual boundary lines or schedule cleaning jobs for specific rooms. However, the 692 does incur lower recurring costs.