Roborock S5 vs Roomba s9+
High end vacuum robots tend to be expensive. But, this is not the case of Roborock S5. It costs even less half the price of the latest Roomba s9+. In this review, we compare the current top Roomba to this affordable competitor.
Quick Overview
Before digging into our detailed analysis based on our vacuum robots guide, we start with a quick overview. Video 1 (below) summarizes the pros and cons of Roborock S5. While, Roomba s9+ is presented in Video 2.
Video 1. Overview of Roborock S5
Buy Roborock S5 from Amazon Video 1. Overview of Roomba s9+
Buy Roomba s9+ from Amazon Cleaning Performance on Hardwood & Carpets
As we can see from Table 1 (below), both vacuum robots are excellent on hard floors such as hardwood, tiles, and stone. Although Roborock achieves very good results, it is behind Roomba s9+ which cleaning is near to perfect. Both robots have side brushes rotating at the right speed to collect dust and hair that accumulate along the walls. However, Roomba s9+ also has a flat front that is more suitable for corners.
Hard Floors
Carpets
Mixed Floors
Table 1. Roomba s9+ vs Roborock S5 Cleaning Performance
for Different Floor Types
Roborock s5 is good to average on carpets. Again, Roomba s9+ is far ahead with near to perfect results thanks to its significantly higher suction power combined with a lower main brush system. The s9+ does also ramp up its suction power when detecting carpets or rugs, allowing for deeper cleaning.
In homes with mixed types of floors, the Roomba does significantly better than the Roborock. So, in conclusion Roomba s9+ is the vacuum robot with best cleaning performance on all kinds of floors.
Buy Roomba s9+ from Amazon The Max Area Coverage Challenge in Large Homes and Multi-Storey Houses
In small houses or condos, both Roborock s5 and Roomba s9+ are excellent (see Table 2 below). Thanks to their truly smart navigation, these vacuum robots can efficiently find their way around the home and clean all rooms. And if you have transitions, no problem. They can go over 3/4 inches high thresholds.
Small Homes
Large Homes
Multi-Storey Homes
Table 2. Roomba s9+ vs Roborock S5 Cleaning Performance for Different Home Sizes
Scores regarding large homes cleaning are excellent for both robots. One important feature that contributes to these results is the ability of Roomba s9+ and Roborock S5 to map your home. Based on this map, they follow a natural navigation pattern. This pattern allows to clean every spot of your home while optimizing battery usage. Compared to random navigation performed by cheaper vacuum robots, the systematic approach of high-end vacuum robots allow covering a larger area on a single battery charge.
Battery capacity is also important when cleaning a large area. On this regard, Roborock is the best with a battery lasting up to 150 minutes on low-power mode. The battery of Roomba s9+ is smaller, although it still lasts up to 120 minutes.
Even if big battery capacity is important to cover large areas, no vacuum robots can clean large homes on a single charge. Luckily, both Roomba s9+ and Roborock s5 support recharge & resume. Once low on battery, they go back to their charging station, recharge, and continue cleaning where they left.
Regarding multi-storey homes, both vacuum robots are good. But, only Roomba s9+ can store maps to speed up cleaning upon next cycles. The s9+ is the current best on this regard along with the Roomba i7+. They can remember up to 10 floor plans. So, this round too goes to Roomba s9+.
Buy Roomba s9+ from Amazon Buy Roborock S5 from Amazon Pet Hair Pick Up and Maintenance Requirements
Best vacuum robots for pet owners are the ones that are pick up maximum hair, while minimizing maintenance. If you have to often empty the dust bin or remove hair stuck in the brushes, you loose part of the benefits of having a vacuum robot.
Table 3 shows that Roomba s9+ and Roborock S5 are very good for pet owners. Both are very good at picking up pet hair. Besides, thanks to their wide exhausts, they don’t blow away hair while operating.
Regarding maintenance, you don’t have to worry much about hair strands twisted around the brushes. Indeed, Roborock and Roomba both have tangle free brushes. They are equally good, although they are based on different technologies.
Roomba s9+ has a larger dustbin. Its volume is 550 ml, while the one of Roborock S5 is merely 300 ml. So, if you have a dogs or cats with long hair, you’ll have to empty the S5’s dustbin much more often.
Pet Hair
Table 3. Roomba s9+ vs Neato D7 Cleaning Pet Hair
Roomba s9+ has one extra feature that makes a huge difference. This is its ability to clean itself. The provided station sucks the dirt out of the Roomba into a disposable bag. This Roomba is the one with most advanced autonomy. It can operate alone for weeks without any human intervention. It starts operating based on a schedule you define using the companion smartphone app. If it’s low on battery, it can recharge itself. If the dustbin is full, the automatic dirt disposal system will empty it, and make Roomba ready for the next cleaning cycle. A must!
Buy Roomba s9+ from Amazon Users Feedback on Roomba s9+ & Roborock S5
The table below provides a summary of reviews provided by verified users. We can see that users definitely prefer Roborock S5 and give it in average 4.4 stars out of 5. Roomba s9+ gets only 3.7 stars. Reliability seems to be an issue with the new Roomba. Luckily, iRobot customer service is doing a rather good job.
Bottom Line
As pointed in the introduction, Roomba s9+ is by far the most expensive vacuum robot we have reviewed so far. However, our analysis shows that it is the best at cleaning all types of floors. It is also the most appropriate in houses with multiple floors. Last, the Roomba is highly autonmous. Thanks to its automatic dirt disposal, it is the best pick for pet owners.
Moreover, Roomba s9+ can collaborate with the robotic mop iRobot Braava jet m6. Once the Roomba finishes vacuuming, it tells Braava to start moping. Ideal for kitchen and bathrooms.
Best Overall
Buy from Amazon While Roborock scores are significantly behind ones of the Roomba, it still does a very good job. Cleaning performance of Roborock S5 are excellent on hard floors, and good on carpets. It can also manage cleaning large homes, thanks to its impressive battery capacity, as well as its ability to recharge and resume cleaning. Last, its tangle free brush minimizes maintenance for pet owners.
Overall Roborock s5 offers an excellent price by performance ratio. It costs a fraction of the price of Roomba. As a bonus feature, it does also support mopping. A small water container and a washable pad can be easily attached to transform the Roborock into a robotic mop. Last, but not least, user feedback is excellent, and even superior to the one of the Roomba s9+. This is why we recommend Roborock s5 as the best value vacuum robot of this review.
Best Value
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In homes with mixed types of floors, the Roomba does significantly better than the Roborock. So, in conclusion Roomba s9+ is the vacuum robot with best cleaning performance on all kinds of floors.