Roomba s9+ vs Roomba i7+ Self Cleaning Robot Vacuums by iRobot
Only few months after releasing Roomba i7+, iRobot introduces Roomba s9+. In the following we compare these two self-cleaning robot vacuums. The s9+ comes with a whole new design and features. The main differences are summarized by Video 1 below. We go a step further and analyze how the i7+ and s9+ compare based on criteria define in our vacuum robots guide. We review their performance for different uses, on multiple floor types, and homes sizes. We also report users first impressions of Roomba s9+ with respect to reviews of Roomba i7+.
Video 1. Roomba s9+ vs Roomba i7+ Comparison
Buy Roomba s9+ from Amazon 
Buy Roomba i7+ from Amazon Cleaning Performance Per Floor Type
The i7+ cleaning performance are already excellent. But, Roomba s9+ improvements allows for even higher score in the latest version of our benchmark (see Table 1 below). So, this round goes to the s9+.
Hard Floors
Carpets
Mixed Floors
Table 1. Roomba s9+ vs Roomba i7+ Cleaning Performance
for Different Floor Types
Roomba s9+ score are simply the best we have ever witnessed for a vacuum robot. Its cleaning is near to perfect on both hard floors and carpets. In the more frequent situations where there are mixed kinds of floors such as hardwood and carpets, performance are very excellent too, though there are some tiny amount of dust and hair left here and there.
There are three features that explain these results. First, the Roomba s9+ flat front ensure better cleaning for corners and edges. Second, the side brush has been redesigned, and it rotates at a lower speed on the s9+ compared to the i7+. The i7+ side brush tends to scatter dirt due to its excessive speed. Last, the s9+ suction power is higher, allowing for even better deep carpet cleaning.
Buy Roomba s9+ from Amazon Buy Roomba i7+ from Amazon Dealing with Large and Multi-Storey Homes
In small houses and condo, robot vacuums should be able to go from room to room, even if there are thresholds. In large homes, there is an extra major challenge. The area to cover requires robots to deal with battery power. The cleaning should also be done in a reasonable amount of time. Multi-storey homes are even more challenging to clean. Vacuum robots should also manage to find their way even if moved from one floor to another. Table 2 below summarizes the impact of different home sizes on the cleaning performance of Roomba s9+ and i7+.
Small Homes
Large Homes
Multi-Storey Homes
Table 2. Roomba s9+ vs Roomba i7+ Cleaning Performance
for Different Home Sizes
Obviously, Roomba s9+ and i7+ excel in small homes. This is no surprise since those are the top high-end cleaning robots. The i7+ also does a good job cleaning large homes. This is because of systematic navigation that speeds up cleaning. Besides the i7+ is abile to localize itself. So, whenever it runs out of battery, it goes back to its dock, recharges, then resume where it left. Last, the self-cleaning base allows the i7+ to empty its dustbin and get ready for the next cleaning cycle. Last, the i7+ can remember up to 10 floor maps, which makes it suitable for multi-storey homes.
Roomba s9+ achieves a better scores for all home sizes thanks to different improvements. It has a larger dustbin which requires to empty less often. To be honest, this is not critical since it supports self-cleaning. It does however impact sometimes cleaning speed. The vacuum robot needs to stop and empty its bin less often. The s9+ also speeds up cleaning large areas thanks to its battery with larger capacity. It has to stop less frequently to recharge.
Buy Roomba s9+ from Amazon Buy Roomba i7+ from Amazon Efficient Pet Hair Pick Up
One of the reasons to get a vacuum robot is to automate cleaning pet hair. Dogs and cats owners will enjoy these two Roomba (see Table 3). Indeed, having a vacuum robot with low maintenance is key to actually save your time. And, these two Roomba have all the right features. They have a tangle free main brush system. It ensures a high pick performance by minimizing the amount of hair strands that get twisted around the brushes.
The i7+ and the s9+ are the two only Roomba shipped with a self-cleaning dock, named Clean Base. After each cycle, this automatic dirt disposal tower sucks dirt out the dustbin of these Roomba. While with low-cost robot vacuums you have to clean the dust bin every few days, Roomba s9+ and i7+ can operate for weeks without your intervention. Leave the chores to robots, and enjoy your pets!
Pet Hair
Table 3. Roomba s9+ vs Roomba i7+ Cleaning Pet Hair
This round goes again to the Roomba s9+. The reason is that the s9+ does better on picking up pet hair. We already mentioned the flat front, and the redesigned side brush that allow better collecting hair along the walls or at the corners. Moreover, the exhaust of s9+ is wider which reduces the speed of air flow, and avoids blowing away hair as with the i7+.
Buy Roomba s9+ from Amazon Buy Roomba i7+ from Amazon Bottom Line
Roomba s9+ does better on all facets we have reviewed. It achieves higher cleaning performance scores than Roomba i7+ on all kinds of floors. The s9+ is also superior when dealing with large homes. Last, it does a better job picking up pet hair. Another aspect we didn’t elaborate is the ability of Roomba s9+ to collaborate with the robotic mop iRobot Braava jet m6. All these innovations have a cost. This is why the s9+ is a bit more expensive than the i7+. But, the price difference does definitely worth it.
What Do Users Say?
The average 3.6 score of Roomba s9+ is good, though is it less than the 4.0 of Roomba i7+. But, let’s dig a bit into the detailed scores provided below. We can see that 71% users who love their Roomba s9+. Roomba i7+ total fans are only 63%.
Leave a Reply
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
One Comment