Roomba s9+: My Honest Opinion After Living With It
Have you ever looked at the dust gathered under your couch and wished it would just disappear? I’ve always wished it would. That’s when I decided to give iRobot’s Roomba s9+ a try. I had heard rumors about the Roomba’s cleaning capabilities, but I needed to see if it really lived up to expectations. So I ventured out, and here’s what I found out after a few weeks of use.
First Impressions
Immediately upon purchase, the s9+ seemed impressive to me. The packaging was sleek and the robot itself looked like a gadget from the future. Unlike most round robot vacuums, the D-shaped design caught my attention right away, making it easy to clean the edges. It feels matte and luxurious to the touch. iRobot calls it a “clean base,” an automatically emptied waste container that’s larger than expected, which seems like a plus. Setup was easy and the app guided me through each step.
This Roomba doesn’t just look good, it’s packed with technology. The 40x increase in suction power is no joke. iRobot moved the dual brush rollers to the front panel and made them wider. The dust collector holds 550ml, which is decent enough, but the real magic is in the clean base. It automatically sucks out the dust and puts it in a bag after each cleaning. The edge brush has also been redesigned to keep debris from flying around. There are two suction power settings and an automatic mode. The automatic mode adjusts the suction power based on the type of floor. It sucks up all large debris, although we noticed a crunching sound when sucking up large debris. The deep carpet cleaning was unexpected. When sand was poured into the carpet, the vacuum cleaned 93% and 96% of the debris in two tests. We also tested hair, and the vacuum handled it without tangling. The exhaust is also dispersed, so light debris doesn’t fly all over the house.
Actual Use
Roomba s9+ has become part of my daily life. I set it to clean while I’m at work and when I get home, the floors are sparkling clean. This is especially handy when I have guests coming over and I can schedule a quick cleanup before they arrive. It’s also nice to be able to assign Roomba to clean specific rooms through the app. The ability to memorize up to 10 floor plans is also very handy. The automatic bin emptying feature is innovative and saves a lot of time as there is no need to empty the bins after use. The robot returns to the base, recharges and picks up where it left off, which is very convenient - I was worried that the D-shape would make walking around furniture a tedious task, but it did a great job. Better than any other round robot I’ve used.
Disadvantages and Limitations
There is no such thing as a perfect product. First of all, it is expensive. This is one of the most expensive robot vacuum cleaners out there. The dust bags need to be changed and this is a constant expense. I have used several robot vacuum cleaners and this one is very loud when set to maximum power. Battery life is 50-120 minutes, but I would recommend using the auto setting to optimize battery life. The s9+ uses the camera to map your home, but it’s not as accurate as the rider. It can be a bit awkward around obstacles. It also seems to have a hard time dealing with large debris and it is noisy when cleaning.
I have used the Roomba i7+, but the s9+ is more advanced. The s9+ has much higher suction power, cleans edges better, and has a more efficient cleaning pattern. We’ve reviewed several other brands, but we keep coming back to iRobot. The s9+ doesn’t have the ground obstacle avoidance feature that some of the newer robots have. But I think it still needs a lot of preparation, and iRobot is very good at avoiding obstacles. The unique D-shape and long brush rollers make this robot special. The rubber brush rollers do their job well. The side brushes are smaller and do not scatter debris. Has more suction power than other Roombas. It can clean cleaner with less power.
Final Thoughts
If you are looking for the best robot vacuum for carpets and you are not deterred by the price, the s9+ is the one for you. It is a great machine for pet owners that handles pet hair without tangling it. The automatic container emptying is very convenient and the app is easy to use. It’s loud, expensive, awkward to navigate, and it’s not a perfect vacuum cleaner, but it’s a great one. It can replace a regular vacuum cleaner for deep carpet cleaning. The Roomba s9+ is an investment, but it’s worth it if you value clean floors and convenience. Roomba s9+ is not just a robot vacuum cleaner, it is a cleaning partner that truly transforms our home.
