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Roomba s9+
Model timeline
Robot vacuum with self-emptying dustbin
Mid-range · middle third of robot vacuums
Quick take
In short: what each side says
Reviewers · Buyers · Brand claims · The press — each opened up in full further down ↓
Reviewers agree the s9+ delivers exceptional cleaning performance with the strongest suction and best deep-cleaning ability they have tested, though it comes with navigation quirks and a high price.
Owners love the self-emptying convenience and app control, but navigation struggles and reliability issues divide them—some report it gets stuck frequently and requires manual intervention despite…
The marketing honestly highlights the s9+'s exceptional suction power and corner-reaching design, which expert testing confirms. However, the pitch overstates real-world cleaning performance—owners rate it 3.8/5 despite expert praise—and glosses over significant navigation and reliability issues that divide the user base, with frequent getting-stuck complaints contradicting the corner-cleaning benefit claim.
1 of 5 outlets recommend it — a clear editorial consensus.
The juries split — Divided. Check both sides before you commit.
Quick read · who it’s for
Main competitors
Top rivals in Robot Vacuums.
The verdict
What the panel makes of it.
The s9+ ranks first for carpet cleaning thanks to its exceptional 22–25 CFM suction and dual rubber extractors that handle pet hair without tangling, but its older navigation camera and poor battery endurance in high-power mode force frequent recharges and limit appeal to those prioritizing speed or homes with clutter.
Act one
What the machines think.
Several AI models read the category and place this product — model by model, list by list, over time.
Rank trajectory?
Weeks of movement.
Act two · ★ new
What the people say.
The same product, judged by the owners who bought and filmed it — what they praise, what they knock, who it's for.
Video reviews?
What reviewers actually say.
AI summary of 5 reviews · as of May 2026
Reviewers agree the s9+ delivers exceptional cleaning performance with the strongest suction and best deep-cleaning ability they have tested, though it comes with navigation quirks and a high price.
What they praise
- Extremely powerful suction measured at 22-25 CFM, the highest among tested robot vacuums, with outstanding carpet deep-cleaning that extracted over 90% of embedded sand
- D-shaped design with 30% wider front-mounted brush rolls reaches edges and corners far better than round robots, leaving minimal gaps along walls
- Dual rubber extractors handle hair exceptionally well with minimal tangling, requiring only simple maintenance instead of cutting hair from bristles
- Clean Base auto-empty system uses sealed bags to eliminate manual dustbin emptying and contain dust effectively
- Redesigned side brush spins slower and flicks less debris around, resulting in cleaner pickup patterns without scattering
What they knock
- Navigation uses older VSLAM camera technology that is slower and less methodical than lidar, requiring lights on and sometimes multiple mapping runs
- Battery life suffers significantly in high-power mode, often requiring mid-clean recharges that extend total cleaning time to several hours for modest homes
- Struggles audibly with larger debris, making crunching noises and showing it does not handle bigger particles smoothly
- Front-mounted brush location makes it more prone to getting stuck on cables and obstacles compared to other Roomba models
Who reviewers think this product is — and isn’t — for
For you if
Look elsewhere if
Synthesised from: Unbox Therapy · Vacuum Wars · Cordless Vacuum Guide · Android Headlines - Android News & Tech News · RobomateTV
This Robot Vacuum Empties Itself...
Unbox Therapy
Roomba s9+ Robot Vacuum Review - Just Wow!
Vacuum Wars
Roomba S9+ Robot Vacuun Review: Amazing Performance (But Is Worth It?)
Cordless Vacuum Guide
iRobot Roomba s9 Review - Crazy Good, Crazy Price
Android Headlines - Android News & Tech News
iRobot Roomba S9+ | 2022 Perspective Review & Testing
RobomateTV
What buyers say?
What Google knows about it.
Beyond the video critics, Google pools 2,605 buyer ratings of the Roomba s9+ from across retailers — a far wider, if blunter, jury. Here’s the shape of that opinion.
2,605 ratings · 7 written
across 6 retailers
What owners single out
Buyers' weakest aspect (navigation & mapping at 2.5) directly overlaps video reviewers' criticism that VSLAM camera technology is slower and less methodical, requiring lights and multiple mapping runs.
In their words
“I’ve had my Roomba S9 for two years and it was the best investment I could have made for my home. It keeps my house clean daily by running around my house everyday. The face that it empties itself makes the process so much better. I like how effortless it is to use it. The smart capability lets me control it when I’m away from home. It is a magnificent product.”
Sandra · verified purchase · walmart.com
“The design of this iRobot is quite attractive, and its vacuuming performance is decent, though not as impressive as I expected. The machine often gets stuck in corners and doesn't find its way out on its own. It can't navigate my entire house, so it's probably only suitable for a small or moderate-sized area. Its parts wear out quickly and are easily jammed by hair and pet fur. The noise level is ”
quyen.v · verified purchase · influenster.com
as of June 5 · 2605 buyer ratings?
Claim check?
Promise vs. proof.
We lifted iRobot’s headline product-page claims and checked each against what owners and expert reviewers actually report.
The marketing honestly highlights the s9+'s exceptional suction power and corner-reaching design, which expert testing confirms. However, the pitch overstates real-world cleaning performance—owners rate it 3.8/5 despite expert praise—and glosses over significant navigation and reliability issues that divide the user base, with frequent getting-stuck complaints contradicting the corner-cleaning benefit claim.
“The Corner Brush is specially designed at a 26 degree angle, using five 30mm brushes to clean deep into corners and along wall edges”
Reaches corners well, but gets stuck there
While expert reviewers confirm the D-shaped design with 30% wider front-mounted brush rolls reaches edges and corners far better than round robots, owners report the robot frequently gets stuck in corners and struggles with navigation despite the design advantage.
“The design of this iRobot is quite attractive, and its vacuuming performance is decent, though not as impressive as I expected. The machine often gets stuck in corners and doesn't find its way out on its own.”
Ownerquyen.v
Cleaning Performance“The wide Dual Rubber Brushes clean large areas efficiently and work together to help get floors thoroughly clean”Mixed
Expert reviewers confirm the dual rubber brushes deliver exceptional cleaning performance with the strongest suction tested and outstanding carpet deep-cleaning, but owner ratings for cleaning performance average only 3.8/5, indicating real-world results fall short of the marketing promise.
Market Leadership“Over 50 million robots sold worldwide and counting”Holds up
The claim of over 50 million robots sold worldwide is a standard industry statement for iRobot's cumulative sales across all Roomba models and is consistent with the company's market position as the dominant robot vacuum manufacturer.
Experience“30+ years of expertise and innovation”Holds up
iRobot's 30+ years of expertise and innovation in robot vacuums is a factual statement supported by the company's founding in 1990 and its continuous development of robotic cleaning technology.
What the press says?
Where the established press lands.
The press agrees
1 of 5 outlets recommend it — a clear editorial consensus.
Across 5 independent outlets · published expert reviews · last 18 months
Find your situation?
Made for some — wrong for others.
Who reviewers think this product is — and isn’t — for
For you if
Look elsewhere if
You want a proven, low-risk robot vacuum from a trusted maker with broad user consensus.
iRobot is mature and established, 2605 reviews provide strong consensus, 3.5/5 rating is solid, and reviewers agree on its strengths and weaknesses—a settled, predictable choice.
You value the Roomba brand heritage and want a flagship model with premium automation.
iRobot is an established premium brand, the s9+ is their flagship, and the self-emptying Clean Base system signals luxury automation; the price and design positioning align with premium connoisseur…
You demand the best deep-cleaning performance and are willing to accept trade-offs elsewhere.
Exceptional suction (22-25 CFM, highest tested), outstanding carpet extraction (90%+ embedded sand removal), and superior edge coverage via D-shape design; offset by navigation limitations and…
You appreciate thoughtful design and enjoy the sensory experience of a well-engineered product.
D-shaped design with wider brush rolls, dual rubber extractors that minimize tangling, and redesigned side brush that reduces debris scatter show engineering care; however, navigation quirks and…
You want a robot vacuum that handles pet hair and carpets without breaking the bank.
At ~$499, it's mid-range priced with strong cleaning performance for carpets and pet hair, but battery limitations and navigation quirks mean you're not getting the fastest or most convenient…
You want a robot vacuum that works out of the box with minimal setup or fiddling.
Navigation requires lights on and sometimes multiple mapping runs; battery drains quickly in high-power mode, forcing mid-clean recharges; front brush gets stuck on cables, demanding prep work—too… Consider Roomba j9+.
Grounded in our buyer-review, reviewer-video, price and successor signals — a poor fit names a closer pick · as of Jul 21.
Alternatives by price · Same field?
Same field, less money.
Frequently asked
What buyers want to know.
What makes the iRobot Roomba s9+ good at cleaning carpet?
Reviewers measured the strongest suction among tested robot vacuums at 22-25 CFM, which extracted over 90% of embedded sand from carpet. The D-shaped design has a wider front-mounted brush that reaches edges and corners far better than round robots, and dual rubber extractors handle hair with minimal tangling.
What are the main drawbacks of the s9+?
Navigation uses older camera technology that is slower than lidar and sometimes needs multiple mapping runs or lights on. Battery life in high-power mode is short, often requiring mid-clean recharges that extend total cleaning time to several hours for modest homes. The front-mounted brush location makes it more prone…
Who is the s9+ best for?
It is best for pet owners and those with significant carpeting who want deep-cleaning performance and automated maintenance without manual dustbin emptying. The Clean Base auto-empty system uses sealed bags so you don't have to empty the dustbin yourself.
Is the s9+ good for homes with lots of clutter and cables?
No. The front-mounted brush is more prone to getting stuck on cables and obstacles, so homes with many cables and floor clutter that require constant prep work are not ideal for this model.
How does the s9+ handle pet hair?
The dual rubber extractors handle hair exceptionally well with minimal tangling, requiring only simple maintenance instead of cutting hair from bristles. Reviewers rank it seventh among robot vacuums for pet hair.
What about battery life and cleaning speed?
Battery life suffers in high-power mode and often requires mid-clean recharges, extending total cleaning time to several hours for modest homes. It is not ideal if you want the fastest cleaning times.
The recap
Where it stands today.
- MakerBy iRobot — see how it ranks across other intents on its brand profile.