Home, Kitchen & Appliances › Robot Vacuums
Roomba s9+
Robot vacuum with self-emptying dustbin
Mid-range · middle third of robot vacuums
Should you buy it??
Check closely
based on 4 of 5 signals
Quick take
In short: what each side says
AI · critics · buyers · brand claims — each opened up in full further down ↓
All three rank it first for carpet boost and self-emptying, citing strong suction that lifts embedded dirt from deep pile.
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 map
The juries are split — worth a closer look before you commit.
Main competitors
Top rivals in Robot Vacuums.
The verdict
What the panel makes of it.
The Roomba s9+ is a robotic vacuum made by iRobot. Released in 2018, it was designed in the United States. The machine uses corner brush technology to reach edges other robots miss. People with carpeted homes buy it to reclaim time from vacuuming. AI assistants rank it first among robot vacuums for carpet cleaning.
Act one
What the machines think.
Several AI models read the category and place this product — model by model, list by list, over time.
Model by model?
How each AI sees it.
Claude ranks this product at #23.0 on average Averaging across the AI panel, Roomba s9+ sits around #23.0 this snapshot.
Gemini
—
Didn’t rank Roomba s9+ this snapshot.
GPT
—
Didn’t rank Roomba s9+ this snapshot.
Perplexity
—
Didn’t rank Roomba s9+ this snapshot.
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.
Where reviewers disagree: Some reviewers found navigation adequate and thorough despite being camera-based, while others felt it lagged noticeably behind lidar precision and satisfaction; One reviewer missed the built-in handle from older Roombas, while others did not mention this as a usability concern
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
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?
Act three · ★ new
Do they agree?
Put the machine's rank and the owners' score in one frame, settle it with a verdict, and answer the only question that matters: should you buy it?
The reconciliation?
AI vs reviewers vs people.
The AI models
1 model · Claude
The machines place it consistently across models.
The video critics
5 expert reviews · avg 3.6 / 5
Uniformly mixed — they praise its strengths and flag its weak spots.
The buying public
2,605 Google ratings · avg 3.5 / 5
The widest, bluntest jury — 59% rate it 4★ or 5★.
The reconciliation
Machine, critics and buyers mostly agree — the critics keep a touch more reserve.
The bottom line
So should you buy it?
The AIs’ #23 pick in Robot Vacuums — and owners back it at 3.6 / 5. Reviewers are a touch more measured than the AI — worth a closer look before you commit.
Who reviewers think this product is — and isn’t — for
For you if
Look elsewhere if
Frequent rivals?
What it competes against.
- D10 (latest available)
by Neato
Roomba s9+ leads 1–0
Across 1 shared question
- S12 Ultra
by Viomi
Roomba s9+ leads 1–0
Across 1 shared question
- Roomba Combo 10 Max
by iRobot
Roomba s9+ leads 1–0
Across 1 shared question
- RoboVac G50 Hybrid (latest model)
by Eufy
Roomba s9+ leads 1–0
Across 1 shared question
- M250 AI+
by Lefant
Roomba s9+ leads 1–0
Across 1 shared question
- T12 Pro Max
by Ultenic
Roomba s9+ leads 1–0
Across 1 shared question
- Deebot N20 Pro Plus
by Ecovacs
Roomba s9+ leads 1–0
Across 1 shared question
Alternatives by price · Same field?
Same money, different answer.
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.
- PositionBest rank #23 across 1 intent tracked (slipped 22 this week).
- Reviewer verdict★Check closely — 3.6 / 5 across 5 videos, mixed sentiment. Reviewers are more measured than the AI.
- FootprintStrongest in Best Robot Vacuums for Carpet (#23).
- TraitsMost often described as “auto-empty”.
- Closest rivalD10 (latest available) (1–0 across 1 shared intent).
- MakerBy iRobot — see how it ranks across other intents on its brand profile.
browse Roomba s9+ in these categories