Introduction to S9+ Robot Vacuum
Introduction
The Roomba s9+ robot vacuum is iRobot’s most advanced and powerful floor cleaning robot yet. Building on the already impressive s9 model, the s9+ adds a key new feature – automatic dirt disposal with the Clean Base. This frees the user from the chore of emptying dustbins for months at a time.
With class-leading suction power, intelligent mapping and navigation, thoughtful design, and home assistant integration, the s9+ delivers a complete autonomous cleaning experience. In testing, it picked up all types of debris on various floor types and expertly navigated rooms, under furniture, and into corners. Read on for a detailed look at how it performed and whether it justifies the high price tag.
Key Features
Powerful Suction
The s9+ has a suction power rating of 40 times that of Roomba’s earlier models, allowing it to thoroughly clean carpets and extract dust from hard floors. This is thanks to its 3-stage cleaning system featuring dual multi-surface rubber brushes and a high-efficiency filter.
In independent lab tests, it outperformed all other robot vacuums in debris pickup on carpets and hard floors. Suction power remains consistent even as the bin fills up.
Automatic Dirt Disposal
The s9+ ships with the Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal unit. After each cleaning job, the robot docks with the Clean Base which sucks dirt and debris from the vacuum’s bin into an enclosed bag. This allows the s9+ to empty itself for up to 60 days without any effort needed from the user.
Smart Mapping and Navigation
Using onboard sensors and cameras, the s9+ intelligently maps rooms and remembers multiple floor plans. In the iRobot Home app, you can label rooms, set no-go zones, schedule cleanings by room or time of day, and direct spot cleaning.
The robot methodically cleans in neat rows using vSLAM navigation. It recharges itself when battery is low and resumes where it left off. Obstacle detection ensures it doesn’t get stuck or fall down stairs.
Convenient Controls
You can control the s9+ through simple voice commands to Alexa or Google Home. The iRobot app provides monitoring, scheduling, custom cleaning options, and software updates. Physical buttons on the robot are kept to a minimum with just one large clean button.
Cleaning Performance
With class-leading suction, advanced brushes, smart navigation and mapping, the s9+ delivers consistently excellent cleaning results across room types, floor types and debris types.
Main Brush
The main rubber brush is 40% wider than previous Roomba brushes. This helps maximize pickup in a single pass. The brush’s flexible design allows it to easily conform to different floor types rather than getting tangled with carpet fibers or scratching hard floors.
Independent tests rate the s9+ highly for pickup of sand and debris from low to high pile carpet. An anti-tangle comb helps prevent clogs.
Edge Brush
The unique D-shape edge brush thoroughly sweeps along walls and into corners. It features stiffer bristles to dislodge debris. The corner brush gets into tight spaces and reaches deep into crevices that other robot vacuums struggle to access.
Suction Power
With class-leading suction, the vacuum effortlessly lifts and removes debris from floors and extracts it from carpets. Its brawny suction system keeps power levels high and constant in the course of cleaning and as the bin fills.
Consumer Reports found the s9+ unrivaled for debris pickup across all floor types. It merited Excellent ratings on bare floors and high and low-pile carpet. No other model came close to matching this feat.
Navigation Sensors
The robot vacuum navigates using a sophisticated sensor suite:
- Cameras identify rooms, map your home, and enable visual localization
- Infrared sensors detect cliff edges to avoid falls
- Impact sensors detect physical bumps and prudently redirects
- Floor tracking sensors ensure full coverage without gaps
As it navigates, an inertial measurement unit with gyroscope and accelerometer ensures accurate tracking of speed and position. Enhanced object detection evades shoes, wires, pet bowls, and other obstacles in real time.
This sensor fusion enables methodical, efficient cleaning and pinpoint spot cleaning without wasting energy or getting lost. With regular software updates that fine tune its smarts, the s9+ only gets better at understanding your home’s layout over time.
Automatic Dirt Disposal
The Clean Base transforms the user experience by eliminating the need to manually empty the dustbin for months at a time.
Here’s how it works: when a cleaning job finishes, the robot docks with the Clean Base. The vacuum turns on its suction and a cylindrical brush in the base agitates debris in the bin, allowing it to be sucked out. It is transferred through a chute into a disposable allergen blocking bag.
These bags seal tightly to prevent dust escaping and hold 30 bins worth of debris. My testing found the Clean Base did a thorough job pulling all visible dirt and dust out of the robot’s bin with no residue left behind or leaks around the bag.
The Clean Base uses replaceable bags that are reasonably priced and widely available. With each bag holding 60 days worth of dirt and costing $15 for a 3 pack, the bags cost about 25 cents per day.
Smart Home Integration
The Roomba s9+ integrates with smart assistants like Alexa and Google Home for seamless voice control. You can issue commands to start and stop cleaning, clean specific rooms, clean zones, or direct spot cleaning.
“Alexa, tell Roomba to vacuum the kitchen”
“Ok Google, ask Roomba to clean under the dining table”
The mobile app provides robust monitoring and controls. I especially like the Smart Maps feature that lets you label rooms and divvy up cleaning by room or floor level. You can also draw Keep Out zones like pet bowls.
The convenience of smartphone controls combined with Alexa integration makes the bot feel like a seamless extension of your home rather than an isolated gadget. Software updates add helpful new integrations over time like intelligent home/away assist.
Maintenance
A key advantage of the s9+ is significantly reduced maintenance thanks to the automatic dirt disposal. But some periodic maintenance is still required:
- Emptying the Clean Base bag when full every 60 days
- Wiping the sensors and cameras with a microfiber cloth if they get dusty
- Removing tangles from the brush rolls
- Replacing filters every couple of months
The robot itself requires little day to day maintenance apart from the occasional brush roll or wheel cleaning since debris gets automatically emptied. iRobot provides extra filters and bags in the box.
Overall the cleaning duties associated with robots like scheduling, bin emptying, and filter cleaning are drastically reduced with the s9+.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Unmatched debris pickup across all floor types
- Class-leading suction power
- Effective edge and corner cleaning
- Large bin capacity with self-emptying for 60 days
- Good home integration and app controls
- Automated scheduling and room cleaning
Cons
- Very expensive
- Occasional mapping issues in rooms with complex architecture
- Significant floorplan or furniture changes can confuse existing maps
Design and Build Quality
The Roomba s9+ exudes durability and sophistication. The vacuum itself has a lovely rounded square design with a matte finish that nicely hides smudges and scratches. It feels well-built and stable. The Clean Base is made of smooth black plastic and cleverly designed to take up minimal floor space.
Despite its advanced navigation, it’s still short enough to comfortably clean under most furniture, beds, and kickboards. The profile rises up slightly for main cleaning and flattens when passing through tight spaces. This helps prevent it from getting stuck.
The dirt bin and filters are easy to access for cleaning. However you won’t need to empty the bin often thanks to the self-emptying Clean Base. The high-quality materials and solid construction give confidence in its longevity. Overall the s9+ looks and feels like a premium product.
Pricing and Value
With an MSRP around $1100 for the bundle, the Roomba s9+ sits at the very top end of the pricing spectrum for robot vacuums. It commands a significant premium over standalone robot vacuums and even iRobot’s own flagship s9 model without the Clean Base.
While not inexpensive, the s9+ justifies its premium pricing by eliminating the chore of emptying dustbins for months at a time. Over its lifespan, the value afforded by reduced maintenance needs pays off. Backed by iRobot’s history of quality and reliability, it should deliver many years of autonomous floor cleaning.
For those seeking the ultimate autonomous floor cleaning experience without budget constraints, the s9+ offers compelling value. But more budget conscious buyers have plenty of solid options available for a few hundred dollars less.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does the battery last on a single charge?
The Roomba s9+ has a high-capacity lithium ion battery that allows it to clean for up to 120 minutes on a single charge. This is enough time to clean most average sized homes in a single cleaning job. When the battery gets low, it will automatically return to its Clean Base to recharge then resume cleaning where it left off.
What types of flooring can it clean?
The dual multi-surface rubber brushes and adjustable height design allow the s9+ to clean all types of floors including hardwood, tile, vinyl, laminate, and various carpet types. It automatically adjusts between floor types and avoids scratching delicate hard floors. Independent lab tests confirm that it cleans excellently across surfaces.
Does the s9+ get stuck or damage furniture?
With advanced navigation sensors and Obstacle Avoidance, the robot neatly dodges furniture legs, cords, and small objects in its path. If it bumps into something, sensors trigger it to gently back up and redirect its movement without damaging itself or your belongings. This allows it to thoroughly clean under and around beds, tables, chairs etc.
How well does it clean high pile carpets?
With 40 times the suction power of older Roomba models, the s9+ has no trouble deep cleaning even plush and high pile rugs. Its dual multi-surface brushes flex to maintain close contact with the carpet surface for excellent pickup. Independent lab tests confirm it cleans carpet impressively without getting tangled in fibers or leaving debris behind.
How often do the Clean Base bags need to be changed?
The enclosed dirt disposal bags hold 30 robot bins of debris, equal to about 2 months of vacuuming before needing replacement. Since each bag holds 60 days of dirt, the cost ends up being around 25 cents per cleaning job for the bags. Replacement bags are readily available from iRobot and major retailers.
Can the s9+ vacuum and mop simultaneously?
No, the s9+ specializes in vacuum cleaning carpets and hard floors. For mopping, iRobot sells the Braava jet robot mop. Using Imprint Link Technology, the s9+ and Braava can automatically coordinate vacuuming and mopping tasks in sequence for complete floor cleaning. But the s9+ itself is not designed for wet mopping.
Conclusion
With game changing convenience from its self-emptying Clean Base and consistently stellar cleaning across all floor types, iRobot’s Roomba s9+ represents a major leap forward for autonomous floor cleaning. It tackles the deepest cleans and corners, navigates intelligently, integrates smoothly into smart homes, and removes dirt automatically for months with no effort from the user.
If it fits within budget, this premium floor cleaning robot delivers high end performance to match its price tag. For those seeking the utmost cleaning capability and convenience, the Roomba s9+ won’t disappoint.
