iRobot Roomba S9 Plus
Could the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus be the future of robot vacuums?
It’s been almost 20 years since the original Roomba robot vacuum launched and now robot vacuums are ten-a-penny, and a staple in many households. Compared to similar models, the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus is pricey but in return, it promises the brand’s deepest cleaning yet (up to 40 times the suction of previous generation Roomba vacuums), and a more accurate room mapping system so it won’t waste time going over the same areas.
iRobot’s latest incarnation, the Roomba S9 Plus, might operate on similar principles, but thanks to a host of high-tech features, it’s a very different beast from the first iteration, and one of the best robot vacuums we’ve tested to date.
Most noticeably, it’ll empty itself, meaning that rather than shaking out a dust box every few days, it’ll whisk out the contents from the vacuum into a bag in the charging station. As the capacity of the bag is 440ml, which equates to around 30 cleans, this turns a daily job into a monthly one – great for those who are time-poor or dislike emptying the dust box. There’s also a filter for allergy sufferers that captures 99 percent of mould, pollen, and dust mite allergens.
Another feature that sets the Roomba S9 Plus apart is an advanced mapping system. Rather than being gimmicky, this has a practical purpose, meaning that the vacuum knows where it’s been, and where it still needs to clean, eliminating long running times that still end up with missed patches. It’s known as vSLAM navigation technology, where the robot gathers over 230,400 data points each second – resulting in a better clean and more control over which areas are vacuumed and when. While the mapping can initially seem like a chore, once it’s up and running, this provides cleaning flexibility and efficiency that budget models can’t replicate.
A final advantage is that the Roomba S9 Plus is compatible with the iRobot’s Braava jet m6 robot mop. The two robots can ‘talk’ to each other, automatically vacuuming and then mopping without any additional commands, leaving hygienic floors behind – great for busy households, families, and properties with large areas to clean.
In addition, the Roomba S9 Plus promises a powerful cleaning system alongside its advanced features, which include a 3D sensor, wider brushes, and a corner brush.
There’s no denying this is an expensive appliance but its cleaning ability, certainly on hard floors, means we think it really is worth it – making it ideal for those that want to outsource the vacuuming completely.
The Roomba S9+ sweeps away a host of bugbears that have plagued robot vacuums: emptying itself, capturing allergens, conquering corners and providing truly customisable vacuuming from an app on your phone. Its price tag might be steep but if you value spotlessly clean floors with minimal mess and effort on your part, the cost could be worth it.
Rachel Ogden