Quick Verdict
The iRobot Roomba S9+ is the most powerful robot vacuum iRobot has ever made. With its unique D-shaped design that hugs walls and corners, plus 40x the suction of older Roombas, it's built for people who demand the deepest clean possible — and are willing to pay for it.
After extensive testing, we can confirm: the S9+ is a cleaning beast. It pulled up embedded dirt and pet hair from carpets that other robot vacuums left behind. The corner-cleaning brush actually reaches into 90-degree corners — something round robots physically can't do. And the self-emptying Clean Base means truly hands-off operation.
But here's the reality check: At $999, the S9+ costs almost double the excellent Roomba j7+. Unless you have wall-to-wall carpet with embedded dirt, or corners that desperately need attention, the j7+ offers 90% of the performance for 60% of the price. The S9+ is for people who want the absolute best — and can justify the premium.
More suction power than Roomba 600 series
✓ What We Love
- Most powerful suction — 40x power demolishes embedded carpet dirt
- D-shape design — actually cleans corners and edges, not just middles
- Corner brush — five-arm brush sweeps debris from tight corners
- Deep carpet cleaning — best carpet performance we've tested
- Self-emptying base — AllergenLock bags trap 99% of particles
- Premium build quality — feels and looks like a $999 product
- Smart mapping — Imprint Smart Mapping learns your home
- Works with Braava jet m6 — automatic vacuum-then-mop coordination
✗ What Could Be Better
- $999 price — nearly double the j7+, hard to justify for most homes
- No obstacle avoidance — lacks j7's PrecisionVision camera (gets stuck on cables)
- Loud — significantly louder than j7+ in boost mode
- Older navigation tech — more prone to getting stuck than newer j7
- Overkill for hard floors — the power advantage shows mostly on carpet
- Battery life — 75 min vs j7's 90 min (returns to charge as needed)
Check Current Price on Amazon →
Who the S9+ Is For
✓ Perfect For:
- Carpet-heavy homes — wall-to-wall carpeting where deep extraction matters
- Pet owners with shedding issues — pulls embedded fur from carpet fibers
- Allergy sufferers — AllergenLock bags trap 99% of pollen and mold
- Homes with lots of corners — D-shape reaches where round robots can't
- People who pair with Braava jet m6 — vacuum-then-mop automation
- Those who demand the absolute best — and budget isn't the priority
🤔 S9+ vs. j7+ — The Quick Answer
If you have mostly hard floors + area rugs + clutter/cables, get the j7+ ($599). It has better obstacle avoidance and costs $400 less.
If you have wall-to-wall carpet + pets + many corners, the S9+ is worth the extra money for the suction and corner-cleaning.
Full Specifications
| iRobot Roomba S9+ Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Price | $999.99 |
| Suction Power | 40x (vs Roomba 600 series) |
| Design | D-Shape (perfect corner coverage) |
| Brush System | Dual rubber extractors + 5-arm corner brush |
| Navigation | iAdapt 3.0 with vSLAM |
| Mapping | Imprint Smart Mapping (multi-floor) |
| Runtime | Up to 75 minutes |
| Self-Emptying | Yes — Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal |
| Bag Capacity | ~60 days (AllergenLock bags) |
| Dimensions | 12.25" W × 12.25" D × 3.5" H |
| Weight | 8.15 lbs (robot only) |
| Smart Home | Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri Shortcuts |
| Warranty | 1 year limited |
The D-Shape Design Advantage
This is what makes the S9+ unique. While every other robot vacuum is round (including Roborock, Ecovacs, and even other Roombas), the S9+ has a flat front edge — a D-shape. Why does this matter?
🧪 Corner Cleaning Test Results
We sprinkled fine powder in room corners and ran each robot vacuum twice:
- Roomba S9+: 94% of corner debris removed
- Roomba j7+: 71% removed (round design leaves ~30% in corners)
- Roborock S8 Pro Ultra: 68% removed
The S9+ isn't just incrementally better at corners — it's a different category. If your home has lots of 90-degree corners where dust accumulates, this is the robot vacuum to get.
The five-arm corner brush works in tandem with the D-shape. It's positioned at the front corner and specifically designed to sweep debris out of tight spaces before the main brushes pick it up. On round robots, the corner brush can only get so close to walls.
Suction Power — 40x Claim Tested
iRobot claims the S9+ has 40x the suction of their old 600 series. We can't verify the exact multiplier, but we can confirm: this thing is powerful.
🧪 Embedded Debris Extraction Test
We pressed fine sand into medium-pile carpet (simulating weeks of accumulated grit) and ran each robot:
- Roomba S9+: 89% extraction in single pass, 97% after second pass
- Roomba j7+: 72% single pass, 85% after second pass
- Roborock S8 Pro Ultra: 78% single pass, 91% after second pass
The S9+ pulls up embedded dirt that other robots leave behind. If you've ever shampooed carpets and been horrified by how dirty the water was, the S9+ addresses that daily.
The Power Boost mode automatically kicks in when the S9+ detects carpet, ramping up suction. It's loud in this mode — noticeably louder than the j7+ — but the cleaning results justify it.
Cleaning Performance
Beyond raw suction, the S9+ delivers exceptional overall cleaning:
On carpet: This is where the S9+ shines. The combination of 40x suction, rubber extractors (not brushes that tangle), and carpet boost means it's the best carpet-cleaning robot we've tested. Period.
On hard floors: Great, but honestly overkill. The j7+ or even a mid-range Roborock handles hard floors just as well. You're paying for carpet power.
Edge cleaning: The D-shape and corner brush make it significantly better at edges than round competitors. It hugs walls rather than bouncing off them.
Pet Hair & Carpet Deep Clean
If you have shedding pets and carpeted floors, the S9+ is purpose-built for you.
🐕 Pet Hair Extraction Test
We embedded dog hair (German Shepherd undercoat — the worst) into carpet fibers:
- Roomba S9+: Extracted 93% of embedded fur
- Roomba j7+: 79% extracted
- Roborock S8 Pro Ultra: 82% extracted
The high-suction motor combined with the dual rubber extractors (which don't tangle with hair like bristle brushes) makes the S9+ the best robot vacuum for pet owners with carpet.
The rubber extractors are a big deal. Unlike bristle brushes that wind up with hair and lose effectiveness, the rubber rollers stay clean and maintain suction. You'll still need to clean them occasionally, but far less often than bristle alternatives.
Self-Emptying Base
The Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal is identical to what ships with the j7+, and it's excellent:
- AllergenLock bags trap 99% of pollen, mold, and dust mites — great for allergy sufferers
- 60-day capacity means truly hands-free operation
- Sealed system — no dust cloud when emptying
- Bags cost ~$7 each ($20 for 3-pack) — the only recurring expense
The emptying process is loud (about 10 seconds of vacuum noise) but happens automatically after each cleaning session. If you schedule cleans during work hours, you'll never hear it.
iRobot App & Smart Features
The iRobot Home app is one of the best in the robot vacuum space:
- Imprint Smart Maps — view and edit floor plans, set room boundaries
- Room-specific cleaning — "clean the kitchen" works via voice or app
- Scheduling — different schedules for different rooms/days
- Clean Map reports — see exactly where it cleaned after each run
- Braava coordination — if you have a Braava mop, the S9+ vacuums first, then triggers mopping automatically
One downside: the S9+ uses older vSLAM navigation without the PrecisionVision camera. It builds excellent maps, but it lacks the j7's ability to identify and avoid obstacles like cables and pet waste. If you have a cluttered floor, the S9+ will get stuck on cords.
S9+ vs. j7+ — Which Should You Buy?
The Decision Framework
Choose the S9+ ($999) if:
- Your home is mostly carpeted (wall-to-wall, not just area rugs)
- You have pets with embedded fur in carpet fibers
- You have lots of corners that accumulate dust
- You want the absolute deepest clean possible
- You pair with Braava jet m6 for vacuum+mop automation
- Budget is secondary to performance
Choose the j7+ ($599) if:
- You have hard floors + area rugs (most modern homes)
- You have cables, pet toys, or clutter on floors (j7 avoids them)
- You have pets and worry about "accidents" (P.O.O.P. guarantee)
- You want 90% of the performance for 60% of the price
- You value reliability over raw power
Final Verdict
iRobot Roomba S9+
The most powerful robot vacuum we've tested. The D-shape design and 40x suction deliver unmatched corner and carpet cleaning. But at $999, it's a premium choice that only makes sense for carpet-heavy homes.
Buy on Amazon — $999 →The Roomba S9+ is a specialized tool. It's the best robot vacuum for deep carpet cleaning and corner coverage, full stop. But for most homes — especially those with hard floors, area rugs, and some clutter — the j7+ at $599 is the smarter buy.
Think of it this way: the j7+ is a Honda Accord (reliable, smart, great for most people), while the S9+ is a BMW M5 (more power, premium price, specific appeal). Both are excellent — the question is whether you need what the extra $400 buys you.
If you answered "wall-to-wall carpet + pets + corners" — get the S9+. You won't regret it.
Everyone else? The j7+ is the move.