In September 2018, iRobot gave us the Roomba i7+. This robot vacuum works with the company’s Clean Base, which empties the i7+’s dustbin. The new feature allows you to forget about the entire vacuuming process for a month.
Now, the company has added another self-cleaning robot with the introduction of the Roomba s9+.
Which one of the two is better?
Main Differences Between Roomba i7+ vs Roomba s9+
The Main Differences Between Roomba i7+ vs Roomba s9+ are:
- Roomba i7+ has an edge-sweeping brush, whereas Roomba s9+ comes with a PowerBoost feature.
- Roomba i7+ is a more affordable option, whereas Roomba s9+ has an anti-allergen system.
- Roomba i7+ features a Round Shape, whereas Roomba s9+ comes with a wider dual multi-surface.
- Roomba i7+ has a corner brush, whereas Roomba s9+ has the PerfectEdge technology.
Roomba i7+
The Roomba i7+ is iRobot’s first robot vacuum to clean up after itself. After cleaning your floors, it goes back to the Clean Base, where it recharges. The Clean Base will also vacuum the i7+’s dustbin.
The Clean Base has a trash bag that can accommodate 30 full dust bins. Even if the robot vacuum manages to fill its trash receptacle every day, the Clean Base can still hold up to a month of dust, dirt, and debris. When it is full, the Clean Base will alert you on the mobile app.
Three-stage cleaning
The Roomba i7+ retains the company’s patented three-stage cleaning system. It uses the dual multi-surface rubber brushes as its main brush. Each brush adjusts itself so that it stays in close contact with the floor, even when the robot vacuum transitions from hardwood to carpeted floors. This way, the brushes can clean your floors more efficiently.
The Roomba i7+ also uses an edge-sweeping brush that can dislodge dirt and dust along walls and edges. But what makes the i7+ particularly interesting is its suction power. It delivers up to 10 times the air power compared to the suction you get from the company’s Series 600 robots.
iAdapt 3.0 navigation
This robot vacuum uses the company’s iAdapt 3.0 navigation technology that has a vSLAM feature. It creates maps of your floors and saves these maps. These maps allow the robot to know its exact location and where it should go.
These technologies give rise to the Imprint Smart Mapping capability, wherein you can specify which rooms the robot vacuum should clean.
High-efficiency filter
If you have pets, you will undoubtedly love the high-efficiency filter that the Roomba i7+ uses. It traps up to 99 percent of allergens, dust, dander, and dirt. This makes it ideal if you have a lot of pets or if you are prone to allergies.
WiFi-enabled
The Roomba i7+ connects to your Wi-Fi network. This feature allows you to operate the robot vacuum using its companion app. You can also use the app to schedule cleaning times. The mobile app also shows you some nifty information such as the cleaning maps, where you can see where the robot vacuum has been and where it needs to clean.
The Roomba i7+ is also compatible with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. If you have these smart assistants at home, you can use voice commands to have the robot vacuum start, stop, or pause its cleaning session. With the Imprint Smart Mapping, you can even tell Alexa to send the i7+ to a particular room so it can clean there.
All the Roomba technologies you like
This robot vacuum has all the things that you have come to love about Roombas. Aside from the Wi-Fi connectivity and the three-stage cleaning, it also has the dirt detect feature that makes the robot stay in dirtier areas longer. It also has a variety of sensors that help it avoid bumping into walls.
It uses a lithium-ion battery, and it automatically recharges itself when the battery runs low. Once it’s done, the robot vacuum will launch itself off the Clean Base and finish its work.
Ratings and reviews
It is not surprising that the Roomba i7+ receives some good reviews. Digital Trends gives this robot vacuum a score of 8.0 out of 10.0, praising it for its excellent cleaning, automatic dirt disposal, multi-floor mapping, voice control, and easy scheduling. However, they do note that it is expensive, and the dirt disposal can be loud. They also pointed out that the Clean Base is big, and it might be challenging to find space for it.
The Verge writes that the Roomba i7+ is smarter than most other robot vacuums and gives it a score of 8 out of 10. They like the convenient app and voice controls and the automatic dustbin disposal. However, they note that it sometimes gets stuck.
Wired.com has a higher rating at 9 out of 10. They pretty much like the same things as other reviewers, but also mentioned the robot vacuum’s ability to remember up to 10-floor plans, its improved navigation, and the fact that its main brush does not get entangled with whatever it is cleaning.
The Wirecutter, on the other hand, declares it as the best robot vacuum money can buy. Lastly, you have Tom’s Guide giving it a very good score of 3.5 out of 5.
User reviews
All of these reviews note that while the Roomba i7+ does perform excellently with all the features you could want from a robot vacuum, the expensive price tag is a sure turn-off. But how do ordinary users feel about the Roomba i7+?
This robot vacuum has a couple of reviews from verified buyers over at Amazon, where it gets an average rating of 4.2 stars out of 5.0. It also has the Amazon’s Choice designation.
Amazon fans like this robot vacuum because of how it cleans their floors of everything, including pet hair. If you have pets that shed a lot of hair, this robot will help you with the cleanup. Others like that they no longer have to deal with emptying the dustbin so often.
However, there are some critical reviews. For one, some reviewers wish it worked quietly, or that it had more battery life. Others also complained that it tracked when cleaning carpets. There are also some reviewers who do not think this robot vacuum is worth its high price.
Our impression of the Roomba i7+
If you have been following Roombas for a very long time, then you will share our enthusiasm for this model. iRobot has always made excellent robot vacuums. These devices are well-designed and the company has made sure to include the latest technologies in their products.
The Roomba i7+ continues that tradition. It has all the right features that make vacuuming a whole lot easier for homeowners. You can practically forget you own this robot vacuum for a month. You just let it do its job day in and day out and the mobile app will tell you when it’s time to change the trash bag on the Clean Base.
The i7+ works excellently too. You can leave it when you go to work and come home to clean floors. The good thing is that you do not even have to touch it. You can use voice commands to operate it, or you can just schedule it to clean at specific times. It also has a strong vacuum, matching the Roomba 980’s carpet boost feature.
There is one thing you might not like about the i7+, though, and that is its rather high price tag.
Roomba s9+
To be honest, when the Roomba i7+ first came out, we were so impressed that we thought it would be difficult to top it. How can anybody — including iRobot itself — beat a self-cleaning robot that you can forget for 30 days? We thought that the manufacturer will just rest and stop launching robot vacuums for a while.
However, iRobot came out with the Roomba s9+ in May 2019, not even a year since the Roomba i7+ was introduced. Now how does it compare?
First, let us look at the similarities. Both the Roomba s9+ and Roomba i7+ can handle all floor types, from carpeted floors to hardwood or tiled floors. Both of these models work with the Clean Base, which automatically empties the robot’s dustbins, while also serving as its charging station.
These robot vacuums can find the Clean Base themselves and automatically recharge their lithium-ion battery when it runs low. Both of these models can also automatically resume working after recharging. They launch off the Clean Base and continue where they left off. As such, the Roomba i7+ and Roomba s9+ eventually cover the entire level.
These robots use a high-efficiency filter, vSLAM advanced navigation, Imprint Link, and coverage maps. Both are Wi-Fi enabled, and you can use voice commands to schedule cleaning times and to operate the robot. You can have them clean a specific room, as well.
Roomba s9+ vs. Roomba i7+: The differences
iRobot really shook things up with the Roomba s9+. You can see the difference just by looking at the new robot vacuum. For the longest time, Roombas have always had a round shape. Even when Neato Robotics introduced a line of D-shaped robots with flat edges, iRobot didn’t budge.
Now, with the Roomba s9+, the design is more of like the Neato Botvac D-series robots than older Roombas. The new robot vacuum has three flat sides and a round rear. The redesign has some advantages, as we’d see later on.
Three-stage cleaning system
Like the Roomba i7+, the Roomba s9+ has the three-stage cleaning system that uses dual multi-surface rubber brushes, a side brush, and a powerful vacuum. However, when you zoom in, the Roomba s9+ has a wider dual multi-surface rubber brush for its main brush. This is because of the D shape of the robot vacuum.
With more space at the front, iRobot was able to add 30 percent to the main brush width. That means that the Roomba s9+ can cover a wider area with a single pass. It can clean a room faster than the i7+.
The flat sides also help. The Roomba s9+ debuts the PerfectEdge technology wherein the robot vacuum can get closer to walls. It uses a corner brush that gets into areas that the older side brushes cannot reach. For instance, the corner brush does not have any problem getting the dirt and dust out of tight corners.
The Roomba s9+ also has a more powerful motor. It can give you a maximum power of up to 40 times more than Roomba’s series 600 robots. The Roomba i7+ only gives you maximum suction of a quarter of what the Roomba s9+ offers.
PowerBoost
The PowerBoost feature is not found on the Roomba i7+. On the Roomba s9+, however, you can activate it so that the robot vacuum will know when it’s cleaning a carpet. It will automatically deliver more suction power to clean your rugs and shags.
When it goes back to hardwood or tiled floors, the robot vacuum will revert back to either eco or performance mode to help you save battery while still ensuring a thorough clean.
Anti-Allergen System
iRobot claims that the Roomba s9+ is the first to have the anti-allergen system. This means that the s9+ will be able to trap molds, pollen, and other allergens into the dustbin. It does not go back into the air that you breathe.
A side-by-side comparison of the Roomba i7+ and the Roomba s9+
To make it easier for you to decide on these two models, here is a side-by-side comparison to show you what’s the same and what’s different between the Roomba s9+ and the Roomba i7+.
| Model | Roomba s9+ | Roomba i7+ |
|---|---|---|
| Can clean all floor types | Yes | Yes |
| Three-stage cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum suction power compared to Series 600 Roombas | 40x more powerful | 10x more powerful |
| Auto recharges | Yes | Yes |
| Auto resumes | Yes | Yes |
| Dirt detect | Yes | Yes |
| Edge-sweeping brush | No | Yes |
| Corner brush | No | Yes |
| Dual multi-surface rubber brushes | Yes | Yes |
| High-efficiency filter | Yes | Yes |
| vSLAM advanced navigation | Yes | Yes |
| Entire level cleaning | Yes | Yes |
| Coverage maps | Yes | Yes |
| Imprint Link | Yes | Yes |
| Clean by room | Yes | Yes |
| Schedule by room | Yes | Yes |
| Clean Base | Yes | Yes |
| Power Boost | Yes | No |
| PerfectEdge Technology | Yes | No |
| Anti-Allergen System | Yes | No |
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is a Roomba Virtual Wall?
The Virtual Wall that comes with most Roombas, is a device that creates an invisible barrier, prohibiting your robot to get into that zone while cleaning. This a great way to prevent the unit from bumping with your pet’s bowls, or any valuable objects.
Does cleaning the Roomba hits the obstacles?
Roombas are designed with touch sensors in their bumpers that recognize when the robot is near obstacles. At that moment, the sensors will alert the robot and it will change its course, or slow down until barely touching the obstacle.
How to Activate the Reduced Power Standby Mode?
By putting the unit in the Home Base and holding the “Spot Clean” button for 15 seconds, the Reduced Standby Mode will be activated and confirmed by a tone.
Our impression of the Roomba s9+
The Roomba s9+ has all the features that you can expect from a high-end robot vacuum. But you can certainly expect that from iRobot. The s9+ gives you the features and functionalities that you can find in the Roomba i7+, including the ability to empty out its own dustbin.
However, the Roomba s9+ does have some tricks up its sleeve. It offers a more powerful vacuum, the first-ever Anti-Allergen System, and the PowerBoost feature for carpeted floors. The change in the robot vacuum’s shape is also a welcome change.
The new D-shape design allows the Roomba s9+ to include a wider main brush and use a more efficient corner brush. However, the new design might make it more challenging to move around. Unlike the round Roombas that can get into and out of tight spaces, the Roomba s9+ might get stuck.
Final Words
It’s not easy to choose between two excellent devices such as the Roomba i7+ and the Roomba s9+. Both of these devices are certainly worth the price tag, that is if you want a robot vacuum that you can forget for a month. Both pretty much work on their own and do not rely on you to babysit it. They offer vSLAM navigation, Wi-Fi connectivity, and are ideal for pets.
The Roomba i7+ does have a more wallet-friendly price, but the Roomba s9+ delivers a more forceful suction that is useful for carpeted floors. It is also designed to clean better with its wider main brush and the corner brush.
If you want to save or if you have hardwood floors, then the choice is pretty obvious. You will be happy with the Roomba i7+. However, if you have a lot of pets that shed a lot of furs, or if you have a larger home, then the Roomba s9+ makes a lot of sense. You can also benefit from the s9+ if you have allergies to dust and dirt, or if you have carpeted floors.
Need more information about iRobot? Check out Roomba’s top models here!
Further read:
I purchased the i7+ a month ago. We live in a rural area with no streetlights. Our house where this unit is used is about 2000 square feet. We scheduled the I7+ to clean weekly starting at 1 AM. We found out that the navigation system does not operate well in the dark. During the day it works very well. I tried six night lights but they were not bright enough for the navigation system. After contacting the manufacture they recommended to leave room lights on in the working area at night. Where is this mentioned in the instructions? Our house is large enough where noise is not a factor.