iRobot Roomba s9+ Review
iRobot’s Roomba s9+ is expensive, but its intelligent navigation, super-powerful suction, and ability to empty itself out make it the best robot vacuum we’ve tested.
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.
iRobot Roomba s9+ Specs
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 12.3 by 12.3 by 3.5 inches |
| Battery Life (Tested) | 60 minutes |
| Mop/Vacuum Hybrid | No |
| Scheduling | Yes |
| Virtual Walls | Yes |
| Remote Control | No |
| Phone Control | Yes |
iRobot really impressed us with the Roomba i7+, the first robot vacuum we tested than can clean your home and then clean itself by emptying its own dustbin. Can it get any better than that? It turns out it can. iRobot’s latest vacuum, the Roomba s9+, takes what we like about the i7+ and puts it in a new shape that’s better at reaching difficult areas, with four times the suction power. And with plenty of sensors and camera-based navigation, it learns the layout of your home over time. At $1,399.99, it’s the most expensive robot vacuum we’ve tested to date. But its powerful suction, smart navigation, and ability to empty itself out makes it the best one you can buy and our Editors’ Choice for high-end models.
Design
Rather than the standard circular shape you see on most robot vacuums (include every other Roomba), the s9+ has a D shape similar to the Neato Botvac D4 Connected. This allows it to get deeper into corners and align itself against walls.
Aside from the change in shape, it also looks a lot sleeker than the i7+, with an eye-catching copper-like lid that matches the accents on the Clean Base (more on this in a moment). It’s also smaller, measuring 12.3 inches in diameter and 3.5 inches tall, compared with the previous model’s 13.4-by-3.7-inch dimensions.
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The top of the vacuum is home to the RCON sensor (room confinement), clutter sensor, a camera, and buttons for Clean/Power, Spot Clean, and Home. There is also an LED ring indicator that glows red when charging, white when cleaning, and blue when connecting to Wi-Fi. The side of the vacuum houses a wall sensor. Beneath the lid you’ll find the dustbin and filter along with the carrying handle.
The bottom of the s9+ is home to a corner brush, multi-surface rubber brushes, brush caps, a brush latch, a brush frame release tab, charging contacts, and cliff sensors. It also houses the dirt disposal port, floor tracking sensor, and rear caster wheel.
Then there’s the Clean Base (which needs to be plugged into a wall outlet), where the robot docks, charges, and empties its dustbin. The front holds an LED indicator, along with the canister lid, exhaust vent, wheel wells, and debris evacuation port. When the s9+ docks itself, all the dirt it collected is automatically sucked into the Clean Base, which holds up to 30 cleanings of debris; the app notifies you when it’s time to swap it out for a new one. The vacuum comes with two bags, and you can buy more in packs of three for $14.99.
Additional accessories include an extra filter and an extra corner brush. More Clean Bases are available for $299 if you want to add them to other rooms. On the flip side, you can buy the s9+ without the Clean Base as the regular s9 for $1,099.99.
Setup, App, and Voice Control
To pair the s9+ to your phone, you first need to download the iRobot Home app, which is available for Android and iOS devices. Setup is as simple as creating an account, choosing your specific vacuum model, selecting your Wi-Fi network and entering the password, then pressing the Spot and Home buttons on the vacuum until you hear it beep.
Once connected, the main screen of the app features a big Clean button to start and stop vacuuming, with the battery level displayed above. The bottom of the screen has tabs for Schedule, History, Smart Maps, Help, and Settings. Tap the Schedule tab to assign the vacuum to clean on a specific day and time. The History tab brings up a log of your cleaning sessions. Smart Maps shows the layout of your house, which takes a few rounds for the vacuum to learn. You can then label specific rooms to send the vacuum to if you don’t want it to clean the entire home. The Help tab houses care and maintenance manuals, an owner’s guide, FAQs, and warranty information. The Settings tab is where you can change your Wi-Fi information, switch the language, locate the vacuum, and perform a factory reset.
You can also connect the s9+ to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant via their respective apps. Once connected, you can issue voice commands through your phone or other compatible devices to tell the vacuum to start, stop, pause, or go back to the dock.
Performance
The s9+ has terrific navigation capabilities and rarely required manual intervention in testing, something important for a completely hands-off experience. I followed the s9+ around as it cleaned, as watched as it managed to wiggle its way around chairs and tables with ease. Its relatively low profile also allows it to make its way under most low-clearance furniture.
It also has the strongest suction we’ve seen in a robot vacuum. In testing, the s9+ sucked up dust, hair, and all other manner of debris with no issue at all. It also changes its suction strength automatically depending on whether it’s cleaning carpet (heavier suction) or wood and tile (lighter suction). For the most part, it cleans in a back-and-forth pattern in open spaces, and its D shape is great for tough-to-reach areas. In testing, it would graze against walls, allowing the side brush to grab dust and debris in corners.
Once finished cleaning, the s9+ automatically heads to the Clean Base to empty itself out. I’d like to stress just how nice this feature is. After all, you’re likely buying a robot vacuum in order to do less manual labor. Without having to empty the vacuum after every cleaning session, the process becomes truly hands-free. Sure, you have to change the bag in the Clean Base every once in a while, but compared with nearly any other vacuum out there, robot or otherwise, it doesn’t get any easier than this.
With the Smart Map feature, the s9+ learned the layout of my apartment after a few pass-throughs. After it was mapped out, I labeled each room and was able to send it exactly where I wanted it to clean.
It isn’t all perfect. For starters, the s9+ is a lot louder than most robot vacuums. Be prepared to turn up the volume on your TV if it’s cleaning in the same room. It gets even louder when it docks and empties itself into the Clean Base. Considering the suction power here, it’s understandable that it gets louder than many other vacuums. And you can get around it by setting it to clean when you’re out of the house.
In terms of battery life, I was able to squeeze 60 minutes out of the s9+, which is the same result we saw from the i7+, and not terribly impressive. For comparison, the Neato Botvac D7 Connected is the longest-lasting vacuum we’ve seen, with up to 130 minutes of battery life.
Conclusions
The iRobot Roomba s9+ is the strongest, most autonomous robot vacuum we’ve tested. At $1,399.99, it’s also the most expensive. That said, if you’re looking for a truly hands-free cleaning experience, and you want the most powerful vacuum possible, the s9+ is to one to get, and our Editors’ Choice. The $999.99 i7+ remains a strong buy, even if it isn’t quite as powerful. Of course, you can also spend less. The aforementioned Neato Botvac D4 Connected has a similar D shape to the s9+ and longer battery life for $499.99. And for just $229, the Ecovacs Deebot N79S offers app control and Alexa compatibility. Neither is nearly as powerful as the s9+, however, and neither can empty itself out. Ultimately, it comes down to how much you’re willing to pay for convenience.
iRobot Roomba 675 Review
I’m PCMag’s expert on fitness and smart home technology, and I’ve written more than 6,000 articles and reviews in the 10-plus years I’ve been here. I unbox, set up, test, and review a wide range of consumer tech products from my home in Florida, often with the help of my pitbull Bradley. I’m also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade.
The Bottom Line
The Roomba 675 is iRobot’s least expensive robot vacuum with Wi-Fi connectivity, giving you app control, scheduling, and voice support in addition to excellent cleaning capabilities.
PCMag editors select and review products independently. If you buy through affiliate links, we may earn commissions, which help support our testing.
iRobot Roomba 675 Specs
| Name | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13 by 13 by 3.7 inches |
| Battery Life (Tested) | 104 minutes |
| Mop/Vacuum Hybrid | No |
| Scheduling | Yes |
| Virtual Walls | Yes |
| Remote Control | No |
| Phone Control | Yes |
If you’re new to the world of robot vacuums, the $299.99 iRobot Roomba 675 is a good place to start. iRobot is one of the most respected names on the market, and the Roomba 675 is the company’s most affordable model with Wi-Fi connectivity. It automatically adjusts to different floor surfaces, rarely gets stuck, and works quickly. It lacks some features you get in pricier models like the ability to map your home and set up virtual boundaries, but it supports app and voice control and allows you to set cleaning schedules. It’s a terrific introduction to robot vacuums for the price, and our new Editors’ Choice for entry-level models.
Design and Setup
The Roomba 675 measures 13 inches in diameter and 3.7 inches high. It’s one of the taller robot vacuums we’ve tested, but it can still easily pass under most furniture. If you’re looking for a super-low-profile model, check out the 2.8-inch Eufy RoboVac 11s or the 2.9-inch Eufy RoboVac 30C.
On the bottom, it has two multi-surface brushes, the first of which loosens and lifts dirt and other debris, and a second that pulls it into the suction channel. It also features one edge-sweeping side brush for corners. Several cliff sensors on the bottom prevent it from falling down stairs or other edges.
Setting up the Roomba 675 is simple. You just need to plug the home base into the wall, remove the battery pull tab, and place it on the charger. iRobot recommends placing the base at least 1.5 feet away from objects on either side and 4 feet across from anything.
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The robot comes partially charged, but iRobot recommends waiting three hours for it to top off. To check the status of the battery, just press the Clean button on the top and the battery indicator will illuminate. Amber means it’s still charging, and solid green means it’s fully charged.
While you’re waiting, you can download the iRobot Home app (available for Android and iOS) and create an account or sign in if you already have one. Once you do that, the app will populate a list of robots you can add; just select the Roomba 675, and follow the instructions to get it connected to your Wi-Fi network.
The vacuum doesn’t come with a remote, but you can control it using the app or with your voice via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. To do the latter, select Smart Home in the iRobot app, choose Alexa or Google Assistant, and follow the instructions to link your accounts. After getting them connected, you can start and stop cleaning jobs with your voice.
iRobot App
The app is simple intuitive, with a big Clean button in the middle and tabs on the bottom for Schedule, History, Help, and Settings.
In Schedule, you can select which days of the week you want it to clean and at what time. I set it to run at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday, and at 9 a.m. on the weekends, and it worked without a hitch. You might want to set it for a time when you https://jiji.ng/ know you’ll be out of the house, because the Roomba 675 is pretty loud (more on this in a moment).
In the History section, you can see a list of the latest 30 jobs from the last 90 days. It also shows lifetime stats, including the total number of cleaning jobs, the total time it has spent cleaning, and the total number of times it activated Dirt Detect, a feature that allows it to focus its cleaning effort on heavily soiled areas. When it detects an unusually high concentration of dirt, it will work on that area until its sensors detect fewer particles.
Performance
If you have sensitive ears and want a quiet robot vacuum, the Roomba 675 isn’t for you. It’s louder than all of the other robot vacuums I’ve tested, as well as my Dyson V8 Animal+ stick. During one test run, I had to pause it while on a Zoom call because I could still hear it loud and clear in another room, even with my office door closed. It’s more like an old-school vacuum in that regard.
On the plus side, the Roomba 675 moves quickly, efficiently, and maneuvers around obstacles and traverses different types of flooring with ease. My dog Bradley tends to leave partially chewed beef hide bones all over the floor. I was impressed when I witnessed the Roomba 675 roll right over one without getting stuck. I also have long curtains in a couple of rooms that many other vacuums have gotten stuck on, but the Roomba 675 had no such issue. In addition, I have hard flooring, low- and medium-pile carpets, and tile in my home, and the vacuum had no trouble adjusting to the different surfaces.
It doesn’t map your home like the much pricier Roomba i7+ and S9+, so you can’t set up virtual boundaries in the app. iRobot, however, sells a physical Dual Mode Virtual Wall Barrier for $59.99 (or a two-pack for $99.99) that works with the Roomba 675, giving you more control over where it cleans.
As for battery life, the Roomba 675 ran for 104 minutes in testing, exceeding Roomba’s 90-minute estimate. That’s a solid result, just edging out the similarly priced Eufy RoboVac 30C (90 minutes) and iLife A9 (102 minutes).
The vacuum automatically docks itself in the base station when it is finished or the battery is running low, though it didn’t make it back there in one of three tests. Fortunately, it has a handle on top, so you can easily carry it back to the base if it fails to get there on its own.
The Roomba 675 has a handle on top, so you can easily carry it back to its base station if it doesn’t make it there on its own
After cleaning my floors for more than 100 minutes, the robot collected a good amount of dust, dog hair, and even a small portion of beef hide bone. My floors looked a lot cleaner, especially the hardwood, though I spotted a little debris left on the carpet.
Maintenance
To keep your Roomba 675 running optimally, iRobot recommends cleaning the bin after each use, the brushes and filter once a week (or twice a week in homes with pets), and the front caster wheel every two weeks. Once a month, you should also clean the side brush, cliff sensors, and charging contacts. There are cleaning instructions in the owner’s guide that comes with the robot.
Emptying the bin is easy; you just press the bin release button on the top of the machine and slide it out, then open the bin door, and empty the contents in the trash. From there, you can easily slide out the filter and tap it against your garbage can or the ground outside to clean it. iRobot says you should replace the filter every two months and the brushes every six to 12 months. The company sells replacement parts on its site, including a three-pack of filters for $24.99. You get two filters with the robot, so you should be good to go for at least four months.
Since I’m allergic to dust, I don’t love coming in contact with it when emptying the bin. This is a necessary evil of most vacuums, but if you’re seriously sensitive to dust, you might want to consider the i7+ or the s9+, both of which can empty their own dustbin.
Comparison and Conclusions
If you’re new to robot vacuums and you want one from one of the most trusted names in the space, the Roomba 675 is a solid option. iRobot also offers the Roomba 614 for $250, but without Wi-Fi connectivity, you miss out on many of the 675’s best features, like scheduling and voice control. In this price range, it’s also worth checking out the $280 Eufy RoboVac 30C and the $230 iLife A9, affordable models that also offer mobile app control and voice assistant compatibility. Both are quieter and more compact, but the Roomba 675’s ability to zip around a room without getting stuck makes it a better buy in our eyes, and our new Editors’ Choice.