iRobot Roomba s9+ Review 2026: Is It Still Worth It?

Flagship robot vacuums live or die on whether they keep floors clean every week with minimal attention. With the s‑series, iRobot chased two kinds of performance that matter in real homes: raw pickup (especially along baseboards) and automation (a base that empties itself and mapping that targets rooms and avoids off‑limits spots). Five‑plus years on, the Roomba s9+ still aims to deliver both—here’s how it behaves on day one, after month six, and against today’s rivals.

The iRobot Roomba s9+ still cleans at a best‑in‑class level along edges and on hard floors, and its self‑emptying base keeps daily upkeep light for most households. Its downsides—noise, bag and filter costs, and the lack of true hazard avoidance—are real, but if top‑tier pickup and hands‑off operation are your priorities, it continues to be a strong buy.

What “performance” really means for a robot vacuum in 2026

Satisfaction with a robot vacuum comes down to six things you notice after the novelty wears off: 1) pickup on your mix of surfaces (fine dust on low‑pile carpet is the toughest), 2) edge/corner cleaning where dust and pet hair build up, 3) coverage consistency and navigation efficiency, 4) noise—including the auto‑empty burst, 5) autonomy (mapping, Keep Out Zones, multi‑room scheduling, and reliable recharge‑and‑resume), and 6) reliability and ongoing costs (bags, filters, brushes). On the first four, the s9+ is still among the strongest thanks to iRobot’s D‑shaped “PerfectEdge” design with a corner brush, a high‑suction system, systematic row‑by‑row navigation, and the Clean Base that empties the robot automatically for “up to 60 days.” Its mapping—Imprint Smart Maps with room labels, Keep Out/Clean Zones, and multi‑map support—makes targeted cleanups and routines straightforward. The trade‑offs are cost and noise: Clean Base bags and filters add recurring expense, and both the robot at full power and the auto‑empty sequence are louder than many competitors. For the core cleaning job, though, it’s still a flagship. See iRobot’s feature pages for details on Smart Maps and the 60‑day self‑empty claim. (irobot.com)

• iRobot Roomba s9+
• Category avg

View the underlying data

Item	iRobot Roomba s9+	Category avg
Hard floors pickup	4.8/5	4.2/5
Edge/corner cleaning	4.7/5	3.9/5
Low‑pile carpet fine debris	3.8/5	4/5
Noise comfort	3.1/5	3.7/5

Synthesized from RTINGS, Consumer Reports robotic‑vac test notes, TechRadar and Tom’s Guide noise observations (2020–2026 reviews).

Day‑one setup with the iRobot Roomba s9+

Out of the box, setup is quick: place the Clean Base with a few feet of side clearance, dock the robot, and pair the iRobot Home app. The first full‑home runs teach the layout. Expect the s9+ to drive in neat, parallel lanes and build an Imprint Smart Map you can later split/merge into rooms and label. Most homes need two to three mapping passes before room targeting and Keep Out Zones are reliable around problem areas (lamp cords, tricky thresholds). iRobot’s support docs confirm that Zones and room‑by‑room cleaning require a learned Smart Map; once created, you can add or edit zones any time. Edge behavior stands out immediately: the s9+ tracks along baseboards deliberately, then tackles corners better than round robots. Two caveats from day one: plan for the loud first auto‑empty “whoosh” (put the base in a hall, mudroom, or away from phone‑heavy spaces), and keep lights on during mapping if you have dim areas, which helps the camera‑based vSLAM map accurately. (answers.irobot.com)

Sustained performance after months: battery, wear parts, and software

Over months, three things shape your experience: runtime, maintenance, and map stability. Independent testing shows the S9/S9+ can run roughly 2.5 hours on its lowest power and about 50 minutes on its strongest; practically, most homes see recharge‑and‑resume only for very large floor plans or when you force “Exceptional” power. Hair wraps are rarer than with bristle brushes thanks to iRobot’s dual rubber rollers, but pet owners should still plan a 5‑minute detangle and end‑cap check weekly or biweekly. The Clean Base is genuinely convenient; with average shedding and tracked‑in dust, expect to swap a bag about every 6–8 weeks and the onboard high‑efficiency filter quarterly. Brushes last longer than the filter but should be replaced annually to keep pickup strong. The app side holds up: once a good Smart Map is in place, room targeting and zone rules typically “stick,” and iRobot continues to update its OS and app. Note that the s9+ lacks the j‑series’ camera‑based obstacle avoidance (it won’t reliably steer around cords, toys, or pet waste), so Keep Out Zones and a quick pre‑tidy remain part of ownership. (rtings.com)

• iRobot Roomba s9+
• Roomba j7+
• Roborock S8+
• Shark AI Ultra

View the underlying data

Item	iRobot Roomba s9+	Roomba j7+	Roborock S8+	Shark AI Ultra
0 mo	0 $	0 $	0 $	0 $
6 mo	40 $	35 $	30 $	15 $
12 mo	80 $	75 $	65 $	35 $
18 mo	120 $	115 $	100 $	55 $
24 mo	160 $	150 $	130 $	70 $

Bag/part pricing pulled from manufacturer sites; recurring‑cost emphasis corroborated by RTINGS’ recurring‑cost assessment of the S9/S9+.

Where it excels—and where owners hit its limits

The s9+ is outstanding on hard floors and along baseboards. Its edge pass and corner brush pull debris into the suction path rather than scattering it, which shows up in test videos and long‑term reviews: dust bunnies at shoe moldings, pet hair around chair legs, and flour‑fine grit on tiles end up in the bin. On low‑pile carpets, it still picks up well, but like most robots it can leave embedded fine particles (sand) that uprights lift more decisively. Navigation is systematic and consistent, making room‑by‑room schedules trustworthy. Limits are predictable: it’s loud in operation and especially during auto‑empty (TechRadar clocked the base around 77–78 dB, a notable burst), tassels and fringe can snare the rollers, and without real‑time hazard detection the s9+ can bump or push lightweight clutter unless you pre‑tidy or draw Keep Out Zones. If you must run a robot overnight in a small apartment, or have heavy cable clutter and kids’ toys always on the floor, a quieter model with obstacle avoidance may suit better—even if raw pickup is a notch lower. (techradar.com)

How it compares to alternatives you might be considering

Against other premium self‑empty robots, the s9+ still wins at edges and keeps pace on hard floors. iRobot’s newer j7+ trades a bit of that raw cleaning power for smarts: its PrecisionVision system can spot and steer around common floor hazards (cords, shoes, pet waste), reducing pre‑tidy chores, though its edge performance isn’t as aggressive as the s9+’s D‑shaped chassis. Roborock’s S8+ (a vacuum‑mop hybrid) adds fast LIDAR mapping and real‑time obstacle avoidance and is quieter in day‑to‑day vacuuming, though auto‑empty noise is broadly similar and consumables still add cost. Versus iRobot’s value option, the Roomba i3+ EVO, the s9+ gives you full Imprint Smart Maps with editable Keep Out Zones and better edge cleaning; the i3+ EVO buys you self‑emptying at a lower price if you can live without zones and with less suction. The comparison table below summarizes the features that most affect satisfaction. (rtings.com)

Item	Self‑empty base	Real‑time hazard avoidance	Imprint Smart Mapping	Keep Out Zones	Auto recharge/resume	Bagless base	D‑shaped body for edges
iRobot Roomba s9+	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
iRobot Roomba j7+	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Roborock S8+	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Roomba i3+ EVO	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	No

Confirmed via iRobot model pages/support and Roborock S8 product page.

Getting the best out of it: a practical setup and care plan

Follow these steps to keep the s9+ performing like new:

• Map first, then clean: run two full mapping passes with lights on, doors open, and power set to Quiet for battery‑friendly coverage. Split/merge rooms, label them, then add Keep Out Zones around cords, pet bowls, and unruly rugs.
• Place the base smartly: keep it away from bedrooms and work calls; a hall or mudroom wall helps mask the auto‑empty burst.
• Set a realistic schedule: kitchen daily, living room every other day, bedrooms twice a week. Short, frequent runs keep dust loads light.
• Maintain on a cadence: check rollers weekly in shedding seasons, clear hair at the end caps, tap out the filter weekly and replace it quarterly, and replace bags every 6–8 weeks (buy a multi‑pack to lower per‑bag cost). Keep cliff sensors and the side brush clean so edge behavior stays sharp.
• Tackle problem areas: if a rug fringe or threshold repeatedly snags the robot, draw a Keep Out Zone over that edge; you’ll lose a few inches of coverage but gain reliability.
• Use voice and zones for “right now” messes: kitchen crumbs after dinner? Tell your assistant or tap a Clean Zone to send only the s9+ to that spot. (irobot.com)

Why the s9+ still feels different in daily use

What keeps the s9+ relevant is its edge reach, consistent coverage, and low‑touch upkeep. Reviewers repeatedly note that corners and baseboards are where cheaper round robots show their limits; the s9+’s Maximized‑Edge design and aggressive corner brush reduce manual edge touch‑ups. Meanwhile, the Clean Base changes behavior: because dust goes straight to a sealed bag and the robot auto‑empties for “up to 60 days,” owners run short, frequent cleanings that keep loads light and carpets fresher. Lastly, iRobot’s mapping has matured; once your map is tuned, schedules run and zone rules persist through re‑docks and software updates—the autonomy many buyers want. Independent testing and long‑term reviews echo this picture: superb hard‑floor pickup, very good carpet pickup with some fine‑debris limits, higher‑than‑average noise, and recurring costs you should plan for. (irobot.com)

Is it still worth it in 2026?

You’re weighing a classic trade‑off: the s9+ still cleans better along edges and room perimeters than almost anything else, and its self‑empty base meaningfully reduces chores. If your floors are often clutter‑free (or you’re willing to add a few Keep Out Zones), you’ll likely love the speed, consistency, and pickup. If you want quieter runs or a robot that tiptoes around cords, pet toys, and accidents, iRobot’s j‑series or a Roborock with obstacle avoidance will fit better—even if they give up a sliver of edge performance. With an overall owner consensus around 4.3/5 across major platforms—and strong scores for quality and ease of use—the Roomba s9+ remains “worth it” for households that value maximum pickup and hands‑off emptying, but budget for bags and filters and place the base where auto‑empty noise won’t intrude. (rtings.com)