iRobot Roomba S9 Plus Review for Cleaner Homes

Sometimes, only the best will do. When it comes to robot vacuums, the flagship Roomba S9 Plus from iRobot is one of the best on the market. Robot vacuums have never been more popular. And while Roomba manufacturer iRobot continues to face increasingly stiff competition, it’s still the market leader.

Of course, it’s no surprise that iRobot is the name behind today’s premier robot vacuum. And it’s a hugely costly proposition at almost $1,000. That means it’s over twice the price of many of iRobot’s other robot vacuums. It’s also five times more expensive than any number of top-rated and best-selling models from other manufacturers.

Thankfully, the Roomba S9 Plus is massively impressive. Ultimately, it’s the culmination of over two decades of innovation in the robot vacuum field – most of which has been led by Roomba maker iRobot. But can it truly justify its $999.99 price tag? Let’s find out.

The iRobot Roomba S9 Plus is by no means a new entry into the robot vacuum market, having first arrived back in 2019. It did so by following in the footsteps of various other iRobot models and building upon the success of the likes of the similarly impressive Roomba i7 Plus.

At launch, various refinements pushed the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus’s price to an all-time high, with the range-topping robot vacuum initially retailing for closer to $1,500. A series of price adjustments have seen this figure drop, with the Roomba S9 Plus now available for a penny under $1,000.

For that, buyers get the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus robot vacuum itself and the accompanying and all-important self-emptying base station. The Roomba S9 Plus’s base station is among its biggest selling points.

The S9 Plus isn’t the first Roomba, or indeed robot vacuum, more broadly speaking, capable of emptying itself. That said, its self-emptying abilities have been fine-tuned to make them better than ever. Coupled with its large-capacity base station, the Roomba S9 Plus can run for up to two months before it needs to be manually emptied.

It’s therefore massively convenient. It’ll also appeal especially to those who dislike having to empty any vacuum cleaner’s dust bin. It’s something that can, in reality, be a daily chore with cheaper and more basic robot models.

Another factor that sets the Roomba S9 Plus apart from the competition is the brilliant iRobot app. Far superior to any other robot vacuum manufacturer’s smartphone application, iRobot Home is as feature-packed as the Roomba S9 Plus itself.

Despite being over three years old, the Roomba S9 Plus remains iRobot’s smartest and most powerful robot vacuum ever. Whether robot vacuums will ever truly replace traditional models remains to be seen.

That said, the Roomba S9 Plus comes as close to doing so as any model has to date. Factor in the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus’s self-emptying abilities and, in some regards, it’s vastly superior to most non-robotic alternatives.

In years gone by, many robot vacuums have struggled to compete with even entry-level manual options in terms of versatility and the depth of clean on offer. However, the Roomba S9 Plus claims to provide a level of cleaning that’s on par with even the most expensive regular vacuum cleaners. Unfortunately, there are, it has to be said, at least one or two compromises as a result.

It’s easy to be blinded by how the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus impresses almost right across the board. At the same time, there are at least a couple of downsides. As powerful as the Roomba S9 Plus is, it’s noticeably noisier than many other robot vacuums.

So, while owners can program their Roombas to run when they’re out of the house, having an S9 Plus in operation while anyone is at home can be a noisy affair. Also, the iRobot Roomba S9 Plus isn’t just costly to purchase at the outset. Even very basic consumables like dust bags for the S9 Plus’s base station are highly expensive.

What’s more, it’s not possible to use cheaper or makeshift alternatives, as the Roomba S9 Plus is only compatible with genuine iRobot equipment. Moreover, costs only increase further when it comes to replacement brushes and other parts. However, where it’s possible to overlook these issues, there’s arguably no better robot vacuum on the market in 2022.

Despite its high cost, the Roomba S9 Plus comes with just a 12-month warranty — the minimum required of manufacturer iRobot. Buyers can, however, upgrade their warranty with a Protect+ Plan, available from the manufacturer at the point of sale. Unfortunately, this added degree of coverage is costly, too. Added coverage from iRobot costs $179.99 for only two years of coverage.

Thankfully, Protect+ from iRobot isn’t the only option. iRobot Roomba S9 Plus buyers can also lock in an extended appliance warranty from Upsie. A part of Upsie’s small appliance warranty range, a choice of two- and three-year extended Roomba S9 Plus warranty policies is available. With Upsie, two-year warranty coverage for a $999.99 vacuum costs just $44.99 with no deductible and no service fees. Furthermore, Upsie customers can also purchase a three-year iRobot Roomba S9 Plus warranty for just $86.99.

In addition to no deductible and no service fees, further perks of choosing an Upsie warranty include complete coverage in the event of manufacturing defects, mechanical faults, and other failures. All policies are fully transferable, too, and claims are unlimited up to an appliance’s purchase price. Find out more at Upsie.com or by downloading the Upsie smartphone app.