Vacuum Cleaners

Best Vacuums

iRobot Roomba S9

We expect this model to perform similarly to the tested iRobot Roomba S9+ although it may differ in price and features.

If you’re after the maximum pickup that a robot can offer, the Roomba s9+ (and s9, which is similar, but without its own dustbin that it self-disposes into) should definitely be on your shortlist, according to our lab tests. Like most other robot vacuums that cost more than $350, the s9+ can learn the layout of your home, and you can then use a smartphone app (or voice assistant) to tell it where and when to clean. While it navigated quite well around the obstacles in our lab tests, a staffer found that it had a few quirks in his own home, like being prone to getting snarled on the edges of rugs. This robot vac uses a 20 V Li-ion battery and is equipped with 1 side brush. It also comes with an extra filter.

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CR Expert Take

How did it perform in our owner surveys and expert lab testing?

Overall Score

The Overall Score for this model incorporates our expert lab test results, as well as ratings for that brand’s reliability and owner satisfaction from our annual product owner survey of members.

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Current Range of Tested Robotic Vacuums

What goes into the Overall Score?

OWNER SURVEYS

Learn More

Carpet

/ 5

Bare floors

/ 5

Navigation

/ 5

Pet hair

/ 5

Edges

/ 5

Ease of use

/ 5

Noise

/ 5

Data privacy

/ 5

Data security

/ 5

Color

/ 5

About

The iRobot Roomba S9 is part of the Vacuum Cleaners test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, Robotic Vacuums models like the Roomba S9 are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.

Carpet: Shows how much surface litter (cereal, rice, and peas) and embedded dust the vacuum picked up from a medium-pile carpet.

Bare floors: Indicates the vacuum's ability to remove surface debris from a bare laminate floor.

Navigation: A composite score that includes combined coverage over multiple runs, clearance under furniture and obstacle and entrapment avoidance.

Brand Reliability & Satisfaction

#? in Reliability of all Robotic Vacuum Brands

Did the brand perform consistently well over time?

PREDICTED RELIABILITY SCORE

/ 100

Predicted brand reliability is based on estimated problem rates for newly-purchased robotic vacuums by the end of the fourth year of ownership, adjusting for extended warranty/service contract status, product usage, and the presence of pet hair in the home. Ranked #? of 11

Would our members recommend this brand?

OWNER SATISFACTION SCORE

/ 100

Brand owner satisfaction is based on the proportion of members who are extremely likely to recommend their robotic vacuum to their friends and family. Ranked #? of 11

Source: Consumer Reports' 2023, 2024, and 2025 Winter Surveys

Features & Specs

Specs

Clearance (in.)

3.5

Time to Clean Room (min.)

Pattern

Grid

WiFi/Cellular connectivity

Yes

Run time (min.)

110

Remote control

Connections

Navigation POC

85.97619048

Carpet POC

61.19444444

Ease of use POC

68.28017241

Bare floors POC

90.02380952

Noise POC

100.49999999

Price & Shop

iRobot Roomba S9

CR Expert Take

Overall Score

What goes into the Overall Score?

About

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