Cleaner floors mean cleaner air, less settled dust to get kicked back up every time someone walks through the room, and the iRobot Roomba s9+ has long been the premium answer for hands-off floor care. Its distinctive D-shaped body, corner-reaching brushes, and self-emptying Clean Base promise a home that stays vacuumed for weeks without you touching a thing. But with newer j-series and combo robots now crowding the lineup, is the s9+ still the one to buy in 2026?
We spent time with the Roomba s9+ across hardwood, tile, and medium-pile carpet, paying attention to the things that actually matter day to day: how well it cleans edges and corners, how reliably the self-emptying dock works, and how much maintenance it really saves. This review breaks down its design, performance, and where it fits against iRobot’s other self-emptying models. Here is the verdict.
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Watch: Review: iRobot Roomba s9+ Robot Vacuum with Self-Emptying Bin — Video Review
Design & Build
The s9+ stands apart from every round robot vacuum thanks to its flat-front D-shape, which lets the wide dual rubber brushes push right up against baseboards and into corners that circular robots skim past. Build quality feels genuinely premium, the anodized finish and solid dock look at home in a nice room. The included Clean Base is the headline feature: after each job the robot returns, and the dock vacuums its bin into a sealed bag that holds up to 60 days of debris, so you empty it roughly once every two months instead of after every run.
Performance
On carpet, the s9+ is a standout. Its high-suction motor and rubber brushrolls pull embedded dust and pet hair that lighter robots leave behind, and the anti-tangle design shrugs off hair wraps. The corner brush and D-shape genuinely improve edge cleaning, you notice cleaner baseboards versus a round robot. Smart mapping lets it clean room by room on command and navigate methodically rather than bouncing randomly. The self-empty dock is loud for its few seconds of operation but reliable, and the 60-day bag claim held up in practice for a two-person household without pets.
Pros & Cons
- Best-in-class corner and edge cleaning from the D-shape and corner brush
- Strong suction excels on carpet and pet hair
- Self-emptying Clean Base holds up to 60 days of debris
- Precise smart mapping with room-by-room control
- Premium price, especially against newer combo models
- Vacuum-only; no mopping function unlike some rivals
- Clean Base is bulky and the emptying cycle is briefly loud
Alternatives to Consider
If you want obstacle avoidance and object recognition, the iRobot Roomba j9+ identifies and steers around cords and pet messes better than the s9+. For an all-in-one that also mops, the Roomba Combo 405 (G181) adds a mopping pad in a single unit. And budget-minded buyers should look at the Roomba 105 with AutoEmpty Dock, which brings self-emptying convenience at a far lower price than the flagship s9+.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do I empty the Roomba s9+?
The self-emptying Clean Base holds up to 60 days of dirt in its sealed bag, so most households only empty it about once every two months rather than after each cleaning run.
Is the s9+ good for pet hair?
Yes. Its high suction and anti-tangle rubber brushrolls handle pet hair on both carpet and hard floors very well, and the sealed self-empty bag keeps that hair and dander contained.
Does the Roomba s9+ mop?
No, the s9+ is vacuum-only. If you want vacuuming and mopping in one machine, look at a combo model like the Roomba Combo 405 instead.
Is the s9+ still worth buying in 2026?
For carpet-heavy homes that value corner cleaning and long self-empty intervals, yes. If you want obstacle avoidance or mopping, a newer j-series or combo model may suit you better for the money.
Verdict
The iRobot Roomba s9+ remains a premium, carpet-crushing vacuum whose D-shape and 60-day self-emptying dock still justify their reputation in 2026. It is not the cheapest option and it does not mop, but for hands-off, deep floor cleaning that keeps household dust, and the air that dust ends up in, under control, it is a genuinely excellent choice. Buy it if edge cleaning and low maintenance top your list; look to the j9+ or a combo model if you need avoidance or mopping.
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