Ultimate Showdown: Roomba j7+ vs s9+ – Unveiling the Champion!
Choosing between the iRobot Roomba j7+ and s9+ is no easy task Discover the ultimate comparison of specs, suction power, navigation, features, cleaning, maintenance, price, and our bottom line Find out which is the best fit for you!
Comparing the iRobot Roomba j7+ and s9+ models
The Roomba is undoubtedly the first brand that comes to mind when considering robot vacuums, and for good reason. iRobot's line of vacuums, which has been in existence for over 20 years, has unquestionably set the stage with its innovative and intelligent designs. Both the Roomba j7+ and Roomba s9+ models from this renowned brand are considered top-tier, offering a wealth of advanced features to simplify cleaning tasks. Consequently, deciding between these two robots is no easy feat.Upon conducting tests in our website Testing Lab, we discovered that although they are similar in size and possess comparable mapping capabilities, the j7+ and s9+ differ in several crucial aspects. The j7+ excels in obstacle avoidance, providing superior performance in this regard. Conversely, the s9+ boasts substantially stronger suction power, as well as more comprehensive corner and edge cleaning capabilities.
Roomba j7+ vs. Roomba s9+ specs
When it comes to pet owners seeking a vacuum with above-average suction power and the ability to navigate around obstacles, including pet waste, the j7+ is the ultimate choice. However, if you desire the most commanding robot vacuum that can handle almost all of your home's vacuuming needs, there is no better option than the s9+. The specifications of the j7+ and s9+ are quite similar, but a few crucial differences between the two can impact their performance on hardwood and carpeted surfaces, as well as in challenging corners.Roomba j7+ specs
The Roomba j7+ undergoes testing by the team to assess its navigation abilities around furniture. The product specifications include a battery life of 97 minutes, dimensions of 13.3” L x 13.3” W x 3.4” H, a dustbin capacity of 0.4 L, a weight of 7.49 lb, mapping capabilities, self-emptying functionality, voice command compatibility with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri, as well as the ability to schedule cleaning sessions.The j7+ offers a wider design compared to the s9+ and other Roomba models, but with a slightly lower profile. This allows it to potentially fit under furniture more easily. In terms of battery life, it performs similarly to other robot vacuums, lasting nearly 100 minutes in our testing. While its dustbin is smaller than the s9+, it has the advantage of being self-emptying. This means you can trust it to continue cleaning without interruption. If the bin becomes full, the j7+ will automatically return to its base to empty itself.
Similar to advanced robot vacuums like the s9+, the j7+ utilizes smart mapping and camera-based navigation capabilities to learn the layout of your home. It can recognize specific rooms and zones, allowing you to direct the robot to clean a particular area. Additionally, it can adapt to and clean around furniture by learning about the objects in your home. Should there be areas where you prefer the robot not to clean, such as certain zones or spaces, the j7+ supports Keep-Out Zones to respect your preferences.
The j7+, released two years after the s9+ in 2019, offers compatibility with home assistants like Alexa and Siri. This allows you to conveniently control its cleaning through voice commands. Whether it's cleaning up crumbs under your kitchen table or vacuuming the living room after your pets, the j7+ responsive to your needs. Moreover, you can easily schedule regular vacuuming sessions using the iRobot Home app. With the ability to select specific days and times, as well as customize cleaning preferences, you can ensure your floors are kept immaculate.
Roomba s9+ specs
The battery life of the Roomba s9+ is determined by the testing team. Product specifications.Battery life: 107 minutes | Dimensions: 12.25” L x 12.25” W x 3.5” H | Dustbin capacity: 0.5 L | Weight: 8.15 lb | Mapping: Yes | Self-emptying: Yes | Voice commands: Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri | Scheduling: Yes
The s9+ immediately catches attention with its unique D-shape design, allowing it to effectively clean corners unlike typical circular robot vacuums. Despite weighing 8.15 pounds, it features a moderately-sized dustbin and is self-emptying like the j7+ model, ensuring uninterrupted cleaning. The s9+ also boasts a lengthy battery life, providing over 100 minutes of cleaning on a single charge based on our tests. For manual bin emptying, it can be easily detached from the top, and the bottom of the bin opens up, effortlessly releasing all debris without the need for shaking.
The s9+ uses smart mapping technology to create detailed maps of your home, enabling it to identify specific rooms, zones, and objects. With this feature, you can easily instruct the robot to clean specific areas or around particular furniture, such as sending it to clean in front of your kitchen counter. Additionally, you have the ability to set up Keep-Out Zones to prevent the s9+ from cleaning in designated areas, such as where your pet's bowls are located.
Controlling the s9+ is convenient and effortless with voice commands through popular home assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant. If you prefer a more regular cleaning schedule, the iRobot Home app allows you to create and customize a cleaning routine. Each scheduled cleaning session can be set with specific preferences, including the desired day and time, as well as options for the number of passes and suction power.
Suction comparison
Both the Roomba j7+ and s9+ are highly advanced models known for their strong suction capabilities. However, the s9+ surpasses its counterpart with its exceptional power. While the j7+ offers suction power that is 10 times stronger than the Roomba 600 series, the s9+ takes it to the next level with a remarkable 40 times more suction, delivering impressive performance on any type of flooring.However, it is worth noting that this exceptional suction power comes with a trade-off – the s9+ tends to be noticeably noisier than other robot vacuums, including the j7+. While the j7+ reaches a maximum of approximately 64 decibels, the s9+ can generate more than 74 decibels at its highest power level.
Carpet comparison
In terms of performance on carpeting, both the Roomba j7+ and s9+ proved to be exceptional models during our testing. In fact, they ranked among the top performers in our test pool. However, the s9+ managed to gain a slight advantage by offering suction power that closely resembled that of a standard vacuum cleaner, setting it apart from the other Roomba models we evaluated.On medium-pile carpet, the s9+ demonstrated its impressive capabilities by successfully removing coarse kosher salt, cereal, and kitty litter without leaving any noticeable debris behind. Even when it missed a few particles of salt and kitty litter initially, it efficiently captured the remaining debris during its second pass. Moreover, it effectively extracted pet hair from the carpet, leaving not a single strand behind. Moving on to low-pile area rugs and runners, we found that the s9+ effortlessly collected all debris it encountered on these surfaces, leaving no particles behind.
Hardwood comparison
Additionally, the performance of the j7+ during testing was not as impressive as that of the s9+ when it came to handling debris on medium-pile carpeting. The j7+ missed a few particles of kosher salt and even crushed a piece of cereal into the carpet. However, it managed to effectively remove almost all of the remaining cereal crumbs during a second pass. Furthermore, the j7+ successfully captured nearly all of the kitty litter we placed in its path, with the exception of a single piece, and it was able to clean 100% of the pet hair in just one pass. Similar to the s9+, the j7+ exhibited excellent performance in handling debris on low-pile area rugs and runners, leaving no visible remnants after completing its cleaning cycle.Moving on to hardwood surfaces, the Roomba j7+ and s9+ demonstrated even better suction power during testing. However, like many other robot vacuums, they occasionally encountered a common issue on hard flooring: due to the smooth and slick nature of the surface, larger debris particles were sometimes blown out of the robot's path. Both the j7+ and s9+ experienced this problem in certain cases, but the s9+ proved to do so less frequently thanks to its superior suction power. As a result, the s9+ outperformed the j7+ in effectively handling debris on hardwood surfaces.
Navigation comparison
In terms of cleaning performance, both the s9+ and j7+ effectively removed pet hair from hardwood surfaces without any problems. The s9+ effortlessly tackled coarse kosher salt in its path, leaving behind only a minimal amount of particles. Similarly, the j7+ left behind a few particles but still performed admirably. Both models successfully captured cereal on hardwood, although they did blow a few pieces out of their path. Interestingly, the s9+ managed to pick up these pieces from the room's edge, while the j7+ did not. Additionally, both models proved capable of removing kitty litter from hardwood, although it required multiple passes to fully capture all of the particles.It is worth noting that the j7+ and s9+ employ different navigation systems, utilizing cameras for assistance. The distinguishable factor lies in their camera placements: the j7+ possesses a front-facing camera, while the s9+ has a camera mounted on its top. Furthermore, the j7+'s navigation sensor is positioned at the front of the robot. This placement of cameras and sensors significantly impacts their efficiency in navigating a given space.
The front-facing camera and sensor of the j7+ enable it to effortlessly navigate around obstacles without any collisions. iRobot, being confident in the j7's ability to avoid obstacles, offers the Pet Owner Official Promise (P.O.O.P.), guaranteeing that the bot will prevent any pet accidents or waste. If it fails to do so, iRobot will replace the robot free of charge. Our testing revealed that the j7+ excelled in avoiding objects in its path. We deliberately placed a handbag, a shoe, and a stuffed pet toy in front of it, and each time the robot displayed a remarkable ability to detect the object and maneuver around it.
Additionally, the s9+ displayed less skill in evading obstacles. It carelessly rolled over a book we positioned in its trajectory and clumsily collided with a stuffed toy before maneuvering around it. When presented with a shoe in its path, it initially attempted to traverse over it but ultimately halted and reversed to navigate around it.
Moreover, each robot exhibited contrasting reactions when faced with our presence. The j7+ swiftly pivoted away before making contact, whereas the s9+ gently brushed against our foot before retreating.
The j7+ is not only perfect for homes with pets, but also for cluttered homes. Even if you have children who leave toys scattered around, it can clean around them without getting stuck. On the other hand, the s9+ might not be as successful in such situations.
Features comparison
Both the j7+ and s9+ feature rubber brush rolls that are designed to effectively loosen dirt and deal with hair. These flexible rubber brushes are less likely to get tangled with hair. However, the s9+ has slightly wider brushes, allowing it to clean more efficiently than the j7+. In our testing, we were impressed by how quickly the s9+ worked, cleaning 240 square feet in just 37 minutes. In comparison, the j7+ took 55 minutes to clean 260 square feet.The j7+ and the s9+ have different shapes, with the j7+ having a round shape like most robot vacuums and the s9+ having a D-shaped frame. Our tests showed that the s9+'s flat edge allowed it to clean more effectively along walls. We conducted a test where we placed kosher salt in corners with both carpeting and hardwood, and the s9+ was able to remove almost all of the particles in a single pass on both surfaces. However, the j7+ only removed about three-quarters of the salt in a carpeted corner, leaving a noticeable line behind. On hardwood, the j7+ removed most of the salt but blew several pieces away from the corner without picking them up.
Both the j7+ and s9+ come with a Clean Base for self-emptying. However, there is a difference in size between the bases. While they are approximately the same width, the s9+'s base is 19 inches tall, which is just over 3 inches taller than the j7+'s 15.8-inch tall base. In our testing, we didn't face any difficulty finding a spot for the s9+, but the j7+ can likely fit into more locations. Both bases have the capacity to hold dirt for up to 60 days, and the j7+ even has a space in the top to hold an extra dirt-disposal bag.
For those who don't necessarily require a self-emptying robot, there are more affordable options available with the j7+ and s9+ models. These vacuums are essentially the same as their Plus counterparts but do not include a Clean Base.
Cleaning and maintenance
Despite not having the self-emptying feature, the j7 and s9 still require regular cleaning and maintenance to maintain their optimal performance. It is recommended to manually empty the dustbin approximately once a week to eliminate any debris that may have been missed by the Clean Base. Additionally, you can rinse the bin with warm water, but ensure it is completely dry before reattaching it to the robot.When you receive a notification from the iRobot app that the bag of the Clean Base is full, remember to empty it. The bags are designed to be disposable, so you can simply throw away a full one and replace it with a new one.
The brush roll is the area that requires the most attention for these models, as hair and other debris tend to accumulate around it. To remove the brushes, just press the tab on the underside of the robot and they will easily pop out. During our testing, we found that it was easy to remove hair and other debris using just our fingers. If you notice visible dirt, you can also wipe down the brush rollers with a clean, dry cloth.
The high-efficiency filter, edge-sweeping brush, and brush rollers of both the j7+ and s9+ Roomba models require periodic replacement. To easily monitor their status, simply access the iRobot app and navigate to the Product Health tab. There, you can track the remaining hours until these components need to be replaced.
Price
The Roomba j7+ is priced at $799.99 and can be purchased at Amazon. The Roomba s9+ is typically sold for $999.99 and is also available for purchase at Amazon.How we tested
To assess the performance of the Roomba j7+ and s9+ in real-life scenarios, we conducted a series of tests in addition to their regular cleaning tasks.Initially, we gathered data on various parameters such as battery life, charging time, the duration until their dustbins reached capacity, and the time taken to clean a specific area. Subsequently, we strategically placed different types of debris, such as kosher salt, kitty litter, cereal, and pet hair, on both carpeted and hardwood surfaces to evaluate their effectiveness in dealing with the mess. Moreover, we examined their ability to clean corners and maneuver around furniture.
Finally, we assessed the effectiveness of the iRobot app in terms of scheduling, mapping, and Keep-Out Zones, and tested their responsiveness to voice commands.
Bottom line
Both the Roomba j7+ and the s9+ are exceptional options, offering advanced functionality and excellent performance on both carpeted and hard surfaces. They come equipped with numerous convenient features. However, if you desire a highly potent model that can completely replace a standard vacuum cleaner, the s9+ stands out. It effortlessly tackles all types of debris, including pet hair, on both carpets and hard floors. Additionally, its unique D-shape design enables it to effortlessly reach corners without leaving any mess behind.However, if you own pets, the j7+ is the ideal choice. It effectively deals with pet hair, even on carpets, and intelligently avoids obstacles, preventing it from accidentally encountering your pets' waste and spreading it throughout your home. The obstacle avoidance capability also makes it an excellent option for homes that are prone to clutter.
