iRobot Roomba S9+ Vs Dyson 360 Heurist: Both are smart self-propelled robots that rely on camera-based navigation technology and can be controlled remotely with countless useful settings, but the similarities end there!
The iRobot Roomba S9+ boasts a distinct D-shaped frame that excels in cleaning corners and edges. Its bristle-free dual brush rollers are ingeniously designed to minimize tangles. To top it off, it comes equipped with a self-cleaning base, making manual dustbin emptying a thing of the past.
The unique design of the Dyson 360 Heurist allows it to easily navigate into tight areas, but it may not be able to get under some low-clearance furniture. Equipped with tank-like tracks, this robot can effortlessly traverse obstacles and high-pile carpets and has superior traction over wheeled alternatives. Its performance is also commendable with adjustable powerful suction.
iRobot Roomba S9+ Vs Dyson 360 Heurist: Comparison Chart
iRobot Roomba S9+ Vs Dyson 360 Heurist: Differences
The Roomba S9+ decisively trounces the Dyson 360 Heurist with a 4-1 victory. Dive into my detailed analysis to discover why the S9+ stands as the winner. And is the 360 Heurist truly lacking or simply overshadowed?
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Irobot Roomba S9+
Hard Floor
| iRobot Roomba S9+ | Dyson 360 Heurist |
|---|---|
| ≈ 99% | ≈ 99% |
I found these bots to gather almost all the debris on my hardwood floor, leaving almost no trace of debris behind. The Roomba S9+ did tend to finish the task with a slight edge in speed, but the difference was hardly worth noting.
Carpets
| iRobot Roomba S9+ | Dyson 360 Heurist | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pile Carpet | ≈ 99% | ≈ 98% |
| High-pile Carpet | ≈ 99% | ≈ 95% |
Both the Roomba S9+ and the 360 Heurist proved to be absolute workhorses for carpet cleaning, and the former was a bit better. They didn’t hit the perfect 100% cleaned-up mark, but what was left behind was almost nothing but perfectly clean carpets.
Hair Pet
| Irobot Roomba S9+ | Dyson 360 Heurist | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-inch Strands | ≈ 89% | ≈ 71% |
| 10-inch Strands | ≈ 78% | ≈ 56% |
My tests showed that the Roomba S9+ outperforms the 360 Heurist in terms of picking up hair, although it is also not the star of the show. Additionally, the bristle-less design of their dual rollers did a commendable job at preventing tangles, even though not every strand of hair found its way to its dustbin. The good news is that removing them to detangle is a breeze and doesn’t require any special tools.
Design & Usability
Winner: iRobot Roomba S9+
Dimensions & Weight
| iRobot Roomba S9+ | Dyson 360 Heurist | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x H) | 12.25 x 3.5 inches | 9.37 x 4.72 inches |
| Weight | 8.15 lbs | 5.5 lbs |
The Roomba S9+ and 360 Heurist are both good-looking bots that bring a unique aesthetic to the table. The Roomba S9+ features a D-shaped frame, while the Dyson 360 Heurist sports an appearance that you wouldn’t immediately associate with a robot vacuum.
Let’s start with the D-shaped frame of the S9+. Yes, unlike older Roombas, the S9+ is the first iRobot robot vacuum with this square-front design called PerfectEdge technology. This unique design makes sense – of course, it does! It really helps the bot get deeper into corners for better cleaning of tough-to-reach areas, such as edges and corners, solving a problem that often stymies round-shaped robots. However, this shape also presents a challenge in navigating tighter spaces, possibly explaining why iRobot continues to feature the traditional circular design.
On the flip side, the 360 Heurist also has a hockey puck-shaped design but has a narrower yet taller body compared to most circular robots. This design is also both a blessing and a curse: it can squeeze into most smaller spaces, such as between the legs of a dining chair, but it may be too tall to navigate under low-sitting furniture.
The 360 Heurist is equipped with caterpillar tracks rather than wheels. Well, it’s as if Dyson told their engineers to think outside the box! This proves very effective in climbing bigger steps and propelling the bot over obstacles like longer-pile rugs and carpets. Of course, they still don’t make stair-climbing a dream come true for a robot vacuum.
Extractor & Side Brush
Another notable difference between the Roomba S9+ and the 360 Heurist is their brush rollers. The Roomba S9+ has dual rubber rollers and a 5-pronged corner brush, whereas the 360 Heurist just features a wide brush roll.
The Roomba S9+ has two large green rubber rollers, which are wider than the other Roombas. Positioned to span almost the entire width of the square front rather than being situated between the wheels, these elongated rollers offer increased coverage. Plus, their bristle-free design greatly reduces the likelihood of tangles. It also has a redesigned side brush that has 5 arms that spin slower than other Roombas, thereby not scattering as much debris.
The 360 Heurist boasts a bristle-fitted brush roll that stretches the entire width of the bot, allowing it to effectively pick up grime at the edges and corners. That’s also why this one has no side brush.
Navigation
While most robots out there (from budget to high-end models) use LIDAR laser-based technology to scan and map your house in just one test run, the Roomba S9+ and 360 Heurist rely on a camera to see where they’re going. Using camera-based navigation throws up some challenges: it takes several initial passes to map your house and requires adequate lighting to function properly.
Dyson equips the 360 Heurist with an LED light ring that will turn on when the robot gets into a dark zone to give it a light boost and help it see more clearly, but it is not really a game changer. You will still need to leave the lights on for these little housekeepers to do their jobs.
It’s worth noting that while the Roomba S9+ can remember up to 10 layouts, the 360 Heurist robot vacuum can store 3-floor plans in its memory. So if storing many layouts is a high priority for you, then the Roomba S9+, with its capacity to remember more layouts, would indeed be a more attractive option.
Once these bots have memorized your home’s layout, they move around and clean methodically, in contrast to entry-level models like the Roomba I3+, which zigzag randomly. But while the S9+ tends to move methodically in straight paths, the 360 Heurist opts for a square spiral approach, filling out 5-meter squares until an obstacle is encountered and then moving on to the next square. In my real-world tests, I found the 360 Heurist not to be quite as neat and tidy as the Roomba S9+.
By the way, these robots can’t spot and avoid common objects as automatically as the Roomba J7+, so you will need to manually pick up any cables to prevent them from becoming tangled in their brush rollers.
Battery Life
| iRobot Roomba S9+ | Dyson 360 Heurist | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | ≈ 38-63 mins | ≈ 46-78 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 96 mins | ≈ 112 mins |
Their battery performance is just passable, but it’s really not a deal-breaker thanks to the “Recharge and Resume” feature they both possess. Should the battery run low, these diligent bots will autonomously make their way back to the docking station for a power boost before resuming their cleaning mission.
Control
Winner: Irobot Roomba S9+
Manual Control
The 360 Heurist’s control panel is elegantly simple, with a solitary start/stop button surrounded by an informational ring that keeps you updated on key information such as battery life and filter status. Meanwhile, the Roomba S9+ sports up to three buttons for turning on/off the robot, spot cleaning, and sending the robot home.
I was particularly impressed by the spot-cleaning feature of the Roomba S9+, a convenience that the 360 Heurist and many other robots lack. A simple tap of the spot-cleaning button directs the S9+ to clean a targeted area approximately three feet in diameter. This function is a real game-changer for dealing with small messes, such as accidental spills in the kitchen or a furry donation from your pet in the living room.
App Connectivity
To control these bots remotely, you will need to download the Dyson Link and iRobot apps to your phone, and then things get clever. Once these bots have created a map, you can divide it into different rooms and label them. The Dyson apps even let you use handy icons to see at a glance how your home is split up.
Then, you can start/stop a cleaning trip or set the power mode via your phone or even your voice since these apps work with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Additionally, both apps offer the convenience of scheduling automated cleanings for a truly hands-free experience.
As always, you can draw virtual boxes to set “no-go” zones where you want these robots to stay away at all times. The iRobot app has a “clean zone” option to focus on small areas within a room. Meanwhile, the Dyson app has some other restriction options, including “no brush bar” to disable the brush and rely solely on suction, as well as “no climb” to prevent the robot from ascending obstacles like furniture with floor-level support bars.
Initially, setting those areas by drawing boxes correctly may require several trials and errors before you get it right. So I highly recommend going a little larger than you think you actually need, as you can always fine-tune your results later.
The iRobot app has a “Robot Health” tab where you can monitor the status of the filter, the brush roller, and the side brush. Thanks to this reminder, you’ll know when it’s time to maintain or replace these parts.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: iRobot Roomba S9+
The Roomba S9+ boasts a half-liter dustbin versus the 0.33-liter one on the 360 Heurist. The former clearly has a larger dust tank, giving it an edge, but the real trump card is the included Clean Base.
Yes, the dock of the Roomba S9+ also doubles as a cleaning station, meaning you can bid farewell to the drudgery of manual emptying. This one will automatically return to the base whenever its bin gets full, let the base suck out all the contents, and return to where it left off to finish the job. All dust and dirt will be sent into an extremely large dust bag, turning daily chores into a monthly essay task.
On the flip side, the 360 Heurist uses a lightweight stand to recharge. It is really compact and can be folded when not in use to take up less floor space. Its small bin is very easy to empty: all you need to do is press the release button on top, pull the bin out, flip the lid open, and turn it upside down to empty the contents. The whole process takes less than half a minute, but be prepared for a mini-dust storm!
Featuring two washable filters, the 360 Heurist offers an eco-friendly and cost-effective option, as you can clean and reuse them many times. The Roomba S9+ employs a non-washable HEPA filter that requires a tap against your garbage bin to remove any clinging debris.
Other Features
Winner: Dyson 360 Heurist
Noise
| iRobot Roomba S9+ | Dyson 360 Heurist | |
|---|---|---|
| Working | ≈ 63-72 dB | ≈ 61-70 dB |
| Self-Emptying | ≈ 74 dB | None |
These devices aren’t exactly whisper-quiet, especially when ramped up to their maximum power settings, and you can clearly hear them as they clean around your home. But after all, a cleaner house always comes with a trade-off. It is worth noting that when self-emptying, the noise level of the S9+ is comparable to heavy city traffic!
Mopping Ability
Both have no mopping function, so you will need to do it by hand or buy a mopping robot. Incidentally, the S9+ is compatible with the Braava Jet M6 mop robot, and they can pair with each other via the app. This allows for a coordinated clean: first, the S9+ vacuums, and then the Jet M6 takes over the mopping without extra commands. This combination is an ideal setup for busy households or expansive properties with large areas.
Quick Rundown Of Irobot Roomba S9+
- A DEEP, DETAILED CLEAN. Groundbreaking technology makes the s9+ our legacy powerhouse robot vacuum. With 40x more the suction power*, the 3-Stage Cleaning System lifts, loosens, then eliminates debris and pet hair from deep within your carpets for a clean you won’t believe — with no effort from you. Automatically increases suction to clean even deeper into carpets with power boost technology. *Compared to the Roomba i Series robots
- EMPTIES ITS VACUUM BIN, SO CLEANING IS OFF YOUR MIND - Cleans up after itself, emptying its Vacuum Bin into an enclosed bag that holds up to 60 days of debris, which means two whole months of not thinking about vacuuming.
- CLEANS WHEN AND WHERE YOU WANT - Only IRobot brings you Imprint Smart Mapping allowing you to control and schedule which rooms are cleaned and when, while storing multiple maps for easier cleaning on each level of your home. Plus, customizable Keep Out Zones and Clean Zones allow you to tell them the exact area to avoid and clean.
- A POWERFUL CLEAN - PerfectEdge Technology with advanced sensors and a specially designed Corner Brush optimize cleaning deep into corners and along edges. Ideal for homes with pets. 40% larger Multi-Surface Dual Rubber Brushes that don't get tangled with pet hair. *Compared to the Roomba i Series robots
- GUIDED BY SERIOUS SMARTS - The s9+ learns the layout of your home and builds personal Smart Maps, enabling it to expertly clean and navigate in neat, efficient rows. Careful Drive Mode detects objects in its path and cleans around them without jostling or nudging. (objects taller than 2.5 cm)
Quick Rundown Of Dyson 360 Heurist
- UK Specification - Compatible with EU, USA, ASIA & Australia
- Powerful Dyson suction in a robot. Intelligent SLAM Navigation with LED lights 3 power modes. Cleaning that suits you.
- Run time (Quiet mode) : Up to 75 min
- WiFi Compatibility : 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi
- Weight : 2.51 kg | Dimension : 120 mm x 24 mm x 23 mm (h x l x w)
Product Videos
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References:
- Irobot Roomba S9+: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-vacuuming/robot-vacuum-irobot-roomba-s9-plus/S955020.html
- Dyson 360 Heurist: https://www.dyson.ie/vacuum-cleaners/robot-vacuums/dyson-360-heurist/dyson-360-heurist-overview
Richard B. Schmidt is a prominent figure in the vacuum cleaner industry, boasting over 15 years of expertise. Armed with a Robotics Engineering degree from Northeastern University and a Master’s in Consumer Science from Harvard, his unique blend of technical knowledge and consumer insights positions him as a sought-after authority in vacuum cleaner evaluation. Richard’s career began at Dyson, where he contributed to the development of innovative vacuum models. Transitioning to advocacy and reviews, he co-founded the first Vacuum-focused blog in 2008, offering comprehensive analysis and user guides for various vacuum cleaners. In 2020, he founded RoboMop.net, providing ongoing insights through columns and buyer’s guides.