I’ve spent many hours testing the Roborock S7 vs Roomba S9+ in different categories like navigation, cleaning, app features, and more. And at the end of the day, my final verdict leans towards the former.
As for shared traits, they are all super-automatic robots that are highly effective at cleaning. They are equipped with bristle-free rollers to prevent tangles and can memorize your home after a few cycles. What’s more, they offer the convenience of remote customization and control via your smartphone or even voice-activated commands.
The Roborock S7 is one of the hybrid robots with the most useful mopping capabilities. I mean, its mop unit actually works and is not a gimmick or just a nice-to-have feature. Among its other standout features are a live mapping system and the ability to set up invisible boundaries.
The Roomba S9+ is among the Roombas that come with a self-cleaning station, providing a truly hands-free emptying experience. Beyond no-go zones, you can also select clean zones that need extra attention. Well, it features a D-shape frame for superior edge cleaning.
Roborock S7 Vs Roomba S9+: Comparison Chart
Roborock S7 Vs Roomba S9+: Differences
The Roborock S7 narrowly edges out the Roomba S9+ with a final score of 3-2. Dive into my detailed analysis to see how these two formidable competitors stack up against each other.
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Roomba S9+
Hard Floor
| Roborock S7 | Roomba S9+ |
|---|---|
| ≈ 95% | ≈ 99% |
I tested these boys on my hardwood floor and found their cleaning performance to be no joke. They easily picked up almost all the debris on this type of floor, especially the S9+, with an exceptional removal rate that reached up to 99%.
Carpets
| Roborock S7 | Roomba S9+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pile Carpet | ≈ 92% | ≈ 99% |
| High-pile Carpet | ≈ 96% | ≈ 99% |
Both also had great performances on both my low- and high-pile carpets, and the amount of debris left behind was difficult to detect with my naked eyes. And once again, the S9+ distinguished itself as the superior option for carpet cleaning.
Hair Pet
| Roborock S7 | Roomba S9+ | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-inch Strands | ≈ 72% | ≈ 89% |
| 10-inch Strands | ≈ 56% | ≈ 78% |
These robots really weren’t great at picking up hair, but they did shine in their resistance to tangles, courtesy of their bristle-free brush rollers. As an added perk, these rollers can be effortlessly detached for hassle-free untangling of the hair.
Design & Usability
Winner: Roborock S7
Dimensions & Weight
| Roborock S7 | Roomba S9+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 13.8 x 3.8 inches | 12.25 x 3.5 inches |
| Weight | 10.3 lbs | 8.15 lbs |
Externally, the S7 looks similar to most robot vacuum cleaners out there. This one is a round vacuum with a shiny white plastic finish that oozes luxury and hints at the power within. It is a bit on the large side, which can cause some navigational hiccups around tight spaces like between the legs of dining room chairs, but its low profile allows it to effortlessly slide under the majority of furniture.
The Roomba S9+ is the first and only Roborock packaged with a D-shape frame, and I had a love-hate relationship with this design. This design is something of a rare find in the realm of robot vacuums, adopted by only a limited number of brands (such as Neato and Dibea).
The square front on the S9+ enhances its capability for efficient debris collection, but it can be a hindrance when the robot tries to navigate through confined spaces like the area around office chair legs. To put the icing on the cake, this model comes with a Clean Station, enabling hands-free emptying of the bin.
Extractor & Side Brush
Starting with the S7 series, Roborock has made a significant shift from a half-silicone, half-bristle brush roller to an all-silicone design—and for good reasons. As touted by the manufacturer, this new roller offers increased durability, more effective dirt agitation, and better resistance to hair tangles. Likewise, the Roomba S9+ uses a pair of bristle-free rollers that counter-rotate to enhance its ability to pick up dust and dirt. I found that little to nothing got entangled in these rollers, sparing me the hassle of manual cleaning.
Better yet, the roller on the S7 sits in floating chambers, allowing them to automatically raise or lower to accommodate a variety of floor heights. This smart design ensures the roller remains in constant contact with the ground, enhancing its ability to gather dirt effectively.
The S7 is equipped with a five-arm rubberized spinning brush, which is touted for its durability, whereas the S9+ employs a five-prong bristled side brush. Despite differences in design and diameter, both brushes rotate at comparable speeds and aren’t prone to scattering debris.
Navigation
Both the S7 and S9+ are smart navigation robots that necessitate one or multiple initial runs to accurately map and memorize your home’s layout, but the similarities pretty much end there. The S7 uses LIDAR laser-based technology as its primary navigational sensor, while the S9+ uses VSLAM technology. Alright, I won’t let these confusing terms lull you.
The S7 features a laser tower that performs a continuous 360-degree scan during its maiden voyage around your home. That way, this little housekeeper can memorize your living space faster, and better yet, it’s not dependent on light to perform perfectly. Laser-based technology works precisely and flawlessly, even in pitch-black areas.
On the flip side, the S9+ uses a top-positioned camera to see around and uses “Imprint Smart Mapping” to map out your home. This camera-based navigation technology doesn’t hold a candle to the laser tower on the S7 in terms of precision, not to mention its dependence on adequate lighting to function properly.
But the S9+ takes the lead when it comes to how many maps the robot can save. The S9+ can retain up to 10 different maps, significantly outperforming the S7, which has a limit of just 4 saved layouts.
These robot vacuums essentially lack the ability to detect and avoid obstacles. If this feature is a must-have for you, be prepared to reach deeper into your wallet and look for premium models with front-facing cameras like the S7 MaxV Ultra or Roomba J7+.
Battery Life
| Roborock S7 | Roomba S9+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | ≈ 91-194 mins | ≈ 63–112 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 234 mins | ≈ 96 mins |
The S7 and S9+ are energized by 5200 mAh and 3200 mAh lithium-ion batteries, respectively. This results in a longer battery life between charges on the former, while it will take the S9+ longer to get the job done and may not be as appealing for those residing in mammoth-sized apartments. Still, the “Recharge and Resume” function indeed somewhat negates this: They will retreat back to the Home Base when they are almost out of juice, charge up, and return to the spot where they paused to finish the cleaning cycle.
Control
Winner: Roborock S7
Manual Control
Both have a trio of physical buttons, including Spot Clean for localized cleaning, Power to initiate or halt a cleaning cycle, and Home to guide the robot back to its charging base. That said, even if you’re unable or unwilling to use your smartphone, you can still send these robots out on a mission. Of course, this manual method is a bit inconvenient and not a good way to make the most of their potential.
App Connectivity
The S7 and S9+ can be paired with the iRobot and Roborock apps, respectively, to be controlled via your smartphone/tablet or voice commands (both apps are compatible with Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple Siri).
Via both apps, you can view digital maps, divide rooms, and label them for room-targeted cleaning. But there’s a distinction: while the S9+ displays a simple graphic, the Roborock app offers a live map that shows its location in real time. So you always know where the S9+ is during the run, just like the back of your hand.
Both offer a scheduling tab, so you can set a specific time or day they should run. You can also select a room you want to clean at a specific time. What sets the iRobot app apart is its additional feature that allows you to establish “clean zones” for a more detailed approach to cleaning within rooms.
Both also empower you to choose “keep-out” zones, the reverse version of clean zones, by using virtual boxes to prevent the robot from entering certain areas. The Roborock app has an invisible wall feature, enabling you to draw some straight and diagonal “no-go” lines for the same purpose. This feature can be a godsend in places like home offices, where the underbelly of a desk could be a “snake’s nest” of cables and Wi-Fi gear.
Additionally, the Roborock S7 allows you to set “no-mop” zones for areas you’d prefer it to skip while mopping. However, I find this feature somewhat superfluous, as the S7 is clever enough to identify carpets and lift its mop pad to prevent them from getting damp.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Roomba S9+
The Roborock S7 carries a 470-ml dust bin, whereas the S9+ uses a 500-ml bin to hold the contents they collect during the cleaning process. They are a bit on the small side and can be effortlessly removed for hands-on emptying. What gives the S9+ a leg up is its self-cleaning base station, which allows the unit to autonomously empty its bin and get back to the task at hand.
The S7 can also work with a self-emptying tower, but that is a pricey additional purchase. Yes, it’s a costly add-on, but it’s one that could greatly streamline your cleaning routine. For those looking for an all-in-one solution, the S7 Plus comes with both the robot and the self-emptying base in a single package.
Of course, they are also equipped with high-quality filters to trap dust and allergens. The S9+ has a HEPA-grade filter, while the S7 uses an E11 Filter. The former isn’t washable and should be cleaned by tapping it against the side of a trash can twice a week, whereas the latter can be rinsed under running water.
Other Features
Winner: Roborock S7
Noise
| Roborock S7 | Roomba S9+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Working | ≈ 57–62 dB | ≈ 63-72 dB |
| Self-Emptying | ≈ 69 dB | ≈ 81 dB |
I also put them through noise tests and found the S9+ is significantly noisier compared to its rival, both when it’s running and when it’s emptying its dustbin itself at its home base. But, honestly, who runs a robot vacuum in the middle of the night? That would be as unusual as a unicorn sighting!
Mopping Ability
Most of the hybrid robots I’ve tested have decent mops, but the S7 is among the exceptions. Its mop unit actually does the job: Instead of just dragging a mop pad across the floor surface, it boasts a vibrating mechanism, enabling it to mop stains better than most 2-in-1 robot vacuums out there.
What makes it even better is its VibraRise technology. This feature enables the robot to discern when it’s traversing a carpet or rug and then lifting its mop pad 5 mm above the floor surface to avoid dampening it. And once it moves past, it resumes mopping on hard floors. So far, I’ve noticed it performing flawlessly on my thinnest rugs.
As if the two aforementioned features weren’t enough to make the Roborock S7 a mopping virtuoso, Roborock has also upped the ante with the mopping pad’s construction. This new pad is noticeably thicker and more absorbent compared to its predecessors, ensuring it can soak up even more moisture and grime.
So how does it clean? Well, it got a big thumbs up from me!
It could really remove tough, caked-on debris and make my floor look shiny and clean. Of course, you’ll still want to occasionally get the job done yourself with a wet swiffer, but at least it can ensure your floors stay spotless in between those deeper cleans.
As for the Roomba S9+, it can’t do mopping tasks, so you should consider buying a mopping robot to fit your smart home. I highly recommend buying the iRobot Braava M6 because it seamlessly integrates with the S9+ through the app for coordinated cleaning.
Quick Rundown Of Roborock S7
- Sonic Mopping Technology. Roborock S7 robot vacuum mops with the power of sound, scrubbing up to 3,000 times per minute. Fed by a 300 ml electronic water tank, stains from coffee to mud and more can be cleaned deeply and effectively.
- Intelligent Mop Lifting. S7’s VibraRise mop lifts when a carpet is detected, so you can mop hard floors and vacuum carpets in a single clean. It also raises when cleaning is finished to avoid spreading dirt, and when docked so you can say goodbye to ugly plastic mats and dirty streaks.
- Roborock S7 robot vacuum is the Winner of 17 Best of CES 2021 Awards, from Business Insider, Digital Trends, Newsweek, How To Geek, and many more.
- Upgraded Brush System. Multi-directional floating brush keeps the brush closer to the ground for deeper cleaning even on uneven surfaces. Roborock S7’s all-new rubber brush is more durable and resists hair tangling better. It’s perfect for homes with pets.
- Powerful Performance. With 580g mop pressure and 2500PA HyperForce suction, Roborock S7 easily lifts dust and hair from floors and pulls it from deep inside carpets. It is the most powerful and the most convenient robot vacuum Roborock has ever made.
Quick Rundown Of 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)
Product Videos
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References:
- Roborock S7: https://us.roborock.com/pages/roborock-s7
- Roomba S9+: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-vacuuming/robot-vacuum-irobot-roomba-s9-plus/S955020.html
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.