It is every homemaker’s dream to own a Roomba. This line of robot vacuums from iRobot is designed to make cleaning more convenient and less time-consuming. It gives busy people the chance to have consistently clean floors without having to always grab the broom, bend down, crouch, and reach under their furniture.
The problem is that it is challenging to choose the Roomba of your dreams. There are now many different Roomba models out there, and it looks like iRobot is far from done in terms of coming up with a better and more advanced robot vacuum every time. How would you feel if you finally purchased the latest Roomba, only to find out a few months later that the company has launched a new and improved model? More importantly, are the differences between models too significant?
Let’s take for example the Roomba e5, which came out in September 2018, and the Roomba s9, which is the latest one in the lineup. They were released less than a year apart, so one might think there isn’t much of a difference between them. Well, let’s compare and find out.
Main Differences Between Roomba s9 vs Roomba e5
The Main Differences Between Roomba s9 vs Roomba e5 are:
- Roomba s9 comes with a Power Boost, whereas Roomba e5 comes with a Power-Lifting suction.
- Roomba s9 features a better suction, whereas Roomba e5 has a wall barrier.
- Roomba s9 comes with a Corner Brush, whereas Roomba e5 comes with an edge-sweeping brush.
- Roomba s9 has a vSLAM Advanced Navigation technology, Roomba e5 has a familiar circular shape.
Roomba S9
iRobot claims that the Roomba s9 is their smartest and most powerful robot vacuum yet. With its list of impressive features and groundbreaking technologies, there is no reason to doubt this claim.
Features
What are the features that you can expect from a robot vacuum like the Roomba s9?
vSLAM and Imprint Technologies
These technologies allow the Roomba s9 to do smart navigation, create digital maps of your rooms, adapt to your home, and perform zoned cleaning. Because of this smart mapping capacity, the s9 can tell each room apart, and you can instruct it to clean a particular place using the companion iRobot app on your smartphone. What’s more, the robot vacuum is equipped with optical sensors that allow it to digitally scan the space and avoid bumping into obstacles. It is also able to tell where it is, where it has been, and where it needs to clean next.
Deep Cleaning
The Roomba s9 has the 3-Stage Cleaning System, where it uses Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes and a suction that is 40 times more powerful than the 600 Series Roombas. The Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes are now wider than the previous Roombas, which means more cleaning with every pass of the robot vacuum. These uniquely designed rubber brushes stay in constant contact with your hard floors and carpets to make sure it gets all the small particles. Meanwhile, the powerful suction allows the robot vacuum to lift embedded dirt, debris, dander, and pet hair from your floor. The vacuum’s Power Boost Technology automatically intensifies the suction when cleaning deep into your carpets.
Dirt Detect Technology
The Dirt Detect technology uses sensors to alert the s9 about dirtier areas of the floor so it can concentrate cleaning there.
Edge Cleaning
Unlike all the other Roombas, which have the familiar round body form, the s9 takes a D-shaped body style. This new form allows the s9 to easily access and clean corners and straight wall edges. Moreover, the Roomba s9 boasts the PerfectEdge Technology, wherein advanced sensors and the specially designed Corner Brush with five arms work together to grab dirt and dust from deep corners and from along the walls.
Wi-Fi Connectivity
The Roomba s9 can be paired to your Wi-Fi network, thus allowing you to control the robot vacuum directly from your smartphone or through voice control using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. That means you can ask your s9 to clean your floors even if you are miles away from home.
Recharge and Resume
The Roomba s9 automatically returns to its base and recharges itself when it runs out of battery juice. And when it is done charging, it automatically resumes cleaning and picks up exactly where it left off.
Dimensions and pricing
The Roomba s9 measures 12.25 inches wide and 3.5 inches tall and weighs 8.15 pounds. This robot vacuum sells for $999.99 on the iRobot website.
Differences between Roomba S9 and S9+
The Roomba s9+ has the same basic features as the Roomba s9, except that the s9+ readily comes with the Clean Base. The Clean Base allows the Roomba s9+ to empty its dust bin on its own. And because the s9+ cleans up after itself, it captures and traps 99% of mold and pollen allergies and keeps them from circulating back into the air.
The good thing about the Roomba s9, though, is that it is compatible with the Clean Base. So if you already have the s9 and want to give it a self-cleaning capacity, you can just buy the Clean Base separately. For a little more money, you can expand your s9’s level of convenience.
The dust bag on the Clean Base can hold up to 30 loads of dirt and debris, so that means you don’t have to bother emptying it for about a month. Basically, the Clean Base takes the dirty work out of vacuuming.
Ratings and reviews
The Roomba s9 gets a rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Users love how it does a great job of cleaning both hardwood floors and rug. They also love the strong suction and the fact that it is not as noisy and loud as other robot vacuums. There are, however, some users who warn would-be buyers about some navigation issues. According to them, their Roomba s9 cleans and re-cleans the same spot over and over again. Some also complain about it not being able to go on their rugs because of the lower clearance. Of course, there are also those who find it too expensive.
On iRobot’s website, the Roomba s9 gets a 4.6 stars rating out of 5. Reviewers comment about how this robot vacuum takes some time to learn and adjust, but that as soon as it does, it cleans very efficiently.
What you would like about Roomba S9
There are myriads of reasons why you will love the Roomba s9. After all, it is considered to be iRobot’s smartest and most powerful Roomba yet. It can clean deep into corners, and along edges, it has powerful suction, it can create virtual maps of your rooms, it adapts to your home, and it can automatically recharge and resume cleaning. The s9 is something pet owners would really love. It can also clean even if you are away from home.
And if you have some extra cash, you can get the Clean Base and pair it with your s9 so it can empty its own dust bin. You can then go on with your life and forget you have a robot vacuum even while always having clean floors.
What can be improved
The s9 does not have a virtual barrier, so it is not something you can run without prior planning, especially for households with young children or pets. You first need to pick small items off the floor and make sure electrical cords are hidden.
There are also users who say the Roomba s9 gets stuck on carpets and rugs, so clearance is something that could be improved as well.
And, of course, the biggest downside to the s9 is its cost.
Roomba e5
Just like the Roomba s9, the Roomba e5 employs the 3-Stage Cleaning System and is equipped with Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes and high-efficiency filter that lift, loosen, and capture dust, debris, and pet hair from your floors. It has no Power Boost like the s9, but it does have Power-Lifting suction. While the s9 offers 40x the suction power of the Roomba 600 Series Aero Vac System, the e5 only has 5x the suction.
Both robot vacuums were designed with dogs and other pets in mind, offering excellent carpet cleaning.
The e5 boasts Dirt Detect technology, too, so it can focus cleaning on dirtier areas. And while it doesn’t have the s9’s Corner Brush, but it does have its own edge-sweeping brush to clean corners and along edges.
The e5 also offers Wi-Fi and app connectivity. It works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, too. That means that with the e5, you can also clean and schedule with smart home and app controls.
Moreover, the Roomba e5 has intelligent navigation, but not as advanced as the s9’s vSLAM Advanced Navigation technology. It has a full suite of sensors that help it intelligently navigate under furniture and around objects, and that keeps it from falling down the steps. However, it does not create maps of your home, and it cannot do entire level cleaning with coverage maps.
The Roomba e5 does not have an automatic recharge and resume capacity. However, it does have an extended runtime of up to 90 minutes.
Unlike the D-shape body of the s9, the e5 has Roomba’s familiar circular body. It measures 13.3″ in diameter and is 3.6″ tall. It is also lighter than the s9, weighing 7.2 pounds.
The e5 includes a wall barrier that creates invisible linear and radial lines to block the robot vacuum off certain areas. This feature is something that the s9 doesn’t have.
Additionally, the e5 is not compatible with the Clean Base, so it is not possible for you to extend its convenience and add a self-cleaning capacity.
The most obvious difference between the e5 and the s9 is the price. The Roomba e5 is way more affordable, check the price here!
A side-by-side comparison of the Roomba e5 and the Roomba s9
| Model | Roomba e5 | Roomba s9 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Check out the latest price here! | Check out the latest price here! |
| Three-stage cleaning system | Yes | Yes |
| Works on carpets | Yes | Yes |
| Works on hard floors | Yes | Yes |
| Suction power compared to Series 600 Roombas | 5x | 40x |
| Dirt Detect | Yes | Yes |
| Edge-sweeping brush | Yes | No |
| Corner brush | No | Yes |
| Intelligent navigation | Yes | vSLAM Advanced Navigation |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Works with Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes |
| Works with Google Assistant | Yes | Yes |
| Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes | Yes | Yes |
| High-Efficiency Filter | Yes | Yes |
| Entire level cleaning | No | Yes |
| Cleaning maps | No | Yes |
| Imprint Smart Mapping | No | Yes |
| Imprint Link | No | Yes |
| Compatible with Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal | No | Yes |
| Power Boost | No | Yes |
| PerfectEdge Technology | No | Yes |
Ratings and reviews
The Roomba e5 has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Users love how well it keeps their floors clean, including the hard-to-reach areas, and how it works fine with their home assistant. They also love iRobot’s customer service in general. Pet owners say the e5 is far from perfect when it comes to picking up pet hair.
Modern Castle gives the Roomba e5 an average score of 95% over 100%, with performance (99%) being its strongest point. It also got excellent scores in terms of design (95%), value (95%), quality (93%), and usability (93%). Modern Castle says the e5 is one of the most impressive robot vacuums they have seen so far.
On iRobot’s website, the e5 has a rating of 4.2 stars out of 5, based on more than 250 reviews. More than 80% of the users say that they would recommend the e5 to a friend. They say it is easy to use, can clean under furniture, and can pick up dust you never knew existed. There are those who say, however, that the e5 is noisy, clogs easily, misses spots, and that the vacuum itself is challenging to clean.
What you would like about Roomba e5
The Roomba e5 undoubtedly offers a compelling cleaning performance, as well as smart home capabilities. Users particularly love the Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows them to control the robot vacuum from their smartphones and other compatible voice devices. That means you can skip bending down to pick up the robot vacuum every time you need your floors cleaned.
Scheduling is a neat feature, as well. You can schedule your e5 to clean at a specific time, each day of the week. So even if you are not home, the robot vacuum will automatically take off and start cleaning. You can do one-time scheduling, too.
The virtual barrier system also comes in handy, especially if you have areas you want to restrict the robot vacuum from going.
Everything you love about earlier Roombas come in one highly upgraded and improved package in the e5. It offers exceptional cleaning performance on all three-floor types: hardwood, low-pile carpet, and high-pile carpet.
The robot vacuum is also easy to use and operate, and setting it up is as hassle-free as can be.
The best thing about the e5 is its mid-range price point. Considering that it has really nifty features, it offers plenty of conveniences, it has a long run time, and it delivers superb cleaning, it gives you great value for your money.
What can be improved
The e5 does not have a camera on board that could map out your home. It would have been nice if it can create maps of the various rooms in your house. As it is, the e5 does not know which room it has cleaned and where it should clean next.
Another con for the e5 is its inability to recharge and resume. When the robot vacuum’s battery is empty, it will charge and stay on the base. That means that you will have to get it started again.
And while the virtual barrier system is an excellent feature in the e5, the package comes with only one barrier. That means that if you have a big room and there is more than one area you want to keep your vacuum from entering, you will have to buy additional barriers. And they are quite pricey.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How loud is the s9 in decibels?
The company doesn’t have the level of decibels that every robot made while working, but we can guarantee you that the noise won’t be a problem. It is quiet enough that you can have a conversation or even to not wake up a baby. Keep in mind that every mode has a different level of noise.
Can the Roomba S9 be used on multiple floors such as tri-level?
This model can create not less than 10 differences maps. It will map every level of your home and get back to it when starting a cleaning mission.
Does Roomba e5 work on carpet?
The Roomba e5 can handle low carpets even with the same result as with a hardwood floor or any other plain surface.
Roomba s9 vs. Roomba e5: Which One Is Perfect for You
The Roomba s9 is perfect for those who want the latest and the best robot vacuum technologies and features from iRobot but can do without the self-emptying capacity. If you do not mind the price tag but find the Roomba s9+’s additional price for the Clean Base too much, then the Roomba s9 is for you.
Get the Roomba s9 if you want excellent cleaning performance, connectivity, automatic recharge and resume, entire-level cleaning, a D-shaped body for deep cleaning corners and edges, and very powerful suction.
However, if you are searching for a quality robot vacuum but do not want to spend a fortune, you can get the Roomba e5. If you want a versatile, well-rounded robot vacuum that strikes a great balance between cool and useful features and cost, the Roomba e5 is for you.
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