Roomba s9 vs Roborock s6 – Detailed Comparison

Roomba s9 vs Roborock s6 can be seen as a battle between iRobot and Roborock because these two are their flagship offerings. Welcome to Vacuum Cleaners Advisor and these are the two robots we will be filling you in on today.

 

If you know robot vacuums, you must have heard of Roombas as they’re the first and one of the most numerous lines of robot vacuums. They also are the progenies of iRobot, the pioneering brand of the robot vacuum industry.

Roborock, on the other hand, might not have a history as long and illustrious as iRobot, it certainly has some pedigree.

It is a subsidiary brand of the Chinese tech giant, Xiaomi. Roborock has proven itself to be an important player in this industry with its consistent offering of high-end robots at affordable prices.

This robot matchup you’re about to go through will present you with some of the best features you can find in a robot vacuum. Enjoy!

 

 

To get the s9+, click here	To get the s6, click here

 

How Does the Roomba s9 Compare to Roborock s6?

The Roomba s9 presents iRobot’s highlight feature of automatic dust cup emptying. It can also store up to 10 floor maps. However, it is also the most expensive robot vacuum there is. As for the Roborock s6, it has a runtime of a whopping 150 minutes and you can still get it at a price that won’t scare you. They both have great filters that’ll protect you from dust and allergens.

Kindly note that in this review, we will be talking about the Roomba s9 and s9+ interchangeably.

We urge you to be clear on what you need a robot vacuum for. That way, this review will be of more value to you as it will make your decision an easy one.

If you want to see how the s9+ compares to another robot vacuum giant, check it out here.

 

 

Comparison Table – Roomba s9 vs Roborock s6

	Roomba s9	Roborock s6
Battery Life	120 minutes	180 minutes
Filtration System	Anti-Allergen filter	High-efficiency
Dust Cup	0.2 liters	0.48 liters
Dimension	12.2 x 12.2 x 3.5 inches	13.7 x 13.8 x 3.8 inches
Weight	8.15 lbs	7.94 lbs

 

 

In What Situation is Roomba s9 Better than Roborock s6?

The Roomba S9 has the spectacular feature of being able to empty its own dust cup. It can also get into corners better because of its D-shape; for this same reason, it has a wider brush roll so it can clean your floors more efficiently. The Roborock S6 has a longer runtime, can mop the floor, and lets you tell it where not to go.

 

Roomba s9	Roborock s6
This robot brings you one of the most innovative features on a robot vacuum. You won’t have to bother about emptying the dust cup anymore, the s9 will do it by itself.	One of the prime features of any vacuum that runs on battery is the runtime. We’re happy to tell you that this robot has the longest you will find on a robot vacuum.
Now you can have your edges and corners cleaner without your help. The D-shape of the s9 allows it to fit in better for a deeper reach.	If you have mostly hard floors in your home, you might want to take this robot seriously. Not only does it vacuum well, but it also mops. You will agree this will save you even more time and effort.
Another advantage this robot has because of its shape is better cleaning efficiency. Its wider brush roll helps it clean faster.

 

 

 

What Features Does the Roomba s9 and Roborock s6 Have in Common?

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the RoombaS9 and Roborock S6 have features in common. Some of these common features are:

• Sensors
• Automatic recharge
• Runtime
• Good brush rolls
• Navigation
• Remote access, etc.

 

Advanced Navigation and Mapping

This is a classic case of both brands trying to do the same thing differently. The Roomba s9 and the Roborock S6 follow a serpentine pattern as they find their way through your home. However, they use completely different technologies.

The Roomba s9 uses the iAdapt 3.0 navigation which is an upgraded algorithm of the previous generation robots from iRobot.

It also uses the Imprint Smart Mapping which makes the robot learn and adapt to its immediate surroundings. Isn’t this similar to the way humans learn a new environment?

The robot scans its surroundings and stores a map of it in its memory. The s9 can store multiple floor maps.

As long as it has created a map of it, it will remember. This is a cool feature for those who have multiple floors in their home.

On the other hand, the Roborock s6 does the same thing only that it uses a laser guiding system. That’s the outshoot on top of it with the orange stuff inside.

First, it will scan your home and generate a map of your floor. It too can store multiple maps. So, both vacuums are able to clean your entire home.

Here’s one way the s6 excels. Not only is it smart, but it also works fast and efficiently. In a navigation test done in a small room, the s6 completed its cleaning in just 15 minutes. Whereas, the s9 did the same job in 26.5 minutes.

You can attribute this to the upgrade of the processor in the Roborock. Its quad-core 32-bit processor showing its worth there.

 

Suite of Sensors

There are also sensors on both robots that work in conjunction with the navigation system.

When these robots come in contact with some obstacles, they intelligently clean around them the best way they can. They do this without losing their bearing and then continue in their pattern.

There is also a sensor under both robots that help it detect changes in floor heights. That way, your robots won’t take the dip when they’re cleaning up the stairs.

The Roborock S6 even has a specialized sensor that helps it bump into things a lot less. We will talk on that later.

 

Wi-Fi and Smart App

It is almost a standard that robot vacuums have Wi-Fi capabilities. It is now commonplace you can access your robot remotely with your smartphone.

These robots have a dedicated app you need to download on your phone (available for both Android and iOS).

Once that is done, you will pair it with your robot vacuum using Wi-Fi. If you want this to be a painless process, you should use a strong connection.

With this app, you can use your phone as a controller to issue commands to the robot remotely.

That way, you can have the robot clean your floors before you get back home. You can also monitor the status of the robot and how much of the floors it has cleaned.

The App

The apps for these robots are quite simple to use. Their interfaces are easy to navigate and quite intuitive.

You can schedule both robots to clean at certain times every day of the week. That’s not all, you can also have them clean however you want.

For instance, on the Roborock S6, you can have the robot vacuum or mop a certain area three times just to make sure it deep cleans. That approach will work best if it is a highly-trafficked part of your home.

On the Roomba app, once the robot has mapped your floor, you can name individual rooms. If you want, you could have the robot vacuum a specific room independent of others.

You can perform zone cleaning from the app on the S6. To do this, just draw a box within the app on the map and the robot will get to it.

This zone cleaning can be used to clean only certain rooms or even just a portion of it. That is awesome for touch up cleanings and keeping trafficked areas clean.

The flexibility you get with how you vacuum on both robots makes them worth having, won’t you agree?

 

Recharge and Resume

All robot vacuums are able to find their way back to their docking stations, at least in theory. Different circumstances can cause a robot to lose its way.

Both the s9 and Roborock s6 are smart enough to always find their way home provided you follow the instructions on how to place the docking station.

Whenever either of these robots has to go for a recharge before completing its job, they will return to where they stopped after charging to complete.

This is an awesome feature especially for those who will schedule the robots to work while they are not around.

 

Virtual Barriers

Whatever the reason, it is important to be able to prevent your robot vacuums from getting to certain places.

The Roomba s9 uses a device that creates a signal the robot interprets as an obstacle. Hence, once it gets where you set it, it turns away.

This device operates in two modes. One will create a straight line and the other will cause a perimeter barrier around itself and the area you want to highlight.

In the case of the s6, the barrier is created entirely on the app. It is called the no-go lines and we think it is a super cool feature. We will talk more about it in the “Unique Features” section.

 

Highly Efficient Filter

For your own protection, the filtration system on a vacuum cleaner is an important feature to consider.

You can feel safe with either of these robots as their filters are efficient enough to trap allergens and dust preventing them from getting back into your home.

The filter in both vacuums is capable of trapping more than 99% of the dust and allergens that pass through it.

So, the dust and allergens that were vacuumed off your floors will stay in the dust cup for disposal.

 

Anti-Tangle Brush Roll

The brush roll on both robots has a special design that effectively avoids hair tangles. However, both brush rolls are designed differently.

The Roborock s6 has bristles on its brush roll while the Roomba does not (more on that later).

In our hair pick up test, both robots did great with mid-length to long hairs cleaning them up on both hard floors and carpets.

 

Impressive Runtime

2 hours is a long enough time for a robot vacuum with great cleaning performance to tidy the floor in most homes. This is why a lot of users applaud what the Roomba s9 is offering.

The Roborock s6, on the other hand, is the new undisputed champion of robot vacuums when it comes to runtime. It took over from its predecessor, the s5.

With a whopping 3 hours to spare, you will agree that is more than enough time for a robot to get its job done.

 

 

To get the s9+, click here	To get the s6, click here

 

Unique Features – Roomba s9 vs Roborock s6

Features Unique To s9

Dual Rubberized Brush Roll

We already told you this brush roll is immune to hair tangles. Now is the time to tell you why.

It has a design that has been known for the Roomba for a while now and it has served it well. These brush rolls have ridges on them instead of bristles.

It helps them comb through the fibers of carpets as well as bristles will but not hold on to hairs and strings.

This is why this brush roll design has been so successful over time. However, once the robot is done vacuuming, take out the brush rolls and pull out the hairs that might have wounded around the axels. That’s all there is to do.

 

Dirt Detection

The dirt detection technology has been featuring on Roombas since the Roomba 600 series. You can guess it has been serving them well or it still won’t be there.

This feature identifies a concentration of dirt on the floor. The robot will then respond by putting in extra effort and time to get the area sufficiently clean.

This is a great feature to have if you have highly trafficked floor areas in your home. This feature also triggers when you use either robot for spot cleaning.

 

D-Shape

This is an entirely new concept from iRobot, though it isn’t new in the industry. Some other brands have been making robots in this shape.

It gives the s9 the advantage to clean edges and corners better than a round robot will. It also makes the brush roll longer as it is now located at the flat end for wider and more efficient coverage.

The overall size is now compact which makes the robot easily maneuver around furniture and obstacles.

 

Roomba Clean Base

We saved the best for the last. We are excited to explain how the first successful execution of automated dust cup emptying on a robot vacuum works.

You should know that the only difference between the s9 and the s9+ is that the former does not have this clean base.

The process

The docking station is obviously larger than usual. This is because it is not only a docking station, it is also a dust cup emptying station.

Whenever the robot goes out to vacuum, it gathers dirt in its dust cup. Every time it comes back to dock, it dumps the contents in its dust cup.

There is a mechanism in the contraption that sucks dirt out of the Roomba into a bag inside the ‘tower’. So, every time the robot goes out to vacuum, it is doing so with an empty dust cup.

iRobot claims that the collection bag in the ‘tower’ can hold up to 30 dust cups of dirt!

Now let’s do the math, the Roomba s9+ has a dust cup capacity of 0.2 liters. If we multiply that by 30, that amounts to 6 liters.

Unless your home is constantly dirty, we don’t see how you will fill that up any time soon. 30 is a big number in this case, we are talking about weeks here.

If you don’t have pets or kids, maybe even months before you need to change the bag.

This feature is fantastic on different levels. One of which is the fact that you won’t be babysitting this one at all.

Secondly, you can have more confidence to schedule the robot as you won’t need to bother about emptying. Not anymore will your robot stop work halfway because of a filled dust cup.

 

 

Features Unique To Roborock s6

Mop Feature

For a robot that navigates and vacuums this well, it is wonderful that it mops too. We have to praise Roborock for making the s6 as affordable as it is. It would still have made sense if its price was close to its competitors.

The mopping mode uses the biomimetic system which was inspired by the method plants use in getting water and nutrients from the soil. This carries over from the s5

The result of this innovative feature is that the perfect amount of water is let out onto the microfiber cloth it mops with.

The water tank is easy to refill as you won’t even need to turn the robot over. You can easily slide it out from underneath the robot.

What you can do to avoid the robot mopping carpets is to set up no-go zones on the app and you are good.

The s6 goes a step further by allowing you to set the robot to low or high mop. This affects how much water is released. That way, you can decide how you want the mopping to be.

 

Precision Scheduling

This is one of the impressive features from Roborock. Now you can label the rooms in your home and have the robot clean each independently. That’s not all, you can also schedule when each room will be cleaned.

For instance, you could have the robot vacuum the living room at 9 am. Set it to clean the playroom by 1 pm, and then the kitchen by 7:30 after you’re done cooking.

 

Spring Loaded Wheels

The wheels on the s6 are also carried over from the s5. The wheels’ height can adjust depending on the prevailing conditions.

The springs serve as a sort of shock absorber similar to the ones in vehicles. This allows them to scale barriers of up to 2cm and traverse uneven floors while keeping their balance.

 

Collision Avoidance Sensor

The Roborock s6 has a ring of sensor that helps it detect when it’s close to an obstacle so, it slows down.

That’s not all, the side with the sensor has a bumper, that cushions the little collisions that happen.

 

No-go Lines

This is one of the most impressive features from Roborock. The virtual boundaries that keep your robot from going where you don’t need them to be.

Other robots use magnetic tapes or external devices to create virtual boundaries. You can achieve this control with the Roborock s6 from your phone!

Since you already have a map of your floors, all you need to do is draw as many lines as you want on the map. The coolest thing about this feature is how accurate it is.

This is a great feature to have if there are areas in your home that the robot could get stuck at. You can now confidently schedule the robot to clean when you’re not home and be sure it will finish the job.

 

 

Roomba s9 vs Roborock s6 – Unique Pros

S9

i. It can empty its own dust cup.

ii. Its brush rolls are rubberized, yet durable.

iii. This robot can detect dirt on the floor.

iv. It has a shape that can fit into corners.

 

Roborock s6

i. It has rugged wheels to transition floors and ledges easily.

ii. The s6 can mop too.

iii. It allows you to precisely schedule vacuuming routines.

iv. It has a sensor that prevents collision.

 

Roomba s9 vs Roborock s6 – Unique Cons

S9

i. It costs a lot.

 

Roborock s6

i. It would have been a complete robot if it could empty its dust cup too.

 

Roomba s9 vs Roborock s6 – Pros Common To Both Products

Roomba s9	Roborock s6
The s9 can clean efficiently on all floor types. It has a great cleaning performance because of its suction and its wider brush rolls.	Same as the s9. However, this one is efficient with cleaning because of its processor.
The runtime makes the s9 ideal for vacuuming large spaces. It can also resume to where it stops.	Same as the s9 but this one has an even longer runtime.
You can now stop bothering about cutting through hair tangles. The specialized brush rolls on this vacuum are to thank for that.	Same as the s9.
Sensitive users can breathe easily around this vacuum as its filter is efficient enough to protect them.	Same as the s9.

 

 

Roomba s9 vs Roborock s6 – Cons Common To Both Products

Roomba s9	Roborock s6
Though these vacuums have a few flaws we couldn’t find any common to both of them.

 

The following are some other comparison reviews to help you choose the best vacuum:

• Roomba s9+ vs Neato d7 – Detailed Comparison
• Roomba i7 vs S9 – Detailed Comparison
• iRobot Roomba i7+ – In-depth Review
• 360 s7 vs Roborock s6 – Which is Best for Your Needs?
• Roomba i7+ vs Neato D7 – Extensive Comparison
• Neato D7 vs Roborock S5 – Detailed Comparison

 

 

 

 

 

Roomba s9 vs Roborock s6 – General Feeling Among Users

Roomba s9	Roborock s6
A user claims that the s9 is the third Roomba that will serve his household and was quite excited about what he got.   He likes the shape and how it now cleans corners better. He was impressed with how easy it is to clean the robot and how low maintenance it required.	A user praised how well the robot picks up pet hairs on both hard floors and carpets. She said that she does not see accumulated dog hairs on the floor anymore.
A particular user claims that the robot is not so smart. He even said that he got a replacement vacuum twice and still had problems with it.   It would have been easy to consider this complaint an isolated one but the user claims to be a sort of internet of things engineer.   It’s hard to accept because we did not experience such.	One user straight up said that his s6 is better than his Roomba i7+. He gave reasons though.   Firstly, he said the s6 could easily scale bumps on the floor that he had to carry the i7 over. Secondly, he said the s6 cleans faster than any other robot he’s ever used.   There’s more! He also said that the s6 is a lot quieter than the Roomba he has as well as a Neato he had used. Finally, he commended how easy it was to fix and remove the water tank.
It is not a surprise that users love the fact that the s9 can empty its own dust cup. They are really enjoying the relief that comes with it.	The pricing of this robot is something a lot of users are ecstatic about. They say that a robot that can do all the s6 is capable of is a steal at its price point.

 

Roomba s9 vs Roborock s6 – Bottom Line

Roomba s9	Roborock s6
If you absolutely hate to help a robot empty its dust cup, here is your respite.   If the price is not a bother to you, then this is your vacuum.	The s6 for all it is great for is affordable compared to its competition.   If you’ve always wanted a high-end robot, this Roborock is screaming your name.

 

 

To get the s9+, click here	To get the s6, click here

 

 

Roomba s9 vs Roborock s6 — FAQs

Is Roborock better than Roomba?

Roborock’s robots are operate relatively quieter than Roombas which makes it more convenient to use watching TV. They have longer runtimes; Roborocks have runtimes in excess of 100 minutes which is a big deal since they’re autonomous. Another reason you’ll thing Roborock is better than Roomba is the large dust cup, although the self emptying Roombas are immune to this advantage. Roborocks can mop as well as vacuum. Finally, Roborocks are more affordable which is important to a lot of users if you consider the value you’ll get from both brands of robot.

 

Is the Roomba S9 worth it?

If you want a strong suction to deep clean your floors as well as a truly hands free experience, the Roomba S9 is worth it. It covers your floors efficiently and works great for those with multiple floors. This is the robot you need if you love it to clean when you’re not around since it won’t need your attention at any point. It has great filters to protect asthmatic or allergic users. If the strengths of the Roombs S9 matches what you need in a vacuum, then it is truly worth its price tag.

 

Which robot vacuum has the strongest suction?

Suction power is pretty important to the cleaning performance of any vacuum cleaner. The Roomba S9 leads the pack in this department. Among all the robot vacuums we tested, it picked up the most on both hard floors and carpets. That’s not all, it did that in good time too.

 

Which are the best robot vacuums of 2020?

When it comes to robot vacuums, “best” is relative. However, However, we select great robot vacuums based on what they’re best at and their price point. Best robot vacuums for 2020:

• Splurge: Roomba S9
• Balanced: Roborock S6
• Great feature: Neato D7
• Best value: eufy BoostIQ 11S Max

 

Is Roborock a good brand?

If you’re looking for a balance between performance and affordability in robot vacuums, look not further than Roborock. The Roborock S6 is one of the best robot vacuums in its category, yet it costs less than its peers. Roborock equips its robots with state of the art technology and also uses top quality materials which makes its robots durable.

 

How do I clean the Roomba S9+?

To clean the Roomba S9, turn it upside down. There’s a release tap on the right side just beneath the brush roll. Push it to release the brushes and clean any hair or debris at the end of the brushes. You can pull out the brush bearings at the end to clean under them too (hairs do hide in there). Once done, reinstall the brushes ad secure them in place. That’s it! Quick and simple way to clean your Roomba S9.