In this head-to-head comparison between the Dyson 360 Heurist vs Roomba S9, I aim to guide you in making an informed choice that best suits your needs. However, if you’re curious about my personal preference, the Roomba S9 wins my vote.
The Roomba S9 stands as one of iRobot’s top-selling robotic vacuums. Its D-shaped frame gives it a leg up in tackling hard-to-reach corners and edges, while its dual brushless rollers are specifically designed to prevent tangles. What’s more, it has the smarts to memorize up to 10 floor plans, making it ideal for multi-story apartments.
The Dyson 360 Heurist is also a formidable bot with no-joke cleaning performance. A compact and lightweight design allows it to be easily maneuvered in tight areas, while dual tank tracks allow it to easily step over some obstacles. Additionally, its broad brush bar tackles corner and edge cleaning with efficiency, negating the need for a side brush.
Dyson 360 Heurist Vs Roomba S9: Comparison Chart
Dyson 360 Heurist Vs Roomba S9: Differences
The Dyson 360 Heurist has a 5-2 win against the Roomba S9. But which one is really right for you? Let’s read on to explore!
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Roomba S9
Hard Floor
| Dyson 360 Heurist | Roomba S9 |
|---|---|
| ≈ 99% | ≈ 99% |
These robots really were the bomb on my hardwood floor, with the ability to dominate all the debris with a score of 99%. Their performance outshines the majority of other robot vacuums on the market, making them a top recommendation for anyone with extensive hardwood flooring.
Carpets
| Dyson 360 Heurist | Roomba S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pile Carpet | ≈ 98% | ≈ 99% |
| High-pile Carpet | ≈ 95% | ≈ 99% |
The Roomba S9 once again dominated my carpet tests, achieving an impeccable 99% removal rate on both low- and high-pile carpets – This one is among the most outstanding robot vacuums on carpets I’ve ever tested. The 360 Heurist was also an absolute workhorse, tackling my carpets with remarkable ease and leaving behind only a very small amount of debris!
Hair Pet
| Dyson 360 Heurist | Roomba S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-inch Strands | ≈ 71% | ≈ 89% |
| 10-inch Strands | ≈ 56% | ≈ 78% |
Last but not least, they didn’t excel in my hair pick-up tests. Fortunately, there was only a minimal amount of hair that ended up entangled around their rollers, which can easily be disassembled for thorough cleaning without any special tools.
Design & Usability
Winner: Roomba S9
Dimensions & Weight
| Dyson 360 Heurist | Roomba S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x H) | 9.37 x 4.72 inches | 12.25 x 3.5 inches |
| Weight | 5.5 lbs | 8.15 lbs |
Speaking of looks, both the 360 Heurist and Roomba S9 have “odd” designs and do deviate from the traditional round shape commonly seen in many robotic vacuums.
The Dyson 360 Heurist still has a hockey puck-shaped design but is taller and narrower than most other round-shaped bots. This can indeed help the device maneuver through tight spaces, albeit with the trade-off of not fitting under certain types of low-clearance furniture. It is equipped with a duo of tank tracks, which are better at distributing the weight of the device, providing better traction, and allowing the vacuum to tackle obstacles and varied surfaces more effectively.
On the other hand, the Roomba S9 has a D-shaped body, allowing the robot to get closer to walls and fit snugly into corners, which can make for more effective cleaning in those areas compared to round-shaped models. But its Achille’s heel is that it can make it difficult for the bot to maneuver in tight spaces or navigate around complex arrangements of furniture. This one is also the only Roomba with this design.
Extractor & Side Brush
Their main brush roller is also made from silicon and has no stiff bristles, meaning they are generally less likely to get tangled and easier to clean than bristle-fitted ones. But the S9 has two brush rollers versus a single brush bar on the 360 Heurist.
Another difference is that while the S9 has a 5-pronged spinning brush in the corner, the 360 Heurist has none. This unique omission stems from the fact that its brush bar spans the entire width of the robot’s body, as opposed to being located between the wheels like most other models. This design allows it to achieve more effective edge and corner cleaning without the need for a separate corner brush.
Navigation
Both the 360 Heurist and Roomba S9 use vSLAM camera-based technology as their method of mapping. That means they both rely on an onboard camera to see around and remember everything. The 360 Heurist can remember 3 layouts, while the Roomba S9 is ahead of the game with its ability to keep 10 layouts in mind.
Unlike LIDAR-based models, these little guys require three to four initial passes to completely map out your home. Additionally, these robots might struggle in very dark or very bright environments where the camera has difficulty capturing images. The Dyson 360 is equipped with a ring of eight LED bulbs to improve its ability to “see” in darker environments, but it isn’t really a game changer.
Then, these bots work around the room reasonably methodically but according to different approaches. While the S9 only moves in linear rows that iRobot calls “neat rows,” the 360 Heurist uses a square spiral pattern that divides the room into smaller 5-meter squares. I found the 360 Heurist wasn’t quite as neat and tidy as the Roomba S9, but it’s still better than traveling according to a random pattern, as cheaper robots tend to do.
Neither the S9 nor the 360 Heurist come equipped with obstacle avoidance features. So if you’re looking for a robot vacuum that can intelligently detect and steer clear of obstacles – at least pets and toys – you might want to explore other options like the Roomba J7+ or Roborock S7 MaxV.
Battery Life
| Dyson 360 Heurist | Roomba S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | ≈ 46-78 mins | ≈ 63–112 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 112 mins | ≈ 196 mins |
Both are powered by a 5200 mAh Lithium-ion battery. For mammoth-sized houses, they may get the job done without a few midway recharges. The silver lining is that they have a “Recharge and Resume” function. That means even if these bots deplete their batteries mid-cleaning, they’ll dutifully return to their docking stations, recharge, and resume cleaning until the job is complete.
Control
Winner: Roomba S9
Manual Control
Speaking of manual control, the 360 Heurist features a single power button and an information ring that provides the status of the battery life, tank tracks, a brush bar, and more. It may require some initial familiarization via the user manual to understand the various icons and what they represent, but once you get the hang of it, this can be a convenient way to quickly check the status of the robot at a glance.
On the other hand, the Roomba S9 uses a three-button system to start/end a cleaning cycle, clean a small area (spot cleaning), and send the bot home. Spot cleaning is truly a welcome addition since it enables you to tackle a small zone in lieu of the entire floor.
App Connectivity
As always, both the 360 Heurist and the Roomba S9 offer remote control capabilities through the Dyson Link and iRobot Home apps, respectively. So you will need to download them (at no cost) to unlock all the features.
Both the Dyson Link and iRobot Home apps offer a host of similar features, including compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-controlled tasks, the option to divide and label rooms for specified cleaning, the ability to establish “no-go” zones, the choice of different power modes, and the convenience of setting cleaning schedules.
When it comes to distinctions, the Dyson Link app offers some unique capabilities, like setting “no brush bar” zones for suction-only operation and “no-climb” areas to prevent the robot from attempting to mount obstacles. Meanwhile, the iRobot Home app allows you to specify “clean zones” for targeted spot cleaning and also provides insights into the condition of components like the brush roll or filter. The iRobot app also has an Imprint Link option, pairing the Roomba S9 with the Braava M6 mop robot (more on that later).
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Tie
Their dust boxes are on the smaller end of the capacity spectrum: the 360 Heurist uses a 0.33-liter bin, smaller than the 0.5-liter on the Roomba S9. They don’t have a self-emptying function, so you’ll find yourself regularly removing and emptying their bins manually.
Doing this is easy enough. But if you’re an allergy sufferer or simply prefer a more hands-off approach, opting for a bot with a Clean Base, like the Roomba S9 Plus, is a wise decision. This plus version can automatically empty its dust bin when it gets full into a larger single-use bag each time it docks.
You can also purchase the self-cleaning station separately for the Roomba S9 as an add-on. The 360 Heurist, on the other hand, is not compatible with any cleaning base – the only way to empty it is to press a release button to remove it from the robot, open the top cover, and give it a shake to send all the contents directly to a waiting trash receptacle below.
The 360 Heurist features a pair of filters that can be removed and washed for reuse a couple of times. Meanwhile, the Roomba S9 uses a HEPA filter that shouldn’t be cleaned with water – a simple tap against the side of your garbage bin will do the trick.
Other Features
Winner: Tie
Noise
| Dyson 360 Heurist | Roomba S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Working | ≈ 61–70 dB | ≈ 60-74 dB |
| Self-Emptying | None | None |
The S9 tends to be noisier than the 360 Heurist, although the difference isn’t stark. After a lot of testing, I’ve found that stronger suction is often accompanied by louder operation, which holds true for the Roomba S9. But I don’t consider that a deal breaker since, after all, vacuuming is rarely a late-night task, wouldn’t you agree?
Mopping Ability
These bots lack a built-in mopping function. Thus, to keep your floors spotlessly clean temporarily between sessions of thorough hand mopping, you will need to buy a hybrid robot or add a mopping robot to your arsenal.
By the way, iRobot has launched the Braava M6 mop robot that can team up with the S9+ via Imprint Link technology. This allows these two little housekeepers to communicate with each other: once the S9+ finishes vacuuming, the app will send a signal to the M6 to start mopping, providing a more comprehensive cleaning solution.
Quick Rundown Of Roomba S9
- DEEPEST CLEAN - With 40X the suction power, the superior 3-Stage Cleaning System lifts, loosens, then eliminates debris & pet hair from deep within your carpets. Increases suction to clean even deeper into carpets with power boost technology.
- DETAILED POWERFUL CLEAN - PerfectEdge Technology with advanced sensors & a specially designed Corner Brush optimize cleaning deep into corners & along edges. Ideal for homes with pets. 30% wider Dual Rubber Brushes don't get tangled with pet hair.
- GUIDED BY SERIOUS SMARTS - With vSLAM navigation, the s9 learns the layout of your home & builds personal Smart Maps, enabling it to expertly clean & navigate in neat, efficient rows. If it’s running low on battery, it recharges & resumes cleaning.
- VACUUMS MESSES IN THE MOMENT - Cleaning crumbs is now as easy as “Roomba, clean under the kitchen table.” A simple request to your voice assistant or via the app enables the s9 to clean messes for you, right when they happen.
- COMPLETE CONTROL OF YOUR CLEAN - With Smart Mapping, your robot knows your kitchen from your living room, so you can decide where it cleans & when. & with Keep Out Zones, your robot knows to avoid sensitive areas like pet bowls or play areas.
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)
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References:
- 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.