Ecovacs Deebot T9+ vs Roomba S9+: Are you finding out which one is best suited for your needs? This article will facilitate your decision-making process, but I find myself favoring the Roomba S9+!
The Roomba S9+ has incredible cleaning performance, especially for picking up grime in corners and edges, thanks to its D-shaped design. Its dual bristle-less brush roller is great at preventing tangles, and the clean base takes manual emptying of the dust bin out of the equation.
The Ecovacs Deebot T9+ initially piqued my interest with features like mopping capability and an integrated air freshener, though, in hindsight, I realized they weren’t really effective. Nonetheless, it comes with a clean base and performs great on all types of floors.
Ecovacs Deebot T9+ Vs Roomba S9+: Comparison Chart
Ecovacs Deebot T9+ Vs Roomba S9+: Differences
The Deebot T9+ wins 4-2 against the Roomba S9+. Keep reading to determine which one aligns best with your requirements.
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Roomba S9+
Hard Floor
| Ecovacs Deebot T9+ | Roomba S9+ |
|---|---|
| ≈ 95% | ≈ 99% |
The Roomba S9+ took the lead in my hard floor tests with a near-perfect score of 99%, whereas the Deebot T9+ was not far behind. The latter did scatter a modicum of debris, but it eventually managed to collect the majority of it.
Carpet
| Ecovacs Deebot T9+ | Roomba S9+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pile Carpet | ≈ 92% | ≈ 99% |
| High-pile Carpet | ≈ 94% | ≈ 99% |
Both were also dust-eating monsters on my low- and high-carpets, with the Roomba S9+ asserting its superiority yet again. This sounds a bit creepy, but they could indeed collect almost all of the smaller and larger bits of debris easily.
Hair Pet
| Ecovacs Deebot T9+ | Roomba S9+ | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-inch Strands | ≈ 63% | ≈ 82% |
| 10-inch Strands | ≈ 42% | ≈ 68% |
Although the S9+ didn’t excel at gathering scattered hair on my floor, it still demonstrated itself to be more advantageous for pet owners – not only did it collect more hair, but it also excelled at preventing tangles more effectively. As for the Deebot T9+, there was a substantial amount of hair entanglement within its brush roll.
Design & Usability
Winner: Roomba S9+
Dimensions & Weight
| Ecovacs Deebot T9+ | Roomba S9+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x H) | 13.9 x 3.75 inches | 12.25 x 3.5 inches |
| Weight | 7.8 lbs | 8.15 lbs |
The Deebot T9+ is a hybrid robot wrapped in a sleek, glossy white finish that matches the auto-empty station that comes with it. Its dimensions are somewhat more expansive in height and width compared to the Roomba S9+, which likely makes it less adept at navigating beneath most sofas and through confined spaces.
The Roomba S9+, on the other hand, comes in a D-shaped body, diverging from the commonly seen round shape in most robot vacuums, and this improvement makes sense. The straight edge of the D-shape allows the S9+ to get closer to walls and into corners, ensuring more thorough cleaning in those areas where dust and debris tend to accumulate. Still, this unique frame also has a potential downside: it makes the S9+ struggle with maneuverability around tight or rounded spaces.
Their self-cleaning bases are real bonuses, but more on that later. Several competing brands offer clean stations as additional purchases rather than including them with the vacuum. They save you the hassle of manually emptying the dust bin, but they do require a substantial amount of space, both horizontally and vertically, compared to standard charging docks.
Extractor & Side Brush
The Roomba S9+ underbelly has a pair of main brush rollers. They are made of rubber and have a bristle-free design, rendering them superior in preventing tangles, while removing them for untangling is a breeze as well. It is worth noting that these wide brush rollers span along the square front from edge to edge instead of between the wheels, like on the Deebot T9+ and most robots.
Additionally, the S9 uses a slow-spinning side brush. Furthermore, it employs a five-armed slow-spinning side brush paired with the square front, which guarantees outstanding corner cleaning performance.
On the other hand, the Deebot T9+ has a single bristle-fitted roller, so it is prone to hair becoming stuck in it. The good news is that a cleaning tool is included to make untangling easier, and you can also easily remove the roller for cleaning.
To catch grime along the wall and in corners, the Deebot T9+ uses a pair of three-prong side brushes. But these brushes rotate at high speed, so they can disperse dust particles and debris to some degree before the robot can pick them up.
Navigation
The Deebot T9+ is among the bots with the most robust and efficient navigation technology that I tested. It features a LiDAR tower, which allowed it to complete my mapping test significantly faster than the Roomba S9+, which relies on vSLAM camera-based technology. To put it into perspective, the Deebot T9+ mapped out my space in just one run cycle, while the Roomba S9+ needed up to four test runs to complete the same job!
Moreover, another advantage that the Deebot T9+, or Lidar technology, has over the Roomba S9+ with vSLAM is its ability to work effectively even in darkness. It’s inherently rational: while the T9+ scans the surroundings with laser beams for precise navigation, the S9+ uses a built-in camera to perceive its surroundings and, therefore, mandates ample lighting for clear image capture. Well, the Deebot T9+ can only store three maps, whereas the Roomba S9+ can retain up to ten layouts.
The biggest game changer here is that the Deebot T9+ is quite clever, or at least it can detect and avoid some obstacles thanks to “upgraded 3D detection and obstacle avoidance” technology. My real-world evaluations showed that this one was very adept at avoiding obvious objects such as a mug, a shoe, or fake pet poop. It resembles a young pup wandering through the house and can discern what it ought to avoid.
However, there is a snag in its obstacle-avoidance capabilities. Contrary to claims that it won’t eat your cables, my test suggested otherwise! It tried to swallow my audio cables – one thing adeptly avoided by my Roomba J7+.
Battery Life
| Ecovacs Deebot T9+ | Roomba S9+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | ≈ 52–83 mins | ≈ 63–112 mins |
| Charging Time | ≈ 151 mins | ≈ 196 mins |
How long these bots can run between cleans depends on the suction mode they are in, with their battery statuses readily viewable on the respective app. By the way, the T9+ has three suction settings, whereas the S9+ comes with two – all can be selected via the app as well.
But hey, why should you care about their battery life when they don’t need your help to recharge? Both have a function called “Recharge and Resume,” ensuring that the entire cleaning task is completed even if they run out of juice mid-operation and you are not at home. They will dutifully return to their home base and resume cleaning once adequately recharged to conclude the task.
Control
Winner: Roomba S9+
Manual Control
On the top of the S9+, you’ll find three buttons for starting or ending a cleaning cycle, cleaning a spot, and sending the bot home. Meanwhile, the T9+ just has a single button that will pause or resume cleaning. So while you still need to rely heavily on the app, the S9+ offers greater manual control. The “spot cleaning” button on the S9+ is really a cool feature. If there is a spill or mess in your kitchen, just press the button for a quick clean-up instead of starting a full cycle from one room to another.
App Connectivity
To unlock the full potential of the Deebot T9+ and Roomba S9+, you’ll need to download the Ecovac and iRobot Home apps, respectively. The registration process is straightforward, and helpful step-by-step instructions will guide you through connecting your robot to Wi-Fi. Then, you can customize any part of your cleaning!
Initially, you can access the maps created by the T9+ and S9+ during their first runs, where you have the option to divide or merge areas and assign names to them. They are marked in different colors, facilitating easy distinction between them. Besides the 2D map, the Ecovac app also offers an option to visualize the map in 3D and allows for the manual addition of obstacles and furniture – a charming feature that doesn’t substantially enhance the cleaning process.
Both apps allow you to designate “no-go” zones (and “no-mop” zones with the Ecovac app) to prevent the robots from accessing areas you want them to avoid, like around the cat litter box or beneath a cluttered work desk. You can schedule cleanings and modify the suction power (and control mop water usage in the case of the Deebot T9+).
Speaking of voice control, both apps are compatible with Alexa and Google Home, so you can start your daily cleaning cycle with commands instead of looking for your phone. There is also a separate tab that shows the status of the roller, side brush, and filter.
The iRobot app has the option to set “clean” areas, essentially the opposite of “no-go” zones. It even allows you to connect the S9+ to the iRobot Braava M6 mopping robot via the Imprint Link feature, allowing for synchronized cleaning.
The iRobot app also features a “When I Leave Home” option, allowing the bot to initiate cleaning automatically when you and your phone move beyond the invisible barrier it establishes around your residence. This ensures that your relaxation time at home remains undisturbed by the operational noise of the robot.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Tie
The Deebot T9+ uses a 0.42-liter bin, while the bin on the Roomba S9+ is slightly larger at 0.5 liters. Their dust tanks are on the small side and fill up fast, but this is not much of an issue since they both come with self-cleaning bases (which need to be plugged into a wall outlet), where these robots park, power up, and empty their dustbins.
Certainly, in lieu of small docking stations, these robots employ auto-emptying stations that autonomously evacuate all the contained dust and detritus from their bins, depositing them into a sizable dust bag. So instead of removing their dustbins every day, you can simply swap the dust bag on a weekly or even monthly basis, depending on usage.
These cleaning bases surely are big and bulky, but honestly, who cares? As long as these towers can do the dirty work for me, I’m more than willing to share my living space with them. Oh, right, they also come with HEPA filters to trap fine dust and allergens – but the filter accompanying the S9+ requires cleaning by a gentle tap against the trash bin, whereas the Deebot T9+ features a washable one.
Other Features
Winner: Ecovacs Deebot T9+
Noise
| Ecovacs Deebot T9+ | Roomba S9+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Working | ≈ 65-70 dB | ≈ 63-72 dB |
| Self-Emptying | ≈ 78 dB | ≈ 81 dB |
At the minimal power setting, these devices maintain noise levels comparable to air conditioners, but they swiftly escalate in audibility when shifted to the maximum setting. This is a prevalent condition among vacuum cleaners and generally doesn’t pose significant concerns unless the cleaning excursions are scheduled for late at night.
Just one word of warning here for parents or pet owners: the self-emptying process is especially loud. The noise generated might be enough to rouse your little ones from sleep or make your pets retreat to a hiding spot every time it occurs.
Mopping Ability
I’ve explored numerous hybrid robots capable of simultaneous vacuuming and mopping, which kill two birds with one stone. The majority proved subpar, with only a handful delivering satisfactory performance, and the Deebot T9+ lands in the intermediate range. Its mopping unit, or Ozmo Pro Oscillating System, as Ecovacs calls it, includes only a compact 0.18-liter water reservoir and a disposable microfiber pad.
Setting it up is a cinch – all you need to do is fill the tank with water and attach a disposable mopping pad to the mopping unit. I always welcome the minimal effort, but it would be better if it used a washable mopping pad. The initial purchase provides ten replacement mopping pads, and securing more will incur additional costs. Remember to only use clean water because introducing chemicals will void the robot’s warranty.
What makes the Deebot T9+ stand out from many other 2-in-1 robots is that it uses a vibrating mopping pad for deeper cleaning than the usual wipe along the floor. There are two related settings, including quick scrubbing and deep scrubbing, but the differences between them are minor, except that the mop unit vibrates a bit faster.
After all, how did it fare in my real-world application? It was effective in cleaning up spills like BBQ sauce but struggled to eliminate stains, leaving behind sticky residue even after a few passes. At the end of the day, a manual cleanup with my hands and a rag is still required.
Air Freshener
The T9+ features an in-built air freshener, which essentially leaves a sweet scent on your floor after the robot passes by. It is indeed the first robot vacuum that has this function. When the air freshener and mopping pad are not in use, there’s nowhere to store them, necessitating that you allocate room for them.
To be honest, I didn’t have too high expectations for this addition, and it was definitely not one of the reasons I bought the T9+. Just as I expected, the fresh scent was too weak to notice any real difference and just lasted a few minutes. So if you expected to come home to immerse yourself in a space that smells like a fairy tale, you will definitely be disappointed.
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)
Quick Rundown Of Ecovacs Deebot T9+
- Powerful Vacuum and Mop. DEEBOT T9 plus simultaneously sweeps, vacuums and mops your floors. OZMO Pro 2.0 oscillating mopping system, a high frequency vibration and 4-level water adjustment, efficiently cleans your home, leaving floors clean as new.
- TrueMapping for a More Efficient, Effective Clean. Utilizing the same tech in self-driving cars, DEEBOT’s LIDAR and dToF sensors generate maps more accurate of vSLAM and camera based technology. That means a faster, more efficient, more thorough clean.
- TrueDetect Stays on Task and Out of Trouble. With the advanced TrueDetect 3D technology, DEEBOT T9 plus detects objects in real time to strategically avoid collisions, entanglements and disruptions, so there’s no need to pick up before it cleans.
- Months of Hands-free Cleaning. The Auto-Empty Station with 2.5L dustbag holds 2 months' worth of vacuum debris, staying maintenance free for 60 days. The auto-seal design of the dust bag keeps the mess contained when you are ready to discard.
- Homes Smell Fresh and Clean with Mobile Air Freshner. DEEBOT T9 plus contains an industry-first air freshener that leaves your home smelling as clean as it looks. The built-in freshening technology infuses your home with a delicate, luxurious fragrance.
Product Videos
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References:
- Roomba S9+: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-vacuuming/robot-vacuum-irobot-roomba-s9-plus/S955020.html
- Ecovacs Deebot T9+: https://www.ecovacs.com/au/deebot-robotic-vacuum-cleaner/t9-plus
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.