iRobot Roomba 980 vs S9: Each stands as a landmark in iRobot’s progression. The Roomba 980 was the first Roomba with smart navigation, while the Roomba S9 brought a novel D-shaped design. They are incredibly close regarding cleaning performance, but the latter excels in terms of bells and whistles!
Immediately noticeable is the superior edge-cleaning performance of the Roomba S9, attributed to its D-shaped frame and broader extractor. Moreover, it has the capacity to remember up to 10 maps and offers access to enhanced features, like room-specific cleaning and establishing no-go zones. All of them also give it a higher price tag than the Roomba 980, of course.
iRobot Roomba 980 Vs S9: Comparison Chart
iRobot Roomba 980 Vs S9: Differences
The Roomba S9 commands a big 5-1 victory over the 980. As long as you can afford the premium price of the S9, you will benefit from the variety of cool features it brings to the table.
Cleaning Performance
Winner: Roomba S9
Hard Floor
| Roomba 980 | Roomba S9 |
|---|---|
| ≈ 96% | ≈ 99% |
Our hardwood floor tests were no match for both the 980 and S9 since both could clean up almost all the debris that I spread out across the testing lane. A small hiccup with the 980 was that its side brush scattered a small amount of debris, but not much.
Carpet
| Roomba 980 | Roomba S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Low-pile Carpet | ≈ 92% | ≈ 99% |
| High-pile Carpet | ≈ 95% | ≈ 99% |
The S9 also excelled in my carpet tests, with very high scores on both the low- and high-pile carpets. Meanwhile, the 980 just performed okay, leaving behind a bit more debris, but nonetheless, it still stands out as excellent when compared to numerous other robots.
Hair Pet
| Roomba 980 | Roomba S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| 5-inch Strands | ≈ 62% | ≈ 89% |
| 10-inch Strands | ≈ 56% | ≈ 78% |
I also did hair tests on my floor with hair strands of two lengths: 5 and 10 inches. The 980 was decent, while the S9 once again took the lead. The common positive takeaway is that their bristle-free rollers effectively resisted hair tangles, and untangling them was also easier than traditional combo brushes.
Design & Usability
Winner: Roomba S9
Dimensions & Weight
| Roomba 980 | Roomba S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (W x H) | 13.9 x 3.6 inches | 12.25 x 3.5 inches |
| Weight | 8.7 lbs | 8.15 lbs |
These beautiful robots both have a near-futuristic look with a predominantly black finish. They already come fully assembled and are all set for the first trip right out of the box, eliminating the need for any tools. And at first glance, you will immediately see the striking difference in design between them: while the 980 features a familiar hockey puck-shaped body, the S9 breaks the mold with its unique D-shaped frame.
I found myself favoring the “D” shape and square front of the S9 as it excelled at accessing corners to remove grime, a task that the 980 and several other disc-shaped robots found challenging. The big downside of this design is that it causes the S9 to become stuck or struggle to navigate between close objects, furniture legs, or cramped areas. This very limitation is likely why iRobot has remained steadfast to the circular frame up until now.
These bots cannot crawl up and down stairs on their own, so you will need to carry them for multi-layer cleaning. They are generally on the lightweight side, and the 980 is even fitted with a built-in carrying handle to add an extra layer of convenience.
Extractor & Side Brush
The difference in shape between the Roomba 980 and S9 brings us to the difference in their undersides. The 980 features a pair of 6.2-inch counter-rotating brushes that sit between the two wheels, versus the two rollers measuring 9.5 inches each on the S9 that span along the straight edge. The wider S9’s suction area means this one can cover the same zone with fewer trips compared to the 980.
It is worth noting that their rollers are all-rubber and have no bristle, which is aimed at preventing hair from becoming tangled around them. And according to my real-world tests, they lived up to expectations to a certain degree, although periodically removing them for untangling is still a must.
To capture peripheral debris, the 980 sports a familiar 3-pronged corner brush, while the S9 still stays out of the box with a 5-pronged one. The relatively slow rotation of the side brush on the S9, coupled with its D-shaped structure, allows it to excel in corner and edge cleaning, as iRobot calls it, “Perfect Edge.”
Navigation
In terms of navigation, they are somewhat similar since both rely on VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), meaning both use an on-board camera for mapping your living space. These bots also move in straight lines for cleaning rather than pinballing around like low-level Roomba, such as the 675 and 690.
The 980 is the first Roomba with intelligent navigation but lacks map saving, while the S9+ can remember and save up to 10 maps thanks to Imprint Smart Mapping technology. Map saving also gives the S9 many features that aren’t available with the 980, such as cleaning by zone and setting keep-out areas.
So, can these robots identify and circumvent obstacles? Regrettably, they cannot. Rather than sensing obstacles and navigating around or avoiding them, these robots decelerate and gently bump into them before altering their course. This may not pose a significant problem when encountering typical household items such as shoes, toys, or cups, but it becomes a major concern when the object is pet waste! I mean, no one desires their high-end gadget to traverse over pet waste and disperse it around, right?
Battery Life
| Roomba 980 | Roomba S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Life | ≈ 75–136 mins | ≈ 63–112 mins |
| Charging Time | 173 mins | ≈ 196 mins |
The battery is, no doubt, among the large parts of these robots since they can’t run without one. The Roomba 980 utilizes a 3,300 mAh Li-ion battery in comparison to the S9, which employs a 5,200 mAh one. Despite being equipped with a larger battery, the S9 has a shorter battery life, partly because it has higher airflow.
But I want to emphasize that their run times should not be a major worry as both come with “Recharge & Resume” functionality. This implies that if their batteries run low while they are in the middle of a cleaning cycle, they will return to the base to recharge before resuming cleaning from the exact point they left off during the previous cycle.
Control
Winner: Roomba S9
Manual Control
You don’t need your phone just to start a cleaning trip with these bots because both offer three buttons on top: a Clean button to wake up these Roombas, a Home button to direct them back to their docking stations, and a Spot Clean button to direct them to only clean a small area. Of course, to unlock more features, you need to connect them to the iRobot Home app.
App Connectivity
Both of these Roomba bots are compatible with the iRobot Home App. The 980 can’t save maps like the S9, so only the latter allows you to divide rooms and name them for cleaning by room. That means you can have the S9 programmed to just clean your kitchen and bedroom and leave out the remaining rooms.
You can also set “no-go” or “clean” zones with the S9 by using red and blue virtual boxes, respectively. On the other hand, the 980 has a pair of virtual wall units that act as a sort of barrier around your delicate areas and are each powered by two AA batteries.
Speaking of similarities, these Roomba bots can be programmed to clean your home according to your selected time and date, but you can only schedule one cleaning cycle per day. There is also an option to set these robots to automatically start a cleaning trip when you leave home and stop when you come back.
Cleaning & Maintenance
Winner: Roomba S9
The 980 and S9 use 0.3- and 0.5-liter dust bins, respectively. Their dust boxes are quite small and reach full capacity rapidly, necessitating frequent emptying. The process of disposing of the contents isn’t particularly convenient and poses discomfort for those with allergies, so it is advisable to don gloves and a mask during the procedure. Both are fitted with a HEPA filter to trap allergens and microscopic dust.
By the way, the S9 is compatible with a self-cleaning station, which allows for hands-free emptying of the robot’s bin. When the Roomba S9 returns to the Clean Base after cleaning, it automatically empties the bin into a disposable bag located in the base, which can hold up to 30 bins of dirt, dust, and hair. But this accessory is either acquired separately or comes as a part of the Roomba S9 Plus model.
Other Features
Winner: Tie
Noise
| Roomba 980 | Roomba S9 | |
|---|---|---|
| Working | ≈ 61-74 dB | ≈ 60-74 dB |
| Self-Emptying | None | None |
These machines are very loud during operation. They do not sound like rockets, but they have the potential to disturb family members or neighbors if operated at the crack of dawn or late into the night. It’s most prudent to schedule them to operate during your absence from home, which, believe me, is the most favorable way to employ these robots.
Mopping Ability
There are many 2-in-1 robots out there that can vacuum and mop your floor at the same time, but the 980 and S9 aren’t among them. Interestingly, the S9 can pair with the Braava M6, a mopping robot also from iRobot, via the app. You can connect them thanks to the “Imprint Link” option, so once the S9 has completed its vacuuming run, it will send a signal to the Braava M6 to start its mopping run.
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 Roomba 980
- NAVIGATES IN NEAT ROWS - Purposefully and logically cleans in neat rows and uses floor tracking sensors to navigate your home
- IT WON'T STOP TILL THE JOB IS DONE - Intelligently maps and cleans an entire level of your home; Patented iAdapt and technology with vSLAM navigation actively captures thousands of precise measurements each millisecond to optimize coverage
- LEARNS YOUR LIFE LISTENS TO YOUR VOICE - Learns your cleaning habits to offer up personalized schedules, while Google Assistant and Alexa allow you to start cleaning with just the sound of your voice
- PICKS UP RIGHT WHERE IT LEFT OFF - Doesn’t skip a beat, or a mess; When its running low on battery it recharges and resumes, ensuring a complete clean
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References:
- Roomba S9: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-vacuuming/robot-vacuum-irobot-roomba-s9-plus/S955020.html
- Roomba 980: https://www.irobot.com/en_US/roomba-vacuuming-robot-irobot-roomba-restored-980/R980R99.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.