Roborock S6 MaxV vs Roomba s9 (2022): Comparing Flagship Robot Vacuums

Roborock and Roomba are among the most trusted robot vacuum brands that boast excellent cleaning performance and technologies. We review their flagship robot vacuums, the Roborock S6 MaxV and the Roomba s9, to find out which robot vacuum better suits your home.

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Roborock S6 MaxV

Featuring dual front cameras, a stronger suction power, advanced processor, the flagship Roborock S6 MaxV is one of the most powerful robot vacuums today.

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Roborock S6 MaxV vs Roomba s9 Comparison Chart

Model	Roborock S6 MaxV	Roomba s9
Price	Check Price at Amazon	Check Price at Walmart
Navigation System	LiDAR and Dual Front Cameras	iAdapt 3.0 with vSLAM camera
Processor	64-Bit 8-Core processor	N/A
Multi-level Mapping	Yes	Yes
Suction Power	Up to 2500Pa	Up to 2,200Pa
Mopping	Included	Compatible with the iRobot Braava jet
Tank Capacity	300 mL	N/A
Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal	N/A	Compatible
Cleaning Area	Up to 240 sqm	Up to 200sqm
Runtime	180 minutes	Up to 120 minutes
Charging Time	150 minutes	180 minutes
Battery Capacity	5,200mAh	3,300mAh
Extractors	Rotating brush bar, side brush	Dual Multi-Surface Rubber Brushes, Edge-Sweeping Brush
Dirt Detect Technology	No	Yes
Full Bin Indicator	No	Yes
Virtual Wall Barriers	Yes	Yes
Washable Filter	Yes	No
Dustbin Capacity	480mL	550mL
Colors	Black	Black/Gold
Height	3.8 in	3.5 in
Weight	7 lbs	8.15 lbs

Design

The Roborock S6 MaxV is round while the Roomba s9 has a flat edge and bigger brush rolls

Apart from the obvious difference in shape and color, there are other significant differences in the design of the Roborock S6 MaxV and the Roomba s9. The Roborock S6 MaxV (left) houses its laser sensors at the top of its faceplate and two more stereoscopic vision cameras at the front. Meanwhile, the Roomba s9’s (right) camera sensor is mounted at the center of its flat edge. Because of this design, the Roborock S6 MaxV has a slightly higher clearance (3.8 inches) than the Roomba s9’s 3.5-inch height.

Their dustbin sizes are also different, with the Roomba s9 having a larger 550mL dust bin compared to the 480mL capacity of the Roborock S6 MaxV‘s. This is more likely because the S6 MaxV also comes with a 300mL tank for its mop.

Examining the underside will show that the Roborock S6 MaxV‘s brush bar is shorter than the patent dual rubber brush rolls of the Roomba s9. The Roborock S6 MaxV‘s also has bristles and is located in the middle of the robot vacuum. On the other hand, the Roomba s9’s rubber brushes are located at the front, allowing the Roomba s9 to handle hair better.

Cleaning Performance & Mopping

While both deliver impressive cleaning results, the Roborock S6 MaxV has stronger suction power

Roborock vacuums have consistently delivered impressive cleaning performance from its entry-level robot vacuums to the high-end models. Both the Roborock S6 MaxV and the Roomba s9 are excellent when it comes to cleaning, but the S6 MaxV fared better when pulling in debris and finer particles, even on carpets.

Despite the Roomba s9’s Dirt Detect Technology that tells the Roomba to work harder on dirtier areas, the Roborock still did better when tested on their spot cleaning capability. However, when it comes to handling hair, the Roomba s9 outperforms the Roborock S6 MaxV, thanks to its dual rubber brushes. The Roomba s9’s PerfectEdge technology allows for better edge cleaning as well.

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iRobot Roomba S9

With the new PerfectEdge technology, the iRobot Roomba s9 packs a powerful cleaning system and advanced features, including voice control, custom scheduling and smart mapping.

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A major difference between the Roborock S6 MaxV and the Roomba s9 is their mopping functionality. The Roborock S6 MaxV comes with an electronic water tank and mopping attachment that allow the S6 MaxV to vacuum and mop simultaneously or right after vacuuming. On the other hand, the Roomba s9 needs to be set-up with the iRobot Braava jet (sold separately) if you want to mop the floors after vacuuming.

Mapping & Navigation

The Roborock S6 MaxV uses laser sensors while the navigation system of the Roomba s9 is camera-based

Their navigation systems are significantly different. The Roborock S6 MaxV uses LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology where its laser sensors can map your home to create an efficient cleaning path and avoid any obstacles. Its dual cameras mounted on its front better equip the S6 MaxV to identify the depth of different objects in its path. The laser sensors further allow the Roborock S6 MaxV to navigate your home efficiently even in the dark.

Meanwhile, the Roomba s9 is equipped with iRobot’s iAdapt 3.0 with vSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) which uses a camera to plot your floor plan. The Roomba s9 can detect obstacles well and work around your furniture, but the laser sensors work better in the dark.

Both robot vacuums let you save maps and offer multi-level mapping. If you have a large home with multiple floors, the Roborock S6 MaxV and the Roomba s9 fit your cleaning needs well. You can also set virtual wall barriers or no-go zones if you want your Roborock or Roomba to keep out of certain areas.

Battery and Additional Features

The Roborock S6 MaxV has a longer runtime while the Roomba s9 can be set-up with a Clean Base for automatic dirt disposal

Large homes will benefit from the impressive 180 minutes maximum runtime of the Roborock S6 MaxV and 150-minute runtime of the Roomba s9. They can both detect when they’re running low on battery, navigate back to their charging dock, and resume cleaning where they left off. Both are also compatible with smart voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free cleaning. In addition, the Roomba s9 lets you tell your voice assistant to clean specific rooms.

While most robot vacuums continue to become smarter, their limited dustbin capacity still requires that you dispose of dirt everytime they become full. This is what the iRobot can address through its Clean Base and Automatic Dirt Disposal technology. You can set up the Roomba s9 with the Clean Base and it will automatically empty its dustbin whenever needed. The self-emptying Roomba s9+ comes with the Clean Base right out of the box.

Verdict

The Roborock S6 MaxV offers better value for your money. Get the Roomba s9 if you want to upgrade to a Clean Base Automatic Dirt Disposal eventually.

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Roborock S6 MaxV

Featuring dual front cameras, a stronger suction power, advanced processor, the flagship Roborock S6 MaxV is one of the most powerful robot vacuums today.

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iRobot Roomba S9

With the new PerfectEdge technology, the iRobot Roomba s9 packs a powerful cleaning system and advanced features, including voice control, custom scheduling and smart mapping.

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As the Roborock S6 MaxV doubles as a robot vacuum and mop, you’ll get better bang for your buck. It retails for 749USD and you get stronger suction power, longer battery life, and washable filter with the Roborock S6 MaxV.

The regular price of the iRobot Roomba s9 is 999USD, but at the time of writing, it’s on sale on Amazon for only 799USD. If you can get it on sale, you will get amazing value for your money with the Roomba s9. If you live with pets, the s9 can handle pet hair better than the S6 MaxV. The s9’s option for a Clean Base also makes cleaning even more convenient as you can forget about emptying the dustbin for weeks.

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