iRobot’s Roomba S9+ is basically the younger sibling of the j7+. It’s somewhat newer and also somewhat pricier, which should mean that it’s a better robot cleaner! That’s what you would assume initially, at least.
But let’s be honest, there’s no way to know what the differences are without comparing their specs. Plus, are the differences in favor of the newer S9+ or the older j7+? It wouldn’t be the first time that an older product is actually better than a newer one, after all!
It might be confusing but fret not, we can make choosing easier for you. We’ll break down the specs of both iRobot Roomba offerings to help you figure out which one better suits your needs.
The storage for both of these Roombas is actually quite different. The S9+ features a built-in dustbin that can only hold about 0.50L of contents, while the j7+ uses large disposable bags that can store up to 2.40L! In the long term, the built-in dustbin of the S9+ will save you money. You won’t have to buy disposable bags every now and then to replace older ones! However, you’ll need to clean it up much more frequently.
As you might guess, the j7+ is the exact opposite. You’ll need to spend money on disposable bags in the long term, but the massive 2.40L capacity of the bags does mean that maintenance is much less frequent. Life’s already busy enough to have to spend time cleaning your robot cleaner too!
Unfortunately, though, this does mean that the better one is up to your preference. You have to pick between cheaper long-term costs vs less frequent maintenance; money vs time?
Winner: iRobot Roomba S9+ for long-term savings, iRobot Roomba j7+ for less frequent maintenance
Vacuums are special, honestly: unlike everything else you might buy, you want them to suck! This is known as their “suction power”, measured in Pascals (Pa). We hope Pedro Pascal isn’t offended by that measuring unit!
Jokes aside, higher suction power ensures that there’s no debris or dust left behind after your Roomba finishes its programmed route. Better suction equals better efficiency, basically!
Just from looking at the specs, the S9+ is the clear winner as it has a max suction power of 2500 Pa compared to the j7+’s 2000 Pa. That might not seem like a huge difference, but it is. The S9+ is much less likely to leave behind any debris or dust after a single pass than the j7+, making it a much more efficient cleaning machine.
It also has a Power Boost mode that you can turn on to increase the suction of the vacuum! So, as far as vacuums go, the S9+ sucks way better than the j7+.
Winner: iRobot Roomba S9+
Having a good battery life is key if you want your robot vacuum to clean larger areas. Lower battery life makes them much less efficient in larger rooms or houses, as they require multiple charges to finish cleaning. With how long they take to charge, the floor will just get dirty again. The endless cycle of dirty and clean!
In this case, the j7+ is the clear winner. You would assume the newer S9+ would have an improved battery life, but it only lasts 75 minutes per charge, while the j7+ lasts about 90 minutes.
Younguns should have more energy than their elders, but it seems iRobot skimped on the battery of the newer model.
Winner: iRobot Roomba j7+
One of the key features that sets the S9+ apart from the j7+ is its Dirt Detect technology. Since you ideally want your Roomba to leave your house squeaky clean, it’s quite an important feature!
This unique technology allows the S9+ to find spots with a strong concentration of dust that might require more than one cleaning pass. The S9+ will then act like an eager little perfectionist and work extra hard to ensure these particular spots are cleaned!
On the other hand, the j7+ doesn’t have this type of technology at all. It will be unable to detect which spots really need the most attention, making it less efficient than the S9+.
Winner: iRobot Roomba S9+
If you don’t mind the low battery life, the iRobot Roomba S9+ is overall a much more efficient vacuum. The Dirt Detect technology and suction power combine to make sure that no dust or dirt remains after the S9+ is done! You also save in the long-term due to the built-in dustbin, despite it requiring more maintenance.
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