Roborock S9 MaxV Review: The Robot Vacuum That Actually Cleans

We have tested dozens of robot vacuums over the years. Most are adequate. They pick up surface debris, bump around furniture, and return to their docks with a satisfying beep. But none have fully replaced the manual vacuum — until now.

The Roborock S9 MaxV is the first robot vacuum we have tested that eliminates the need to manually vacuum between robot runs. Here is why.

Suction Power: 10,000Pa Is Not Marketing Fluff

Roborock claims 10,000Pa of suction power. To put that in perspective, most robot vacuums operate at 2,000-4,000Pa. The S9 MaxV's suction is powerful enough to pull ground-in dirt from carpet fibers, not just surface debris. In our testing, it extracted visible pet hair embedded deep in a medium-pile carpet that our previous robot (Roomba j7+) consistently missed.

The rubber dual roller brush design prevents hair tangles — a problem that plagues traditional bristle brushes. After two months with two cats in the house, we have not had to manually clean the brush once.

Navigation: LiDAR + Camera = Near-Perfect

The S9 MaxV uses a combination of LiDAR mapping and a front-facing camera with Reactive AI 2.0 obstacle avoidance. In practice, this means it creates an accurate floor plan on its first run and then navigates with surgical precision, avoiding obstacles as small as a charging cable.

We deliberately left shoes, pet toys, and socks on the floor to test obstacle avoidance. The S9 MaxV avoided every object without getting stuck. The camera-based recognition is context-aware — it identifies the type of obstacle and adjusts its approach. It will gently push past a light curtain but completely avoid a pet bowl.

Mopping: Genuinely Useful

Previous robot mops were glorified Swiffers. The S9 MaxV's VibraRise 3.0 mopping system uses sonic vibration at 4,000 RPM to scrub floors with meaningful pressure. It lifts the mop pad when it detects carpet and lowers it on hard floors, so you can vacuum and mop in a single run without worrying about wet carpets.

In our kitchen test (dried coffee spill left for 24 hours), the S9 MaxV removed the stain completely on a single pass. Previous robots required two to three passes or left residue.

The Auto-Empty Dock

The included dock empties the dustbin automatically, washes the mop pads with hot water, and dries them with heated air. It holds approximately eight weeks of debris for a typical household. We have emptied the dock's dustbag twice in two months. The mop pad cleaning is effective — no mildew smell, which was a constant issue with earlier Roborock models.

App and Smart Home Integration

The Roborock app is the best in the robot vacuum category. Room-specific cleaning schedules, no-go zones, invisible walls, furniture-specific suction adjustments, and detailed cleaning history. It integrates with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple HomeKit (via Matter).

"Hey Alexa, vacuum the kitchen" works reliably and sends the S9 MaxV directly to the kitchen, not on a random path through the house.

Compare with Roomba in our robot vacuum guide →

Noise Level

On standard mode, the S9 MaxV registers 62dB — comparable to a conversation. On max suction mode, it reaches 72dB — noticeable but not disruptive if you are in another room. The quiet mode (48dB) is genuinely quiet enough to run during video calls.

The Price Question

At $1,200-1,400 (depending on dock configuration), the S9 MaxV is expensive. Here is how we think about it: if you currently spend three hours per week vacuuming and mopping, the S9 MaxV saves 150+ hours per year. At any reasonable valuation of your time, it pays for itself within a year.

The iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is a solid alternative at $800-1,000, but it cannot match the S9 MaxV's suction power or mopping performance.

The Verdict

The Roborock S9 MaxV is the first robot vacuum that does not require an asterisk. It vacuums thoroughly, mops effectively, avoids obstacles intelligently, and maintains itself automatically. It is expensive, but it is the first product in this category that genuinely delivers on the promise of automated floor cleaning.

Rating: 9.4/10

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