Qihoo 360 Technology Co. Ltd. is a Chinese internet security company that is well known in China thanks to its antivirus software and smart security IoT devices. For the past few years, they started developing robot vacuums as well. I had already reviewed and tested their robot vacuums, such as 360 S5, S6, and S7 and I like these models a lot since for the affordable price they can give you the same features as more expensive iRobot, Neato, Ecovacs, and Roborock products. I am excited to see what the company brings with the newest product, 360 S9 which should be available on the market until the end of March. I love the other models and actually the older 360 S6 model is my main robot that been vacuuming my floors for over 2 years already.
All 360 robot vacuums use Lidar to build a map of the cleaning area. They all have a lot of smart features and pretty good build quality but cost less than most competitors with similar features. Let’s see what the 360 S9 offers and what has been improved over the previous models.
360 S9 Robot Vacuum Highlights
- Strong 2,200Pa suction
- Suitable for low and medium-pile carpets
- Equipped with a HEPA filter (safe for allergy sufferers)
- Large water tank with an electric water control
- High-precise map & efficient navigation
- Long-lasting 5,200mAh battery
- Customizable cleaning features in the app (no-go zones, zoned cleaning, room cleaning, etc)
- Multimap support
- Comes with disposable mops in the box
- Omnidirectional remote control to order some basic commands
360 S9 In The Box & Appearance
The robot has a charging dock that adjusts the length of the charging cord to look sleeker
The robot has contacts that help it to dock itself to recharge.
There are also two types of plugs.
It is the first robot in the model line that has a remote controller in the box. I like the way it looks, nothing like I used to see in different robots.
There is also a cute surprise in the box everyone might like.
When opening the lid, I see two containers and this is rare. Normally the water tank is visible or can be attached separately but the 360 S9 is nothing like its brothers or other robots on the market. The water tank is electronic, it adjusts water supply depending on cleaning tasks. It also comes with mopping attachments (mopping pad and two microfiber cloths).
The dustbin stores a washable HEPA filter and also a cleaning tool. Surprising, huh?
Underneath, you can see the cleaning brush which has detachable side tips, an omnidirectional wheel, a side brush, and two big wheels.
How the 360 S9 Navigates
The 360 S9 has a Lidar (laser distance sensor) on top that helps to create a high-precise map based on the surroundings of the floors. The created map helps the robot to understand where it should clean and where it has already cleaned. The robot calculates the most efficient way of cleaning in real-time thanks to the powerful processor inside the device which helps to save more battery and cover larger areas on one charge. The robot navigates following a back-and-forth path methodically covering the whole cleaning area.
On the tower, there is a laser pressure sensor. When pressing it, the robot moves backward. This is designed for the robot to escape itself when the sensor bumps into furniture such as an area under the bed where it can’t fit, etc.
The 360 S9 uses 24 built-in sensors which help to navigate around obstacles, keep it from bumping into furniture, and falling off stairs.
Once the robot finishes cleaning and creates a map, it divides it into separate rooms. You can divide or merge the rooms you want it. It was nearly perfect in my case and the 360 S9 recognized the rooms better than the latest Xiaomi MiJia STYJ02YM.
Is the 360 S9 suitable for carpets?
This is going to be the most powerful robot from the 360 family. By having 2,200 Pa, the S9 should be capable of deep carpet cleaning. All the previous 360 models I tested showed great cleaning performance on a low pile and middle-pile carpets and I think this model will show even better results. As well as predecessors, the 360 S9 has carpet boost function which means it automatically increases suction power when detecting carpet. The carpet boost feature should be turned on in the app.
Another new cool feature is the collision protection mode. The robot is gentle to your furniture but with this mode on it stays away from chair legs, bed, etc without bumping into things.
How well the 360 S9 performs on carpet?
When running the robot on a medium-pile carpet (20 mm / 0.79 inches thick), I noticed that it struggles to move a bit, it is not as smooth as the previous models. However, I think it is because of stronger suction, the robot gets closer to the carpet and that’s why it seems to be struggling on one. In the end, it shows great results on carpets.
When testing its pick up ability, I scattered 100 grams of some oats, rice, beans, and quinoa. I tested the robot twice, the first time it picked up 100% of it, the second time it managed to catch 96% of it which is much better than average for a robot vacuum.
Carpet boost works accurate allowing the robot to get deeper cleaning on a carpeted surface.
I should also say that for such strong suction, the robot works quieter than most robots on the market which is nice. The noise is smooth and easy-to-the-ear.
Overall I would say the 360 S9 is one of the best robots on the market that can handle a low and medium-pile carpet.
Battery capacity & for how long the robot can clean
Inside the robot, there is a built-in 5,200 mAh battery. This is one of the biggest batteries on the market and only a few high-end devices from other manufacturers equipped with an equivalent battery. The large battery provides up to 180 minutes of cleaning time and if you live in a really big house that can’t be cleaned on one charge, the robot will automatically recharge and continue cleaning to finish the job.
App and smart features
The 360Smart app (available for iOS and Android phones) contents a lot of smart features including multimap support, no-go zones, selective room cleaning, zoned cleaning, etc. For example, you can order the robot to directly clean the kitchen or living room, go vacuum a particularly messy area, set where the machine should not go or send it to clean a high-traffic spot.
The S9 also has an RF omnidirectional remote control so you can use it instead of the app for some basic things such as start/stop, return to the dock, manual control, and suction adjust functions.
After the first run, the robot creates a complete map of your house, divides it into sections (rooms) for easier cleaning (scheduling) a specific room further.
Room cleaning: order the robot to clean a particular room or a few that are the messier.
Room-in-sequence: allows you to set which room to clean first. For example, start with the kitchen which normally needs more cleaning and then order which room to clean next.
When choosing mop mode the suction will be shut off. In this mode, you can also set mopping off-limit areas to keep the robot off carpets. When the mopping attached are off these areas become inactive.
Off-limit area: keeps the robot from going to some areas where it can get stuck or where you don’t want it to go.
Spot cleaning: cleans a small 1.5x1.5 area, for example, you can use it to clean a messy spot.
Deep cleaning: by setting a zone, you can specify to clean it twice to provide better cleaning.
Schedule: set the time and days when the robot vacuum cleaner should automatically start cleaning.
When setting schedules, you can choose whether the robot will only be mopping or sweeping and mopping at once. You can set cleaning mode too.
The only thing that is missing (in my opinion) is you can not choose the water dripping level. I believe it will take the one that was set on default before.
When choosing the area you want the robot to clean you can order it to clean the whole house, select area cleaning (zoned cleaning), and specified room cleaning.
The whole-house cleaning is when the robot cleans your house without missing a room.
Select area cleaning means you can draw a zone on the map you want the robot to clean. Saying you have some areas that get dirtier than others and you want it to be cleaned more often.
Specified room cleaning is when you order the machine to clean a kitchen and bedroom at once. A handy feature if you don’t need the whole house cleaning.
Mopping off-limit area: when the water tank and mopping pad are attached, you can draw a rectangle on the map in places where your carpets are located to prevent the robot from going on carpets when mopping. When the attachments are removed these areas become inactive.
Multi-floor map management: the robot saves up to 10 different floor maps which makes it suitable for multi-level houses. You can set your favorite map which will not be deleted or replaced, or use the downstairs or upstairs map depending on the robot's location.
Wet Mopping function
The 360 S9 has a mopping ability. It is equipped with a water tank that is big enough to mop up to 100 minutes before it needs to be refilled again. There is electric pomp inside the robot which controls the water dripping speed. You can also choose the water dripping level in the app depending on your needs (three modes available).
According to the 360Smart app, depending on the water level the robot can cover:
- Low water output up to 200 square meters (2152 sqft).
- Medium water output up to 140 square meters (1506 sqft).
- High water output up to 90 square meters (968 sqft).
The electronic water containers are more useful in my opinion. You can set the amount of water dripping (I normally set the highest level) instead of water just running out to the mopping cloth. You can also change the water dripping level depending on the room. The kitchen normally needs more while for the bedroom you can set it to a minimum.
The water tank is placed inside the machine under the lid next to the dustbin which is surprising. I have never seen a robot vacuum to have two containers under the lid at once. Attaching and removing the mopping pad is very convenient, slide it underneath until it clicks.
To start mopping, you have to fill the container with water, attach the pad with a cloth on, set water dripping level, and let it go.
The container is electronic which means it supplies water right to the mopping pad. Also in mopping mode, you can set no-mop zones so the robot will avoid carpets.
During our tests, the robot was able to remove stains but those weren't stubborn. On high water output and a full water container, the 360 S9 can mop for about 44 minutes covering 45 square meters (484 sqft). When the container is empty, the robot alerts that it needs to be refilled and this is the first robot I have tested that actually alerts in mopping mode.
Keep in mind, the mopping option is not going to replace manual mopping but it is a great feature to have if you want to keep hard floors clean as long as possible.
The robot can do vacuuming, mopping, vacuuming and mopping so you can turn on/off suction when needed.
360 S9 vs. S7: What has been changed
- Stronger suction (2,200 Pa vs. 2,000 Pa)
- An intelligent water tank that controls water dripping level
- A bigger battery (5,200 mAh vs. 3,200 mAh)
- Longer battery life (180 min vs. 120 min)
Which 360 robot vacuum to buy?
The 360 S6 is the oldest model. It also has the mopping function but the suction power is weaker (1,600Pa) and it lucks of some smart features (room recognition, water level control, custom no-mop zones). If you have a small area of hard floors to mop and low-pile carpets/rugs only, the 360 S6 would be a good choice as it is one the cheapest among others.
The 360 S5 does not have the mopping function but it is more powerful than the 360 S6. It performs great on medium-pile carpets, has a better climbing ability and handles pet hair pretty well. For under $300 you get a robot vacuum cleaner that is capable of cleaning medium-pile carpets, and has all the smart features such as room recognition and selective room cleaning, no-go zones, zoned cleaning, etc. It doesn’t have competitors on the market in this price range. Not suitable for bigger homes though because of the small battery.
The 360 S7 is as good as the S5 but in addition, it has a longer battery life and mopping function. If you live in an average house with medium-pile carpets, need a robot that will also mop hard floors and have smart features, consider getting the 360 S7.
The latest 360 S9 is an improved version of all the previous models. It is ideal for big multi-level houses covered in low and medium-pile carpets. It would also be perfect for pet owners. With a big water tank, it can cover a large area in mopping mode. If you want a premium robot vacuum for a reasonable price, go with the 360 S9.
Where to buy
The 360 S9 is already available to buy on Amazon for $449.99.
To sum up
I have tested all robots from the company and I also have always been a fan of these. The 360 S9 is the best among the family with stronger suction and the ability to clean carpets.
The app got better and became more intuitive which I like. And if I am being honest, the 360Smart app is one of the best on the market. Easy access to the most important features, minimalist design, and no bugs. Real-time tracking is smooth with no delay and overall using the app leaves good impressions.
Overall the 360 S9 is much better than average robot cleaners by having the strongest suction and performing as good on carpet as it does on hard floors.
If you are living in a big house and looking for a decent robot vacuum that can vacuum it, have a look at the 360 S9.
If you have pets, go with the robot as it has an easy-to-clean brush with detachable tips. As a long-haired person, I appreciate it so much.
If you have some hard floor area to mop, the S9 will do the job for you.
If you have some furniture you don’t want a robot to break, the 360 S9 is extra gentle, it keeps a distance and never bumps into things when sensors recognize one. Also, virtual boundaries help in cluttered homes.
I would recommend the 360 S9 to anyone who is looking for an efficient and powerful robot vacuum that is also quiet when working which might be a big deal for someone since I am a big fan of these robots that are powerful yet not as loud as other models on the market.