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Robovations
Robovations™
Robot Autonomy, Classified
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Comparison · 2 robots

Ecovacs Deebot T9+ · iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo

All robot vacuums. Every measure below is plotted against the full class, so a difference can be read against how much the class itself varies.

  1. Ecovacs Deebot T9+
  2. iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo

Up to three

01 Classification

What each one does on its own.

The Autonomy Ladder is the same five rungs for every robot on the site. A rung describes the conditions a robot handles without you, not how good it is.

V
Generalized
Any task, any setting
IV
Environmental
Handles new obstacles without help
III
Conditional
Finishes familiar jobs on its own
Ecovacs Deebot T9+iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo
II
Assisted
Runs preset routines, needs rescue
I
Manual
One action, on command
02 Assessment

Where they actually differ.

The Robovations Score is nine inputs across three pillars, each weighted as shown and each scored so that more is better. A robot can lead on one and trail on another, which is the point of showing them apart. Cost of ownership and data handling are reported on each robot's own page and are never averaged into the score.

Capability

Task completion16% of score
Does it finish the job it is sold to do, unattended
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+73
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo60
18median 72 across 429 scored robots100
Coverage and navigation10% of score
Does it work the whole area, and hold that between runs
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+77
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo68
0median 70 across 417 scored robots100
Edge-case recovery10% of score
Does it recover from the failures its category presents
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+79
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo55
18median 52 across 318 scored robots100
Operating envelope4% of score
How far conditions can vary before performance drops
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+72
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo60
28median 68 across 393 scored robots100

Dependability

Field failure rate16% of score
Documented hardware failures per owner-year
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+73
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo60
6median 70 across 355 scored robots100
Software stability14% of score
Whether updates fix more than they break
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+65
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo65
15median 65 across 340 scored robots100
Support longevity10% of score
Committed parts, service and updates, with dates
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+48
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo55
0median 62 across 425 scored robots100

Ownership burden

Routine maintenance12% of score
Hands-on time it asks for in normal operation
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+48
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo72
22median 67 across 430 scored robots100
Consumables8% of score
Parts that must be bought to keep it working
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+51
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo62
8median 69 across 430 scored robots100
03 Measured against the class

How far apart is a long way?

A number only means something next to the spread it sits in. Each track below is the real range across every classified robot in the class, with the median marked.

Price214 with a published figure
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+$799
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo$899
$160median $799.99$2,599
Suction (mode not stated)207 with a published figure
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+3,000 Pa
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo30,000 Pa
1,000 Pamedian 10,000 Pa42,000 Pa
Weight181 with a published figure
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+7.2 lbs
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo10.7 lbs
3.6 lbsmedian 8.5 lbs25 lbs
Height223 with a published figure
  • Ecovacs Deebot T9+3.8 in
  • iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo3.9 in
2.6 inmedian 3.8 in7.8 in

Not compared, because fewer than two of these robots carry a published figure: Runtime, Charge time, Noise.

04 Ownership

What the numbers leave out.

The trade-off

What each design gives up to be good at what it is good at.

Ecovacs Deebot T9+

Storing a map per floor removes relearning, but the robot cannot move between floors, so multi-level cleaning stays a manual carry.

The air freshener is a proprietary consumable: capsules are rated at up to 60 days each and change nothing about how the machine cleans.

iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo

The AutoWash dock hot-washes and heat-dries the roller mop and auto-empties the bin, but that is more moving parts in the dock than a dry-empty-only station, and none of it has independent long-term reliability data yet.

Undercuts the Max 875 Combo by roughly $300 with the same AutoWash dock architecture, but at lower rated suction (30,000 Pa), so the price gap likely tracks a real carpet-cleaning gap, not just branding.

Who each one is wrong for

Stated by the record itself. A robot being wrong for a household is a fact about fit, not a fault.

Ecovacs Deebot T9+
Homes with high-pile carpet or thick shag
The mop plate has no automatic lift and comes off by hand before a run over deep pile. Vacuuming works on carpet; mopping and carpet cannot be scheduled into the same hands-off run.
Budget-conscious buyers seeking basic multi-floor coverage
TrueMapping premium adds $150-200 over single-floor models. Benefit diminishes in homes where one floor covers 80% of living space.
Owners avoiding consumable cartridges or frequent maintenance
The air freshener uses proprietary capsules, rated by Ecovacs at up to 60 days each. Mop pads are removed and washed by hand after mopping runs; the station handles dust only.
iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo
Homes with thick or high-pile carpet needing deep-clean suction
No independent suction or high-pile test results are documented for this model; iRobot's non-flagship Combo units have historically shown reduced pickup on thick carpet.
Buyers who want the Max tier's higher rated suction
The Plus 678 is rated at 30,000 Pa; the sibling Max 875 Combo carries a higher published suction figure, so serious carpet cleaning likely favors the pricier model.
Very large or multi-level homes needing single-pass coverage
Independent multi-level coverage testing does not yet exist for this model; recharge-and-resume adds passes rather than eliminating them on large floor plans.
Buyers who need proven multi-year reliability data before purchase
The model shipped twelve days before this assessment; no independent failure report, teardown, or owner-forum thread yet exists to evaluate the dock's hot-water wash mechanism or the robot itself.

What stays your job

The upkeep ownership hands back to you, whatever the autonomy level says.

Ecovacs Deebot T9+
  • After mopping runs: Remove and wash the mop pad; the station does not wash or dry it.
  • Monthly: Clean the main filter and clear hair from the rubber brush and side brush.
  • About every 60 days: Replace the station dust bag, which Ecovacs rates at up to 60 days of hands-free operation, and the air freshener capsule if that feature is used.
  • Every 3-6 months: Replace the main filter and inspect the brush for wear.
  • Annually: Replace the main brush, side brush and mop pads as wear becomes visible.
iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo
  • Weekly: Check the StayClean mopping concentrate reservoir and refill if the dock signals low.
  • Monthly: Clear hair wrap from the main brush and roller.
  • Every 3-6 months: Replace the self-empty bag.
  • Every 3-6 months: Replace the filter (roughly $15-20 for a 3-pack at iRobot’s typical part pricing).
  • Every 3-6 months: Replace the side brush.
  • As needed: Run the dock’s self-clean cycle and wipe down the roller-wash chamber to prevent buildup.
05 Evidence

How much each of these is standing on.

Classifications rest on different depths of evidence. A pre-release assessment and a verified one are not the same kind of claim.

Evidence behind each classification
Robot Evidence status Sources reviewed Last assessed
Ecovacs Deebot T9+ Verified 9 Aug 2026
iRobot Roomba Plus 678 Combo Pending 7 Sep 2026

Robovations classifies robots; it does not rank them. Nothing on this page is a recommendation, and no manufacturer influences a classification or its placement here.