Samsung Jet 90 Review – How Good Is It?

The Jet 90 sits near the top of the Samsung highly regarded cordless vacuum line. Just above it, the Samsung Bespoke Jet model. Below it, and sharing much of the same accessories and specs, the 75 model. We cover the similarities, differences and when to choose each below.

Hands on Samsung Jet 90 Review

After purchasing and testing other Samsung Jet cordless stick vacuums Samsung offered us a Jet 90 to review. What we really wanted to know was if the differences in the Jet 90 warranted the higher price. Read on for our conclusion.

Real world use and testing

After several weeks of using the Jet 90, we're sold on it. Before continuing, there is a bit of a backstory in us reviewing the Samsung Jet 90. We’ve previously tested and reviewed the Jet 90’s sibling, the Jet 75. And, we're huge fans of it.

What's interesting is that the lower tier model shares quite a bit with the Jet 90. In fact, both cordless stick vacuums share the same main unit. That means the dustbin, Digital Inverter Motor, 5-layer Filtration System, suction level – all of it is the same.

The Jet 90 and its sibling are also available with both the Soft Action Brush (for hard floors), the Turbo Action Brush (for carpeting), a powered upholstery brush, long-reach crevice tool and combination tool, too. Both models are also compatible with the Clean Station self-emptying dock, too.

Unique features of the Jet 90

Of course, there are a few differences between the two as well as the Bespoke model. Recently those differences began to expand as the Jet line became larger and more nuanced. The Jet 90’s unique characteristics are:

• Only the Jet 90 and the more expensive Bespoke Jet come with a telescoping tube.
• The Jet 90 has a unique floor-stand not used with any other Jet cordless vacuum variation.
• The Bespoke model has 210 air watts of suction, 5% more than the Jet 90.

Including the lower-end Jet stick vacuums and newly released variations and there's a good number of options to choose from in the line. The closest parity is definitely the 75 model, however. Refer to our comprehensive Samsung vacuum round up to compare all things Jet Stick in one place (coming soon).

Vacuuming performance

Unsurprisingly, the Jet 90 performed excellent on both hard flooring and carpet. We tested the Jet 90 on various carpet piles with the Turbo Action Brush. For hardwood floors we used the Soft Action Brush. The Jet 90 did great on a variety of surfaces from throw rugs to carpet, tile and hardwood floors. The reason there was little surprise was the shared characteristics of the Jet 90 and 75 which we had previously tested.

Cleaning test results

We focus more on real-world use, but also run a standard set of tests to better understand how each vacuum stacks up against competing options. Here's the Jet 90's scores:

Jet 90 suction

Where suction is concerned, the Jet 90 has 200 air watts of suction. That’s the same as the 75, and a mere 10 air watts shy of the newer Bespoke Jet model. We find it to be more than adequate. It’s more than you’ll find in Dyson’s V11 lineup, all of which carry a price tag higher than the Jet 90. Dyson's V15 has more suction but it carries a much higher price tag, too.

No trigger to hold down

We love that there’s no trigger to hold down on this vacuum. Instead, you power it on by pressing the power button with your thumb. Changing suction modes is also a thumb-click away. Just push the plus button for higher suction and minus for lower.

In daily use, we found the standard setting, called Mid, fine for just about any normal vacuuming task. But, when cleaning up a larger mess (think cereal, coffee, rice, chips), the Max setting is the one to use.

The only setting left to mention is the Min setting. We tried it once or twice, but as we didn’t have battery life issues in Mid setting, we didn’t find much use for it. It is much quieter, and might be welcome in a home with a baby (or others sleeping).

Cleaning floors, stairs and hard-to reach places

Not all stick vacuum manufacturers have arrived at comfortable, predictable maneuverability. Samsung is one of a handful that have. Maneuvering the vacuum when vacuuming flooring feels natural. The cleaning heads steer as you'd expect and are capable of a 180-degree swivel range.

Homeowners with stairs should take note of the Jet 90’s telescoping tube. Collapsing it to its shortest length allows comfortable vacuuming a stair from one or two stairs below it. It also offers a longer reach when cleaning blinds and other higher-up or hard to reach areas. At its shortest, the telescoping pipe is 930mm which is just over 36 inches. At its longest it is 1,140mm, just shy of 45 inches. There are several adjustment stops between those extremes where the tube locks into place.

Noise

Using a decibel meter, we measured the noise created by the vacuum in each of the three suction modes with one of the full-sized cleaning heads attached. The test results are in the table below.

Sound readings were taken a couple of feet from the Jet 90. For a premium stick vacuum the readings were about what you’d expect. In the Max setting there is a higher pitched sound. It's common in vacuums over 150 air watts and wasn't a suprise or an annoyance.

Battery life

Overall, we’re impressed with the Jet 90’s battery management. As we mentioned, we opt for the normal suction setting most of the time. And, we’ve been able to clean two floors of a mid-sized (2,500) square foot home without running out of power.

If you are the type to only use a vacuum in its maximum suction mode and have a larger home, you may want to consider a second battery. At the time of publishing, the Jet 90 did not have a 2-battery variation to purchase. That may have changed, however, as Samsung has released a set of variations for other models which do ship with 2-batteries.

If you do get a second battery the Self0-Standing Dual Charging Station can charge both at the same time. Batteries are available direct from Samsung and we’ve seen at least one promotion where purchasing a second battery was offered at a sizable discount, too.

Emptying the dirt bin

Emptying is a split-topic with the Jet 90. It can be incredibly convenient and easy, or a bit akward. Here's why. Just about all cordless vacuums sold have a one-handed trap-door style emptying mechanism. Jet Stick vacuums, including the 90, do not.

Which emptying mechanism you have depends if you opt for the self-emptying Clean Station (which we recommend) or not. When purchased with the Clean Station, the dust bin has a trap-door style bottom which opens when placed on the Clean Station. You do need to first remove it from the vacuum. But, it’s well worth it for the convenience it offers.

What's interesting is that the lower tier model shares quite a bit with the Jet 90. In fact, both cordless stick vacuums share the same main unit. That means the dustbin, Digital Inverter Motor, 5-layer Filtration System, suction level – all of it is the same.

When purchased without the Clean Station, the first step is the same: you remove the dust bin from the vacuum. But, there is no trap-door bottom. The next step is to twist off the top of the canister. Then, you empty it and reverse the steps, putting the vacuum back together.

For our time, money and convenience, we love the Clean Station. Without it, emptying is more involved than with many competing vacuums. Early on there was a shortage of Clean Station replacement bags, but they're available now at Samsung and Amazon (we just bought some). Unfortunately, supply chain shortage tainted reviews of the Clean Station and the bags themselves.

So, is the Jet 90 worth it?

The short answer is yes. The Jet 90 is an excellent vacuum and we are incredibly surprised at how deeply Samsung has been discounting all Jet vacuums in recent months. They’re clearly trying to gain market position, and the customer is the one who benefits the most.

The bigger question when considering the Jet 90 comes down to if you want a telescoping pipe and if you want a stand-alone base. If you want those two things, the Jet 90 is a great vacuum and we recommend it without hesitation. If you don't read on below. There are other Samsung options worth your money.

And, as we’ve stated before, the Clean Station is phenomenal. After using one for several months, it’s hard to imagine not having one.

Final thoughts

At full MSRP, the Jet 90 might seem like a tough sell against the Jet 75. That’s because the difference isn’t on performance, but on those two specific features: the telescoping tube and charging base.

In short, the difference between the two seems like more of a trade-off than the Jet 90 representing a $150 upgrade. And, while it may be different considering your own home and needs, we still prefer the Jet 75 and it’s lower price point. It shares all the most important specifications of the 90 but comes at a lower price.

To be clear, we have nothing against the Jet 90 at all. If the telescoping tube, for instance, is important to you, the price increase might be worthwhile. Finally, if you're shopping for the best money can buy you should at least give the Bespoke Jet Cordless with Clean Station a look, too. There may be some sticker shock as Samsung often defaults 3 years of Samsung Care as opposed to one year, increasing the price signifcantly.