Tineco FLOOR ONE S9 Artist Review – Gliding Into a New Standard

Having now reviewed theTineco FLOOR ONE S6 FlashDry and the FLOOR ONE S7 Steam, I feel like I have earned the right to call myself something of a Tineco veteran. And that history matters when reviewing the FLOOR ONE S9 Artist, because it lets me say with some confidence: Tineco has been listening. And learning. And improving.

What’s in the box?

• Charging dock
• Instruction manual
• Cleaning tool
• Spare Dry Filter
• Spare Brush Roller
• The Tineco FLOOR ONE S9 Artist main unit and the handle
• Tineco’s cleaning solution

Setup? Done.

Let’s get this one out of the way quickly because there is really not much to say. Setup was painless. Assemble, charge, go. No head scratching, no hunting for a YouTube tutorial, no moment where you stare at an oddly shaped component wondering where it goes. If you have used a Tineco before, it is all very familiar. If this is your first, you will have no trouble either.

The Glide is Real

Here is something I did not expect to write: pushing this thing around the house feels good. Not “fine” or “acceptable”, it’s actually good. The S6 FlashDry handled decently and the S7 Steam was solid too, but the S9 Artist moves across the floor with a smoothness that I can only describe as gliding. Steering has noticeably improved compared to previous models. You tilt, it follows. It just feels more responsive, more intuitive, less like you are wrestling an appliance and more like it is cooperating with you.

Part of this comes down to a really smart engineering decision. The clean water tank sits right at the brush head rather than in the main body, a design Tineco first introduced in the Stretch S6 line. This shifts the weight downward, giving the S9 Artist better stability and a less top-heavy feel as the tank empties. It is also what makes the lay-flat mode possible, but more on that in a moment. It is the kind of thoughtfulness that does not show up in a spec sheet but you absolutely feel during a cleaning session. Very smart, Tineco. Very smart.

Speed Modes: Choose Your Adventure

The S9 Artist gives you three cleaning speeds to choose from: GENTLE, GENERAL, and MAX. GENTLE is a slower, more deliberate pace, good for delicate situations or a light touch-up. GENERAL sits in the middle and suits most everyday cleaning. And then there is MAX.

MAX is my personal favourite. I tend to do my cleaning in one focused burst and MAX lets me move through the house quickly without sacrificing results. It is powerful, it is fast, and honestly it is just a bit satisfying to use. The fact that you have this level of control over your cleaning pace is a useful feature, not just a marketing checkbox.

Lay-Flat Mode: An Absolute Game Changer

I do not use that phrase lightly, but I am using it here. Tineco introduced the 180 degree lay-flat design in the Stretch S6, and the S7 Stretch carried it forward, but those were separate product lines. What is significant about the S9 Artist is that this capability has now arrived in Tineco’s flagship Artist line, made possible by repositioning the clean water tank to the brush head.

The result is that you can now get under the bed, under the sofa, into those perpetually dusty and permanently neglected zones that most appliances simply cannot reach.

The only caveat is that the gap needs to be larger than the thickness of the S9 Artist’s body. So do check before you get too excited about that low-clearance furniture. But for most standard beds and sofas, you will be very pleased. This is one of those features where once you have it, you cannot imagine going back.

Oh, one more thing. The handle has a small rubber padding to support itself in the lay-flat mode. Very small, but super useful. Further evidence of Tineco’s user-oriented, thoughtful design process.

Suction Mode Does What It Says

The SUCTION mode on the S9 Artist pulls water effectively. Spills that would have previously sent you scrambling for a mop or a towel can now just be taken care of on the spot. It is straightforward, it works well, and it is easily accessible, which, if you have read my S7 Steam review, you will know was a point of frustration for me back then. Progress!

The Slick App

I love the Tineco Life app. I have always appreciated it, but the interface on the S9 Artist feels particularly polished. It is informative without being overwhelming, intuitive without dumbing things down, and visually very clean.

The dashboard gives you a quick snapshot of battery level and your latest cleaning log at a glance. From there you can dig into mode settings, adjust sound volume and language, and toggle the assistive upright feature. You can also control the running speed separately for both tilted and lay-flat states, which is an app-only setting and a genuinely useful one. Being able to tune the speed specifically for when you are cleaning under the bed or sofa is a small but thoughtful touch. There is also a full cleaning log if you like keeping track of your sessions.

The app team at Tineco is doing a great job.

The Dirty Water Tank: Proof is in the Pudding

One of my favourite things about the S9 Artist is how satisfyingly visible the results are. After even a quick five-minute run through the house, a house that for the record already looked reasonably clean, the dirty water tank tells a very different story. Dirt, dust, and hair, all collected, all sitting there as undeniable proof that the S9 Artist has been doing its job properly. It is oddly satisfying. Almost motivating, in a strange way.

And when it comes time to empty it, the process is straightforward enough. There is a slight awkward angle to navigate when cleaning the tank out, but nothing that will slow you down or frustrate you. A minor niggle, not a dealbreaker.

The Assistive Upright Mode: A Thoughtful Touch

When you press the stop button on the S9 Artist, something interesting happens. The machine automatically reverses direction to help return itself to an upright position, and in doing so, it also picks up any water streaks left behind on the floor. Tineco calls this the assistive upright feature, and it is a clever finishing touch.

The first time it happens you do a little double take. It feels polished and intentional, like a car door that closes itself, and that sense of refinement is very much in keeping with what the S9 Artist is all about.

In day-to-day use, it is one of those features that quietly does its job without demanding your attention. You may not find yourself thinking about it much, and that is probably the point. Not every feature needs to be front and centre to add value. Sometimes the best ones are the ones that just happen, seamlessly, in the background.

A Few Things Worth Questioning

The Clean Water Tank Label

Here is something that had me puzzled. The clean water tank has a label that reads “Tineco solution only.” Which immediately raises the question: are we not supposed to put plain water in there?

After a bit of digging, it turns out the correct approach is to add one cap of Tineco’s cleaning solution to the tank and then fill to the MAX line with regular tap water. The reason Tineco discourages third-party solutions is that they can produce excess bubbles, rapidly filling the dirty water tank mid-clean, which makes sense once you know. But “Tineco solution only” as a label does not communicate any of that. Someone new to the product could very reasonably walk away confused, or worse, think they need to buy solution before they can even get started. Clearer labelling or a short note in the packaging would go a long way here.

The Self-Cleaning Button

I love the self-cleaning feature. I have always loved it. The idea that the appliance cleans itself is one of Tineco’s great quality-of-life features. Especially when I compared the fluffiness of the brush roller before the self clean and after. But I keep coming back to the same question: why do we need to manually press a button to start it?

When the S9 Artist is sitting in its charging dock, it presumably knows it is docked. Could it not simply detect the condition of the brush roller and internal components and decide for itself whether a self-clean cycle is needed? Auto self-cleaning on the dock would be the dream. The button is not a dealbreaker, but it is a small friction that feels unnecessary given how smart the rest of the device is.

About That Noise Level

The S9 Artist is not quiet. Put it in Max mode and it will let you know it means business. And unlike the voice feedback, which you can adjust or mute entirely through the app, the operational noise of the machine itself is just something you have to live with. So if you are the type who cleans after the household is asleep (hello, kindred spirits), just be mindful about it. It is not unusual for a device in this category, but worth knowing upfront.

TINECO FLOOR ONE S9 ARTIST REVIEW CONCLUSION

Each time I review a new Tineco, I wonder if they can meaningfully improve on what came before. And each time, they find a way. The FLOOR ONE S9 Artist is the most refined Tineco floor cleaner I have used. The glide is smoother, the engineering is smarter, the speed options give you complete control, and the arrival of lay-flat mode in the flagship Artist line is a meaningful step forward that opens up parts of your home that have probably not been properly cleaned in years. The app continues to be one of the best companion experiences in this product category.

If you are in the market for a premium hard floor cleaner, whether upgrading from an older Tineco or taking the plunge for the first time, the S9 Artist makes a very compelling argument.

Disclosure: Tineco FLOOR ONE S9 Artist review unit was supplied for reviewing