The Best Robot Vacuum For Pet Hair on Hardwood Floors

A quality robot vacuum cleaner can make a significant difference in the elimination of allergens such as dust and pet hair. There are many models that are not identical.

If you're looking to purchase an animal-friendly vacuum or a robot to enhance your existing vacuum, there are many options.

1. Eufy RoboVac Edge G30

The G30 Edge, the latest model in Eufy’s budget-friendly series of robotic vacuum cleaners, is the most recent model. The G30 Edge is a glossy black vacuum cleaner with pink and blue accents. It looks like it's a smartphone. It's easier to use than previous models and comes with features like BoostIQ which automatically increases suction power for cleaner cleaning on all surfaces. It also makes use of intelligent navigation to prevent repeating the same areas repeatedly, an issue that is common with bounce-navigation systems that are simpler.

It is effective in getting rid of pet hair, crumbs and dust on hard floors, but isn't as effective as the top models when it comes to getting rid of dust from carpet. In our tests the G30 Edge missed 74% of the flour on hard floors and 26% on carpet which is a bit disappointing.

One feature that makes the G30 Edge stand out is its ability to map your home with a digital map in the app. This allows it to remember the rooms it's cleaned and avoid going back to the same rooms. This is a major frustration for the more basic robots that require the traditional magnetic taps to mark areas that are not allowed to be in.

The G30 Edge has other conveniences that include a 'Find My Robot' mode that emits an audible tune until it's found and an directional pad that allows you to manually move the robot. It also comes with an automatic return feature that can send the robot back to its charging station if the battery is low. This is a security feature.

2. Neato Botvac D-Shape

The Neato Botvac D-Shape robotic is a mighty machine with a wide array of smart features. It cleans floors that are bare well, and it can climb on carpets with a high pile easily. The app comes with advanced features like boundary lines remote access to the robot as it is in operation and a host of other options.

This model is the latest in a long line of robots from Neato and has a distinctive "D" shape when viewed from above. This design has several advantages, including improved corner-cleaning and a larger container of dust than the majority of models. The D-shape also allows the robot to reach under furniture more easily than robots that have a circular shape.

When it is first time to begin a cleaning process when it is first started, the D-Shape will stop for a moment to make use of spinning infrared lasers to scan and evaluate the space. Then it will work in a grid and gradually moving from one area to the next until the entire floor has been covered. This method of cleaning is more efficient and thorough than the random approach taken by certain competitors.

The D-Shape's design allows it to have a large 700ml dust container in comparison to 400-600ml on robots of the same price. This capacity increase will save you time and effort by making it easier to empty the dust bin. The D-Shape features a flat surface on the front, which helps to maneuver over obstacles like tables and chairs. In our tests the best robot vacuum for pet hair D-Shape did end up getting stuck under a four-legged stool as well as an electrical cord that was exposed however it was able to get out every time.

3. Roomba i3+ EV

The Roomba EVO i3+ is a fantastic option for pet owners. It is a great choice for hard floors, and does a great job of removing debris such as pet hair, rice, cereal and other small particles. It isn't as good on carpets however, it is still superior than other robots at this price point. The Roomba i3+ EVO is also extremely efficient at transferring between floor types and doesn't get hung over transitions in the way older models can. The dual multi-surface rubber brushes can adjust to different flooring and are able to resist the tangles in pet hair.

The i3+ EVO has less obstacle-avoiding capability than the other robots that we test. It repeatedly hit objects such as handbags, pet toys, and shoes before continuing its route. It also had trouble dealing with coarse sea salt which it did a whirlwind of instead of picking up.

The i3+ EVO includes a number of amazing features that make it worth the additional cost compared to other Roomba models, such as self-emptying bins and advanced control through the app. You can plan cleaning times, set custom routines, and create no-go zones for areas you do not want the robot to enter. Its intelligent scheduling can suggest additional cleaning during high allergy times and based on your regular routine. The navigational system is not reliable, however, and often cleans in irregular lines such as diagonals or zigzags, rather than parallel to walls.

4. Shark AI Self-Empty, XL

This intelligent robot can to trace your home's layout in detail and more accurately than you. It also comes with dual brushes that can adjust to various kinds of flooring and avoids tangling, making it the ideal option for households with pets. You can control the robot using the app, or use it hands-free with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The dock, called Omni, automates tasks such as filling and cleaning the robot's water tanks, emptying debris bins, and charging and drier the mop pads.

It's a great price. The Shark AI Self-Empty XL is cheaper than a lot of other robots on our list, yet it offers advanced features such as mapping and a self-emptying bin which holds a decent amount of debris. It cleaned and maneuvered exceptionally well in a house that had a mixture of low-pile carpeting or floors that were unfinished, and a combination of both. The vacuum also does a good job of removing pet hair on carpeting, though it doesn't have the same power as some of our top picks.

However, the Roborock S4 Max is better constructed, requires less time to recharge than the Shark and comes with a wider range of automated and scheduling options as well as support for no-go zones. Shark is still a good option if you're looking to buy something cheaper or prefer to control and monitor your system via your phone instead of a remote.

5. Bissell SpinWave Dry and Wet

It's not easy to find a robot that combines mopping and vacuuming, but this one does just that. The dual tank system of this Bagotte Robot Vacuum with Mop Powerful Gyro Navigation lets it mop or vacuum with the push of a button. It effortlessly shifted between surfaces during our tests, and was able to excel at picking up pet hair from carpets and hardwood floors. It also has an edge-sweeping brush to remove cat hair from baseboards and walls, and the ability to schedule it to your schedule.

This is a great choice if you are looking for a model that's affordable and has some extra features. It was able navigate obstacles with ease during our tests and can be controlled by an app or voice. It even has scheduled cleaning and has a large dustbin to catch mess before they get full. The only downside is that it could take up to 166 minutes to complete its task, but that's still better than the majority of robots we've evaluated.

The front-facing camera of this robot allows you to monitor the cleanliness of your home through a map with an app. This is especially useful if you are trying to locate a particular object or if your children have spilled glitter from your decorations all over your floor. It can save you a lot of frustration by locating that lost item immediately. The lithium batteries that do not fade can last for as long as 130 minutes on one charge.

6. Roomba 694

The Roomba 694 appears classy and delivers a thorough cleaning. It is very good at maneuvering and can fit under low-level furniture without getting stuck. It's also ideal for low-pile carpet and rugs. It can become stuck on rug tassels, and it is unable to navigate tiny spaces like corners. It also has trouble picking up pet hair from all surfaces.

Despite the limited features of the 694 however, it still performs better than the majority of competitors. It scored an excellent score in our cereal-carpet test and completed our cat litter test with only a few scattered pieces of litter left behind. It's not as effective on hardwood floors, however. Its side brush scatters huge cereal particles that stick to the floor instead of sweeping. It also had a hard time collecting table salt from a bare floor, with lots of pieces falling across the floor and beyond its reach.

It supports voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant through an external device (sold separately). It analyzes your cleaning habits and creates customized schedules. Cliff Detect and an edge-sweeping brush ensure it gets into difficult-to-access corners. Dirt Detect sensors alert it to heavily soiled areas. The battery lasts for about 60 minutes and it has a self-emptying dustbin. The pricier iRobot J7 comes with an sophisticated set of features and is more stable on all surfaces. It's also more durable, has a bigger dustbin, can charge faster and is able to navigate obstacles such as electrical cords better.