The Best Robot Vacuum For Pet Hair on Hardwood Floors

A quality robot vacuum can make a big difference in keeping allergens such as dust and pet hair under control. Different models are not identical.

If you're looking for a vacuum with pet-specific features or a robot to enhance your existing vacuum, there's many options.

1. Eufy RoboVac G30 Edge

The G30 Edge is the newest model in Eufy's budget line robot vacuum cleaners. It's a sleek black design with rose-gold and blue accents that resemble an iPhone. It's more user-friendly than previous models and has features such as BoostIQ which automatically boosts Experience Unmatched Cleaning: Ultra Strong Suction G20 PRO to ensure better cleaning of all surfaces. Smart navigation is used to avoid the repetition of the same area that are an issue that is common with bounce-navigation.

It does a great job getting rid of pet hair, crumbs and dust on hard floors but it is not as efficient as the top models in terms of cleaning up carpets of flour. In our tests the G30 Edge missed 74% of the dust on hard floors, and 26 percent on carpet, which is disappointing.

One of the features that makes the G30 Edge stand out is its ability to map your home's layout using a digital map in the app. This allows it to keep track of the rooms it has already cleaned and avoid returning to those rooms which is a major problem with simpler robots that require the use of old-fashioned magnetic tape to delineate areas that are not allowed to enter.

The G30 Edge also has other advantages. It has an "Find My Robot" mode that emits loud music until it is found, and a directional keypad that lets you manually move the robot. It has an automatic return feature that sends the robot back to its charging station when the battery is low. This is a safety feature.

2. Neato Botvac D-Shape

The Neato Botvac D-Shape robotic is a mighty machine with a long list of intelligent features. It can clean floors efficiently and climb up carpets with high piles easily. The app also comes with advanced features like boundary lines, remote control access while the robot is in operation, and a variety of other options.

This model is the newest in a long-running series of Neato robots. It has a distinctive "D' shape when viewed above. This design has several benefits that include an improved corner cleaning system and a larger dust bin than other models. The D-shape allows the robot to reach under furniture better than those with a circular shape.

When first starting a cleaning cycle, the D-Shape will stop for a moment to make use of spinning infrared lasers to scan and assess the area. Then it will begin to work in a grid, systematically moving from one area to the next until the entire floor is cleaned. This method is more thorough and efficient than other companies' random approach.

The design of the D-Shape allows it to have a large 700ml dust bin, in comparison to 400-600ml on robots of similar price. This increased capacity will save you time and effort by decreasing the frequency of emptying the dust bin. The D-Shape features a flat side at the front that allows it to navigate over obstacles like chairs and tables. In our tests the D-Shape was stuck under a four-legged stool and an electrical cord that was exposed, though it was able to break free each time.

3. Roomba i3+ EVO

The Roomba i3+ EVO is an excellent option for pet owners. It is a great choice for hard floors and does a great job of clearing up debris like rice, cereal and pet hair. It struggles a little bit on carpet, but is better than the majority of robots in this price range. The Roomba i3+ EVO is also extremely efficient at moving between floor types and doesn't get caught on transitions like older models can. The dual multi-surface brushes are flexible and adjust to different flooring types. They also have a tendency to not tangle pet hair.

The i3+ EVO's obstacle avoidance isn't as robust as some of the other robots we evaluated, and it frequently hit objects in our tests like handbags, shoes and pet toys before continuing its journey. It also had trouble dealing with salt that was coarse, which it blew over and around rather than picking up.

The i3+ EVO has a lot of great features to make it worth the additional cost over other Roomba models, like self-emptying bins and advanced control via the app. It is possible to plan cleaning times, set specific routines and set no-go zones for areas you do not want the robot access. Its intelligent scheduling can suggest additional cleanings during peak allergy times, based on your regular routine. Its navigation system is unreliable and can cause vacuums to be erratic patterns, such as diagonals or zigzags instead of parallel to walls.

4. Shark AI Self-Empty XL

With its precise mapping technology, this intelligent robot is able to know your home better than you do. It also has two brushes that adjust to different kinds of flooring and avoids getting caught, making it the perfect choice for homes with pets. You can control the robot using the app, or activate it hands-free using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The dock, called Omni, automates tasks such as refilling and cleaning 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 offers numerous advanced features, including mapping and a self-emptying bin which can hold a large amount of garbage. We tested it in a home with a mix between bare flooring and carpeting with low pile and found it to maneuver and clean exceptionally well, even navigating corners. The vacuum also does a good job of removing pet hair that gets stuck to carpets but it's not equipped with the same level of power as some of our top selections.

The Roborock S4 Max, however is more durable, recharges much faster than the Shark and offers a broader variety of automation options and scheduling options and support for "no-go zones". We'd still recommend the Shark when you're looking to buy something less expensive, or should you prefer to use your mobile phone to monitor and control your device instead of a remote that is specifically designed for it.

5. Bissell SpinWave Dry and Wet

This robot can do both vacuuming and mopping. The two tank system is powerful and can vacuum or mops with the touch of a button. It was able to easily switch between surfaces during our tests and excelled at getting pet hair off of carpets and hardwood floors. It also comes with an edge-sweeping brush that can remove pet hair from baseboards and walls, as well as scheduling capabilities to fit your schedule.

This is a great choice if you are looking for a deenkee robot vacuum: powerful Quiet wifi-enabled cleaning that is affordable and has some extra features. It was able to navigate obstacles with ease during our testing and can be controlled by an app or voice. It has a large dustbin for the collection of messes before they're filled. The only downside is that it could take up to 166 minutes to finish its job however, it's still faster than other robots we've evaluated.

The main feature of this robot is the front-facing camera that lets you monitor the cleanliness of your home on live maps in the app. This is particularly useful when you're trying to locate a particular object or if your kids have spilled glitter from your decorations all over your floor. It can save you a lot of frustration by finding that lost item immediately. The lithium batteries that do not fade can last for as long as 130 minutes on a single charge.

6. Roomba 694

The Roomba 694 looks upscale and delivers a thorough cleaning. It's extremely adept at maneuvering and can get under low-level furniture without getting stuck. It's also a good choice for carpets with low pile. It is prone to getting stuck on rug tassels, and it has difficulty navigating tiny spaces like corners. It also has difficulty picking up pet hair from all surfaces.

Despite the 694's limited feature set, it still performs better than the majority of competitors. It scored a perfect score in our cereal-carpet test, and completed our cat litter test with only a few scattered pieces of litter left behind. It is less effective on hardwood flooring. The side brush scatters large cereal pieces that stick to the floor instead of being vacuumed. It also had a tough time collecting table salt from a clean floor, with a lot of grains skidding across the floor and out of its reach.

It does support app control via the iRobot HOME app as well as voice commands using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant (via an external device, purchased separately). It learns about your habits of cleaning and creates customized schedules. Cliff Detect and a edge-sweeping tool ensure that it is able to get into hard-to-reach places, while Dirt Detect sensors alert the robot to spots that are heavily soiled. Its battery lasts about 60 minutes and it has an automatic emptying of the dust bin. The pricier iRobot J7 comes with a more advanced set of features and is more stable on all surfaces. It's also more durable, has a bigger dustbin, charges quicker and is able to navigate obstacles like electrical cords more efficiently.