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. However, not all models are created equal.

There are a variety of options to choose from depending on whether you are looking for a vacuum that is pet-specific or a robot to complement your other vacuum.

1. Eufy RoboVac Edge G30

The G30 Edge is the newest model in Eufy's line of budget robot vacuum cleaners. It's a shiny black affair with rose-gold and blue accents that looks like the design of a smartphone. This model is easier to use than the previous models and comes with features like BoostIQ that automatically increases suction power for cleaner cleaning on all surfaces. It also uses intelligent navigation to prevent repeating the same spots repeatedly, a common problem when using bounce-navigation systems.

It does a great job of removing pet hair and crumbs off hard floors, but it is behind the best robot vacuum for pet hair under $500 models in cleaning up dust on carpet. In our tests, the G30 Edge missed 74% of the dust on hard floors and 26% on carpet which is a bit disappointing.

The G30 Edge is unique in its ability to map your home with a digital map. This lets it remember which rooms it has already cleaned, and to avoid returning to the same rooms. This is a major issue for more basic robots who need the traditional magnetic taps to mark no go zones.

The G30 Edge has other conveniences such as a "Find My Robot" mode that blasts out an ominous music until it's located and a directional pad that lets you to manually move the robot. It has an automatic return feature that will send the robot back to its charging station when the battery is at a low level. This is a security feature.

2. Neato Botvac D-Shape

The Neato Botvac D shape is an impressively capable robot with an impressive list of features that are smart. It is able to clean floors well, and can also climb on high-pile carpet fairly easily. The app also offers advanced features such as boundary lines remote control access when the robot is working and a variety of other options.

This model is the newest in a long line of robots from Neato and has a distinctive "D" shape when seen from above. The design offers a number of advantages that include improved corner cleaning and a larger dust container than other models. The D-shape design also allows the robot to reach under furniture better than those that have a circular shape.

When it is first time to begin a cleaning cycle when cleaning, 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, systematically moving from one area to the next until the entire floor is cleaned. This method is more thorough and efficient than some competitors who employ a random approach.

The d-shape design also allows the D-Shape's large dust bin, at 700ml, compared to 400- 600ml for similarly priced robots. This capacity increase will help you save time and effort by decreasing the frequency of emptying the dust bin. The D-Shape also features a flat front that helps it navigate around obstacles such as tables and chairs. In our tests the D-Shape did end up getting stuck under a four-legged stool as well as an exposed electrical cord but it was able to free itself each time.

3. Roomba i3+ EVO

The Roomba EVO i3+ is a fantastic option for pet owners. It works well on hard floors and does a great job of clearing up the traces of cereal, rice and hair of pets. It struggles on carpet however it's still better than other robots at this price point. The Roomba i3+ EVO is also extremely efficient at transferring between floor kinds and doesn't get caught over transitions in the way older generations can. Dual multi-surface brushes can flex and adjust to different flooring types. They also have a tendency to not tangle pet hair.

The i3+ EVO's obstacle-avoiding capability isn't as strong as the other robots we tested, and it repeatedably ran into objects in our tests such as handbags shoes and pet toys prior to continuing its course. It also had trouble dealing with salt that was coarse which it blew up and around instead of picking up.

The i3+ EVO has a lot of great features to make it worth the additional cost over other Roomba models, including self-emptying bins and advanced control through the app. It is possible to schedule cleaning and set up custom routines. You can also designate zones that prohibit the robot from entering certain areas. Its intelligent scheduling can even suggest extra cleaning during allergy season and depending on the routine you follow. Its navigational system is somewhat unreliable, however, and often vacuums in erratic lines, such as zigzags or diagonals instead of parallel to walls.

4. Shark AI Self-Empty, XL

This intelligent robot is able to visualize your home's interior, better than you. It also has dual brushes that can adjust to various kinds of flooring and avoids tangling, making it the ideal choice for homes with pets. The app can be used to control the robot or use it with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. The dock, named Omni, automates the tasks of refilling and cleaning the robot's water tank, emptying the debris bin as well as charging and drying the mop pads.

It's an excellent value. The Shark AI Self-Empty XL is cheaper than a lot of other robots we've reviewed, yet it offers advanced features, such as mapping and an automatic self-emptying dustbin that can hold a lot of debris. We tested it in a house with a mix of unfinished carpet and low-pile flooring and found it able to move and clean exceptionally well, even navigating corners. The vacuum does a good job of removing pet fur on carpeting. However it's not as powerful much power as our top choices.

However the Roborock S4 Max is better constructed, requires less time to recharge than the Shark, and provides an array of automation and scheduling features and support for no-go zones. Shark is still a great choice if you want something less expensive or prefer to manage and control 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 however this one does it. Its two-tank system powerfully vacuums or mops with the touch of the button. In our tests it was able to easily switch between different surfaces and was great at getting pet fur off carpets and hardwood floors. It also has an edge-sweeping brush to clean cat hair along walls and baseboards, plus the ability to schedule it to your schedule.

This is a good option if you're looking for an affordable model that comes with additional features. It was able to navigate obstacles with ease during our tests and is controlled by an app or voice. It even has scheduled cleaning and has a large dustbin to capture messes before they become full. The only issue is that it can take up to 166 minutes to finish its job however that's still much better than the majority of robots we've tested.

The most impressive feature of this robot is the front-facing camera that lets you check Upgrade Your Cleaning Routine with Matrix Robot Vacuum home's cleanliness using an interactive map within the app. This is especially helpful in the event that you need to locate a particular object, or if your kids have spilled glitter from your decorations all over your floor. You can save yourself much frustration by finding the item you lost immediately. The lithium batteries that do not fade can last for up to 130 minutes on a single charge.

6. Roomba 694

The Roomba 694 is an upscale-looking robot that delivers solid cleaning. It is very adept at moving its self and can reach under furniture without becoming stuck. It's also ideal for low-pile carpet and rugs. It can become stuck on rug tassels and it has difficulty navigating tiny spaces like corners. It also has difficulty getting pet hair off all surfaces.

Despite the limited features of the 694 however, it still performs better than the majority of its competitors. It was able to score a perfect score in our cereal-carpet test and passed our cat-litter test with only a few scattered pieces of litter left behind. It is less efficient on hardwood floors. The side brush scatters large cereal pieces that stick to the floor instead of vacuuming. It also had difficulty collecting table salt on a bare flooring, as many grains were slid across the floor.

It allows voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant via 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 hard-to-reach corners, while Dirt Detect sensors alert it to areas that are heavily soiled. It comes with a dust bin that automatically emptys and it has a battery life of around 60 minutes. The pricier iRobot J7 comes with an advanced suite of features and is more stable on all surfaces. It's also more durable, has a larger dustbin, charges quicker and is able to navigate obstacles like electrical cords better.