Best Robot Vacuum For Thick Carpet and Pet Hair

If you have pets, you'll need an automatic vacuum cleaner that can handle fur sheds and other hair-related mess. Pick a model that comes with a large dustbin and can empty it.

Consider a model with virtual no-go zones and mapping to keep it away from sensitive areas like pet bowls and beds. Find models with smart features such as the ability to schedule or use a smartphone application.

1. Neato D7

The D7 is a top-of-the-line model from Neato's robotic vacuum line. It is extremely navigable and is controlled by either the app or Alexa. Unlike many robots that struggle to navigate through rooms without a clear map the D7 uses advanced sensors and lasers to make a digital map of your home. This lets you set virtual "No-Go" lines with just a few clicks. The D7 will not be allowed to enter areas it shouldn't (without the use of towers or barrier tape).

The D7's cleaning capabilities are impressive. It is able to remove 99.8% of Cheerios that are scattered across the floor. This is slightly better than the Roomba i7+, which only manages to collect 94.6 percent and the Shark Ion R85, which is able to only pick up 100 percent. The D7 is also able to be able to move smoothly on both carpet and high-pile carpet.

Another nice feature is the option to select between two different cleaning intensities. There's a Eco mode that runs the vacuum in a quiet manner and extends the run time, and near Turbo mode delivers an even more powerful clean. Turbo mode is very loud and can be a nuisance if you are using the D7 to watch TV or work.

The D7 is among the few robots that are able to create and store multiple floor plans, which is great for multi-level homes. It also has a rapid boost feature that allows it to return to its base to recharge before continuing to clean. This is particularly useful when you're cleaning up difficult areas. Neato's app is simple to use and is regularly updated with new features. For the price, this is one of the best robots for thick carpet and pet hair available.

2. Eufy RoboVac ElevenS

Like the Neato D7, the Eufy 11S is sleek and low-profile. It can fit under couches, beds and coffee tables with ease than other robot vacuums. It also features some innovative features that make it easier to clean and move where you want it to, such as the no-go lines that you can draw on virtual maps to stop it from cleaning delicate areas like pet bowls or bed. It also has an auto recharge and resume feature. If the battery dies before it finishes cleaning it, it will automatically make its return to its base to recharge and then picks up where it left off.

The RoboVac 11S performs better than its predecessor, the RoboVac 30C which is eufy and is superior to the ILIFE A4s as well as the bObsweep Bob Pro in our tests. It has a bigger dirt compartment and a longer battery lifespan and is able to remove more dirt from low pile carpets and high pile carpets to bare floors. It is also easier to maintain, incurs less regular costs, and is better able to maneuver itself.

This vacuum isn't the ideal choice for floors with no carpet. However it is a great option for those who have medium carpeting and pets. It uses random navigation to find its way around the room and feels its way through obstacles using sensors located in its front bumper and underbelly. It's not as sophisticated as other robots' mapping technologies but it's enough to get into places that other robots cannot reach. It comes with spin brushes to clean walls, and a 0.6-liter dust bin. It includes a physical remote control with a monochrome display, charging dock with four side brushes that can be attached, two extra filters, and an instrument for cleaning.

3. iLife VS3 Pro

If you have pets, you'll require an automated vacuum strong enough to suck up pet hair. Even the most powerful robot vacuums can struggle with hair that sticks to rugs and floors. I determine how much cat and dog fur robots can collect from a floor by taking a look at the amount of hair they can pick up. I also test the robot's capability to navigate around the home. This includes how it travels over a common threshold as well as around table legs and furniture, and underneath the couch. Some robots are able to map their homes using sensors. They can feel their way around, and then create a 3D model of the house. This helps them better avoid obstacles during subsequent cleaning cycles.

The iLife V3s Pro excels at navigating household terrain and is one of the most affordable models we've test. It also performed well in my test to remove pet hair, removing nearly all the hair from hardwood floors and only slightly lower its score when tested on carpet.

Unlike many other robot vacs like the V3s Pro does not use brushes like the traditional. Instead, it uses two side brushes that rotate to push debris loose and toward a 3-inch opening at its base. Although this isn't a very reliable system on carpet, it's still impressive for a device that's so cheap.

The iLife V3s Pro's cleaning capability is also good. It was able to do a decent job on bare floors and picked up tinsel and mud from my tests. However, it's not as effective as the top robot mops.

4. Roborock S7

For a robotic vacuum with impressive tech capabilities, the Roborock s7 is an excellent value. The mid-priced model works like a lot of high-end models and is easy to use and maintain. It comes with a range of premium features that are comparable to those that are found in robots that cost twice more. It is a great option for those who are first-time buyers, who are upgrading from an entry level model, or anyone who wants to cut down on time spent cleaning.

This EICOBOT: Next-Level Robot Vacuum - Tangle-Free - 2200Pa Suction is as comfortable on floors that are unfinished as it is on carpet. Its suction strength of 2,000Pa is able to handle the toughest carpeting. It can even remove pet hair that has accumulated in cracks and crevices on bare floors. It's well-built, maneuvers efficiently, and supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands to operate hands-free. Its battery is a little smaller than some of the other models we tested, but it's still got plenty of juice to power most homes.

The s7 is also able to be used as mopping robot. It comes with a 200ml water tank as well as mopping plate that connects to the back of the robot. Simply add water and a microfiber cloth and the s7 will begin cleaning your floors. The s7 will then stop and return to its dock once mopping is finished.

Its companion application is easy to use and has a clean layout that is loaded with features. You can draw a map of your house, set virtual boundary lines that the s7 won't cross, establish 'no-go' zones, or simply tell it to clean a particular room. You can also look at its maintenance history, the current status, and even monitor its performance.

5. Neato Q5 Pro

The Neato Q5 Pro robot vacuum is a multi-functional device that is a pro at cleaning floors that are not clean. It also cleans up many pieces of dust from both high and low pile carpet. It is incredibly solid, comes with a wide set of navigation features and is easy to maintain. However it has a lower maximum battery life than some other units and incurs more cost-per-use.

The Q5 is among the slowest moving robots we've examined, but it does have an efficient layout algorithm that doesn't need babysitting beyond its first run through the space. It begins by tracing a perimeter, and then fills the interior with parallel lines. When the task is completed it is returned to the charging station if it was away from base.

It did an excellent job of cleaning hardwood flooring by sucking up at most 88% of dirt for each test. It was more difficult to clean carpets with high and low pile, but still performed better than the standard unit. It also comes with a mopping attachment to remove wet spills. We didn't test it.

Its maneuverability is above average for a robot with lidar, and it is capable of gliding over furniture and other obstacles. Its navigation system is able to detect stairs and floors, which allows it to deal with multistory homes. It can also recognize individual rooms when you choose them within the app. It is also able to adjust its power level, set no-go zones and show a map of the current cleaning area. The Q5 is controlled by the mobile app, as well as voice commands from Alexa Google Assistant and Apple Siri.