The best self-emptying robot vacuum for pet hair Robot Vacuum For Pet Hair on Hardwood Floors

A high-quality robot vacuum can make a significant difference in controlling allergens, such as dust and pet hair. But not all models are equal.

Whether you're looking for an animal-friendly vacuum or a robot to enhance your existing cleaner, there are plenty of choices.

1. Eufy RoboVac Edge G30

The G30 Edge, the latest model in Eufy’s budget-friendly series of robotic vacuum cleaners, is the most current model. The G30 Edge is a shining black vacuum cleaner, with rose gold and blue accents. It's like a smartphone. The model is simpler to use than the previous models and has features like BoostIQ that automatically boosts suction power for cleaner cleaning of all surfaces. It also employs intelligent navigation to avoid repeating the same spots over and over, an issue that is common with bounce-navigation systems that are simpler.

It does an excellent job of picking up pet hair and crumbs from hard floors, but it is behind the top models in collecting dust from carpet. In our tests, the G30 Edge missed 74% of the dust on hard floors, mopping and 26 percent on carpets which is a bit disappointing.

One of the features that makes the G30 Edge stand out is its ability to map your home using a digital map within the app. This lets it remember which rooms it has already cleaned and avoid returning to those rooms which is a major issue with other robots that require the use of traditional magnetic tape to delineate no-go zones.

The G30 Edge has other conveniences that include a 'Find My Robot' mode that plays a loud tune until it's found and a directional pad that lets you to manually move the robot. It also has an automatic return feature that will 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 robot is a mighty machine with a long list of smart features. It is able to clean floors well, and it climbs on high-pile carpet fairly easily. The app has advanced features like boundary lines and remote access to the robot when it is in operation, and many other options.

This model is the most recent in a long series of robots from Neato and is distinguished by its unique "D" shape when seen from above. The design offers a number of advantages, including improved corner-cleaning and a larger bin of dust than most other models. The D-shape lets the robot to get under furniture more easily than models with a circular design.

The D-Shape will briefly stop before beginning a cleaning process to make use of spinning infrared light to assess and scan the area. Then, it will begin cleaning in a grid pattern, moving systematically from one area to another until the floor is completely covered. This method of cleaning is more effective and thorough than the random approach taken by other companies.

The d-shape design also allows the D-Shape to have a larger dust bin, at 700ml, compared to 400- 600ml for comparable robots. This increased capacity means that you'll need to empty the dust bin less often, thereby saving your time and effort. The D-Shape features a flat side at the front that allows it to navigate around obstacles such as chairs and tables. In our tests, we found that the D-Shape got stuck under a four-legged stool, and also underneath an electrical cord that was exposed. However, it was able get out of the way each time.

3. Roomba i3+ EVO

The Roomba i3+ EVO is an excellent choice for pet owners. It is a great choice for hard floors, and mopping does an excellent job of cleaning up debris like pet hair rice, cereal and other small particles. It struggles on carpet, but is still better than other robots at this price point. The Roomba EVO is also very efficient in moving between kinds of flooring. It doesn't get stuck in transitions like the older models. Dual multi-surface brushes can flex and adapt to different flooring types. They also aren't able to tangle pet hair.

The i3+ EVO's obstacle-avoiding capability isn't as robust as some of the other robots we evaluated, and it repeatedly encountered objects during our tests such as handbags shoes and pet toys before continuing its course. It also had issues with coarse kosher sea salt that it did a whirlwind of instead of taking it up.

The i3+ EVO comes with a host of features that make it well worth the price over other Roomba models. It has an automatic emptying bin as well as advanced control through an app. It is possible to schedule cleaning and create custom routines. You can also designate zones that prohibit the robot from entering certain areas. Its intelligent scheduling can suggest additional cleaning during high allergy times based on your regular routine. Its navigation system isn't reliable and can cause vacuums to be erratic patterns like zigzags or diagonals instead of parallel to walls.

4. Shark AI Self-Empty XL

This intelligent robot can to visualize your home's interior and better than you. It also has two brushes that can be adjusted to different flooring types and prevent getting caught, making it the perfect option for households with pets. The app can be used to control the robot or activate it with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. And the dock, dubbed Omni, automates the tasks of cleaning and refilling the robot's water tank as well as emptying the trash bin as well as charging and drying mop pads.

It's a great value. The Shark AI Self-Empty XL offers many advanced features, including mapping and a self-emptying bin which can hold a large amount of debris. It cleaned and maneuvered exceptionally well in a space that had a mixture of carpeting with low pile, bare floors and a mixture of both. The vacuum also does a good job of removing pet hair from carpets but it's not equipped with the same power as our top picks.

The Roborock S4 Max, however is more durable, recharges quicker than the Shark and offers a broader selection of automation features and scheduling options, including support for "no-go zones". Shark is still a good option if you're looking to buy something less expensive or prefer to manage and control your system with your phone instead of the remote.

5. Bissell SpinWave Dry and Wet

It's not easy to find a machine that combines mopping and vacuuming, but this one does exactly that. Its two-tank system can effectively vacuum or mops with the touch of a button. In our tests, it was able to effortlessly switch between surfaces and was great at picking up pet fur from hardwood floors and carpets. It also includes an edge-sweeping tool to remove cat hair from baseboards and walls.

This robot is a great option if you're seeking a model that is inexpensive and has a few extra features. It was able navigate obstacles with ease during our tests and is controlled via an app or voice. It has a large dustbin for messes to be collected before they are full. It can take it up to 166 minutes to finish its job, but this is still quicker than other robots we have test.

The main feature of this robot is the front-facing camera that lets you check your home's cleanliness using live maps in the app. It's especially useful if you're trying to locate an item that you're looking for or your children spill glitter from your Christmas decorations all over your floors. You can save yourself lots of frustration by locating the item you lost immediately. Additionally the battery is not fade-proof and can last up to 130 minutes on a single charge.

6. Roomba 694

The Roomba 694 looks upscale and offers a thorough cleaning. It's extremely adept at maneuvering and can fit under furniture at a low level without stumbling. It's also a great choice for rugs and low-pile carpet. However, it might occasionally get caught on rug tassels and has trouble getting around corners or tight spaces. It also has trouble picking up pet hair from all surfaces.

Despite the 694's lack of features, it still performs better than most of the competition. It got a perfect score of 10 in our cereal carpet test and did well in our test of cat litter with only a couple of stray pieces. It's less efficient on hardwood floors, however. Its side brush is often scattered with large pieces of cereal that cling to the floor instead of vacuuming them. It also had a hard time collecting table salt on unfinished floor, as lots of grains slid across the floor.

It can be controlled by voice via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant using an external device (sold separately). It analyzes your cleaning habits and then creates custom 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 has a more sophisticated set of features and is better on all surfaces. It also feels better constructed, has a larger dustbin that charges faster, and navigates obstacles like electrical cords better.