Best Robot Vacuum For Thick Carpet and Pet Hair

If you have pets, a robot vacuum is required to keep up with the fur shed. Choose a model that has a large trash bin and can empty the bin.

Consider a model with virtual no-go zones as well as mapping to keep it out of sensitive areas like pet bowls and bed. Also look for models with smart features, best robot vacuum for thick carpet and pet hair such as the ability to schedule appointments and a smartphone app.

1. Neato D7

The D7 is the most powerful model in the Neato robotic vacuum line. It has excellent navigation capabilities and is controlled using either the app or Alexa. Unlike many robots that struggle to navigate rooms without a clear map, the D7 utilizes advanced sensors and lasers to create a digital map of your home. You can set virtual "No Go" lines by simply pressing your finger. This means that the D7 will be able to avoid areas it is not recommended to go (without the need for towers or barrier tape).

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

A second feature is the option to select between two different cleaning intensities. There's an Eco mode that runs the vacuum quietly and extends the run time, while Turbo mode offers a more powerful clean. However, the Turbo mode operates at a loud, unfriendly volume which can be a problem if you're running the D7 while you're working or watching TV.

The D7 is one of the few robots to create and store multiple floor plans, which is ideal for multi-level homes. It also has a fast boost function that lets it return to its base, recharge and resume cleaning. This is especially useful for cleaning areas that are difficult to clean. Neato's app is easy to use and frequently updated with new features. For the price, it is among the top robots for thick carpet and pet hair available.

2. Eufy RoboVac 11S

The Eufy 11S, like the Neato D7 is sleek and low profile. This makes it possible to get under couches, beds and coffee tables with ease than other robot vacuums. It also has some innovations that help it clean better and get to where you want it, like the no-go lines you can draw on virtual maps to stop it from cleaning areas that are sensitive like pet bowls and bed. It also comes with the ability to auto-recharge and resume that, if it is unable to recharge its battery before it is finished cleaning, it will automatically return to its base, charge it, and then resume where it left off.

In our tests, the RoboVac 11S performed better than its predecessor, eufy RoboVac 30C. It also was more efficient than the ILIFE A4s and the bObsweep Bob Pro, and the ILIFE a4s. It has a larger dirt compartment and a longer battery life and can clear more debris from low pile carpets and high pile carpets to floor surfaces that are bare. It is also simpler to maintain, incurs fewer recurring costs and is able to move itself.

This isn't the ideal robot vacuum for floors with no carpet, but it is a good option for those with medium carpet and pets. It makes use of random navigation to navigate through the room and can feel its way around obstacles using a combination of sensors housed in its front bumper and underbelly. It's not as sophisticated as other robots' mapping technology but it's enough to get into the corners and nooks that other robots cannot reach. It also has several spin brushes to clean walls, as well as an expanded 0.6-liter dirt bin. It comes with an actual remote control with a monochrome display, a charging dock and four side brushes that are attachable, two extra filters, and a cleaning tool.

3. iLife VS3 Pro

If you have pets, you'll need an automated vacuum strong enough to take out pet hair. This clings to floors and rugs and can make even the best robot vacuum struggle. To be clear I test how well robots collect dog and cat hair by measuring how much of it they can remove from the floor in five-foot-by-five-foot space. I also test the robot's ability to navigate around the home. This includes how well it travels over a common threshold, Best Robot Vacuum For Thick Carpet and Pet Hair around table legs and furniture, and under the couch. Certain robots are able track their homes with sensors. They can sense their way around and create a 3D model of the house. This allows them to better avoid obstacles during future cleaning cycles.

The iLife V3s Pro is one of the top models we've tested for getting through your home. It's also reasonably priced. It also did well on my tests for removing pet hair by removing the majority of the hair from hardwood floors and it only lowered its score a bit when it was tested on carpet.

The V3s Pro, unlike many other robot vacuums, doesn't use a brush roll. Instead, it rely on two rotating side brushes to break up debris and push it toward an opening of three inches at base of the device. While this is a less reliable carpet system but it's still awe-inspiring for a device that's so cheap.

The iLife V3s Professional's mopping capability is also good. It does a decent job on floors that aren't clean and also picked up faux Christmas tree needles and tinsel bits and crumbles of mud in my mopping tests. It's not as great as the top mop robot.

4. Roborock S7

For a robot vacuum with impressive technological capabilities and impressive tech capabilities, the Roborock S7 is a great value. This mid-priced model performs similarly to a number of top-of-the-line models and is simple to operate and maintain. It is equipped with a variety of top-quality features that are similar to those you will find in robots costing twice as much. It's a great choice for first-time buyers, those upgrading from an entry level model, and for anyone looking to reduce time cleaning.

This robot is equally at comfortable on floors that are unfinished as it is on carpet. Its suction strength of 2,000Pa is enough to withstand heavy, heavily soiled carpeting. It's even able to clean pet hair that has accumulated in cracks and crevices on bare floors. It's built well, moves effortlessly, and can be operated using voice commands from Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to allow hands-free operation. The battery is smaller than other models we've tested, however, it has plenty of juice to power most homes.

The s7 can also function as mopping robot vacuum for dog hair. It comes with a 200ml of water tank as well as mopping plates that easily attaches to the back of the robot. Just add water and a microfiber cloth and the s7 will start mopping your floors. Once the mopping process is complete the s7 will return to its dock and stop automatically.

The companion app is simple to use and has a sleek layout that is loaded with features. You can draw a map of your home or set virtual boundaries the s7 cannot traverse, designate 'no-go' zones, or tell it to clean a particular room. You can also track its performance and access its maintenance history and current status.

5. Neato Q5 Pro

The Neato Q5 Pro is a multi-purpose robot vacuum that excels on bare floors and clears up a lot of dirt on both low and high-pile carpet. It is well-built and has many navigational features. It's also easy to maintain. However, it has a lower maximum battery life than other models and is subject to higher recurring costs.

The Q5 is among the most slow robots we have tested, but its layout algorithm is reliable and doesn't require any extra attention after its first run through an area. It starts by mapping out the perimeter, and then fills in the interior using the lines of a series. After it's completed it returns to its charging station or its base if it started away from the base.

It did a great job cleaning on hardwood floors by sucking up at most 88% of the dirt in each test. It struggled a bit more on high and low carpet however it did better than the standard unit. It also comes with mopping attachments that can remove wet spills. We didn't test it.

Its maneuverability is above average for a robot equipped with lidar, and it is able to softly bump into furniture and other obstacles. Its navigation system is able to detect stairs and different floor levels, which is a nice feature that allows it to effectively tackle homes with multiple stories. It can also identify individual rooms when you choose them on the app. It is also able to adjust its power level, define no-go zones, and display an interactive 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.