The 5 Best Robot Vacuums For Pet Hair - Spring 2023 Reviews

The best robot vacuum for pet hair we've tested is the iRobot Roomba S9+. This variant of the Roomba S9 comes with a self-emptying dock station, reducing hands-on maintenance requirements, though it is a somewhat pricey bundle. Regardless, it does a fantastic job of dealing with pet hair on both low and high-pile carpets. Its twin rubber brushrolls don't have conventional bristles but still provide a good level of surface agitation. Better yet, they're very easy to clean, and you don't have to worry about pet hair getting tangled around them.

It's also capable of automatically adjusting its brushroll height depending on the surface that it's on too, which is great if you have a mix of low and high-pile carpeting in your home. While it doesn't map as fast as a LIDAR system or work as well in the dark, the S9's VSLAM navigation system still allows for good maneuverability. You can use its companion app to set up virtual boundary lines that the vacuum won't cross or direct it to specific rooms within your home.

That said, it lacks real-time hazard-avoidance capability, so remove any potential hazards like socks, slippers, or even pet waste that would fall below the sight of its camera before letting it run. It also has a few parts that need replacing over time, so it isn't the best option if low ownership costs are a significant factor in your purchasing decision. There also isn't a mopping attachment, which could be a deal-breaker if you need a vacuum to deal with any mud or dirt your pet might track into your home.

If you're looking for a robot vacuum with a lower purchase price, the Roborock Q5+ is a great choice. This variant of the Q5 comes bundled with a self-emptying base station at a substantially more affordable price point than the iRobot Roomba S9. It also has a LIDAR mapping sensor that allows the vacuum to operate in dark rooms, multi-floor mapping capability, and a 'Smart Recognition' feature that allows it to automatically determine which of its stored maps in which it's working. You can also view and customize 3D representation of your home after it's mapped everything out, label specific rooms, and send the vacuum wherever you'd like using the 'Pin n Go' function.

That said, it's not without its disadvantages compared to the pricier iRobot. It does a much worse job of trapping fine allergens like pet dander, which can escape from gaps in its top cover. While it does a fantastic job of handling pet hair on bare floors, it struggles a little more than the iRobot with cleaning pet hair on carpeted surfaces. Its bristled roller also tends to collect more hair than the iRobot's easy-to-clean rubber rollers. Unfortunately, like the iRobot, there's mo mopping attachment.

The yeedi vac station is a great option if you're looking for a robot vacuum that can handle pet hair at a mid-range price point. Its companion app isn't quite as full-featured as that of the Roborock, with no multi-floor mapping capability and no pin-and-go function, though you can still label rooms and set up no-go zones. Its camera-based navigation system also doesn't perform as well in dark areas as the Roborock's LIDAR system.

Still, it's got a lot to offer for the money. Like the pricier Roborock Q5+, it can automatically transfer debris from its internal dustbin into an external dirt compartment mounted to its charging station, making for a pretty hygienic means of debris disposal. It also does a fantastic job dealing with pet hair on bare floors and carpets. Better yet, unlike the Roborock, there's even a mopping attachment for dealing with dried-on dirt on hard floors, though it's an entirely passive system that doesn't provide much in the way of surface agitation.

Unfortunately, this vacuum doesn't have a HEPA filter, so it isn't the best choice if you're very sensitive to allergens, even if it still does a decent job of sealing in fine particles as it cleans. If you want a self-emptying robot vacuum with HEPA filtration, consider the iRobot Roomba j7. This vacuum also features real-time hazard-avoidance capability, meaning that it can spot, identify, and, if necessary, maneuver around new un-mapped obstacles like pet waste. It also has a harder time dealing with pet hair on bare floors than the yeedi.

If you're looking to spend as little as possible on a robot vacuum for dealing with pet hair, consider the Roborock E4. It has a slightly simpler navigation system than the yeedi vac station; while it can determine its position in real-time and move in an organized pattern, it can't store a permanent map of your home, so you can't set up virtual boundary lines or schedule cleaning sessions for specific rooms. You can also control it using navigational buttons via its companion app if it gets stuck. Similarly to the yeedi, it does a fantastic job of handling pet hair on a wide variety of surfaces, and it has a high-efficiency E11 filter that's effective in trapping allergens.

Unfortunately, its brushroll is somewhat tangle-prone and can be a bit of a nuisance to clean, even if it's easily removable. Thankfully, the build quality is impressively sturdy, especially for a robot vacuum in this price range, and it offers sufficient battery life to easily clean large areas without running out of charge.

If you're looking for a robot vacuum with a mopping attachment to clear away any mud or dirt that your pet might track in, consider the Roborock S7 MaxV. Unlike many other robot vacuums with mopping attachments, like the yeedi vac station, this high-end robot vacuum has mopping pads that vibrate, resulting in improved surface agitation and letting it clear away most dried-on stains in only one or two passes. As befitting its status as the flagship model in Roborock's lineup, it has an advanced navigation system that combines onboard cameras for real-time obstacle avoidance and a LIDAR sensor that lets it precisely map out its coverage area. You can look through the vacuum's onboard camera to use it as a roving security camera while you're away from home and even communicate with those inside, thanks to the built-in speakers.

All of this said, while the similarly-priced iRobot Roomba S9 lacks a mopping system and has a less advanced mapping system, it's still more effective in handling pet hair on carpet. If you're looking for a cheaper vacuum that offers identical stain-cleaning performance, the Roborock S7 is a good option. It has the same highly-effective ultrasonic mopping system and is similarly effective in tackling pet hair. However, it lacks the S7 MaxV's optical sensors, so it can't detect and avoid hazards like pet waste in real-time or act as a roving security camera.