The Best Self-Empting Robot Vacuum For Pet Hair
The model of robot vacuum that is right for you will depend on how much hair on your pet and what type of floor you have. Certain models also come with advanced features like obstacle detection and self-emptying capabilities.
When selecting a model, ensure that it has a large dustbin and a quiet mode. Smart mapping and app capabilities like zoning, scheduling, and no-go zones are beneficial.
1. iRobot Roomba 900
The iRobot Roomba 900 is an excellent mid-range model. It has some of the most sophisticated intelligent features. For instance you can view the location of the digital map on which Roomba was throughout each cleaning cycle. It also has Spot Mode, which lets you direct the robot's attention to the specific area of your home.
The 900 series also comes with iAdapt 2.0 Navigation that provides an efficient, seamless path through your home. Sensors for obstacles allow it to avoid furniture and charging cables. It also comes with two virtual wall barriers, which you can use to block straight paths or a radial area (like a pet food station).
It's compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and the free iRobot Home App. Its running time is about 75 minutes, and it automatically returns to the charger when battery is low.
2. iRobot Roomba 980
This is the top model for Roomba, and it has all the bells and whistles. It has a high-tech AeroForce cleaning system that provides double the suction power of other models. It is able to easily remove pet hair dirt, lint, dirt, and mold spores, as huge chunks of debris from carpets and sofas.
It's smarter and advanced than the previous Roomba model due to the improved mapping technology. It also has more advanced memory. It can be even started remotely with the iRobot HOME app.
The app also allows you to create digital 'Keep-Out Zones that block robots from entering certain areas of your home. It's an excellent option for parents with children or pets and are looking to keep the mess to a minimum. However, it didn't do as well in our tests for pet hair, compared to the Samsung Powerbot R7070 and Neato Botvac Connected.
3. iRobot Roomba 980P
The Roomba 980P is iRobot's top of the line model, and it's improved on its predecessor in a variety of ways. It is smarter, stronger and better at picking up pet hair. It also comes with a remote control.
The back houses the bin that's easily opened with a button press to dump dirt and other debris. The mobile app for iRobot lets you set your preferred cleaning methods, view a map of the area that has been cleaned and set up your robot to clean specific days of the week.
The 980 isn't equipped with an LCD display, nor does it have a manual control. This is a major flaw for a vacuum that depends heavily on its intelligent capabilities. Its competitors like Neato's Botvac Connected and LG's RoboKing line have more control options.
4. IRobot Roomba 980
This is the most powerful robot we tested and is a favorite pick. It is able to remove pet hair, dirt and crumbs easily on hardwood floors, but also does an excellent job of cleaning carpets. In fact, its Power Boost mode automatically increases suction to pull those annoying rugs out of hiding.
The iRobot App lets you manage the Roomba remotely and schedule cleaning sessions and even create virtual barriers to stop it from entering areas that you don't want it in. best robot vacuum cleaner for pet hair can also recognize and navigate stairs and return to the docking station to recharge when it is unable to recharge. Contrary to previous Roomba models, this model can keep track of where it left off and resume the clean. It also runs in straight lines, which increases the efficiency of its coverage.
5. Roomba 980S from iRobot
The latest iRobot robot vacuum is a beast, able to quickly and efficiently remove dirt from carpeted areas and hard floors. It's one of the smarter robots we've tested, thanks to its mapping abilities, and can resume where it left off after the full charge (which reduces the irritation caused by the traditional Roomba's pseudorandom navigation).
Multiple sensors and a digital camera make this one of the most flexible vacuums we've ever encountered. It can configure a uniform route around your home and, if you remember it, avoid obstacles and even detect ledges.
Setup is easy through the iRobot app which allows you to schedule cleanings and change your robot's behaviour. The top controls include the Home button and Spot Mode, which allows you to sweep a specific area. The model has a low-maintenance filter that captures up to 99% pollutants and allergens.
6. Roomba 980SP from iRobot
This iRobot robot does a good job cleaning carpets and hard floors, but it is expensive. It's also smarter than previous models and can detect when it has sucked up enough debris to fill up and return to its charging station for a recharge.
It utilizes the latest mapping technologies to help you navigate and locate rooms more easily. It can be placed under most sofas, but it isn't all. It can also be sure to stay clear of power cords or other obstacles.
Remotely start, schedule, and monitor Roomba through the app. You can also block off areas you don't want it to visit. You can, for example you can put a virtual wall in front of your dog's food or water bowls. It also has a spot clean button that vacuums the area around 4 feet.
7. iRobot Roomba 990
The Roomba 980, a squat, brownish-black model looks pretty much like every other robot vacuum available (that's not an issue). It has all the usual features, such as an omnidirectional brush that helps clean corners and edges. It also comes with two virtual wall barriers, which help it navigate a space.
The robot is updated with capabilities for mapping and navigation that let it create an image as it cleans. This allows it to know when it's finished with the room and move on to the next.
It's simple to set a cleaning schedule using the app and remotely control the cleaner when away from home. It did well in our pet-hair tests, picking up just 0.2 grams of hair on mid- and low-pile carpets as well as hardwood. It even could fit under our sofas, where the space is tighter than other models we've tried.
8. iRobot Roomba 980XP
The suction power of this robot, its HEPA filter and its battery life of two hours make it a great option for those with serious cleaning needs. It ditched the nickel metal hydride battery of earlier models and replaced it with the lithium ion version that will last longer in cleaning sessions and between charges.
iRobot's CarpetBoost feature automatically increases the power of the brush to tackle tough spots, and it can also make two passes of cleaning instead of the standard single pass. The virtual walls can be used to block off areas you want to keep clean.
WiFi and app support are common features. They let you schedule a recurring cleaning or set up other options like a spot clean cycle. However, the tiny display could be difficult for family members who don't have smartphones to access. It's also more expensive than other robots with similar features.
iRobot Roomba 960XL
This top of the range robot from iRobot can be purchased for around PS900 and includes CarpetBoost to provide incredible cleaning power. This is the most powerful and intelligent Roomba ever made. It does an amazing job on both carpets and hard floors.
It utilizes vision sensors for VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Mapping and Localization). This allows it to find landmarks like beds, shelves and chairs and it builds a map of the area so it can remember where it is.
It also uses cameras to detect dirt spots and can increase suction power in these areas. You can launch it by opening the app while at work and it will vacuum, clean up and dock itself on its own when done. It also does a fantastic job picking up pet hair. In our tests, it gathered 0.2 pounds of hardwood, midpile and low-pile.
Roomba 960XL from iRobot
The 980XL is a premium model, and the extra features make it worth the cost. It is more sophisticated mapping system than the 900 series and it is more efficient in cleaning both on carpet and hard flooring. It is also possible to start it by remote.
It also has an efficient cleaning system that includes ten times the power-lifting suction of older Roombas and uses a dual-swiveling brush to reach corners and under furniture. It can clean your floors in a sequence after vacuuming.
It's not the most quiet, however, particularly when you use the carpet boost feature. We measured it at around 80 dB, which is about the same as a prop plane flying overhead. Luckily, you can put up a virtual barrier to keep it from sensitive areas like the dog's water bowl and food bowls.