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• Slim enough to fit under cabinets, furniture, and the Litter-Robot step
• Top percentile suction power performs phenomenally on carpet
• Dual spinning mopping pads grab hair, dander, and dust in corners
• Mops with heated water
• Very quiet when self-emptying and in max suction mode
• Auto-dispenses two types of detergent

• Struggles with debris near rug edges
• For the price, the threshold climbing max of 3.47 inches isn't that impressive
• Phone charger avoidance isn't 100% perfect

Read my initial review of the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete.

It sounds like the easy answer, but the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete would excel in a variety of homes. That's how well-rounded it is. Its high-ranking suction power has the best pet hair pickup on carpet and rugs this year, and its heated spinning mopping pads would reliably keep up with stubborn shoe or paw prints near a door.

Hitting just over three inches tall, the X60 Max Ultra Complete is easily the best slim robot vacuum out there. It would be the ideal pick for homes with low-clearance furniture or expectations for cleaning under cabinets.

There's little to dislike about the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete. It has some of the most powerful suction on the market right now, backed up by heated mopping and spinning pads that scrub right up against walls and in 90-degree angles. It beat out my favorite corner cleaning robovac from last year, the Roborock Saros 10R, in a heartbeat. I'd even choose the X60 Max Ultra Complete over the brand new Roborock Saros 20.

The X60 Max Ultra Complete demonstrated a near-perfect pickup rate in my apartment, regardless of the combination of debris and floor type: sprinkles and matted-down clumps of cat fur on a high pile rug, rice and potting soil on hardwood, toast crumbs and protein powder on a flat printed Ruggable rug, and kitty litter on tile and hardwood. (It's the rare robot vac that can fully fit under the Litter-Robot step.)

I like to use the lint roller test to get an up-close look at how thoroughly a robot vacuum could tackle the layer of shedding on my living room rug, and this Dreame's paper consistently shows the least hair left behind.

I can't understate the importance of having confidence in a robot vacuum's ability to keep my front door area clean. The thought of germy shoe prints in my space legitimately makes me shudder, so I really appreciate that the X60 Max Ultra Complete's mops with heated water. (I know 104 degrees Fahrenheit isn't sanitizing by scientific standards, but it is breaking down stubborn grime and grease.) During a January blizzard, the X60 Max Ultra Complete took great care of the constant brown sludge and white salty water that was tracked inside on a daily basis, regardless of whether it was fresh or dried for a day. This mopping would be similarly tough on muddy paw prints.

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• Frequently on sale for under $500
• Automatic emptying is a hygienic lifesaver
• Very heavy-duty carpet and rug cleaning
• Adjusts suction based on floor type
• Self-empty dock doubles as storage without wall mounting
• Air freshener puffs after each auto-empty whoosh

• No motorized handheld attachment included
• Kind of heavy
• Bulky cleaning head doesn't fit under dressers or nightstands
• Occasionally accidentally locks in upright position
• LED lights aren't as helpful as Dyson's laser

The Shark PowerDetect will be the most effective cordless stick vacuum in homes with multiple pets and a heavy rug or carpet situation. If you're the type to dread emptying your vacuum's dust bin — which will fill up faster with a powerful vacuum sucking up more fur — you'll definitely want to opt for a self-emptying stick vacuum like this one.

The price tag on the Shark PowerDetect cordless stick vacuum is deceptive — this thing feels like more of a beast than the most expensive Dyson. You'll believe that it's Shark's most powerful cordless vacuum to date the first time you push it across a carpet. It's one of those vacuums that you can feel working hard, especially when it ramps up its own suction depending on the level of debris it senses.

But the most satisfying part is seeing the proof in the dustbin. Because it automatically empties each time it gets hung back on the dock, each cleaning session starts with an empty bin. Even if there wasn't much prominent visible debris lying around at the start of a cleaning session, I was always greeted with a giant gray ball of whatever was invisibly chilling on my rugs.

If you're going to forfeit the hands-off-ness of a robot vacuum, the least you could do is treat yourself to a cordless stick vacuum that auto-empties. This Shark model does it for a fraction of the price of the nicest self-emptying robot vacuums, and that's an automatic leg up over any of the current Dyson vacuums.

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• Can already be found on sale for 1,099.99, despite being brand new
• Rare robovac that mops with hot water
• AI cameras successfully identify debris and liquid spills
• Great at avoiding cords, laundry, pet waste, and pet toys
• Sliding roller reaches out to scrub against walls
• Quiet, even on highest suction setting
• Brush roll prevents hair wrap for weeks at a time

• Some default cleaning settings are frustrating and hard to toggle off in app
• Takes forever to leave the dock when mopping
• Nitpicky room merging in map
• Not bulky, but not compact enough for some narrow or low-clearance spaces

Read my review of the Narwal Flow 2.

The Narwal Flow 2 is the ultimate vacuum and mop for accident-prone hard floor homes with multiple kids or pets. Its acute mess detection technology and heavy-duty roller mop excel at soaking up large liquid spills without leaving streaks behind. If those pets or kids have toys that always end up in the middle of the floor, the Flow 2's phenomenal obstacle avoidance is the least likely to run them over.

The Flow 2's April release felt late compared to the relentless winter releases of other 2026 flagship robot vacuums. I thought it'd be difficult for the Flow 2 to stand out in such a saturated market. I was wrong. Between heated water flow and a sturdy design that feels built for vigorous scrubbing, I feel confident that the Flow 2 is sanitarily removing grime (not just making the floor shiny). Its suction power even beats the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow's by more than 10,000 Pa.

During my testing, the Narwal Flow 2's mopping has been exceptional. Its unique roller mop is flat, offering a larger area of direct contact with the floor than cylindrical rollers. The Flow 2 thoroughly soaked up spills like wine and chunkier blobs of various dipping sauces, grabbing any slivers of residue on the second pass. (It even cleared droplets of syrup without leaving sticky spots behind. That never happens.) My cats always fling wet cat food out of their bowls, which sometimes dries and crusts on the hardwood. The Flow 2 left the area spotless on a daily basis, including right against the wall.

But it was Narwal's phenomenal obstacle and mess recognition technology that sold me. When the Flow 2 comes across something of note on the floor — an extension cord or phone charger, a shoe, a paper towel, scattered cat litter, a puddle — it snaps a photo, drops an identification bubble on the map, and cleans or avoids the area accordingly. Most AI robot vacuums don't offer such accessible proof that they are, in fact, evaluating in real time. The Flow 2 consistently drives around cat toys (crinkle balls, a fabric mouse stuffed with catnip) that many robot vacuums run over.

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• UV light sees invisible dried stains that stain detection cameras miss
• Sonic scrubbing vibrates 1,000 times per minute from multiple angles
• Comes with a bottle of Shark's cleaning solution
• Fully lifts mopping pad over rugs or carpet
• No recurring purchases for bagless self-empty dock

• Not super tough on carpet or rugs
• Can't tackle liquid spills
• Doesn't rinse mopping pad often enough
• Expensive for no live pet camera
• App settings and home map are kind of basic

Read my initial review of the Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1.

The Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal 2-in-1 would be a relief in homes with accident-prone pets and busy humans who aren't always around to witness an accident before it dries. The blacklight finds invisible stains that you may not have known were there, offering an extra element of sanitation for people who are picky about walking barefoot at home.

The UV Reveal is best suited for homes that aren't heavily carpeted or that don't deal with heavy shedding from multiple pets.

The Shark UV Reveal's whole ethos will resonate with pet owners who have accidentally stepped on a dried pet stain in their bare feet. We simply can't be physically present to watch every single accident happen, and I know from personal experience that dried cat urine can be pretty inconspicuous unless you catch it at a particular angle (or catch a whiff of it). Vacuums that rely on cameras and a headlight would probably glance over an invisible stain, too, but the Shark UV Reveal doesn't rely on pure visibility.

It was fun to watch the Shark UV Reveal light up intermittent stains on my apartment's hard floors — it was only slightly disturbing when the blacklight illuminated various splatters on baseboards and doors. Most iconically, the UV Reveal found residual splatter from two separate hairballs. The transparent crust was so faint that it didn't trigger the "work harder on this area" sensors of the other premium robot vacuum mop combos I was testing that week. The UV Reveal, however, puts in work when its turquoise lights signify that it found something. It hovers over the spot for what feels like a full minute, scrubbing from multiple angles with downward force and vibrations from the mop pad.

The UV Reveal isn't this thorough on rugs. More than a piece or two of spilled dry quinoa and crystal cat litter were missed on high and medium pile, and the lint roller test showed a decent amount of cat hair missed on the tufted living room rug. Though the Shark UV Reveal is easily the best Shark robot vacuum you can buy, it feels a little pricey for its mediocre pet hair pickup and lack of a livestream camera. If you want it, I'd recommend waiting for a sale.

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• Frequently on sale for under $600
• Laser is definitely worth extra money over V8 or V10
• Fluffy bristles lap up dust and specs of broken glass
• Ridiculously lightweight
• Vanes on Motorbar actually prevent hair wrapping
• Converts seamlessly to great handheld for pet hair

• Small dust bin
• Battery may not cover a multi-story house
• Motorbar trips on some rugs

Read my full review of the Dyson V12 Detect Slim.

The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is the most practical cordless Dyson for most people, but it would flourish in homes with lots of hard floors and one to two pets. Weighing in at just over five pounds, the V12 Detect Slim is the least physically-demanding Dyson to grab and go — and ease of use isn't a factor I can ignore, considering it directly impacts how much you'll actually use your vacuum. Its compactness also makes it easy to store in a small space, including under a couch or hanging on the wall.

I recommend the Dyson V12 Detect Slim to just about everyone — not because it's the cheapest or most heavy-duty Dyson vacuum, but because it sits at a super approachable middle ground. It is the most affordable Dyson vacuum with a laser, which will change the game in any home with a lot of hard flooring. It illuminates all of the pet hair that's blending into your hardwood right now, though I personally feel the biggest rush when it points out scattered kitty litter dust that I had no clue was there. It's more than enough reason to choose the Dyson V12 Detect Slim over any of the cheaper Dysons without a laser.

Dyson always throws in its mini motorized pet tool with any stick vacuum purchase, and they are a real one for that — those are a separate purchase with most other cordless stick vacuums. Though there will always be a time and a place for the humble lint roller, the motorized handheld tool is crucial for keeping up with heavy pet hair on furniture, comforters, and car seats.

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• Occasionally on sale for under $400
• 18,000 Pa suction power is wicked at any price point
• Livestream pet camera is so rare at this price
• Can be stored under furniture
• Deals with dust for 60+ days without an auto-empty dock
• Reliable small obstacle avoidance
• Smart mapping is incredibly accurate and detailed

• Physical design looks clunky and outdated
• Mopping is pretty basic

Read our review of the 3i G10+.

The 3i G10+ would save crucial floor space for pet owners who live in apartments, thanks to its ability to "self-empty" (compress debris for weeks at a time) without a self-emptying base — storage under furniture unlocked.

Retailing for less than $500, even at full price, the 3i G10+ is easily the most advanced robot vacuum that a budget shopper can snag. One of those advanced features is a livestream pet camera, which will be especially appealing to pet parents who'd like to keep tabs on things while they're not home.

Frankly, 3i has no business charging this little for such a packed little vacuum. I tested the 3i G10+ for weeks in my apartment and came away shocked at how much of a bang for your buck this is. Its smart mapping is easily the most elevated experience I've had with a budget robot vacuum. Most rooms were accurately depicted in the map after its first mapping run — not just the walls and doorways, but down to the floor type and furniture arrangement inside. The G10+ is also the most affordable small obstacle avoidance I've ever come across, and I didn't expect it to be as accurate as it was. It successfully avoided most cords, a fallen hand towel, and decoy pet waste, identifying each in the app.

The presence of a livestream security camera is the same story — you never see that on a vacuum under $500. It's definitely a clunkier, more pixelated experience than what you get with a fancy Roborock, but it's better than not having one at all.

The G10+ also has stronger suction power (18,000 Pa) than many more expensive robot vacuums on the market. When carpet is sensed, it automatically slows its roll to ensure it's not zipping over any debris or hair that's latching on. Zone cleaning is even more intentional, sweeping the area in a grid so that every inch receives passes from two different angles.

Instead of self-emptying into a larger dock, the G10+ uses a dust compacting method that still prolongs dustbin emptying to once every month or two.

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• Frequently on sale for under $150
• Extremely tough on pet hair for the price
• Easy dust bin emptying

• Lasts less than an hour on one charge
• No motorized pet tool included

This vacuum recommendation comes from former Mashable Associate Editor Tim Marcin.

The Shark Pet Cordless Essential IX141 is a heavy hitter for budget shoppers who don't want to spend more than $200 — it's often on sale for less than that. It'll particularly appeal to folks who are fine with skipping a motorized tool for furniture as long as it's tough on pet hair on the floor.

Lasers and automatic emptying do make several stick vacuums great for homes with pets, but their absence doesn't automatically deem a stick vacuum to be crappy. There's definitely a crowd of shoppers who don't want to deal with the fancier features — they just want a straightforward vac that's easy to grab and go. This Shark Pet model fits that bill.

The IX141 has proven to be quite vigorous for the price, hyped by the more than 1,500 Amazon purchasers who gave it five stars, as well as former Mashable Associate Editor Tim Marcin — it's his favorite vacuum that he's ever owned. "I have the world's single best dog, but my goodness does he shed fur," Marcin says. "For years, I trudged a corded vacuum across my NYC apartment, thinking it was the only affordable tool that could effectively remove pet hair. Then I got the Shark cordless, and it did a better job without a cord, and at a much lighter weight."

Other reviewers on Amazon had similar success stories with the IX141 model's pet hair pickup, assuring that "pet" isn't in this vacuum's name for no reason. The proof of its strong suction is stored in the dust cup, which can be pointed and emptied directly into the trash. It's a much easier setup than the perpendicular dust bins on the Dyson V7 or V8.

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• No other robot vacuum comes with portable carpet cleaner
• Robot and portable cleaner can be used simultaneously
• Accurate mapping and zone cleaning
• Very strong suction power for under $1,000

• Robot gets jammed on small bath rugs
• Portable cleaner is still corded
• Dock is bulky, plasticky, and feels cheap
• Takes up a lot of floor space

The Eufy Omni E28 would be a lifesaver in homes with lots of accident-prone soft surfaces, like fully carpeted rooms or furniture where pets insist on throwing up. There's probably not a household with pets where a portable carpet cleaner wouldn't be a welcomed addition, especially for the spots where a robot vacuum can't go.

Until there's a robot vacuum that fully doubles as a carpet cleaner, the Eufy E28 is the next best thing. Picture a Bissell Little Green-type device that you didn't have to dig out of a closet. Instead, you can grab it right off your robot vacuum's dock. Just pull it up and off with the handle, uncoil the nozzle, and press the water trigger. It's a handy backup for any liquid messes your pet might make on a carpet or furniture — a robot vacuum can't really help you with that.

I didn't want to risk testing it on my velvet couch, so it took a road trip to my parents' house to tackle some rugs and weather-worn patio furniture. The water was pretty nasty after cleaning four cushions, and they didn't smell nearly as musty afterward. As long as you can finagle a way to keep it plugged in, the E28 would also be awesome for car seats.

My mom was particularly impressed with the E28's success on a medium pile rug where one of the cats had puked. The stain wasn't responding to dabbing with a paper towel, but came right out after a pass or two of the E28 nozzle. Even if there aren't any visible stains, it'd still be nice to be able to quickly deep clean your carpets or rugs whenever — there's definitely peace of mind in legitimate sanitation after shoes or paws from outside just stomped all over.

As an actual robot vacuum, the Eufy E28 Omni is quite well-rounded. At 20,000 Pa of suction power, it's far more powerful than I expected for an all-in-one cleaner. (For reference, the Eufy's robot vacuum that converts into a stick vacuum only has 8,000 Pa). The large roller mop is also a high-end touch that only a few robot vacuum and mop combos have so far, and it seems to prevent streaking and spreading spills more than a flat pad or spinning pads. Plus, the split-down-the-middle dual rubber brush is the only design I've experienced that actually prevents hair wrapping.

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• iRobot's pet waste detection is top-tier
• Dual rubber brush system is super effective on pet hair
• Heated roller mop cleans itself as it's mopping
• Wooden accents on dock give it an elevated look
• Auto-dispenses detergent when mopping

• Doesn't have iRobot's old P.O.O.P. guarantee
• 13,000 Pa suction isn't impressive for the price

UPDATE: iRobot filed for bankruptcy on Dec. 15, and has been acquired by Roomba manufacturer Picea. While Roombas are still available to buy like usual, I would recommend deprioritizing a Roomba in your robot vacuum search. There are robot vacuums with better features at better prices out there, and with iRobot's rocky future now layered in, even the best Roomba vacuums aren't worth it.

The Roomba Max 705 Combo would be a huge relief in homes where pet accidents on the floor are common. In my testing, iRobot's PrecisionVision navigation has proven to be the most reliable small obstacle and pet waste avoidance on the entire robot vacuum market. For pet messes that do need to be mopped up, the Max 705 Combo offers heated mopping (and auto-dispensing detergent) for the most hygienic cleanup possible.

iRobot also brought back the stylish wooden accented dock, a design choice first seen on the 2023 Roomba Combo j9+. This elevated design will speak to anyone who isn't thrilled about the plasticky build of most self-emptying docks out there.

Anecdotally speaking, Roombas are the best robot vacuums for pet waste. Every j Series Roomba I tested at home had better track records with dodging pet waste-like substances (like big pieces of mulch and brown sugar) as well as phone chargers and pet toys, compared to other robot vacuums with hit-or-miss small obstacle avoidance. The Roomba Max 705 Combo uses the same PrecisionVision technology that made the older Roombas so spot-on, but this time, it's AI-powered.

The upgraded version of PrecisionVision also helps to anticipate different types of messes and clean them accordingly. The front-facing camera assesses a wet or dry mess in the cleaning path ahead, making multiple passes when needed. I think this is easily the best Roomba for hardwood or tile floors — not only is this iRobot's first roller mop, but it's also the first Roomba with heated mopping. The roller cleans itself as it goes, all contributing to a more sanitary scrubbing process that'd be great for pet messes on hard floors.

While the Roomba 705 series vacuums are definitely the best Roombas for pet hair, their 13,000 Pa of suction power doesn't come close to the 20,000 to 30,000 Pa we're seeing in flagship robot vacuums from other brands. But suction power isn't the sole factor that gives a robot vacuum good pet hair pickup — the brush roll system also matters heavily, and iRobot's revived dual rubber brush system is the most effective out there. These lay parallel to each other and spin in opposite directions, excelling at pinching pet hair that's embedded into carpet. I first experienced this setup with the Roomba Combo 10 Max, and was bummed that all of the other 2025 Roombas just have one measly brush roll.

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