The cheapest robovacs will only have a dock for charging. Pricier models incorporate self-emptying of the onboard dustbin, and draining/refilling of the onboard water tanks. The very fanciest models offer automatic mop pad cleaning, and detergent dispensing for the mopping fluid.

【Suitable for Pet Owners】: M210-P has powerful 2200pa suction. Two side brushes concentrate dust, pet hair, and garbage. Then sucked by the brushless suction mouth specially designed for pet families. * Pelo need to get your hands dirty to clean tangled hair on traditional roller brushes.

Filter and Brush Cleaning: Regularly remove and clean brushes and filters to maintain suction and prevent clogs, especially if you have pets or high dust levels.

Pet hair can be challenging for vacuums with limited suction or brush designs prone to tangling. The Shark AI Ultra and Lefant M210 are engineered for pet-friendly cleaning, boasting advanced suction and features designed to minimize maintenance when dealing with fur and dander.

A 2024 study from Roskilde University in Denmark explored how householders’ experiences with robot vacuum cleaners compared to their experience with manual vacuum, and found that "robotic vacuum cleaners are inferior in use, yet transform vacuuming".

All of this makes the Combo 10 Max a great buy for pet parents who are in a daily battle with shedding and occasional muddy paw prints.

Over the last few years, they have gone from being utilitarian devices that sweep your floor to full-fledged home robots that can vacuum and mop your home and then trundle off to clean themselves to be ready for the next run.

Intuitive app, but robot doesn't always do as its told, and there's an issue with separating open plan spaces.

iRobot’s app is also a bit of a pain point. While I appreciate its simplicity, I miss the deeper cleaning customization options that most other high-end robot vacuum apps offer.

And as far as extending the time in between upgrades, Emily Rairdin, vacuum expert at University Vacuum & Sewing, says three to five years is an average lifespan for robot vacuums, so it's reasonable to trade or upgrade every so often.

More advanced robot vacuums have lasers on the front of the machine and some on the underside of the device too. These lasers detect where furniture, objects, and edges are in your Top 3 Automatic Vacuum Cleaners home, helping avoid bumps, and cliff detection prevents the machine from falling down the stairs. Read our article on how do robot vacuums work to find out more.

The Dirt Detect feature remembers the dirtiest rooms, and I found that meant it actively seeks out the spots my hairy Wirehaired Pointing Griffon hangs out. The 10 Max can also be set to mop only, which is a new option and is handy for deep cleans.

This isn't a cheap bot, and while I think the featureset and performance justify the price, it'll be out of budget for some. We have more affordable options in our roundup of the best robot vacuums for pet hair – although be aware that if you really want something up to the task, you will likely need to spend a bit more.

Another nice-to-have feature, AI-powered obstacle detection helps your robot “intelligently” detect and avoid clutter (and a potential poop apocalypse if it encounters pet waste). These models use cameras (worth noting) to see objects in their path and onboard processors to “decide” how to approach them based on what they see.