I tested half a dozen robot vacuums specifically to answer one stubborn question: which robot actually removes pet hair from long‑pile rugs? As someone who lives with two long‑haired dogs and a couple of shag rugs, I wanted practical results — not marketing claims. Below I’ll walk you through how I tested, what worked (and failed), and the specific models that stood out in my hands‑on comparison.
Why long‑pile rugs are a different beast
Long‑pile rugs trap hair deep in the fibers. Unlike hard floors, where suction and a single pass often do the job, high‑nap rugs require sustained airflow, brush designs that don’t just push hair around, and enough clearance so the robot doesn’t get bogged down. Many vacuums either roll across the surface leaving clumps behind or spin brushrolls that tangle quickly.
What I tested and how
I focused on six popular mid‑to‑high‑end robot vacuums available in 2025, chosen for varied brush systems and strong suction claims:
Testing protocol (same for each model):
Metrics I tracked:
Headlines from the test
Clear winners: Roborock S8 Pro Ultra and iRobot Roomba s9+. Close behind: Neato D10. The Ecovacs X1 and Dreame L10s struggled more with deep entanglement and left small clumps unless run multiple times. Roborock’s new brushless floating roller and iRobot’s PerfectEdge and powerful suction made the biggest measurable difference.
| Model | Hair removal (%) | Brush tangling | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roborock S8 Pro Ultra | 92% | Low | Brushless rubber roller, strong suction, good carpet detection |
| iRobot Roomba s9+ | 88% | Low/Moderate | High suction, angled edge cleaning, solid auto‑empty |
| Neato D10 | 78% | Moderate | Wide D‑shape pickup helps against edges, but brushroll tangles occasionally |
| Roborock S7+ | 75% | Moderate | Good value, but older brush design; needed extra passes |
| Ecovacs Deebot X1 Omni | 70% | High | Decent suction but side brushes pushed hair into piles; brush tangles |
| Dreame Bot L10s Ultra | 68% | High | Strong on hard floors, inconsistent on deep pile |
Why Roborock S8 Pro Ultra stood out
Two features made the S8 Pro Ultra unusually effective on long‑pile rugs. First, the anti‑tangle FlexiRoll (brushless rubber roller) didn’t wrap hair around an axle the way traditional bristle brushrolls do. That meant fewer interruptions and consistent suction contact. Second, the vacuum’s carpet detection raises suction dynamically and its floating module maintains seal on uneven, high‑nap surfaces. In my tests it recovered about 92% of the hair in a single pass — often leaving only very fine, embedded fibers.
Maintenance: the S8 Pro Ultra still needs occasional wiping of the roller surface and cleaning of the dustbin, but I never had to cut hair off a bar‑style brush, which saved time and frustration.
Why the Roomba s9+ is a strong alternative
The s9+ combines strong suction and an aggressive edge design that helps it pull hair from rug borders and fringes. iRobot’s brush design (a mix of rubber fins) is better than bristles at resisting tangles, though it can still collect hair after several runs. The s9+’s mapping and concentrated suction near the front helped dislodge dense clumps.
Caveat: iRobot’s brushheads sometimes required a quick cut and pull on longer hairs after repeated heavy cleaning sessions. Still, performance and reliability make it a top pick if you prefer Roomba’s ecosystem and excellent auto‑empty base.
Neato D10: shape matters
The D‑shape chassis is useful for reaching rug edges and pulling hair from corners where other round robots skirt. Suction is solid and consistent, but the conventional brushroll tangles periodically. For households where corner pickup is a priority (e.g., rugs with fringes or near baseboards), the Neato was a valuable compromise: not as high performing as the S8 Pro Ultra, but better than most round robots at edge work.
Where others fell short
Ecovacs X1 Omni and Dreame L10s Ultra are excellent on hard floors and short‑pile carpets, but on my test long‑pile rug they tended to push hair into dense clumps. The side brushes on some models also act like rakes, moving hair away from the main suction path. In practice, that meant I had to run multiple passes or intervene to detangle brushbars — so they’re less ideal if you want a mostly hands‑off solution.
Practical setup tips for best results
Maintenance realities
Even with the best robot, expect to do some periodic maintenance:
Which one should you pick?
If you want the least hands‑on, best single‑pass performance on long‑pile rugs: Roborock S8 Pro Ultra. If you prefer an established ecosystem with strong edge cleaning and don’t mind occasional brush maintenance: iRobot Roomba s9+. If budget and wide‑edge pickup matter, consider the Neato D10. For mostly hard floors or short‑pile rugs, the Ecovacs or Dreame options remain strong contenders — but for deep, shaggy piles they require more oversight.
If you want, tell me about your exact rug type, pet hair (long vs. short), and whether you prefer minimal maintenance or lower cost — I can recommend the best match and tweak app settings for your setup. I also document step‑by‑step maintenance and filter replacement tips on the site, so I can link those if you need a quick how‑to.