I wasn’t sure this premium robot vacuum was worth the money – but after using it every other night for 10 months, I’ve changed my mind

When I first moved in with my partner and his cocker spaniel, I couldn’t believe how much hair he (the dog, not the human) was shedding on a daily basis. There was hair everywhere, all the time. Staying on top of it was impossible – even as someone who’s actual job it is to test vacuum cleaners.

Then, last March, I took delivery of a Roborock Saros 10 for review. It’s an expensive robot vacuum, and I wasn’t quite sure it’d be able to justify that price tag. But when I started testing it, I was impressed – it immediately took all the pressure off cleaning.

The suction is strong enough to pull the vast majority of hair from the carpets, the dock is high-end enough to never get clogged with hair or jam during the self-empty process, and the excellent mopping means it can tackle smudgy paw prints on the kitchen floor tiles too. I’ve since tested a number of robot vacuums, but none can match the Saros 10 for keeping on top of the dog fuzz.

At list price, this robovac comes in at $1,599.99 / £1,199.99 – but right now it’s down to $1,099.99 at Amazon US and £799.97 at Amazon UK. That’s still a big investment, although after using this bot multiple times a week for nearly a year, I think it’s worth it.

The Saros 10 is the best robot vacuum I tested last year. If you’re looking for something for cleaning up after pets, it’s worth spending a bit more on a premium model like this. Where it stands out from cheaper options is in its suction power (pet hair is notoriously ‘sticky’ and hard to pull from carpet), reliability, and self-sufficiency. I can count the number times it’s got lost or stuck on one hand.

If you have hard flooring (as I do in my kitchen), the mop part also helps justify the expense, too. This model delivers not only effective mopping, it can sense carpets and rugs, and will drop off its pad in the dock to avoid getting them damp. Plus, the dock will keep the mop pad clean and dry, so you don’t have to.

If you’re willing to compromise on one of these points, there are other, cheaper options that will still make a big difference to your cleaning. Here are a couple of alternatives to consider: