Greatest robotic pool cleaners: 6 high fashions for simple pool upkeep
Cleansing a swimming pool ranks proper up there with scrubbing lavatory flooring, however the penalties of neglecting both chore are equally unhealthy. Thankfully, within the age of robots you may ditch the laborious chores of manually skimming leaves out of your pool’s floor and scrubbing algae from its partitions and flooring.
Put money into a contemporary robotic pool cleaner and let that machine try this soiled be just right for you. (Sadly, we haven’t but seen a robotic that may scrub our bathroom bowls.)
These labor-saving pool bots are available in numerous styles and sizes with various capabilities, to not point out a big selection of costs. Probably the most subtle fashions go for $2,000 or extra. Listed here are our high picks, adopted by a consumers’ information that may show you how to decide what you want in a robotic pool cleaner.
Polaris Freedom Plus – Greatest cordless robotic pool cleaner total
Professionals
- General nice cleansing high quality
- Light-weight, drains water rapidly
- Docks at waterline for simple retrieval
Cons
- Barely much less efficient than Polaris’ corded mannequin VRX iQ+
- Distant management is considerably troublesome to make use of
- Very costly
Why we just like the Polaris Freedom Plus
Polaris’s premiere battery-powered pool robotic wins on flexibility, even when it makes minor compromises in cleansing prowess in comparison with its corded–and far much less handy to make use of–cousin, the Polaris VRX iQ+ (see under). This bot has a big, easy-to-clean particles basket, and it was extraordinarily efficient at eradicating leaves and different particles from our take a look at swimming pool. When the bot has completed its work, it robotically parks itself together with the pool for simple retrieval.
Who can purchase the Polaris Freedom Plus
The Polaris Freedom Plus is a good selection for owners with bigger swimming pools who need hands-off cleansing with the choice to remotely management their pool-cleaning bot to make sure particular areas are cleaned. It comes with a caddy that gives contactless charging, and its 20-pound weight makes it simple to maneuver from the caddy to the pool when it’s time to scrub.
Learn our full
Polaris Freedom Plus assessment
Beatbot Aquasense Professional – Greatest cordless robotic pool cleaner, runner-up
Professionals
- Glorious underwater cleansing capabilities
- App permits you to tweak cleansing operations in dozens of how
- Excellent battery life of seven hours or extra
Cons
- Can nonetheless get caught occasionally
- Skimming characteristic isn’t overly efficient
- Costly in comparison with another high-end opponents
Why we just like the Beatbot Aquasense Professional
Like many robotic vacuums, the Aquasense Professional comes with a docking station that robotically prices its battery, eliminating the necessity to drag an influence wire to the system after every cleansing session. It would clear your pool’s ground, partitions, waterline, and the water’s floor. It does an amazing job vacuuming up dust and particles from the underside of the pool, trapping it in its two-piece mesh basket. And if you happen to decide in to buying its water-clarifying agent, the robotic will dispense it whereas it strikes round sucking in leaves off the floor of the pool.
Who can purchase the Beatbot Aquasense Professional?
Pool house owners in search of the last word in programmability and adaptability in cleansing ought to take a protracted take a look at the Aquasense Professional. This machine is outfitted with 9 separate motors, which assist it cruise round your pool with focus and effectivity. It has 4 4 preset cleansing modes: ground solely; ground, wall, and waterline; ground, wall, waterline, and floor; and an eco mode that cleans the pool’s ground as soon as each different day till its battery dies. However you too can create customized cleansing modes for the ground, partitions, and floor that give your greater than 20 different methods to maintain your pool spotless.
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Beatbot Aquasense Professional assessment
Wybot S2 – Greatest cordless robotic pool cleaner for big swimming pools
Professionals
- Excellent protection
- Endlessly configurable by way of cellular app
- Moderately light-weight for simple maneuverability
Cons
- Haphazard navigation
- Historical past of cleansing operations appears damaged
- App is tough across the edges
Why we just like the Wybot S2
Boasting the flexibility to scrub swimming swimming pools measuring as much as 3,230 sq. toes and geared up with a beefy 7800mAh battery, the Wybot S2 can scrub practically any pool in just some hours. Don’t let its idiosyncratic navigation idiot you. It would seem like it’s wandering round with no clear goal, however it’s going to go away no space of your pool’s ground, partitions, and waterline untouched. And its potential to suck up particles is nearly as good as its potential to clean, because of a big basket with two filters, the second of which is nice for capturing fine-grained grit.
Who can purchase the Wybot S2
If you happen to’ve been sustaining a big swimming pool the quaint approach, you’ll love the labor financial savings the Wybot S2 will ship. Its giant battery will make sure the pool is at all times clear and prepared to be used. Be ready to endure some quirks in its app–it appears it may have used a wee bit extra sharpening earlier than it was launched–however that software program must be comparatively simple to replace. This robotic pool cleaner is excellent in each different regard. If worth isn’t any object, nevertheless, the Polaris Freedom Plus is even higher; that stated, it’s additionally practically twice as costly.
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Wybot S2 assessment
Aiper Seagull Professional – Greatest cordless robotic pool cleaner for big swimming pools, runner-up
Professionals
- Epic efficiency
- 3-hour battery life ensures no floor is left untouched
- Doesn’t should be disassembled for cleansing
Cons
- Can get caught on obstacles
- Cleansing out the filter basket is a bit messy
- Very costly
Why we just like the Aiper Seagull Professional
This is among the greatest robotic pool cleaners we’ve examined, and if you will discover it on sale day–reminiscent of $500 worth from Aiper on the time of this writing–it’s most likely the very best worth in its class. It delivered epic cleansing performances in our checks, choosing up leaves and different particles and scrubbing the ground and partitions of our take a look at pool to rid them of algae progress.
Who can purchase the Aiper Seagull Professional
If you happen to can’t discover the Aiper Seagull Professional on sale, and also you don’t thoughts paying high greenback for the comfort and labor financial savings, this robotic pool cleaner is a good selection.
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Aiper Seagull Professional assessment
Aiper Seagull SE – Greatest robotic pool cleaner for smaller swimming pools
Professionals
- Very simple to make use of
- Light-weight, smooth, and quick
- Moderately efficient at cleansing contemplating the value
Cons
- Did not park itself close to the wall at finish of its cycle
- Struggles with bigger leaves
- Requires vital common upkeep
Why we just like the Aiper Seagull SE
In case your pool is on the small aspect, Aiper’s entry-level pool bot should not have any bother cleansing particles from it. The 8-pound system is straightforward to maneuver, zooming across the pool for about 90 minutes earlier than its battery dies out. It lacks a lot in the way in which of options past its on/off change, but it surely’s a succesful and extremely low-cost selection if all you want is occasional assist scooping up leaves that you simply’d in any other case have to gather by hand.
Who can purchase the Aiper Seagull SE
Aiper’s entry-level pool bot is greatest for individuals with smaller swimming swimming pools—as much as about 850 sq. toes. If you happen to’re working with a good finances, you would attempt deploying one in a bigger pool, however bear in mind that its battery will want a number of charging cycles to get the whole job achieved.
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Aiper Seagull SE assessment
Polaris VRX iQ+ – Greatest corded robotic pool cleaner
Professionals
- Greatest efficiency of any pool cleansing robotic we’ve examined up to now
- Optimizes run time based mostly on pool dimension
- Carry system permits you to retrieve the robotic on demand with no pole
Cons
- Very costly
- Wrangling energy cable requires some further effort
- A little bit of an eyesore even when not in use
Why we just like the Polaris VRX iQ+
The Polaris VRX iQ+ differs from the opposite robotic pool cleaners we’ve examined by advantage of the 70-foot insulated energy wire that connects it to its out-of-the-water management panel. Wrangling the wire generally is a chore–and it’s not in the slightest degree engaging whether or not the robotic is in use or not–however this bot cleaned our pool higher than something we’ve examined up to now.
Who can purchase the Polaris VRX iQ+
If you happen to’re in search of the best robotic pool cleaner, you have got a spot to stash it and its cumbersome caddy when it’s not in use, and you don’t thoughts wrestling with its energy wire every time you set it to cleansing–and once more when it’s achieved its job–the Polaris VRX iQ+ is tough to beat. If these chores are a turn-off, choose one among our battery-powered suggestions as a substitute.
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Polaris VRX iQ+ assessment
Different robotic pool cleaners we’ve examined
We’ve evaluated many different robotic pool cleaners, however other than the Ofuzzi Cyber 1200 Professional, it’s been a love or hate relationship up to now. If none of our high picks verify all of the packing containers for you, check out these different merchandise. Maybe you’ll discover a redeeming issue we’ve neglected.
- Aiper Scuba S1: As a lot as we like Aiper’s higher-end pool-cleaning robots, we have been disenchanted with the efficiency of its budget-priced entry.
- Hydrus Roker Plus: Don’t be tempted by this robotic pool cleaner’s low price ticket. We discovered it did a poor job of cleansing our pool, its battery life too quick, and it was troublesome to scrub of the particles it did choose up.
- Inse Y10 Pool Vacuum Robotic: The producer says its smallish robotic is designed for reasonably sized swimming pools as much as 1,100 sq. toes. It’s one of many least-expensive bots we’ve examined, however there’s an enormous distinction between cheap and simply low-cost.
- Ofuzzi Cyber 1200 Professional: This robotic received’t clear your pool’s partitions, however we discovered that it did an amazing job vacuuming up leaves and different particles from the underside of our pool. It’s attractively priced, too.
- Seauto Shark: This robotic pool cleaner excels at choosing up dust and dirt from the underside of the pool, however in our take a look at runs, it tended to overlook key sections.
How I take a look at pool cleaners
I take a look at robotic pool cleaners in two methods: First, I begin with real-world checks by letting particles construct up for a number of days, I then drop the robotic into the water to see the way it fares. This isn’t scientific—and it’s seasonally depending on falling leaves—so I additionally devised an artificial take a look at utilizing about 100 craft leaves made out of silk. These I scatter throughout the pool earlier than initiating a normal cleansing run. Measuring the portion of leaves left behind makes it simple to make an apples-to-apples comparability amongst numerous robots’ cleansing capabilities.
TechHive has not examined any robotic pool cleaners in an above-ground pool.
Why it’s best to belief me
I’ve been in and round dwelling swimming swimming pools for many of my life, and I’ve owned my very own pool since 2022. The pool is actively used, and I carry out some stage of upkeep on the pool practically each day. I’ve examined a wide range of cleansing gadgets within the pool, together with old-school water-powered Polaris cleaners and a variety of extra trendy robots. The pool depth ranges from about 4 to 7 toes deep and is L-shaped, measuring 12 by 36 toes, with a small leg jutting out that provides one other 6 by 6 toes within the shallow finish, totaling 468 sq. toes.
Who curated this text?
Christopher Null is an award-winning expertise journalist with greater than 25 years of expertise writing about and reviewing client and enterprise tech merchandise. Along with his work for PCWorld, he’s a frequent contributor to Wired, This Previous Home, and AAA’s Through Journal.
How to decide on a robotic pool cleaner
As with most tech merchandise, the characteristic units and capabilities of pool-cleaning robots advance as their worth tags go up. Right here’s a partial record of options that it’s best to search for, sorted from the commonest—and subsequently must be current on even the least-expensive fashions—to the fancier options you’ll discover on the extra subtle, and pricier, fashions.
These specs go hand in hand: The bigger the battery, the extra space the robotic ought to have the ability to cowl. In my expertise, most producers exaggerate what number of sq. toes their bots can cowl on a single battery cost. Search for a mannequin that guarantees protection of at the very least twice the scale of your pool’s sq. footage.
Cellular app help
Beginning at concerning the $1,000 worth vary, robotic pool cleaners begin to embody Wi-Fi connectivity and cellular app help. These options permits you to monitor battery life and the robotic’s cleansing mode, and—at the very least in concept—map your pool visually. These options don’t at all times work as deliberate, however it may be useful to get a push notification in your smartphone if the robotic will get caught someplace.
Distant management
A couple of robots embody a standalone distant management that allow you to “drive” the robotic towards particles or inform it to abort its cleansing run altogether.
Self-parking
Many robots can park themselves close to a wall on the backside of the pool after they’re completed operating, which makes them simpler to retrieve with a pole (a hook attachment is at all times included). I’ve discovered this characteristic to be hit-or-miss affair with the cheap fashions, whereas the extra superior ones can rise to the floor of the pool and float there. At that time, you may merely pull them out of the water by hand, no instruments wanted.
Floor-cleaning capabilities
Beatbot
Need a robotic that may skim leaves that haven’t but sunk to the ground? Search for a mannequin with a skimming characteristic–though observe that these received’t present excellent protection because of the tendency of leaves emigrate whereas the robotic is in movement.
Wall-cleaning capabilities
Christopher Null/Foundry
I didn’t suppose I wanted this characteristic till I attempted it out: Who will get particles on the partitions of the pool? Nicely, you do, greater than probably. Wall-cleaning robots can bodily scrub off algae that you simply’d in any other case must do manually, with a brush—an that’s a really painful, back-breaking process. The most effective fashions use spinning treads, whereas cheaper robots depend on simply suction energy.
Regularly requested questions on robotic pool cleaners
What’s the greatest robotic pool cleaner?
The Polaris VRX iQ+ is most dependable and efficient pool cleaner we’ve examined up to now. It’s speedy, thorough, and straightforward to make use of. Its reliability is due largely to it being corded, and thus free from the constraints of a battery. The most effective cordless robotic pool cleaner is the Polaris Freedom Plus. It’s barely much less efficient than its VRX iQ sibling at cleansing, however nonetheless does an admirable job, is full of options, and eliminates having to wrestle with an unwieldy and unpleasant energy wire.
How do robotic pool cleaners work?
Robotic pool cleaners are in some ways the watery analogue of robotic vacuum cleaners, though their navigational applied sciences differ significantly. Easy cleaners will use water jets to maneuver backwards and forwards in broad arcs, reversing every time they hit an impediment whereas sucking up particles by a small port within the backside of the robotic.
Extra superior cleaners have a number of mechanical motors and sensors that take the robotic by a extra ordered cleansing routine, shifting backwards and forwards throughout the pool like an individual behind a lawnmower. Fashions that may clear the edges of a pool can climb its partitions in the identical sort of sample. The spinning brushes on these fashions are more practical at scooping up sand, dust, and different fantastic particles.
How do you management a robotic pool cleaner?
For probably the most half, you don’t. Robotic pool cleaners are a “set and overlook” affair, although extra luxe fashions will be set to scrub the ground solely, partitions solely, each ground and partitions, and so forth. If you wish to cease the robotic mid-run, you may seize it with a hooked pole and switch it off manually or with a distant management if one was offered.
Notice that cellular apps often received’t work whereas the robotic is in the pool, because the water and concrete have a tendency to dam the wi-fi sign.
How efficient are robotic pool cleaners?
If you happen to’re used to having one thing like an old-school Polaris cleaner run for 8 hours a day to maintain your pool spotless, you is perhaps disenchanted in what a robotic pool cleaner—which is able to typically run for lower than 3 hours, and generally a lot much less—can do. I’ve by no means accomplished a cleansing run with completely no particles left behind, however the fashions reviewed above do a strong job, sucking up 80 to 95 p.c of particles, relying on how soiled issues are whenever you began.
Extra superior robotic pool cleaners, machines outfitted with treads, do a remarkably good job cleansing up fantastic particles and algae—a lot better than hose-type cleaners that should be pulled out of the pool whenever you need to swim—and are practically nearly as good as a human with a brush. This functionality alone makes it value contemplating a extra superior—and costlier—unit.
What sort of upkeep do robotic pool cleaners require?
Little or no. Robotic pool cleaners must have their particles baskets cleaned out after every run—you may want to make use of a brush to scrub the filter display screen—and it’s best to dry them off, although most are superb at draining inside a couple of minutes of elimination from the pool. After a number of hours of recharging, the robotic must be able to run once more.
Pool robots are digital gadgets, so they’re vulnerable to breaking down over time—particularly on condition that they’ll spend ample time underwater. By no means go away a robotic within the water for longer than its operating cycle, and at all times retailer it out of direct daylight, so UV rays don’t break down its plastic parts. Naturally, batteries will lose capability over time, and these aren’t user-replaceable on any robotic I’ve seen.
Are there robotic pool cleaners for above-ground swimming pools?
Just about each robotic pool cleaner can clear in-ground swimming pools, however many fashions may also clear above-ground swimming pools, which have various kinds of floor supplies and sometimes lack a easy ground for the bot to traverse.
Some pool-cleaning robots can deal with each kinds of swimming pools, however don’t assume the one you’re contemplating can. The producer’s product specs ought to point out which kind(s) of pool the robotic is designed to scrub.
