Cleaning a swimming pool ranks proper up there with scrubbing lavatory flooring, however the penalties of neglecting both chore are equally unhealthy. Fortunately, within the age of robots you possibly can ditch the laborious chores of manually skimming leaves out of your pool’s floor and scrubbing algae from its partitions and flooring.
Invest in a contemporary robotic pool cleaner and let that machine try this soiled give you the results you want. (Sadly, we haven’t but seen a robotic that may scrub our rest room bowls.)
These labor-saving pool bots are available varied sizes and shapes with various capabilities, to not point out a big selection of costs. The most subtle fashions go for $2,000 or extra. Here are our prime picks, adopted by a patrons’ information that may enable you to decide what you want in a robotic pool cleaner.
Polaris Freedom Plus – Best cordless robotic pool cleaner general
Pros
- Overall nice cleansing high quality
- Lightweight, drains water rapidly
- Docks at waterline for simple retrieval
Cons
- Slightly much less efficient than Polaris’ corded mannequin VRX iQ+
- Remote management is considerably troublesome to make use of
- Very costly
Price When Reviewed:
$1,699.00
Best Prices Today:
$1,699
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 mechanically parks itself in conjunction 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 straightforward to maneuver from the caddy to the pool when it’s time to scrub.
Read our full
Polaris Freedom Plus review
Beatbot Aquasense Pro – Best cordless robotic pool cleaner, runner-up
Pros
- Excellent underwater cleansing capabilities
- App enables you to tweak cleansing operations in dozens of the way
- Outstanding battery lifetime of 7 hours or extra
Cons
- Can nonetheless get caught occasionally
- Skimming function isn’t overly efficient
- Expensive in comparison with another high-end opponents
Price When Reviewed:
$1,869.00 (after $330 low cost for Amazon Prime members or if bought direct from Beatbot with code “BeatbotProCode”)
Best Prices Today:
$2,199
Why we just like the Beatbot Aquasense Pro
Like many robotic vacuums, the Aquasense Pro comes with a docking station that mechanically expenses its battery, eliminating the necessity to drag an influence twine to the system after every cleansing session. It will clear your pool’s ground, partitions, waterline, and the water’s floor. It does an ideal job vacuuming up grime and particles from the underside of the pool, trapping it in its two-piece mesh basket. And if you happen to choose 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 Pro?
Pool house owners searching for the last word in programmability and suppleness in cleansing ought to take an extended have a look at the Aquasense Pro. This machine is outfitted with 9 separate motors, which assist it cruise round your pool with focus and effectivity. It has 4 Four 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. But 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.
Read our full
Beatbot Aquasense Pro review
Wybot S2 – Best cordless robotic pool cleaner for big swimming pools
Pros
- Outstanding protection
- Endlessly configurable through cellular app
- Reasonably light-weight for simple maneuverability
Cons
- Haphazard navigation
- History of cleansing operations appears damaged
- App is tough across the edges
Price When Reviewed:
$999 .99
Best Prices Today:
$899.99
Why we just like the Wybot S2
Boasting the flexibility to scrub swimming swimming pools measuring as much as 3,230 sq. toes and outfitted with a beefy 7800mAh battery, the Wybot S2 can scrub almost any pool in only a few hours. Don’t let its idiosyncratic navigation idiot you. It would possibly appear to be it’s wandering round with no clear function, however it can go away no space of your pool’s ground, partitions, and waterline untouched. And its means to suck up particles is pretty much as good as its means to wash, 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’ve been sustaining a big swimming pool the quaint means, you’ll love the labor financial savings the Wybot S2 will ship. Its massive 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 straightforward to replace. This robotic pool cleaner is excellent in each different regard. If value is not any object, nevertheless, the Polaris Freedom Plus is even higher; that stated, it’s additionally almost twice as costly.
Read our full
Wybot S2 review
Aiper Seagull Pro – Best cordless robotic pool cleaner for big swimming pools, runner-up
Pros
- Epic efficiency
- 3-hour battery life ensures no floor is left untouched
- Doesn’t must be disassembled for cleansing
Cons
- Can get caught on obstacles
- Cleaning out the filter basket is a bit messy
- Very costly
Price When Reviewed:
$899.99 MSRP
Why we just like the Aiper Seagull Pro
This is likely one of the finest robotic pool cleaners we’ve examined, and if yow will discover it on a superb sale day–akin to $500 value from Aiper on the time of this writing–it’s in all probability the most effective 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 development.
Who can purchase the Aiper Seagull Pro
If you possibly can’t discover the Aiper Seagull Pro on sale, and also you don’t thoughts paying prime greenback for the comfort and labor financial savings, this robotic pool cleaner is a good selection.
Read our full
Aiper Seagull Pro review
Aiper Seagull SE – Best robotic pool cleaner for smaller swimming pools
Pros
- Very straightforward to make use of
- Lightweight, glossy, and quick
- Reasonably efficient at cleansing contemplating the value
Cons
- Failed to park itself close to the wall at finish of its cycle
- Struggles with bigger leaves
- Requires important common upkeep
Price When Reviewed:
$249.99
Best Prices Today:
$179.99
Why we just like the Aiper Seagull SE
If your pool is on the small facet, Aiper’s entry-level pool bot should not have any bother cleansing particles from it. The 8-pound system is simple 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 just’d in any other case have to gather by hand.
Who can purchase the Aiper Seagull SE
Aiper’s entry-level pool bot is finest for folks with smaller swimming swimming pools—as much as about 850 sq. toes. If you’re working with a decent finances, you possibly can 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 executed.
Read our full
Aiper Seagull SE review
Polaris VRX iQ+ – Best corded robotic pool cleaner
Pros
- Best efficiency of any pool cleansing robotic we’ve examined so far
- Optimizes run time based mostly on pool measurement
- Lift system enables you to retrieve the robotic on demand and not using a pole
Cons
- Very costly
- Wrangling energy cable requires some further effort
- A little bit of an eyesore even when not in use
Price When Reviewed:
$1,649.00 ($100 rebate obtainable through Visa Rewards Card by means of Sept. 2, 2024)
Best Prices Today:
$1,649
Leslie’s Poolmart, Inc.
$1649
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 twine that connects it to its out-of-the-water management panel. Wrangling the twine could be a chore–and it’s not in the least enticing whether or not the robotic is in use or not–however this bot cleaned our pool higher than something we’ve examined so far.
Who can purchase the Polaris VRX iQ+
If you’re searching for the best robotic pool cleaner, you may have a spot to stash it and its cumbersome caddy when it’s not in use, and you don’t thoughts wrestling with its energy twine every time you set it to cleansing–and once more when it’s executed its job–the Polaris VRX iQ+ is tough to beat. If these chores are a turn-off, choose certainly one of our battery-powered suggestions as an alternative.
Read our full
Polaris VRX iQ+ review
Other robotic pool cleaners we’ve examined
We’ve evaluated many different robotic pool cleaners, however other than the Ofuzzi Cyber 1200 Pro, it’s been a love or hate relationship so far. If none of our prime picks verify all of the containers for you, check out these different merchandise. Perhaps you’ll discover a redeeming issue we’ve missed.
- Aiper Scuba S1: As a lot as we like Aiper’s higher-end pool-cleaning robots, we had been dissatisfied 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 Robot: 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 Pro: This robotic received’t clear your pool’s partitions, however we discovered that it did an ideal 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 grime 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 couple 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 comprised of silk. These I scatter throughout the pool earlier than initiating a typical cleansing run. Measuring the portion of leaves left behind makes it straightforward to make an apples-to-apples comparability amongst varied robots’ cleansing capabilities.
TechHive has not examined any robotic pool cleaners in an above-ground pool.
Why you need to belief me
I’ve been in and round residence 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 almost day-after-day. I’ve examined quite a lot of cleansing gadgets within the pool, together with old-school water-powered Polaris cleaners and quite a few extra fashionable 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 know-how journalist with greater than 25 years of expertise writing about and reviewing shopper and enterprise tech merchandise. In addition to his work for PCWorld, he’s a frequent contributor to Wired, This Old House, and AAA’s Via Magazine.
How to decide on a robotic pool cleaner
As with most tech merchandise, the function units and capabilities of pool-cleaning robots advance as their value tags go up. Here’s a partial record of options that you need to search for, sorted from the most typical—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 be capable to cowl. In my expertise, most producers exaggerate what number of sq. toes their bots can cowl on a single battery cost. Look for a mannequin that guarantees protection of not less than twice the scale of your pool’s sq. footage.
Mobile app assist
Starting at concerning the $1,000 value vary, robotic pool cleaners begin to embrace Wi-Fi connectivity and cellular app assist. These options enables you to monitor battery life and the robotic’s cleansing mode, and—not less than in idea—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.
Remote management
A number of robots embrace 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 once they’re completed working, which makes them simpler to retrieve with a pole (a hook attachment is at all times included). I’ve discovered this function 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 possibly can merely pull them out of the water by hand, no instruments wanted.
Surface-cleaning capabilities
Beatbot
Want a robotic that may skim leaves that haven’t but sunk to the ground? Look for a mannequin with a skimming function–though word that these received’t present good 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 function till I attempted it out: Who will get particles on the partitions of the pool? Well, you do, greater than seemingly. Wall-cleaning robots can bodily scrub off algae that you just’d in any other case have to do manually, with a brush—an that’s a really painful, back-breaking process. The finest fashions use spinning treads, whereas cheaper robots depend on simply suction energy.
Frequently requested questions on robotic pool cleaners
What is the most effective robotic pool cleaner?
The Polaris VRX iQ+ is most dependable and efficient pool cleaner we’ve examined so far. It’s speedy, thorough, and simple to make use of. Its reliability is due largely to it being corded, and thus free from the restrictions of a battery. The finest 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 ugly energy twine.
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 range significantly. Simple cleaners will use water jets to maneuver backwards and forwards in huge arcs, reversing every time they hit an impediment whereas sucking up particles by means of a small port within the backside of the robotic.
More superior cleaners have a number of mechanical motors and sensors that take the robotic by means of a extra ordered cleansing routine, transferring backwards and forwards throughout the pool like an individual behind a lawnmower. Models that may clear the edges of a pool can climb its partitions in the identical kind of sample. The spinning brushes on these fashions are more practical at scooping up sand, grime, and different advantageous particles.
How do you management a robotic pool cleaner?
For essentially the most half, you don’t. Robot pool cleaners are a “set and forget” affair, although extra luxe fashions could 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 possibly can seize it with a hooked pole and switch it off manually or with a distant management if one was supplied.
Note 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’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 likely to be dissatisfied in what a robotic pool cleaner—which is able to usually run for lower than 3 hours, and typically 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 stable job, sucking up 80 to 95 p.c of particles, relying on how soiled issues are once you began.
More superior robotic pool cleaners, machines outfitted with treads, do a remarkably good job cleansing up advantageous particles and algae—significantly better than hose-type cleaners that must be pulled out of the pool once you wish to swim—and are almost pretty much as good as a human with a brush. This functionality alone makes it value contemplating a extra superior—and costlier—unit.
What type of upkeep do robotic pool cleaners require?
Very little. Robotic pool cleaners have to have their particles baskets cleaned out after every run—you would possibly want to make use of a brush to scrub the filter display—and you need to dry them off, although most are superb at draining inside a couple of minutes of elimination from the pool. After a couple of hours of recharging, the robotic must be able to run once more.
Pool robots are digital gadgets, so they’re susceptible to breaking down over time—particularly on condition that they may spend ample time underwater. Never go away a robotic within the water for longer than its working 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 are usually not user-replaceable on any robotic I’ve seen.
Are there robotic pool cleaners for above-ground swimming pools?
Virtually each robotic pool cleaner can clear in-ground swimming pools, however many fashions may also clear above-ground swimming pools, which have several types of floor supplies and infrequently lack a clean ground for the bot to traverse.
Some pool-cleaning robots can deal with each sorts of swimming pools, however don’t assume the one you’re contemplating can. The producer’s product specs ought to point out which sort(s) of pool the robotic is designed to scrub.