Robotic Pool Cleaners: A Buyer’s Guide to Sparkling Waters

Cleaning a swimming pool is often dreaded, similar to scrubbing bathroom floors. However, neglecting either task can lead to equally unhealthy consequences. Thankfully, robotic pool cleaners are available to alleviate the burden of manually skimming leaves and scrubbing algae. While a robot to scrub toilet bowls is still a dream, these devices offer a way to automate pool maintenance.

Robotic pool cleaners come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and capabilities, with prices ranging significantly. High-end models can cost $2,000 or more. This guide will present top picks and provide advice on selecting the right robotic pool cleaner for your needs.

Top Robotic Pool Cleaner Recommendations

Polaris Freedom Plus

Pros: Flexibility, large debris basket, automatic parking, remote control, contactless charging.
Cons: Minor compromises in cleaning prowess compared to corded models.

The Polaris Freedom Plus is a battery-powered pool robot that excels in flexibility. Despite being slightly less powerful than corded counterparts like the Polaris VRX iQ+, it provides hands-off cleaning with remote control capabilities. Its large debris basket is easy to clean and effectively removes leaves and other debris. The robot automatically parks itself at the side of the pool for easy retrieval and comes with a caddy that enables contactless charging. Weighing 20 pounds, the Polaris Freedom Plus is easy to move and a great option for larger pools.

Aquasense Pro

Pros: Docking station, floor/wall/waterline/surface cleaning, water-clarifying agent dispensing, programmability, custom cleaning modes.
Cons: N/A (Based on the article, there are no cons explicitly mentioned)

The Aquasense Pro features a docking station for automatic battery charging, eliminating the hassle of cords. This robotic pool cleaner cleans the pool floor, walls, waterline, and surface. It efficiently vacuums up dirt and debris, trapping it in a two-piece mesh basket. The optional water-clarifying agent is dispensed by the robot while it cleans the pool surface. It is designed with nine motors and offers four preset cleaning modes, as well as custom cleaning modes with over 20 options. The Aquasense Pro is well-suited for users seeking extensive programmability and flexibility.

Wybot S2

Pros: Large pool coverage, beefy battery, strong scrubbing and debris suction, large filter basket.
Cons: Quirky app navigation.

The Wybot S2 is capable of cleaning swimming pools up to 3,230 square feet with its 7800mAh battery. Its navigation may seem erratic, but the Wybot S2 cleans the pool floor, walls, and waterline effectively. It has excellent debris suction due to its large basket with two filters. The app navigation could be improved but the robot is outstanding in all other aspects, delivering substantial labor savings.

Aiper Seagull Pro

Pros: Excellent cleaning performance, good value (especially on sale).
Cons: N/A (Based on the article, there are no cons explicitly mentioned)

The Aiper Seagull Pro is a robotic pool cleaner that delivers epic cleaning performance. It efficiently picks up leaves, scrubs floors and walls, and removes algae. When available on sale, it provides a great value in its category.

Aiper (Entry-Level Bot)

Pros: Low cost, lightweight, easy to maneuver.
Cons: Limited features, best for small pools.

This entry-level pool bot from Aiper is a low-cost choice for cleaning small pools (up to 850 square feet). The 8-pound device is easy to maneuver and runs for about 90 minutes per charge. It is best suited for light debris removal.

Polaris VRX iQ+

Pros: Most effective cleaning, reliable.
Cons: Corded, requires storage space for caddy.

The Polaris VRX iQ+ is the most reliable and effective robotic pool cleaner, according to the article. Its cleaning performance is excellent due to its 70-foot insulated power cord. However, wrangling the cord can be a chore, and it requires storage space for its bulky caddy.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Right Robotic Pool Cleaner

Consider the following features when selecting a robotic pool cleaner:

Battery Size and Coverage Area:

The larger the battery, the greater the coverage area. Most manufacturers exaggerate coverage on a single charge, therefore, select a model that promises coverage of at least twice your pool’s square footage.

Wi-Fi Connectivity and Mobile App Support:

Robotic pool cleaners in the $1,000+ range typically offer Wi-Fi connectivity and mobile app support. These features allow monitoring of battery life, cleaning modes, and visual mapping of your pool.

Remote Control:

Some robots have a remote control to manually direct the robot toward debris or stop its cleaning run.

Automatic Parking:

Many robots park near a wall when finished. More advanced models can surface for retrieval.

Skimming Feature:

For removing leaves before they sink, look for a skimming feature.

Wall-Cleaning Capability:

Robots that can clean the walls can physically scrub off algae. Spinning treads are more effective than suction power.

Robotic Pool Cleaner Functionality

Simple cleaners use water jets to move and suck up debris. More advanced cleaners have multiple motors and sensors for a more ordered cleaning routine. Models that clean walls climb in the same pattern. Spinning brushes are more effective at collecting fine debris.

Most robotic pool cleaners are "set and forget." Deluxe models can be set to clean floors only, walls only, or both. If needed, the robot can be stopped manually or with a remote. Mobile apps generally won’t work while the robot is in the pool due to signal blockage.

Compared to old-school cleaners that run for 8 hours, robotic pool cleaners usually run for less than 3 hours. They typically pick up 80 to 95 percent of debris. More advanced models with treads clean up fine debris and algae very well.

Robotic Pool Cleaner Maintenance

Robotic pool cleaners require little maintenance. Debris baskets should be cleaned after each run and dried. They should also be recharged after a cleaning run.

As electronic devices, pool robots can break down over time. They should never be left in the water longer than their running cycle and should be stored out of direct sunlight to prevent UV damage. Batteries will lose capacity over time and are generally not user-replaceable.

In-Ground vs. Above-Ground Pools

Most robotic pool cleaners can clean in-ground pools. Some models can also clean above-ground pools. Verify the manufacturer’s specifications.

Conclusion

Robotic pool cleaners can be a valuable investment for automating pool maintenance. Select a model that meets your specific needs and budget. Consider factors such as battery size, coverage area, features, and pool type.