Do you take pride in owning a beautiful pool, but you struggle to keep it clean? Then there’s an easy way to prevent that.
While there are many automatic and semi-automatic pool cleaners on the market, all of them require some kind of human supervision. You might need to use pool filters or pumps to get them working, which honestly becomes very exhausting.
Plus, I am into gardening, and it takes up most of my time. So, I was looking for something that could take care of the pool on its own. And that is when my husband introduced me to robotic pool cleaners. These do their jobs incredibly well, and you can put them to work with the touch of a simple button.
Hi! I am Stacy Smith, and today I have this guide about the 5 best robotic pool cleaners available out there. Let’s get started!
Top 5 Robotic Pool Cleaners Reviews
1. DOLPHIN 99996113-US
Do you have a small swimming pool that needs to be cleaned on a regular basis? Then the DOLPHIN 99996113-US nautilus CC robotic pool cleaner is a very energy-efficient option to go for. It will do all the hard work while you can relax in the house.
Product Highlights
This model is known for its quick and efficient performance and can get your pool ready within 2 hours. All you have to do is switch it on and leave it in the water, and it will automatically clean every part.
Now, if you are wondering how the work is done, let me tell you that the device is agile and lightweight and can easily move around in a pool. Plus, it has excellent filtering and scrubbing capacities, which make it even better. The pool floor and walls will be cleaned well to leave an immaculate and healthy pool.
Moreover, you can set the cleaner to work every day, or leave a 1 or 2-day gap in between. The schedule can be programmed in advance, so that you don’t have to switch it on and off during every cleaning session.
What’s There To Like About It?
While I wanted a pool cleaner, I was skeptical about spending a lot of money on it. However, the average cost for operating this device is extremely budget friendly, and the monthly electricity bill did not shoot up either. I really loved the high-quality performance on offer, and hence it is one of my top recommendations.
Plus, it is lightweight and can move over obstacles when necessary. It works equally well on tiles, gunite, plaster, and all other kinds of surfaces, so you can safely use it for different types of pools.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
The only issue that I faced with this unit is with the cord, which does get tangled from time to time. While its performance is not affected per se, you will have to untangle it once in a while. But for its affordability and cleaning abilities, I don’t really mind going through this little trouble.
Pros and Cons of DOLPHIN 99996113-US
Pros
Cons
- WALL-SCRUBBING POWER: Dolphin Nautilus CC climbs walls efficiently, ensuring thorough cleaning on any pool surface, no matter the shape or surface type.
- ACTIVE SCRUBBING: Elevate your pool maintenance with the Dolphin Nautilus CC - active scrubbing brush eliminates manual effort, guaranteeing a pristine pool. Gentle on surfaces, tough on debris.
- EASY FILTER CARE: Effortlessly maintain a clear pool with our user-friendly top-load filter basket. Easily remove debris for crystal-clear water, enhancing your swimming experience.
2. OT QOMOTOP Robotic Pool Cleaner
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Up next is another one of my top recommendations that will work well without any manual supervision. The OT QOMOTOP Robotic Pool Cleaner can function without cables and can work efficiently without requiring human intervention. It’s suitable for smaller pools of all shapes and will clean every corner properly.
Product Highlights
First of all, this model does not come with cables, so you do not have to worry about tangled cords or wires. The cordless body also reduces damage and ensures it can run for a longer time without pulling out any control boxes in the water.
Furthermore, it ensures superior performance with the help of 2 suction doors and one brush near the bottom. So, everything from leaves to sand and dirt particles will be cleaned up by this device for precision cleaning.
And once the cleaning part is complete, it will stop at the edge of the pool, from where you can pull it out. For this purpose, there’s a floating handle that will offer easy access.
Moving on, it is designed to clean small pools with a maximum surface area of up to 860 square feet. Additionally, it can handle water depth up to 6.6 feet and will clean accordingly.
What’s There To Like About It?
I was very impressed with the versatility that is offered by this unit. If you are worried about the pool floor, the device will not damage it and will work on multiple types of floors made of vinyl, timeless fiberglass, or even concrete, for that matter.
Also, since I had no idea about how to use pool cleaners, the user manual proved to be of great help. All instructions and steps are mentioned in detail, and you should not face any trouble in figuring out the operation.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
While this will work wonderfully well for small-sized pools with a maximum depth of 6.6 feet, it will not work well for anything deeper than that. So, do check and measure the depth of your pool purchasing it to avoid any hassle later on.
Pros and Cons of OT QOMOTOP Robotic Pool Cleaner
Pros
Cons
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3. AIPER SMART Pool Cleaner
Next on the list, I have a recommendation that will take care of difficult cleaning jobs within a short span of time. The AIPER SMART Pool Cleaner is equipped with effective auto-dock technology, which will make the pool cleaning process smooth and trouble-free.
Product Highlights
My backyard has a number of trees, and a lot of leaves, debris, and waste keep falling into the pool. That is why I needed a device that would be able to clear a large quantity of waste in a short period of time. And this unit can cover up to 537 square feet within 50 minutes to leave your pool absolutely clean.
Additionally, it’s equipped with IPX8 waterproof technology with a waterproof built-in battery. Every time its battery dies, it will come near the edge of the pool so that it is easier for you to pick up. This is due to its self-dock innovative technology, which will direct this cleaner to move near the corner of the pool when the cleaning is complete or when the charge runs out.
Plus, it weighs only 6.6 lbs. and sports a compact build. You can easily pull it out for maintenance and then drop it back in.
What’s There To Like About It?
I hate spending time cleaning the dirt and debris out of the cleaner, and it generally becomes time-consuming. But this unit has a filter tray that can be easily removed and cleared. Simply use a hose to clean it, and put the tray back in place.
Additionally, to aid in the cleaning, there are 2 brushes located at the bottom for intense scrubbing. They will capture tough dirt, leaves, and debris, leaving behind a spic and span pool.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
One thing to keep in mind is that this device can’t handle sharp objects while cleaning. I learnt this the hard way as I didn't remove the twigs and branches from the pool, which might have dented the cleaner on the bottom. This is an added step that’s necessary to prevent it from being damaged.
Pros and Cons of AIPER SMART Pool Cleaner
Pros
Cons
- [Optimized Hydrodynamic Design] Enjoy an effortless cleaning experience with the Scuba SE pool vacuum. Its innovative design reduces power consumption for propulsion, focusing on delivering superior cleaning results. Experience hassle-free, automated pool maintenance.
- [Cordless Operation] With just a single click, activate the cordless pool cleaner for true hands-free convenience. This lightweight, tangle-free device is easy to store and outperforms traditional corded models, making pool cleaning simpler than ever.
- [Intelligent Auto-Parking] When the battery runs low, the Scuba SE automatically moves to the pool's edge for easy retrieval, keeping you dry. Stay updated with the intuitive audio alert system, designed to enhance your user experience.
4. PAXCESS Pool Cleaner
Among my final recommendations is an in-ground and above-ground cleaner that ranks as one of the top automatic pool cleaning options. Made by the house of PAXCESS, this option comes with a very powerful motor that will clean your pool within a relatively short span.
Product Highlights
This unit is designed to work for pools with an area of 100 square meters and can clean it within 60 to 90 minutes. There are no cords attached to it, and that makes it easier to move around without worrying about tangled cables.
Moreover, it has a deflector along with a motor that allows the device to move fast. With a speed of 16 meters per minute, this unit will clean any pool pretty quickly. Plus, there are 2 suction doors along with filters and a brush at the bottom. Rest assured that all dirt and debris will be trapped, leaving the pool filled with crystal-clear water.
Besides, it’s lightweight and very easy to use even for elderly people who are not physically strong. It only weighs 12.1 lbs and can be easily lifted out of the water for cleaning.
What’s There To Like About It?
I found the smart navigation system to be very beneficial, and it allowed optimized scanning and easy coverage of larger areas. The intelligent system will spot and capture all debris and leaves floating around, and I use it every time before backyard parties.
Plus, the filtration tray inside the device captures dirt and debris easily and can even pull out finer sand particles. This is especially needed if your pool is used a lot, and you will love to see the results.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
The brush that is attached to this device is thin and can only clean up light algae growth. It will not work well with heavy algae, and you might have to get special brushes to do the job yourself. This may add to both your budget and effort.
Pros and Cons of PAXCESS Pool Cleaner
Pros
Cons
- 【Convenient Robotic Pool Cleaner】Cordless automatic pool cleaner is the most innovative pool robot cleaner for Max.100㎡ inground pools/above ground pools. Put aside the restraint of the power cord, our cordless pool cleaner robot is equipped with 5000mah lithium-ion battery, which can achieve up to 60-90 minutes of work, it can operate without a cable attached to an electrical outlet, allowing greater mobility. IPX8 waterproof design for battery, please be assured to use it.
- 【Super Cleaning Performance】With deflector and powerful motor, this automatic pool cleaner with a fast-moving speed(appr.16m/min) and powerful cleaning ability, high frequency, fast speed, deep cleaning, saving time and effort. With two large suction doors, one bottom brush and superior filter, robotic pool cleaner can trap and lock in leaves, dirt, and sand, leaving your pool water sparkling clean. Our pool robot cleaner takes over your pool cleaning duties for good.
- 【How to let pool cleaner go ashore?】With advanced battery detection technology, Cordless automatic pool cleaner will stop alongside the swimming pool shore when the battery drained out or completing the working cycle by itself. And you just need to pull up the floating handle to let the pool cleaners go ashore. Simply plug the robot pool cleaner into any 110v outlet to recharge for the next cleaning. Need about 4-6 hours for full charging.
5. Polaris 9650IQ
Do you want to purchase one of the most technologically advanced models available on the market currently? Then the Polaris 9650IQ robotic cleaner is going to be an excellent choice as it can be operated through your smartphone. Read on to know all about it!
Product Highlights
First and foremost, this unit comes with the iAquaLink app, which will help in controlling all its actions through the convenience of your smartphone. You can get it started remotely, and your phone will receive a message when the canister is filled.
Apart from that, it works effectively for deep pools and can work on in-ground pools up to 60 feet deep. With an extra-large canister size, it can capture a lot of waste at one go, so users do not have to constantly remove and clean it.
Plus, it has got 4-wheels, which allow the cleaner to move over obstacles that may come in the way. Hence, you do not have to worry about the cleaner getting stuck anywhere in the middle.
What’s There To Like About It?
While this model comes with 70 feet of swivel cable, there are very less chances of it getting tangled. This is because of the low-torque water weight swivel, and it did pretty well to cut down on my workload during pool cleaning.
Beyond that, the debris canister can hold 5 liters of waste, which is something I absolutely loved. It is probably bigger than most other filters and canisters, and I do not have to take it out often.
What’s There Not To Like About It?
The only downside of this model is that it does not map the area that needs to be cleaned. Now this will not be a very big problem, but certain areas of the pool might sometimes be missed out by the cleaner. So, keep a watch on it for the first few days to see how it functions.
Pros and Cons of Polaris 9650IQ
Pros
Cons
- INTELLIGENT POOL CLEANER: Wherever you are, whenever you want -- clean your pool easily with the iAquaLink app. Comes WiFi ready and many options within the Polaris app that allow your pool to be cleaned, all from your phone. Comes w/ dirty canister indicator.
- IN GROUND: Compatible with in ground swimming pools up to 60 ft.
- MOBILE APP & WiFi: With a built-in WiFi connection that enables iAquaLink app control, the power to start or stop your pool cleaner is never further away than your phone.
Buyers Guide
Now that you know all about the best options available today, it is time to look at the determining factors, which will help in making the right choice. Here, I should thank my friend Angie, who has been using pool cleaners for the longest time, and told me all about it.
You will see that there are differences in the area that is covered, size, number of brushes, doors, and the battery that is used. Her guidance helped me choose the ideal unit according to my requirements, and I hope it does the same for you.
1. Area Covered
The size of your pool will determine the kind of robotic pool cleaner that’s best suited for the area. Every model is designed to cover a specific amount of area, which includes the depth and height of the pool.
While some pool cleaners can work for pools with a maximum height of 6.6 feet, others can work for a depth of 30 feet or more. So, make sure that the one you choose can easily cover the pool area within a short span.
2. Brushes And Doors
The functioning of robotic pool cleaners through their doors and brushes are indeed pretty interesting. While the doors suck in dust and debris, the brushes located at the bottom clean the and scrub the pool walls and floors.
Also, the number of brushes plays a big role, as more brushes will provide you with a cleaner surface within a shorter period. Having said that, each brush needs to be thick and well fitted so that they can clean algae or accumulated leaves.
However, the ultimate decision regarding the number of brushes will come down to how dirty the pool is. If there are trees on top, then there would be a lot of leaves falling into the water, and you will probably need a model with 2 or more brushes.
3. Battery Capacity
The battery capacity differs from one model to another, and it determines how long the machine will run. If you have a small pool, then a 2600mAh lithium battery should suffice. It will let the cleaner work for more than an hour without any interruptions.
But if you have a bigger pool, then it is best to opt for models with a 5000mAh lithium battery. It will give the device enough power to finish cleaning the entire pool without stopping in the middle.
4. Smart Dock Technology
Initially, I had no idea about this feature, and I would be very confused about how to take the cleaner out of the water. After all, it’s not possible to jump into the pool every time it needs to be cleaned!
And that is when my husband told me about smart dock technology, where devices are designed so that whenever the battery level falls, they will float to the side of a pool.
This smart technology will help you pull the robotic cleaner out of the water without stepping into the water. But in case your preferred choice does not have this, you can look for a floating handle that can be used to pull it out of the water. That should help you take it out without diving into the pool.
5. Cords V/s Cordless
There are models with and without cords, and both have their pros and cons. While corded ones may last longer or maybe slightly more powerful, there is a high chance of the cords getting tangled. You will then have to detangle them separately, which would take time and effort.
However, with the cordless ones, you don’t have to worry about separating cords during or after each cleaning session, and you can let it work without any supervision.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, I have answered some of the most frequently asked questions by new robotic pool cleaner users.
The answer to this question depends on the kind of unit that you are purchasing. Almost all of my suggestions will last for 7-10 years if you maintain them well, so frequent replacement won’t be an issue.
Most cleaners will take care of larger obstacles easily, but very fine sand or dirt particles could be difficult to collect. Some models may be compatible with ultra-fine filter options, and you can purchase them to capture fine debris.
Most cleaners are capable of climbing on walls and cleaning them, but you should check the description before purchasing. That will give you a clearer idea and if the description does not mention it, call up the customer care representatives to know about this feature before purchasing.
My Final Recommendation
While the most technologically advanced robotic pool cleaner might seem like the best choice, you could also opt for a less expensive one that suits your purpose. Every individual has different preferences, but I am sure you will find the one that fits your needs from the above list of the best robotic pool cleaners.
Having said that, let me take you through my favorites once more before ending this article. The DOLPHIN 99996113-US Nautilus CC robotic pool is my topmost choice because of the energy efficiency that it offers.
And if you are looking for a cordless model, then the No products found.robotic pool cleaner will be suitable. On the other hand, the AIPER SMART pool cleaner is perfect for those looking for smart technologies.
Take care until we meet again!