Corded versus cordless
Dolphin’s Nautilus CC Plus impressed with it’s cleaning power and the tangle-free cord worked as advertised.
There are distinct advantages to having a corded Robot vacuum, most notably not having to worry about recharging the device or the lithium battery losing steam over time. Corded pool robots are recommended for most pool owners because they are less prone to issues or motor malfunction. Corded robots also don’t need to be pulled from the pool and recharged after each use, which is true of all cordless models on our list with the exception of the Wybot S2 with solar charging dock.
That said, cordless robots are ideal if your pool is not near an electrical power source. Running a long extension cord through the yard and in places prone to moisture is not advisable long-term. Cordless vacuums, when running, also pose a tripping hazard and are an unsightly piece of electrical equipment that runs across your pool deck.
While there are considerable advantages to the corded models we found in terms of performance, cordless vacuums perform just as well. We’ve been testing some of these models for 2 years and have not noticed a decrease in battery life.
Suction power and battery life
If you opt for a cordless model, consider the battery life and suction power along with the size of your pool. A larger pool demands a longer cleaning session, so it might be worth it to splurge on a pricier model with longer runtime and more power. Power is measured in gpm or gallons per minute that the vacuum intakes. Lower-end models start around 3,000 gpm, with the best pool cleaners top out at around 7,000 or 8,000 gpm.
Filter type
The larger pool robot vacuums we tested cleaned faster and had better suction power than smaller models.
There are small pool robots designed for smaller above-ground and in-ground pools, and large robots made to handle up to 40,000-gallon pools on a single cleaning cycle. Depending on your pool size and the amount of debris that regularly ends up in it, choose a robot that can effectively and efficiently clean it in a single cleaning cycle. This is especially important to consider with cordless robots since they’ll need to be charged in between each use.
There are pool cleaners made specifically for above-ground pools. They’re typically smaller and less powerful since they have less ground to cover. An above-ground pool cleaner should also be lighter since it’s more difficult to remove them from the pool after use.
Sides and stairs
Beatbot’s AquaSense line has premium features and a long-running batteries but with price tags to match.
Reliable pool robots start at around $500 and go up to about $2,000. We found that robots between $700 and $1,200 were perfectly acceptable for cleaning a 25,000-gallon pool. Choose a robot above $1,200, and you’re mostly paying for special features that aren’t necessarily worth it.
For cordless robots, the battery life was Superior on more expensive models, but the cleaning performance was often similar to that of less expensive models.
