Polaris 8050 Sport
Pool length: Up to 40 feet | Cable length: 50 feet | Cleaning time: 1.5 hours | Weight: 37.5 pounds
From the maker of our favorite upgrade model, the Polaris 8050 Sport is one powerful, agile robotic cleaner. Designed with patented technology, this hefty machine sucks up gunk efficiently and doesn’t let go. Because it boasts a large 4-liter waste canister that can hold larger debris, such as leaves, this cleaner is especially ideal for people who live in wooded areas with dense amounts of foliage. One of our favorite aspects of this model is that as it goes about its work, you can peek inside—literally—to see how much debris it’s collected; a transparent lid makes that possible and gives you a good idea of when it’s time to empty the canister. The filter doesn’t require you to touch what’s inside before dumping out debris and spraying it clean, which is another big plus.
Best Robotic Pool Cleaner For Above-Ground Pools
A Compact, Affordable Vacuum That Attaches To Your Pool’s Pump
Intex 28005E ZX300 Deluxe Automatic Pool Cleaner
Pool length: Up to 36 feet | Cable length: 21 feet | Cleaning time: Not specified | Weight: 16.4 pounds
Designed for above-ground pools, the Intex ZX300 is the most inexpensive cleaner on our list. Don’t be fooled by its low price tag, though: This robot gets the job done, and done well. Designed to attach to your pool’s pump, this vacuum uses strong pressure to suck up debris that’s accumulated in your pool. Using all-wheel drive, the Intex ZX300 cruises along the floor and up walls to provide an all-over clean, while rotating dual dirt scrubbers lift stubborn dirt. The vacuum’s half-gallon debris container securely traps gunk until you’re ready to empty it out.
Best Upgrade Robotic Pool Cleaner
Control The Action From Your Couch With This Smart Device
Polaris 9650iQ Sport Robotic Cleaner
Pool length: Up to 60 feet | Cable length: 70 feet | Cleaning time: 2 hours | Weight: 21 pounds
Simply put, the Polaris 9650iQ Sport is cool. This smart pool cleaner’s most notable feature: It can sync up to Alexa or the Polaris app, through which you can control the action from just about anywhere. Thanks to its four-wheel drive design, dual-blade brush and Vortex technology, this powerful cleaner can tackle all sorts of messes in pools up to 60 feet in length. Further, you don’t have to worry about its 70-foot-long cable getting tangled, owing to the machine’s low-torque watertight swivel. It even has a special rear stream to blast dirt and other debris off of stairs. Choose between four cleaning modes: quick clean, deep clean, waterline only and custom. And when it’s time to empty the cleaner’s canister, the machine lets you know via an integrated indicator.
Best Robotic Pool Cleaner For Small Pools
A Battery-Operated Machine For Ultra-Easy Cleaning
Hydrus Roker Plus Robotic Pool Vacuum
Pool length: Up to 50 feet | Cable length: N/A | Cleaning time: 90 minutes | Weight: 11 pounds
The Hydrus Roker Plus is an affordable robotic pool cleaner that couldn’t be easier to operate. It’s free of cords and battery operated, so running it is as simple as ensuring it’s fully charged before tossing it in your pool. The robot’s brushless dual motor sucks up leaves up to 4 inches long, along with sand, pebbles and any other small- to medium-sized debris that lands in your pool. The vacuum’s stainless filter screen resists corrosion and is easy to clean once the job is done. Another nice perk: The robot will reverse within five seconds of touching a wall to ensure it doesn’t miss a spot. Just keep in mind that the vacuum’s 75-minute run time makes it ideal for above-ground pools or smaller in-ground options. Once the Roker Plus is at less than 10% power, it will stop at the side of the wall and wait to be fished out.
Best Robotic Pool Cleaner For Large Pools
A Smart Machine Capable Of Tackling Pools Up To 50 Feet Long
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus
Pool length: Up to 40 feet | Cable length: 60 feet | Cleaning time: 2 hours | Weight: 20.8 pounds
The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus can tackle pools up to 50 feet long, making it a top option for those with larger pools. Thanks to its CleverClean smart navigation system, this vacuum doesn’t miss a spot when it scours your pool floor and walls, ensuring no surface remains uncleaned. Meanwhile, dual brush capabilities sweep dirt and debris up and in as the top-load filter traps the gunk until you’re ready to empty the canister. The best part? The whole cleaning process—including setup, which entails plugging in the robot and dropping it into the pool—should be done in two hours or less.
Best Smart Robotic Pool Cleaner
A High-Tech Model That Scales Walls With Ease
Dolphin Triton PS Plus
Pool length: Up to 50 feet | Cable length: 60 feet | Cleaning time: 2 hours | Weight: 17.4 pounds
If you’re in the market for a super-smart robotic cleaner, look no further than the Dolphin Triton PS. The vacuum connects to an app on your phone, so you can schedule cleanings—including spot cleanings—while hanging in your pool lounge chair.
Once in action, this vacuum knows what to do. For example, it’s designed to scale walls with ease and even cleans the waterline as it moves around the pool. Meanwhile, the Triton PS’ filter trap is super secure, meaning you don’t have to worry about gunk escaping. You also don’t have to worry about the vacuum getting full or overloaded as it works, because it boasts an extra-large filtration basket. On a regular cycle, this robot can clean a 50-foot-long pool in two hours or less, or you can opt for a quicker one-hour cycle.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
- The Forbes Vetted home and kitchen team includes three expert editors: deputy editor Rebekah Lowin, senior editor Amanda Arnold and editor Sholeen Damarwala.
- Author of this piece Korin Miller is a regular contributor with extensive experience covering home and lifestyle topics.
- Miller also gathered key insight and guidance two experts: Mallory Micetich, a home care expert at Angi, and Randy Huckstadt, a pool and spa expert for JustAnswer.
- We regularly update our articles to ensure that every product featured is in stock, incorporates the latest information and remains the best in its category based on our experts’ criteria and customer feedback. The last update to this story was made in April 2024 by home and kitchen editor, Sholeen Damarwala.
How We Chose The Best Robotic Pool Cleaners
To find the best robotic pool cleaners, we researched best-selling models, compared features and asked two industry experts—as well as our team of experienced staffers—for product recommendations and insights on what to look for.
- Our team focused on top-rated models from trusted brands such as Dolphin, Polaris, Intex and more.
- We analyzed features such pool size and type, filter canister capacity, ease of use and cleaning, machine weight, charging cord length and cleaning run time to assess the overall value and help readers pinpoint the best option for their cleaning needs.
- We consulted Mallory Micetich, a home care expert at Angi, and Randy Huckstadt, a pool and spa expert for JustAnswer. Then, our editors narrowed down based on notable features for each product, such as dual-brush capabilities and app connectivity.
- We took customer reviews and average star ratings into careful account, sticking to models that have garnered at least an average rating of 4 stars and only a negligible amount of concerning reviews, if any.
- The final products on this list reflect in-depth research conducted by our writer and meticulous vetting by the editorial team.
What To Look For In A Robotic Pool Cleaner
When you set out to find the perfect robotic pool cleaner, it’s imperative to consider several key features and factors—it’s a relatively expensive purchase, after all, so you want to be sure you’re arriving to the shopping experience prepared. Ahead, find a few of the most important elements worth considering:
In general, most robotic pool cleaners can tackle more than one type of pool. That said, some might do a better job with above-ground pools than in-ground pools and vice versa, so you’ll want to think about that factor to start. Typically, you’ll need a more powerful robotic vacuum with a larger capacity for an in-ground pool than you would for an above-ground pool. Next, while most robotic pool cleaners are designed to be tough on dirt but easy on pool surfaces; it’s important to double-check the manufacturer’s instructions to be sure you’re not investing in something that may wear down your lining or tile over time. Furthermore, if your pool has stairs or tight corners, it’s a good idea to look for a cleaner that can remove debris from those areas.
The size of your pool is an important factor in determining whether a particular pool cleaner is right for you. Many robotic pool cleaners will clearly state what size of pool they can handle, but you can also look to a few other factors to make your own determinations. First, the length of the cable will have some bearing on the cleaner’s ability—cleaners that are connected to a power source can only go as far as the cable will allow them. And if a vacuum is cordless, it’s limited by a run time; this can range from a little over an hour to around two hours, depending on the robot’s battery. It’s important to pay close attention to this number: If your pool is too large for a particular vacuum, you’ll have to recharge it and pop it back in to finish the job, creating more hassle for you.
Robotic pool cleaners have a filter canister that holds all the dirt and debris the vacuum pulls in. A larger-capacity canister will likely need to be emptied less often than a smaller option. If your pool tends to be a haven for leaves, you’ll want to make sure you get a pool cleaner with an oversized filter canister. Otherwise, those leaves could end up compromising the suction power of your device or even require that you empty the canister mid-cycle. If leaves aren’t an issue and you generally need a vacuum to suck up dirt, sand and small pebbles, it’s OK to opt for a device with a smaller filter canister.
Your pool cleaner needs to have at least a little heft to it to enable it to sink to the bottom of your pool and hug the walls. But you also want to make sure you don’t get a robot that’s too heavy. Before investing in a machine, consider the actual weight of the robot along with how much more than that you can lift. Here’s why: Your robotic cleaner will take in water as it cleans, and you’ll need to be able to lift the weight of the machine, plus that extra water, when the job is done. If you’re concerned about your ability to lift your machine, see if there is a quick-release element to get rid of extra water. Many (but not all) heavier machines also come with a wheeled caddy to help you transport it to and from your pool.
Who Makes The Best Pool Robot?
There are so many excellent models on the market, but our top pick for 2024 is the Dolphin Explorer E20. It’s easy to set up, it works in two hours or less and the filter is a cinch to clean. There’s also a scheduling option available. That said, all of the vacuums we’ve included in our curated list are great choices; depending on your personal preferences, you might be partial to a different style of cleaner.
Do Robotic Pool Cleaners Really Work?
Yes, robotic pool cleaners do really work—particularly the best robotic pool cleaners. While they tend to be more expensive than manually operated pool vacuums or cleaners, these machines make up for it by saving you the extra time, effort and hassle of cleaning the pool yourself. These automatic devices are either plugged into your outdoor outlet or powered by a battery, meaning you can charge them until they’re fully powered and ready to be set into your pool. Some of them are even equipped with software that can tackle things like setting a cleaning schedule, choosing different cleaning modes or smart navigation. While some robotic pool cleaners need to be plugged into your pool’s pump, many others are equipped with their own filter bags and canisters that trap debris, eliminating the need for you to constantly check your pump.
What Is The Lifespan Of A Robotic Pool Cleaner?
Assuming you care for your device and maintain it properly, these types of cleaners can last anywhere from three to eight years. Prior to purchasing any cleaner, though, it’s a good idea to check the specs of the model you’ve purchased or consult with the manufacturer.
