Cordless Robotic Pool Cleaners: How to Choose the Right One

Cordless pool robots carry their own battery, so nothing runs from the water to an outlet. You lower the robot into the pool, it cleans until the run ends or the charge runs low, and then you lift it out and set it on its charger. With no floating cable there is nothing to tangle and no power supply to place beside the pool, which makes a cordless robot quick to start and easy to put away.

The battery is also where the trade-offs begin. A corded robot draws power from the outlet for as long as its cycle lasts, while a cordless one stops when its charge runs out and then needs a few hours on the charger before it can run again. Because you take a cordless robot out of the water after each run, its weight becomes part of the routine too.

A few specs answer most of the questions a buyer has. The runtime per charge and the rated pool area tell you whether one run can cover your pool, and the maker’s rating is the place to start. What the robot cleans tells you whether it stays on the floor or also climbs the walls and scrubs the waterline, and whether its maker lists steps. The way the filter comes out decides how quick the cleanup is after each run, since a basket that lifts out through the top is easier to reach than one under the robot. The weight tells you how heavy the lift will be, and the charging time tells you how soon it can run again.

How the Tiers Differ

The Budget tier (up to $200) is made up of floor cleaners for above-ground pools. They ride on wheels and start without an app, and most of them open from underneath to reach the filter. They suit a pool where the floor is the main job.

In the Mid Tier ($200 to $500), wall and waterline cleaning arrives for in-ground pools, alongside a few floor cleaners for above-ground ones. Most models in this tier lift their filter out through the top, and some connect to an app.

Every robot in the Premium tier ($500 to $1,000) is an in-ground model that cleans the floor, walls and waterline on tracks. Most pair with an app, about half add a finer second filter to the main one, and the rated pool areas are generally larger than in the tiers below.

The Pro tier (over $1,000) keeps the in-ground focus and gives every model active brushes, with route mapping on almost all of them. It also includes the heaviest cordless robots, so the lift out of the pool deserves some thought.

A Floor Cleaner for Above-Ground Pools

Ezioov Y20 is the Budget pick, a floor cleaner that Ezioov rates for above-ground pools of up to 1,200 square feet. It follows a zigzag path rather than wandering at random, and it runs for up to 2.2 hours per charge. You start it with a button, since it has no app, and at 6.6 pounds it is easy to lift out.

Its limits are the ones you would expect in the Budget tier. Ezioov Y20 cleans the floor only, so the walls and waterline still need a brush now and then, and Ezioov does not list steps. Its single 180-micron filter has no finer second layer, so very fine dust can pass through. It suits a flat-bottom above-ground pool where the floor is the main concern.

Walls, Waterline and Steps in the Mid Tier

Wybot C1 is the Mid Tier pick for in-ground pools of up to 1,615 square feet. Wybot lists the floor, walls, waterline and steps among the areas it cleans, which few robots in its tier do. It runs for up to 2.5 hours per charge and recharges in 3 hours, and you can set a schedule in the Wybot app. The filter basket lifts out through the top cover, so you can empty it without turning the robot over.

The main limit of Wybot C1 is its single 180-micron filter, which is meant for leaves and sand rather than fine dust. A pool that collects fine silt may be better served by a robot with a second, finer filter. It weighs 17.6 pounds, and Wybot suggests lifting it out upright with the hook on a pool pole so the water drains first.

Larger In-Ground Pools in the Premium Tier

Wybot S2 is the Premium pick, and Wybot rates it for in-ground pools of up to 3,229 square feet. It cleans the floor, walls and waterline, and the manual says it can climb steps too. Its battery runs for up to 3.5 hours per charge and recharges in 3 hours. The app offers a choice of cleaning modes and a cycle timer, and when a run ends the robot parks itself by the wall.

Like the Mid Tier pick, Wybot S2 relies on one 180-micron filter, so fine silt may pass through. Wybot lists pebble among the finishes it handles, along with vinyl, fiberglass, tile and gunite, which widens the range of in-ground pools it suits. It weighs 18.7 pounds, close to the Mid Tier pick, although Wybot rates it for a pool about twice the size.

Surface Cleaning and Steps in the Pro Tier

Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max is the Pro pick. Aiper lists the water surface and the steps along with the floor, walls and waterline, which sets it apart from the other three picks. Aiper rates it for in-ground pools of up to 3,230 square feet or 100 feet long. It runs for up to 5 hours per charge and takes 4 hours to recharge, and Aiper quotes a longer run for surface cleaning alone. Its active brushes scrub as it moves, and it pairs its 180-micron main filter with a 3-micron fine filter, so it can catch much finer debris than a single filter. It maps its route and can be scheduled from the Aiper app.

The main limit of Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max is its rating. A pool larger than 3,230 square feet is past what Aiper recommends, and the table below lists cordless robots rated for larger pools. It is also an in-ground robot, so an above-ground pool is better served by the floor cleaners in the lower tiers.

Robot Pool Cleaners From Our Partner Brands

• On sale

  Dreame Z1

  Cordless · Floor, wall, waterline · Up to 1,950 sq ft · In-ground and above-ground pools

  Check price at Dreame

  Read our guide

• On sale

  Wybot C1

  Cordless · Floor, wall, waterline · Up to 1,615 sq ft · In-ground and above-ground pools

  Check price at Wybot

  Read our guide

• On sale

  Aiper Scuba S1

  Cordless · Floor, wall, waterline · Up to 1,600 sq ft · In-ground and above-ground pools

  Check price at Aiper

  Read our guide

• On sale

  Wybot C2

  Cordless · Floor, wall, waterline · Up to 1,615 sq ft · In-ground and above-ground pools

  Check price at Wybot

  Read our guide

• On sale

  Aiper Scuba X1

  Cordless · Floor, wall, waterline · Up to 2,150 sq ft · In-ground and above-ground pools

  Check price at Aiper

  Read our guide

• On sale

  Wybot S2

  Cordless · Floor, wall, waterline · Up to 3,229 sq ft · In-ground and above-ground pools

  Check price at Wybot

  Read our guide

• 

  Aiper Scuba S3

  Cordless · Floor, wall, waterline · Up to 1,600 sq ft · In-ground and above-ground pools

  Check price at Aiper

  Read our guide

• On sale

  Wybot C2 Vision

  Cordless · Floor, wall, waterline · Up to 1,938 sq ft · In-ground and above-ground pools

  Check price at Wybot

  Read our guide

• 

  Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra

  Cordless · Floor, wall, waterline, surface · Up to 3,875 sq ft · In-ground and above-ground pools

  Check price at Aiper

  Read our guide

• On sale

  Wybot A1

  Cordless · Floor · Up to 1,076 sq ft · In-ground and above-ground pools

  Check price at Wybot

  Read our guide

Pools With Steps

Most pool steps still need occasional brushing, because many cordless robots do not clean them. If leaves tend to gather on yours, a robot whose maker lists steps could make that job smaller. Wybot lists steps for Wybot C1 and Wybot S2, and Aiper lists them for Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max. Ezioov does not list steps for Ezioov Y20, which cleans the floor only.

Walls and the Waterline

Wall and waterline cleaning is the main difference between in-ground cordless robots and floor cleaners. In the table below, every robot that climbs the walls is an in-ground model, and the floor-only robots are all made for above-ground pools. If a ring of grime tends to form at your waterline, the table’s filter for what each robot cleans shows which models cover it.

Above-Ground Pools and Floor-Only Cleaners

If your pool is above ground with a flat floor, a floor cleaner may be all you need. The Budget tier and part of the Mid Tier are made up of these robots, and the Budget models start without an app. The table’s pool type filter narrows the list to robots made for above-ground pools, and Ezioov Y20 is the Budget pick among them.

Fine Debris and Filters

Most cordless robots catch debris in a 180-micron filter, which suits leaves, sand and grit. Fine dust and silt can pass through a mesh that size, so some Premium and Pro models add a second, finer filter, and Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max pairs its main filter with a 3-micron one. If fine debris is the main problem in your pool, a two-filter robot could be a worthwhile choice. A basket that lifts out through the top also makes rinsing it after each run easier.

The table below lists the cordless robotic pool cleaners we cover, skimmers left out, with filters for pool type, tier, what each one cleans and how it navigates.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a cordless robotic pool cleaner run on one charge?

Between 1 and 5 hours, depending on the model. Most floor cleaners for above-ground pools sit toward the short end of that range, so compare the runtime with the size of your pool.

How long does it take to recharge?

A few hours. Wybot C1 and Wybot S2 each take 3 hours on the charger, and Ezioov Y20 and Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max each take 4.

Can a cordless robot clean a large in-ground pool?

Yes, if its rating fits your pool. Wybot rates Wybot S2 for up to 3,229 square feet, and Aiper rates Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max for up to 3,230 square feet. Check the maker’s rating against your pool before you choose.

Can I run one without an app?

Some, yes. Ezioov Y20 starts with a button and has no app at all. Wybot C1, Wybot S2 and Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max offer scheduling through their makers’ apps, so the app is where you set their timers.

Related Reading

• Cordless vs Corded Robotic Pool Cleaners: What Are the Differences and Which One Should I Buy?
• Filter Basket Access in Robotic Pool Cleaners and Skimmers – What to Expect
• Robotic Pool Cleaner Automation: Timer Scheduling via App or Onboard Control
• How Often Should You Use a Robotic Pool Cleaner? (Seasonal Guide)
• Active vs Passive Brushes in Robotic Pool Cleaners: What’s Best for Inground Pools?