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Top 3 Best Brands for Robotic Pool Cleaners

If you’ve owned a swimming pool before, you know the importance of water maintenance. Vacuuming and skimming your pool regularly is a simple process, but if you have a larger pool or one prone to debris buildup, finding the time to clean your pool can be difficult. Robotic pool cleaners can solve this problem.

What are robotic pool cleaners? You’ve probably seen one of these before in one pool or another. Think of them as like a Roomba but for a pool. These awesome little machines are automated pool vacuums! Robotic pool cleaners will typically map your pool using smart steering technology to find the most efficient way to clean the pool. They come in many shapes and sizes, which means there are dozens of different types on the market. If you’ve clicked on this article, odds are you’ve been researching pool cleaners and are dying to know which type would be best for your type of pool. You’ve come to the right place.

At Royal Pools and G2 Outdoor Designs, we have tested and sold multiple different types of pool cleaners over the years and have narrowed down a list of three brands we believe to be the best and most reliable. Each of these brands sells multiple types of cleaners, some for above-ground pools, some for in-ground pools, and some for both. As an inground pool installer, we’re going to focus on the cleaners specialized for inground pools.

There are several factors to consider before deciding which cleaner will be best for you and your pool type, such as type of pool surface, pool size, size of backyard, phone connectivity, cleaning time, electronic vs. cord, etc. The purpose of this article is to help you the pool owner determine which brand of robotic pool cleaner will best fit your needs. So, let’s dive in!

 

Maytronics Robotic Pool Cleaners

Perhaps you have heard of Dolphin Pool Cleaners before. They are the most popular type of pool cleaner in our industry, and for good reason. Maytronics manufactures Dolphin Pool Cleaners. They offer over 60 different types of pool cleaners for above ground, inground pools, and large commercial pools. This means they can sell pool cleaners for all types of budgets. Most of the Dolphins are corded cleaners, which is usually preferred by pool professionals, but their Liberty line is cordless. They offer multiple different lines of cleaners for different purposes and pool types, including:

  • Nautilus cleaners
    • Price range: $499 – $1,099
    • Maximum cycle time: two hours
    • Smart control: yes
    • Maximum pool length: 30 – 50 feet
    • Filter Type: filter bags and fine filter kits
    • Clean walls: yes
    • Clean waterline: mostly no (the Dolphin Nautilus CC Pro does feature waterline scrubbing)
  • Liberty cleaners
    • Price range: $999 – $1,249
    • Maximum cycle time: 1.5 hours
    • Smart control: No
    • Maximum pool length: 33 feet
    • Filter Type: fine filter kit
    • Clean walls: yes
    • Clean waterline: no
  • Explorer cleaners
    • Price range: $599 – $1,999
    • Maximum cycle time: 1.5 – 2.5 hours
    • Smart control: mostly yes (the Explorer E20 and E30s do not feature the MyDolphin™ Plus compatibility)
    • Maximum pool length: 33 -50 feet
    • Filter Type: mostly fine filter kits (the Explorer E50 includes a multi-layer filter and the Explorer E70 features a coarse filter and a combined filter kit)
    • Clean walls: Yes
    • Clean waterline: yes
  • Wave cleaners. The Wave line is specifically designed for large commercial pools.
    • Price range: $1,699 – $12,599
    • Maximum cycle time: 6 hours (the smaller Wave 20, 60, and 80 clean for about 2.5 hours)
    • Smart control: No
    • Maximum pool length: 50 – 165 feet
    • Filter Type: Filter bags, fine-filter kits, and multi-layer
    • Clean walls: no (the Wave 60, 100, and 120 do the floor, walls, and waterline)
    • Clean waterline: no
  • Dolphin Max Series. This series includes the Dolphin Quantum, Cayman, and Escape. These cleaners feature much larger filter baskets than standard Dolphins and a superior filtration system that traps microscopic particles.
    • Price range: $897 – $1,497  
    • Maximum cycle time: 1.5 – 2 hours
    • Smart control: No
    • Maximum pool length: 30 – 40 feet
    • Filter Type: Fine filter kits
    • Clean walls: The Escape and the Quantum cannot. The Cayman can.
    • Clean waterline: Mostly no, the Quantum can.

 

Dolphin pool cleaners typically come with a 2-year warranty minimum, and specific warranties for parts and replacement parts like cords, caddies, automation devices, etc. Maytronics cleaners can be used in both above-ground and inground pools, as well as the different types of inground pools. Certain types of cleaners are better suited for certain types of pools so we would advise you to research the specific type of cleaner you’re interested in depth to determine if it will be compatible with your pool.

 

Polaris Robotic Pool Cleaners

Polaris Cleaners also offers state-of-the-art pool cleaning capabilities fit for all pool types. Polaris has a wide variety of corded robotic cleaners, with cord lengths ranging from 40 to 70 feet, several of which also include smartphone capabilities. The only cordless vacuums they offer are the Polaris Freedom, and the Polaris Vortrax VTRX 25iQ and 30iQ, which specialize in commercial-sized pools. 

Polaris sells over 20 different types of cleaners, a smaller selection than Maytronics’, but their cleaner’s capabilities are just as efficient and reliable. 

Let’s take a look at five of Polaris’ most popular types of cleaners. Specifically cleaners for inground pools.

  • Alpha IQ+
    • Price range: $1,649
    • Maximum cycle time: 3.5 hours
    • Smart control: yes
    • Maximum pool length: n/a
    • Filter Type: canister
    • Clean walls: yes
    • Clean waterline: yes
  • Alpha IQ
    • Price range: $1,449
    • Maximum cycle time: 3.5 hours
    • Smart control: yes
    • Maximum pool length: n/a
    • Filter Type: canister
    • Clean walls: yes
    • Clean waterline: yes
  • VRX IQ+
    • Price range: $1,649
    • Maximum cycle time: 3.5 hours
    • Smart control: yes
    • Maximum pool length: n/a
    • Filter Type: canister
    • Clean walls: yes
    • Clean waterline: yes
  • Scout 42iQ
    • Price range: $1,149
    • Maximum cycle time: n/a
    • Smart control: yes
    • Maximum pool length: n/a
    • Filter Type: canister
    • Clean walls: yes
    • Clean waterline: yes
  • Epic 8642 IQ
    • Price range: $1,249
    • Maximum cycle time: 2.5 hours
    • Smart control: yes
    • Maximum pool length: n/a
    • Filter Type: canister
    • Clean walls: yes
    • Clean waterline: yes

As with Maytronics, Polaris offers a minimum two-year warranty on all robotic pool cleaners. They are easy to repair and can often be fixed by the homeowner. Polaris cleaners differ from Maytronics in that Polaris has been moving toward wheeled cleaners as opposed to treads, whereas Dolphin cleaners almost always have treads. Both Alpha cleaners as well as the VRX IQ+ have four wheels as opposed to treads.

Polaris cleaners are durable and easy to use with their Aqualink app capabilities that allow homeowners to control their cleaners from their phones. 

 

Hayward Robotic Pool Cleaners

Hayward Pool Products manufactures just about every type of pool product and piece of pool equipment imaginable. Everything from pumps, filters, heaters, pool lights, automation systems, and you guessed it: robotic pool cleaners!

Hayward’s cleaner line is primarily populated with above-ground suction cleaners, so if you’re you have an above-ground pool, Hayward may be a great fit for you. They also have a solid line of affordable robotic cleaners for inground pools. Lets take a look at a few.

  • Sharkvac
    • Price range: $1,139
    • Maximum cycle time: 2 hours
    • Smart control: no
    • Maximum pool length: 20×40
    • Filter Type: cartridge cannister
    • Clean walls: partially
    • Clean waterline: no
    • Cord/cord length: yes; 50 feet
  • Sharkvac XL 
    • Price range: $1,219
    • Maximum cycle time: 3 hours
    • Smart control: no
    • Maximum pool length: 20×40
    • Filter Type: cartridge cannister
    • Clean walls: yes
    • Clean waterline: yes
    • Cord/cord length: yes; 60  feet
  • Aquavac 600
    • Price range: n/a
    • Maximum cycle time: 
    • Smart control: no
    • Maximum pool length: 20×40
    • Filter Type: TouchFree debris cannister
    • Clean walls: yes
    • Clean waterline: yes
    • Cord/cord length: yes; 55 feet
  • Tiger Shark
    • Price range: $1,059
    • Maximum cycle time: 3 hours
    • Smart control: no
    • Maximum pool length: 20×40
    • Filter Type: cartridge cannister
    • Clean walls: yes
    • Clean waterline: yes
    • Cord/cord length: yes; 55 feet

 

Hayward robotic cleaners are recommended for fiberglass and concrete (gunite) pools. Each cleaner mentioned here comes with a three-year warranty as well.

 

Which Brand is Best For You?

As the poolowner, the choice of brand for your cleaner is going to come down to a few key factors. These factors and others will ultimately drive the buying decision.

  • Affordability 
  • Best reviewed
  • Cordless vs Corded
  • Ease of use

Cost rules all. Customers want the best value at the lowest cost, these things never change. A robotic pool cleaner is a legitimate investment which means you’re going to end up paying a good chunk of money. What a robotic cleaner will save you in time and money down the road is what makes them so worth it. Maytronics have a wider selection than Polaris and Hayward, so you will have more options on the cheaper side with Maytronics.

When customers have come into our store inquiring about robotic cleaners, one of the most frequently asked questions is “which type is better? Battery powered cleaners or electric cleaners?” In laymans terms: cordless vs corded. The answer would be an enthusiastic thumbs up for cords. This may come as a surprise to you. Who likes cords? Can’t you trip on them? Good questions, but the simple fact is corded robotic pool cleaners have been tested and proven to be much more efficient and reliable than cordless cleaners. Almost every cleaner we talked about in this article is a corded cleaner. They’re simply the best.

If you’re looking for the most hands off option available we would recommend the Polaris Alpha cleaners. Upon purchase of one of these cleaners, you will download the Aqualink app and pair it to your cleaner. Through this app you will be able to start, control, and monitor your cleaner. If you have a lot of debris and leaf buildup in your pool, you can set it up on the daily maximum cleaning mode. If you have a covered pool away from trees, perhaps you only need a bi-weekly clean. The Polaris Alpha cleaners have multiple cleaning options and make things simple for you the poolowner.

Now that you have a better idea of what the top three robotic pool cleaner brands have to offer, the choice is yours. With the knowledge provided to you about Maytronics, Polaris, and Hayward cleaners, you’ll know exactly what to look for when researching. One last thing you should be aware of is: robotic pool cleaners get more expensive every year, and with these three top brands in mind, you don’t want them to exceed your budget. As consumers and sellers, we all want more free-time. If you’re a stressed new pool owner just now realizing the hardship that can come with maintaining a pool, a robotic pool cleaner will be the ultimate time-saver for you. I would personally use all that free time to swim, but hey I can’t force you to do that. Happy hunting! 


Written By Logan Edgemon

 

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