It’s 2022 and the robots are taking over. Nowadays there are robots for everything — at factories, to clean your home floors, to mow your lawn, and even to clean your swimming pool. Robotic pool cleaners are available in range of models and prices, which I’ll discuss in this article. Choosing the best robotic pool cleaner for above ground pools is a little more challenging than for an inground pool. The difference is that most above-ground robot cleaners don’t clean the walls or steps because the walls don’t have the same strength and support as inground pools, so, you’ll have to curb your expectations. Inground pool cleaning robots, like the Dolphin Sigma, will clean : walls, floors, steps and the waterline.
Besides cleaning your pool floors, a pool robot cleaner also vacuums debris, while serving as an independent filtration system, getting rid of tiny allergens and excess/unmixed chemicals from the pool water.
Reviews | Best Above Ground Pool Robotic Cleaner
Here are two excellent pool robots for your above ground pool. The Orca 800 Mate is a new 2022 model from Aiper for pools up to 33 feet. And the Dolphin Escape is a top selling robotic pool cleaner from Maytronics, able to clean pools up to 30 feet. Both are effective to keep your pool clean. These will only clean the floors, NOT walls or stairs.
Aiper / Orca 800 Mate
Ultra-lightweight at only 6.6 lbs. For floors only with a maximum of 30 degree incline. This is a great option if you’re on a budget. It was
Dolphin Escape
The Dolphin Escape is the most advanced robotic pool cleaner for your above ground pool. You won’t an easier, more efficient model, but it also comes at a premium price.
The Dolphin Escape is very straightforward and easy to use — Simply drop it into the pool and the robot will do the rest; without leeching off your pool filtration system or pool pump.
Although robot cleaners are relatively expensive, in the long run they save you a lot of time, which in my opinion, is worth every penny. Nobody on their death bed wishes they spent more time cleaning their pool. Time is our most valuable resource, so I feel it’s a fair trade-off — What you pay in money, you get back in time.
A lot of pool owners have been skeptical of robotic pool cleaners in the past, since the earlier models lacked the cleaning power of a suction/ pressure side pool cleaner and didn’t have sufficient space onboard for storing garbage that they picked up. Larger objects like leaves, pebbles, twigs, etc. would get stuck in their vacuum inlet port and prevent older pool robot models from functioning. Power cords would get tangled up as the robot made its way around the pool bottom, since earlier versions lacked a 360° swivel cord. You had to then remove the 25 or 30-pound robot from the pool by hand, along with the 40 or 50 feet of tangled up cord.
Once you straightened the mess, there was still no guarantee that the robot would clean up every part of the pool since the navigation programs and sensor technology weren’t very advanced back then. So, the robot would either miss an entire part of the pool or run over the same spots that it has already cleaned.
Dolphin E10 : Best Pro-Grade Above-Ground Pool Robot
►For : Above-ground : Pools up to 30 feet — Robotic Pool Vacuum
Fortunately, advances in technology have tackled most of those issues and now is the best time to invest in a robotic pool cleaner. There are models optimized for both in-ground, as well as above-ground pools. Our article focuses on the latter, since there isn’t a whole of material online that you can use to guide your research for purchasing an above-ground robotic pool cleaner. Most people can’t tell the difference between a robotic pool cleaner that is intended for above-ground pools, and one that is designed to clean in-ground pools. Maytronics, one of the market leaders in robotic pool cleaning does a great job of separating their above and in-ground robots. You can see that they have an entirely different class of robotic pool cleaners, specifically intended for above ground pool owners. Their Above Ground “Performance Class” lineup consists of 5 different models :
Today, we shall review two out of these 5 above ground pool robots-the Dolphin Escape, and the Dolphin E10. Both of these robots have their own strengths, as well as weakness which we shall thoroughly explain in our overview. And to make things even more interesting, we decided to take a look at the Aquabot Spirit-unlike most other pool cleaning robots, this one uses wheels instead of rubber tracks and can be purchased for much cheaper than either of the two Dolphin models. We believe the Aquabot Spirit is THE most “value for money” robotic pool cleaner currently available for sale, and you should definitely check it out if this is your first time purchasing a pool cleaning robot.
What to look for when purchasing a robotic pool cleaner?
Choosing a pool robot can be quite complicated if you don’t know what to look for. And let’s be real here-most of them are extremely expensive so if you mess up and get one that isn’t suited to your specific pool, you’re essentially stuck with a very costly pool toy. Imagine having to go through the pain of spending hours every week cleaning the pool manually with a pool vacuum or skimmer, even though you spent all that money on a state of the art pool robot.
And there are many reasons why your pool cleaning robot may not do its job as intended, even though it is loaded with an array of impressive technologies. Before you purchase a robot for the pool, ask yourself the following questions :
- What type of pool do I have? (Vinyl, fiberglass, gunite, etc.)
- How big is the pool? (in terms of length and width)
- What type of cleaning do you need? (Floor only, floor and waterline, steps, etc.)
- Are there any specific features you’re interested in? (360° anti-tangle power cord, remote control, different cleaning modes, powerful suction, large garbage bin, etc.)
The first question is crucial to determining whether your pool robot can clean the pool without damaging its liner. Most pool cleaning robots these days are by default equipped with soft rubber or PVC brushes on the front. These brushes are constantly spinning when the robot is underwater, scraping the dirt off your pool liner and helping the suction take it all through the filter within the robot’s garbage bin.
A brush that uses hard materials isn’t suited for a pool that uses soft, easily scratchable liner material like fiberglass or vinyl. Check and see if the manufacturer supplies special foam-based brush rolls to deal with soft pool liners.
Secondly you must consider the size of your pool, since the robot is tethered to a power supply box placed on the pool deck. You have to account for the length of the cable, as well as the fact that your robot’s power box must be between 10 to 12 feet away from the waterline to prevent electrical accidents from water splashing into it. Typically, the power supply is placed along the side of the pool, somewhere in the middle to allow for maximum reach. This way, the robot can access all corners of the pool without running out of cable length. Consider the length of the cord and take a look at the manufacturer recommendations which should give you a good idea of the pool size your robot can handle. For a rectangular 40 ft. x 20 ft. pool with a depth of around 6 feet, your robotic pool cleaner must have a cable that is at least 40 feet long.
Typically, when purchasing an above-ground pool robot, you don’t expect the waterlines or steps to be cleaned. Most above ground pool robots are only meant to clean the floor; hence they are so cheap when compared to the average in-ground pool robot. You won’t find a pool robot that will clean your waterline as most above-ground pools don’t have the wall strength to safely use a robot pool cleaner. You’ll have to do some of the cleaning yourself.
Finally, once you have considered the previous 3 factors it is time to take a look at what features the robot comes with. Does it have a powered brush roll in the front? Is it a single brush or a split-brush design? How large are the vacuum inlets, and can the robot sweep up large debris such as leaves? Is there a tangle-resistant swivel cord? Does it come with a remote and caddy, or do you have to purchase those separately? How many cleaning cycles does it have? Maybe you have an above ground in which you clean the walls by hand, so the robot only cleans the floor and it makes no sense to get a robot that takes 3 hours just for the floor.
Dolphin Escape Review | High Quality Pool Robot Cleaner
If you have the budget and can afford a full-featured cleaner then this is the Best Above Ground Pool Robotic Cleaner. It’s efficient, modern, lightweight and reliable.
Features :
- Sleek design for above ground pools, an above-ground cleaner
- No messy bags! Large and in charge oversized debris cartridge holds up to 60% more debris
- Hypergrip Continuous Tracks – Travels with tracks instead of wheels for improved traction
- Hyperbrush Active Scrubbing brush helps scrub away hard to remove contaminants
- SmartNav 2.0 : Robotic Scanning to optimize cleaning patterns
- Only 14 lbs. Energy Efficient 24 Volt DC motors.
- One year warranty
Ideal For:
Above ground pools measuring up to 33 feet in length (rectangular or oval), will clean all types of surfaces including-concrete, plaster, marble, vinyl, and fiberglass. It boasts a 2hr cleaning cycle which makes this one of the fastest pool cleaning robots on the market, and the light weight of just 13.8 pounds means that you can conveniently lift it out of your above-ground pool when it is done cleaning.
Pros:
- Excellent navigation system
- Option of Regular or Fine filter (Regular for small to medium to large sized debris such as leaves, and Fine for small debris like allergens, microbes, excess pool chemicals, etc.)
- Only weighs 13.8 pounds
- Quick water release feature lets you tug on the handle to instantly dump all the water from within the unit, making it lighter and easier to lift up.
- 5hr cleaning cycle
- Bi-directional cleaning so it keeps vacuuming even when moving in reverse
- 75GPM flow rate mixes pool chemicals really well
Cons:
- Doesn’t clean the entire wall
- No weekly scheduler or delay timer
- No remote control or Bluetooth connectivity
Overview (Dolphin Escape) :
Maytronics is the market leader in pool cleaning robots, and they are renowned for developing technologies such as CleverClean, PowerStream, etc. The navigation software on Maytronics robots is superior when compared to similarly priced robots from other manufacturers such as Hayward or Zodiac. As a consumer, you will enjoy cleaner pools and quicker clean cycles since the robot doesn’t just wander around aimlessly for hours like some pool cleaners. Even though it is rated for above-ground pools as large as 33 feet in length, the Dolphin Escape will finish a complete cleaning session in just 2 hours, which makes it the perfect choice for a robotic pool cleaner that you want to use during the weekends right before pool parties.
Remember that it only cleans the floor of the pool, and some sections of the cove. Even though this robot is powered by dual 24V 3000rpm electric motors and only weighs 13.8 pounds, it is not designed to clean the walls of an above-ground pool. As soon as the Escape finds itself at a 90° to the pool floor, it will start reversing and head back down towards the floor.
There are two things that make the Dolphin Escape stand out from the rest of the above-ground robotic pool cleaners-its insanely efficient SmartNav 2.0 scanning + navigation system, and the HyperGrip rubber tracks. Both of these technologies are only found on Maytronics pool robots, and we highly recommend HyperGrip tracks for pools with vinyl or fiberglass liners. The soft rubber doesn’t leave scratch marks on your expensive pool liner, and the unique composition of this rubber compound combined with the tread pattern helps the Escape generate enough traction to climb up to 8” inches along the pool wall, even when the transition angle between floor and wall is 90°.
SmartNav 2.0 uses a combination of clever navigation algorithms and advanced sensor technology to make sure that the robot “scans” the area around it and chooses the optimal path for achieving a quick and through clean. The Escape learns more about the layout of your specific pool over time and adapts accordingly improve the cleaning performance as it gets used to your pool. No more wandering around over the same spots or getting stuck in corners, the Dolphin Escape scans every square inch of your pool floor for dirt and sweeps it all up into the oversized filter cartridge.
Note that this isn’t THE most advanced navigation we have ever seen on a pool robot, and we don’t expect it to be on that level either based on the price of this robot. But the only pool robots which are more efficient with their cleaning patterns are other Maytronics models higher up in the price range, such as the Dolphin Triton Plus or Dolphin Oasis Z5i.
Specs (Dolphin Escape) :
- Pool Size : Up to 30 Ft
- Pool Shape : Above Ground
- Obstacles : Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups
- Surface : Concrete, Plaster, Gunite or Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass
- Filter : Cleaning Fine
- Filter Type : Top Load
- Cleaning Coverage Floors
- Cleaning Cycle(s) 1.5 Hours
- Mobility : CleverClean
- Number of Brushes : 1 Brush
Review : Dolphin E10 — 99996133-US
Best above ground robotic pool cleaner for homeowners. Pools up to 30 feet.
Features :
- Drop and go. Easy-to-use, light weight single button plug and play above ground robotic pool vacuum with a 2 year assurance.
- Pool cleaning made easy. Smart Navigation – Clever Clean Technology scans and cleans your swimming pool in a quick 1.5 hours.
- Removes large debris you can see, as well as hidden debris like fine dirt, sand and algae. The only automatic pool cleaner brand with active brushing for 2X the scrubbing power when cleaning pool floors.
- Swim more, work less. Easy-to-clean large capacity top access filter basket. Rinse and reload in minutes.
- Work less, save more. 8X more energy efficient than suction and pressure cleaners
Pros:
- Features a super-fast 1.5hr cleaning cycle
- CleverClean active scanning system prevents it from getting stuck on steps or drain covers
- Has an actively powered PVC brush on the front which spins twice as fast as the drive wheels, dislodging stubborn debris from the pool floor
- Fine cartridge filters can trap algae, bacteria, and pollen while regular filters will handle larger stuff like leaves, twigs, seeds, insects, etc.
- Top loading basket style filter is super easy to clean-just pop it out and hose it down
- 2-year limited warranty
Cons:
- Lacks the ability to scale walls
- No remote control or filter full indicator
- Slightly shorter range than the Escape, due to its 40-foot long cable (the Escape features a 45 foot cable)
VIDEO | A Closer Look at the Dolphin E10
Ideal For:
Medium sized above ground pools and small in ground pools. It will work on all types of pool liner including concrete, fiberglass, vinyl, tile, pebble, etc. The wall climbing capabilities aren’t on par with true in-ground pool robots, but it will keep climbing until it detects a 90° angle at which point it will stop and reverse back towards the pool floor.
Overview :
At first glance this may seem like a re-branded Dolphin Escape or the Dolphin Active 10 but in reality, this is equipped with slightly different electronics compared to either of those two. The evidence is in the fact that it only requires 1.5hrs for a complete cleaning cycle as opposed to the 2hr cleaning cycle of a Dolphin Escape. Part of this has to do with the smaller range, which means the E10 doesn’t have to cover as much area as an Escape. The cord is shorter at 40 feet, but it does feature an anti-tangle swivel system to prevent the cable from tangling up in your pool.
It shares a lot of features with the Escape like quick water release, actively powered spinning brush, SmartNav 2.0 scanning and navigation system, top loaded filter basket, etc. and if you take away the color difference it is pretty much an Escape with a couple tweaks to the cleaning cycle. The E10 has a slightly taller stance and uses the exact same HyperGrip rubber track as the Escape, along with a similar release system for the top mounted filter. You can also purchase a special Fine filter which will trap extremely tiny objects such as algae, fungi, unmixed pool chemicals, etc. By default, the Dolphin E10 comes with a standard filter mesh designed to provide a nice balance between water flow rate and filtering power. The E10 comes with a 2-year limited warranty, which is one more than the warranty cover of the Escape.
Learn more : Visit the dedicated Dolphin E10 website.
Inground vs Above-Ground Robotic Pool Cleaners?
This is a question very few pool owners know the answer to. You will find many people who purchase an above-ground pool robot and then wonder why it isn’t cleaning the walls of the pool. One thing we need to consider is the pool-to-wall transition angle in your average above ground pool. This is the angle between the pool floor and wall. Usually the value is 90° which means the robot must have a really good propulsion system and sufficient traction in the form of rubber tracks or 4-wheel drive (if it uses wheels instead of tank tracks) to climb on such a steep incline. And since above ground pool robots are meant to be cheap and lightweight above everything else, the manufacturers cannot put in the technology required to climb a 90° incline.
Think about it, an above-ground pool is cheaper and smaller than an in-ground pool so it makes perfect sense that the person looking to purchase an above ground pool robot doesn’t want to spend over $1000 on it. And since the walls on an above ground pool are steeper, it actually takes more effort for the robot to transition between floor and wall compared to an in-ground pool. If you use an in-ground pool robot in an above-ground pool it may work just fine, but the inverse is not true. An above ground pool robot will almost always get stuck on the deep end of an in-ground pool, and it won’t do a very good job of traversing over footsteps and drain covers.
Dolphin Nautilus CC (Read Review) | Best Above Ground Pool Cleaner
For pools up to 33 feet. This is a high quality cleaner. Works on any surface. Floors & walls.
In ground robotic pool cleaners are heavier, sturdier, and equipped with better computers to clean large pools more efficiently. The programming and logic used in the microchip of an above-ground pool robot doesn’t provide the same level of flexibility and cleaning efficiency, which is why they aren’t a good fit for large pools. Makes sense, since above ground pools are generally much smaller in size compared to in-ground pools so the robot will clean it quickly even without good navigation abilities. Just because the pool is smaller, and it doesn’t have to clean the walls or steps.
A reliable way of telling if a pool robot is optimized for above-ground or in-ground pools is by looking at the top-do you see an oversized handle? In ground pool cleaning robots will have a giant handle like apparatus on the top which swivels from side to side and has two water “ballasts” integrated into the handle. One side of the handle fills up with water, causing the robot to incline towards that direction and slide along as it cleans the waterline of your pool. When it reaches the edge of your pool, the handle will pivot in the other direction and the robot will start sliding in the opposite direction. In-ground pool cleaning robots are also larger and almost always use tracks instead of wheels, with the exception of certain Polaris models like the F9550 Sport. Even when in-ground pool robots use wheels, it is going to be 4-wheel drive instead of regular 2-wheel drive like you would find on cheap above-ground pool robots.
Some robotic pool cleaners are “hybrids”, meaning they clean the floor along with a small part of the walls. These pool robots don’t clean the entire wall, rather they suck up debris accumulated around the place where the pool transitions from the floor to the wall. For example, some pool robots can’t really climb pool walls, but they’re capable of partial wall cleaning meaning it will gather up all the dirt accumulated around the cove and edges of the wall. Each model has its own limitations so make sure you read the technical details before you choose the best robot pool cleaner for your above ground pool. Luckily, there are more options than ever in 2022 and I expect that brands will continue to add new pool robot cleaners into 2023 and beyond.