If you have a pool you’re lucky because I bet that in 2021 you’ll be using your pool a whole lot due to the pandemic. What else are you going to do? We’ve all been trapped inside for a year and our backyards will become our paradise and salvation until we all get vaccinated, or at least enough of the population have so we establish herd immunity. But, I digress. You’re here because you want the best pool cleaning robot ever made. Am I right? If you’re going to spend your hard earned money on an expensive pool robot you might as well get the best. What’s money anyway if not to be used to make our lives easier. Nobody wants to clean a pool and if you do, well, I feel sorry for you.
On with the show. This pandemic will make 2021 a long hot summer. Thank god we have pools to escape to.
In this article I recommend some of the absolute best pool cleaning robots money can buy — as well as discuss in depth factors you should know about and consider before making your final decision. These are expensive machines so it’s imperative that you make the right decision, which in my opinion, means you do your research, which is why your here. Congratulations.
Our aim is to help you choose a high-quality pool cleaning robot that is reliable, well-made and within your budget. It’s essential that you don’t get distracted by the aesthetic of a robotic pool cleaner because at the end of the day, what matters most is how well it cleans your pool. Everything is secondary.
Intro | Best pool cleaning robot
Your family might love summer because you have a swimming pool in your garden, but you’ll know it’s not as fancy as it sounds. It’s hard to keep the pool spotless during the season. Unfortunately, you don’t have any choice in the matter if you want to avoid a number of problems.
You should do what millions of other people are doing. They’re turning their attention towards the best pool cleaning robot they can find. It will make things a hundred times easier on you. A robot will always win when it comes to ensuring your swimming pool is clean.
🔸 Beautifully Engineered — Dolphin NAUTILUS / Classic
- Once they are submerged in water they expand back to their normal shape
- CleverClean Technology cleans the floor, walls, and waterline.
Best Pool Cleaning Robot | 2021
It’s tough to choose the best pool cleaning robot on the market. They all have their own unique features that help them stand out. Luckily for you, when you look hard enough it’s easy to narrow it down to a few extremely popular models.
We’re going to examine these in detail now and it will help you decide which one is right for you. We will only have a look at the biggest features available, so click on the links if you want to know more. Here are the models we’re going to look at:
- Maytronics Dolphin Nautilus (99996113-US) | Pool Cleaning Robot
- Polaris F9550 Sport | Pool Cleaning Robot
- Maytronics Dolphin Triton Plus (99996212-US) | Pool Cleaning Robot
Dolphin Nautilus 99996113-US
One of the best pool cleaning robots for the money.
Features :
- New and Improved for 2017. Packed with features: 50% lighter, Large capacity Top load filtration, weekly timer, active brush and latest navigation system for complete pool coverage
- Thoroughly cleans the floor, walls and up to the waterline
- Clever Clean Technology that systematically scans your pool to determine most efficient path, regardless of shape or surface resulting in clean pool every time
- Active brush for effective scrubbing and cleaning
- Easy to clean Top Load filter basket that captures debris and filters water
- Wall Climbing and Cleaning Scrubs floor and walls, removes algae and bacteria
- Weekly Timer with Industry-leading energy efficiency and 2 hour cycle time
- Active Brushing – Active Scrubbing Brush Spins at 2X the speed of the robot. Effective scrubbing & cleaning
- Filtration – Large Filter Basket with Easy Clean Bottom Debris Release
Overview | Dolphin Nautilus 99996113-US
Dolphin (made by Maytronics) are now one of the biggest brands in the pool industry. Their innovative technology only gets better with each passing year. The brand new Dolphin Nautilus pool cleaning robot is loved and it won’t take you long to see why:
It Comes With CleverClean Technology – When you put a robotic pool cleaner in the water it will make its way around your pool. That didn’t necessarily mean it was going to clean the pool in the most efficient way possible until the Nautilus came along.
This has to do with the wonderful CleverClean technology inside it. The software can scan your pool once it’s submerged. It will then determine the best path to take, which will guarantee a spotless pool every single time regardless of its shape.
Can Automatically Run Its 2-Hour Cycles – The beauty about the best pool cleaning robots is the fact you don’t need to take them out of the water. Once they’re inside the pool they will be perfectly fine sitting there until you’re ready to use them.
It’s even possible to set up your Dolphin Nautilus CC so it does all the work without you. Once you’ve programmed the robot it will automatically run through its cleaning cycles every week, which will take around 2 hours to complete costing you 10 cents.
Active Brush Helps It Clean Thoroughly – All of the debris you see won’t be easy to suck into the filter basket. Some of it is going to be stuck to your pool and will be hard to move. It’s why they decided to add an active brush to the Nautilus CC.
This is unlike any kind of brush you might have seen in the past. It will spin at double the speed of your robot as it’s going around the pool. Thanks to the force it produces it will be able to loosen up all the dirt and grime so it can be collected.
A Built-In Fast Water Release System – The Nautilus used to be a lot heavier in the past. In fact, this new model weighs 50 percent less and it’s only 13 pounds. Anyone who considers themselves healthy should have no problem picking it up.
It’s a touch more troublesome when you’re lifting robots out of the water. Normal pool cleaners will be full of debris and filled with excess water. The Nautilus will be able to rid itself of the water because a fast water release system is built into it.
Uses Specialized Anti-Tangling Software – If you’re used to older Dolphin models you’ll know about the swivel cable. This was designed to help the robot move around the pool without getting tangled up, but it’s not built into the new Nautilus.
Instead, it will come with specialized anti-tangle software designed to do the same thing. It will stop the robot from moving in any way that would allow it to become tangled up. The cable is long enough to handle all pools around 40 feet in length.
Quick Access To The Large Filter Basket – One of the biggest changes to the new Nautilus CleverClean revolves around the filter basket. The best pool cleaning robot should never have a basket that is hard to access. You’ll finally have easy access from the top.
The filter basket is also so large you won’t have to worry about cleaning it out every time you use it. It’s capable is dealing with both large and small debris. The filters handle anything down to 2 microns in size, which will be impossible to beat.
Review : Polaris F9550 Sport
One of the best Pool Cleaning Robots in 2021, and best looking if I may say so myself. Very slick style.
Features:
- Motion-Sensing Remote – Responsive cleaning control in the palm of your hand.
Easy Lift System – With the touch of a button the 9550 surfaces to a desired location and waits for you to grab it, then automatically evacuates water for effortless removal from the pool. - Dirty Canister Indicator – No more guess work. Know immediately when it’s time to empty the filter canister.
- Vortex Vacuum Technology – Keeps debris suspended for long-lasting suction and superior cleaning performance.
- Easy Clean Filter Canister – debris can easily be emptied with a simple shake and spray convenience.
- 7-day programmable timer – fully customizable set it and forget it cleaning modes.
- ActivMotion Sensor – automatically controls robot’s position at all times, allowing complete cleaning coverage without any hang ups.
- 4-Wheel Drive Technology – cleans pool floor, walls, and scrubs tile line with a solid-blade scrubbing brush.
- Waterline Only Cleaning Cycle – for isolated tile line scrubbing.
Polaris is one of the biggest pool companies and they’ve been innovating in the industry for over 40 years. The F9550 Sport is one of the only models capable of rivaling Dolphin robots. Here is a rundown of the top features you’ll be getting your hands on:
It Will Come Out Of The Pool Easily – First of all, the Polaris F9550 Sport weighs 43.6 pounds. It might seem heavy when you compare it to the Dolphin models, but thanks to the Easy Lift System you won’t have to worry about struggling with it.
All you’ll need to do is press a button and the robot will automatically rise to the top of the pool at your desired location. It will get rid of all the extra water it’s carrying too. You’ll get a caddy to wheel it around when it’s not inside the pool.
You’ll Know When It’s Time To Clean It – This is the best pool cleaning robot when it comes to emptying out your debris. Instead of dealing with a filter bag you’ll get a canister, which is still large enough to collect lots of debris of all sizes.
When you want to clean the canister out you simply need to shake and spray it. It’s a lot more convenient than scooping debris out with your hand. There is also an indicator on the canister, so you’ll know when it’s time to empty it out.
Uses Powerful 4-Wheel Drive Technology – The 4WD lets the Polaris F9550 Sport move around better than most robotic cleaners. It’s capable of handling everything from steps to steep walls. The Aqua-Trax tires it’s fitted with makes a big difference.
If it comes up against any obstructions in the pool it’s not going to fall over. The solid-blade scrubbing brush will take care of the tricky debris as it’s moving around, plus the rear water propulsion system will let it attack difficult areas.
It Has A Motion Sensing Remote Control – It’s frustrating when your robotic pool cleaner is not focusing on an area you’re particularly bothered about. When you use a basic robot the only solution is to grab your tools and deal with the problem manually.
You won’t have to work up a sweat when you’re using the Polaris F9550. It comes with a remote control and you’ll get to override what the robot is doing. If you want to clean an area more thoroughly it’s easy to move your robot to the exact location.
Built-In ActivMotion Sensor Technology – The ActivMotion Sensor technology will handle the navigation. It will work no matter the size and shape of your pool, which is good considering this model can be used in any up to 60 feet in length.
It’s able to keep track of where the robot is all the time. The technology will know where it’s been and which areas are still left to go. If you want it to clean your entire pool on its own there is a 7-day programmable timer you can set up.
Watch this VIDEO to learn more about the Polaris F9550
It Comes With Vortex Vacuum Technology – If you’re going to suck up the maximum amount of debris, you’ll want the suction to be strong. It’s not always the case when you’re dealing with large debris, which results in a less than perfect swimming pool.
Polaris found a way to work around this by including Vortex Vacuum technology. It will give you maximum suction at all times even when tackling large debris. When combined with all the other features you’ll end up with a gleaming pool. The F9550 truly is one of the best pool cleaning robots on the market today, proven by the countless satisfied customers.
Learn more on the Polaris site.
Dolphin Triton Plus | PowerStream
Best new pool robot cleaner
Features:
- 50% lighter, XL capacity top load filtration and enhanced features like Bluetooth Navigation, weekly timer, quick clean mode, active brushing and latest navigation system with
- PowerStream for complete pool, wall and tile cleaning coverage
- Active brushes, weekly timer, quick clean option and so much more
- Power Stream Technology provides constant grip on vertical surfaces for superior wall and tile cleaning
- Bluetooth remote can be operated from smartphone
- Easy to clean Extra-Large filter basket with 4 Fine and 4 Ultra Fine Filters for debris removal and excellent filtration
Overview | Dolphin Triton Plus PowerStream
The Nautilus isn’t Dolphin’s only popular robotic pool cleaner. Their Triton Plus model is definitely up there too. It’s jam-packed full of wonderful new technology. Let’s take a deeper look into exactly what you’ll be getting when you opt for this robot:
PowerStream Technology Equals Great Grip – The main feature helping the Triton Plus robotic pool cleaner stand out is its PowerStream technology. It was designed to give your pool a much deeper clean, especially when it’s moving up and down walls.
When the robot is moving vertically lots of water will shoot out in multiple directions, which will increase its grip on the wall. If the grip is strong it will get rid of more debris. The technology is beneficial for pinpoint turning in the pool too.
Control The Robot Using Your Smartphone – How many things can you do with a smartphone these days? You will now be able to add controlling your robot pool cleaner to the list. It’s simple to set up and all you’ll need to do is install the Dolphin app.
You can program the robot so it cleans your pool automatically, but it’s better if you don’t let it live in the pool 24/7. When you use the app you won’t have to waste trying to program it before you drop the Triton Plus PS into the water.
It Has An Extra Large Top Access Basket – Unless your swimming pool is in a terrible state you won’t have to clean the basket out regularly. It’s unfortunate considering it’s now so easy to access. It’s extra large and can fit a lot of debris inside.
You won’t even have to worry about checking it all the time just in case. The indicator will tell you exactly when it needs cleaned out. It’s capable of collecting debris of any size and the extra fine filters will handle everything down to 2 microns.
You’ll Have A Quick Clean Cycle Available – Even though robots don’t take too long to clean the pool it’s nicer when they finish quicker. After all, lots of people are wary of swimming around while a robotic pool cleaner works its magic in the water.
The Dolphin Triton Plus PowerStream will take around 2 hours to clean your pool on the normal setting. It’s also got a Quick Clean mode if you only want to wait an hour. The active brush will ensure it still gets rid of almost all the debris.
Will Clean Pools Up To 50 Feet In Length – When we looked at the Nautilus it had a 50 foot cable, so it was long enough to handle pools 40 feet in length. This is a rough calculation that takes the distance between the pool and electrical outlet into account.
The Dolphin Triton Plus will offer you an extra 10 feet of cable, so it will be able to tackle pools around 50 feet in length. It will work in swimming pools with any surface, plus the anti-tangle software will stop the cable from tangling up in the middle of a cycle.
Repair It With Easy Fix Modular Technology – You get a 2-year warranty when you purchase the Triton Plus PS, but you’ll be expecting it to last a lot longer. Under normal circumstances, you would likely have to spend a good amount of money on future repairs.
Thankfully, Easy Fix modular technology inside the robot means you won’t have to hire a professional. When you can simply replace a broken part it’s possible to do everything yourself. There isn’t even too many parts because it only weighs 17 pounds.
Please Note: The Dolphin Triton Plus PowerStream has lots of features in common with the Nautilus too. If you click on the link you’ll be able to read about them.
Best Pool Cleaning Robot You Can Buy Right Now
We’ve covered a few of the best pool cleaning robots, including all the wonderful features packed into them. Hopefully you’ll have a good idea by now which robotic cleaner is the right one for you.
It’s perfectly fine if you’re still not sure. You’ll just have to do a little extra research. The best approach is to read the unbiased reviews many previous customers have left for you on Amazon.
Read below, If you’re interested in learning about useful features to consider when buying a pool cleaning robot, as well as other practical information that will help you make a decision.
Why Cleaning Your Pool Manually Is A Bad Idea
A failure to use the best pool cleaning robot won’t just waste hours and hours of your time. There are also a few crucial things you need to take into consideration. Let’s look at why going alone is going to be a bad idea in the long run:
You Will Need Far Too Many Cleaning Tools
Once you have the best pool cleaning robot on hand you won’t need anything else. It will simply be a matter of dropping it into the water and letting it do its magic. When you want to clean your pool manually you’re going to need a lot of tools in your kit.
You’ll obviously need a skimmer to scoop up all the leaves and other large debris. A pumice stone will get rid of the marks on your tiles along the waterline. A wall brush, telescopic pole, and various other tools will complete your collection.
It Will Reduce The Lifespan Of Your Pool
Think about how easy it would be to plug a robotic pool cleaner into an outlet before placing it in the water. At the very most it might take you a minute. Going down the manual route will take a lot longer, which will require a lot of extra motivation.
If you don’t have this motivation you’ll pay for it somewhere down the line. It will end up being very costly when you do. Don’t maintain your pool and it could cut its lifespan in half. If you’re extremely unlucky you’ll need to replace it even sooner.
Your Pool Could Eventually Change Color
What do you think happens to leaves when they land on your pool? It would be nice if they floated on the surface until you collected them, but they’ll eventually sink to the bottom. Once they do it’s much more difficult to fish them out.
You shouldn’t be worried about the extra effort you’ll need to put in. A bigger concern is the fact they could stain your floor tiles. When they’re discolored they might stay that way and your pool won’t look the same when you stare at it.
The Tiles Will Maybe End Up With Scrapes
We’ve all seen swimming pools with lines along the tiles showing you where the water was sitting in the past. If you have the best swimming pool robot these lines will disappear before they have the chance to be etched into your tiles permanently.
If you don’t have a robot you can do the same thing with a pumice stone. There is a fine line between getting rid of the marks and pressing too hard. If you do the latter your pumice stone might leave scrapes in the tiles destroying their attractiveness.
Getting A Truck To Suck All The Water Out
Some people don’t realize you have to add acid to saltwater pools to balance the pH level. It’s also wrongly assumed they’ll clean themselves, but they have a lot less salt in them than the sea. You really need a good amount of knowledge on how to maintain them.
Salt will break down into things like chlorine gas and hydrochloric acid, so you’ll need to suck the water out with a truck. You can’t just dump it in your garden. Knowing what the best pool cleaning robot can do will steer you away from saltwater pools.
It’s Too Easy For Your Pool To Turn Green
We’ve already talked about your pool changing color, but it was related to discolored tiles. If you don’t clean your pool for a couple of weeks it will eventually start to turn green. It’s a lot more dangerous than it sounds and you can’t let it happen.
Don’t forget, if your pool is green it could be more than a bad case of algae. It’s possible the pool is full of various types of bacteria including E. coli. Living somewhere with heavy rainfall will speed up this process dramatically.
You Will Have To Test The Water Regularly
When you don’t have a great robot you’ll rely heavily on chemicals to keep your swimming pool clean. If you have to use lots of chlorine it will be hard to keep the levels topped up, especially when it’s sunny outside and it disappears quicker.
Checking everything is okay a couple of times per week only adds to the time you’ll waste cleaning your pool manually. It’s not like you can skip a week when you don’t feel like it. At least with the best robotic pool cleaner you’ll hardly need any chemicals.
It’s Not The Greatest Way To Stay Healthy
Now you know about dangerous bacteria, but have you put any thought into your physical health? It’s definitely not easy to clean your pool thoroughly on a regular basis. It will surely have a negative impact on your health in the future.
When using a robot you won’t need to hurt your knees spending hours scraping away at your tiles. You won’t cause damage to your back bending over when working on exhausting tasks. The hardest thing you’ll have to do is lift the robot out of the water.
Why Hiring A Pool Cleaner Is A Bad Idea
Using the best pool cleaning robot is without a doubt better than hiring a cleaner. Only if you’re extremely rich would a pool cleaner be a better option. Here are a couple of reasons why you should let a robot do all of the work instead:
You’re Paying For Lots Of Hidden Costs
It’s pretty obvious a robotic pool cleaner is cheaper than a human being. The latter will charge a random amount based on things like the size of your pool, whereas a robot will cost about 5 cents per hour as they’re extremely energy efficient.
You should be more worried about hidden costs. You’ll never pay anyone a genuine hourly rate to clean your pool. Don’t forget about things like insurance and vehicle maintenance costs, which aren’t your problem even though they’ll be included in your bill.
A Robotic Cleaner Will Pay For Itself
One of the biggest concerns when buying a robotic pool cleaner is the upfront costs, which might include a few accessories. It’s one of the reasons why subpar pressure and suction side pool cleaners are still being used around the country.
Even if you buy the best pool cleaning robot you can find you’ll always make your money back. You’ll actually save a huge amount over its lifetime. Hire someone to clean your pool and you’ll have to come up with extra money forever.
It’s Hard To Know How Often They Visit
Do you have a neighbor who always likes to look out their window all day? They’ll be the only ones who can tell you if the cleaner shows up. You might be paying them on a weekly basis, but there is no guarantee they’ll actually come that often.
It’s tricky because they’ll usually arrive when you’re at work. Let’s say they do still show up every week. They might assume they can get away with leaving it after a quick glance. You shouldn’t have to waste your hard-earned money on lazy pool cleaners.
You Won’t Have To Give Up Your Privacy
Pool cleaners do usually show up when you’re at work, but they’ll sometimes come when someone is home. Do you really want to give up your privacy for a few hours every week when it can be avoided? You won’t even be able to use the pool when it’s being cleaned.
It’s likely you’ll be using it regularly during the hottest months of the year. This will be when your kids are on holiday. They won’t be too happy with you if they can’t use the pool, whereas everything would be okay if you owned a robot.
Robotic Pool Cleaners Features To Look Out For
If you want the best pool cleaning robot in the world it must possess certain features. No model will have every single thing you want, but a few will easily come close. Here is a quick list of the top features you should keep your eyes peeled for:
A Rotating Scrubbing Brush Is Useful
The brush on a conventional robotic pool cleaner won’t rotate, which means it can’t eliminate as much debris. Some of the top models have brushes that spin faster than the robot moves to give you a deeper clean.
It Should Be Light Enough To Pick Up
The best pool cleaning robot shouldn’t be too heavy. It will only make life more difficult for you. Some of the better robots also have advanced features like the power to flush out any excess water.
Special Technology To Help It Navigate
When you put a robot pool cleaner into the pool it shouldn’t move around aimlessly. The best ones will be able to scan the pool using advanced technology before determining the most efficient route.
Ability To Cover All Areas Of The Pool
You’ll want your robot to cover the floor, waterline, and walls of the pool. It’s a bonus if it’s able to do things like climb steps. Don’t forget the cable should also be long enough for your pool.
The Robot Is Hopefully Programmable
In most cases, you’ll throw your robot in the pool when you want to clean it. You should also be able to program it in advance too. This means it will clean your pool automatically when you leave it under the water.
Moving It Around Using A Remote Control
If you’re really lucky your robotic cleaner will be advanced enough to come with a remote control. This will let you take over while it’s operating in case you want to focus on a particular area of your pool.
Controlling Everything Through An App
We’ve already talked about a programmable robot, but on older models you had to set everything up in advance. They’ve started to take advantage of Bluetooth technology, so you can control some models through an app.
A Couple Of Different Cleaning Cycles
Every pool cleaning robot will have at least one cleaning cycle, which is the total time it will take to clean your entire pool. If you have a quick clean cycle option it will sometimes be helpful.
The Cable Should Not End Up Tangled
You don’t want the cable to tangle while the robot is cleaning the pool. There are a couple of options companies use. It’s usually a durable swivel cable, but in recent times anti-tangle software has become popular too.
Easy To Repair The Robot On Your Own
Nobody wants to spend lots of money on their robotic pool cleaner after they’ve already bought it. You’ll be able to repair any faults without extra help if it comes with easy fix modular technology.