GoKawiilIf you use a robotic pool cleaner every day as I do, you know what matters. Getting as much debris out of the pool as possible is the goal, but pure suction power — quantified as gallons of pool water sucked through the machine per hour — takes a back seat to efficiency.
An efficient robot pool vacuum doesn’t just pick up debris with stronger suction; it does so strategically, so your pool is cleaned faster and you use less battery. When you’re ready to cool off in the pool — like, now — you want the fastest possible cleaning.
This is the first year we’ve tested robots with high-functioning AI, giving them the ability to detect debris using cameras and sensors, change course and suck it up into the basket. These advanced features have upended the traditional formula for robot pool cleaner proficiency (suction power plus battery life).
Key takeaways
Efficiency over power: Pure suction power (measured in gallons per hour) is less critical than the robot’s cleaning efficiency.
Pure suction power (measured in gallons per hour) is less critical than the robot’s cleaning efficiency. Impact of AI: Robotic pool cleaners equipped with AI debris detection (using cameras and sensors) clean more efficiently than those without such features.
Robotic pool cleaners equipped with AI debris detection (using cameras and sensors) clean more efficiently than those without such features. Corded vs. cordless: In general, corded robotic pool cleaners are more efficient than cordless models because they have a consistent power supply and can perform back-to-back cleaning cycles.
In general, corded robotic pool cleaners are more efficient than cordless models because they have a consistent power supply and can perform back-to-back cleaning cycles. The corded Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus (Lab Award winner) was the most efficient of all the recommended models we tested.
(Lab Award winner) was the most efficient of all the recommended models we tested. The Aiper Scuba V3 (Lab Award winner) was the most efficient cordless robotic pool cleaner tested, picking up more debris in less time than more powerful and expensive models.
CNET Lab Awards
... continue reading