Choose a robotic pool cleaner by the pool it must clean and the work you want it to remove. Measure the pool, identify its finish, and decide whether you need floor cleaning, wall climbing or deliberate waterline scrubbing before comparing apps or advertised runtime.
Manufacturer specifications checked September 23, 2026. This is a research-based buying guide. We have not tested these cleaners in our own pool, and the comparison is not a performance ranking.
Three models to start your comparison
| Model and source | Published pool limit | Cleaning coverage | Buying implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin Nautilus CC — Canada | Up to 33 ft / 10 m long. | Floor and walls; the specification explicitly excludes waterline scrubbing. | A corded option to investigate for a smaller pool when deliberate waterline cleaning is not a requirement. |
| Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Wi-Fi — US | Up to 50 ft; in-ground pools. | Floor and walls on the linked manufacturer listing. | A corded shortlist option for a longer pool and Wi-Fi scheduling. The source is a caddy-and-cover bundle; check what your retailer’s package includes. |
| Aiper Scuba S1 — Canada | 1,600 sq ft / 150 m²; specifications also list 50 ft / 15 m length. | Floor, walls and waterline advertised. | A cordless option to investigate when waterline coverage matters. Confirm the exact generation and its manual before ordering. |
The Aiper page contains different runtime figures in different sections, so we have deliberately left runtime out of this comparison. Maytronics’ CC page also conflicts on the weekly timer between its description and specification. Ask the seller to confirm those features for the exact product number. A shared family name is not enough to establish identical features across generations or countries.
1. Check fit before comparing prices
Write down the longest swimming length, approximate floor area, deepest and shallowest sections, surface material, steps and shelves. Send the same description to each shortlisted manufacturer’s support team. Ask explicitly about any feature that matters to your pool: a long narrow section, a shallow ledge, a beach entry or a tight corner.
Length and area answer different questions. As a simple example, a rectangular 40-by-15-foot pool has a 600-square-foot footprint. Its small area would not make a cleaner rated for a maximum 33-foot pool length suitable. Compare all relevant limits, rather than converting an area rating into an assumed maximum length.
Do not infer compatibility with a delicate finish from a general “all surfaces” statement. Confirm the permitted surface and brush configuration in the model’s manual, especially for a pool with an unusual coating or a recently repaired surface.
2. Separate floor, walls and waterline
Make a list of the jobs you currently do by hand. A model that climbs a wall does not necessarily perform a dedicated waterline pass: the Nautilus CC’s own specifications make that distinction. If cleaning the waterline is the main reason you are buying, ask for that feature in writing.
For steps and shelves, ask what remains a manual job. Promotional footage of a robot reaching one ledge is not evidence that it will cover your pool’s geometry. For an existing machine that struggles, use our separate wall-climbing troubleshooting guide.
3. Match the filter to what lands in your pool
Describe your usual debris: large leaves, sand, fine dust, or a mixture. Then check the supplied filter, optional finer inserts, replacement availability and cleaning access. Do not compare a quoted micron rating unless you know whether it describes the included filter or an extra accessory.
A useful seller question is: “Which filter comes in this exact box, and what would I need to buy for my usual debris?” Add that extra part to the cost comparison.
4. Choose a power routine you will actually maintain
For a corded shortlist, plan where the power supply will sit and confirm the cable reach and electrical requirements in the manual. For a cordless shortlist, plan retrieval, drying the charging connection as instructed, charging and battery care. Compare a full cleaning-and-recharging routine, rather than only the longest advertised cycle.
Ask to see the retrieval method and filter removal demonstrated. Handling a robot at the pool edge is part of ownership; specifications alone cannot tell you whether you find it comfortable.
5. Compare the total purchase and support package
- Exact model number, generation, market and included filters.
- Any caddy, cover or accessory you genuinely need.
- Local service arrangements and availability of brushes, tracks, filters and battery service where relevant.
- Written warranty terms and the seller’s return policy for a cleaner already used in water.
- Winter storage requirements and suitable space at home.
We do not give a universal warranty duration, annual operating cost or return window: those depend on the model, usage and seller. Compare current written offers in one currency, including tax and delivery, instead of treating a temporary sale price as a permanent advantage.
Before you place the order
Keep your pool measurements, the seller’s compatibility answer and the model manual together. Choose the least complicated model that covers your required jobs and has practical support where you live. If a key specification is contradictory, leave it unresolved until the manufacturer answers.
Plan the off-season too: see how to store a pool robot for winter. For the broader picture, our yard automation planning guide helps you decide which recurring chore to tackle first.