The 6 Best Robotic Pool Cleaners of 2021

Best Overall: Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Cleaner

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The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Vacuum goes about its business in a quiet, efficient manner with very little user interaction required. It’s a great option for anyone that wants to keep their pool sparkling without spending hours on manual vacuuming or time spent tinkering on a suction-side pool vacuum. 

Rather than relying on your pool’s skimmer system or vacuum line, the Dolphin Nautilus uses its own power supply to motor around your pool floor and climb the walls. It can tackle pools up to 50 feet in length and has a 2-hour cleaning cycle. This robotic pool cleaner has CleverClean technology, which scans and maps your pool floor and results in a systematic, thorough cleaning pattern. 

Since this robotic pool vacuum isn’t connected to your pool’s skimmer, it won’t bog down your pool’s filtration system. Instead, the Nautilus CC Plus has its own onboard filters. It includes standard duty filters that can capture general debris, like small bugs, leaves, etc., and a set of finer corrugated filters that will take in pollen, dust, and other small particles. A hatch on top of the vacuum makes it easy to access and clean the filters as needed. 

Best Smart: Polaris 9650IQ Sport Robotic Pool Vacuum Cleaner

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If a robotic pool cleaner is the easier way to clean your pool, then the Polaris 9650IQ is the most intelligent way to get the task done. This smart robot pool cleaner is equipped with Wi-Fi that gives you app control of the vacuum’s functions. Use the iAquaLink app on your smartphone or tablet to customize cleaning modes, check in on the status of a cleaning session, or call the unit back to the side of the pool the unit using the EasyLift system. In addition, you can spot clean your pool using an on-screen controller or by using your phone as a motion controller—just tilt the phone in the direction you want the Polaris 9650IQ to travel. 

These smart features are paired with powerful cleaning ability. The Polaris 9650IQ features a 4-wheel drive to maneuver around obstacles and climb pool walls to reach the waterline. Dual rubber brushes loosen dirt and grime and an onboard suction system captures particles in a filter canister. In the app, you can see when it's time to clean the filter with the ‘dirty canister indicator’ feature. Note that push notifications aren’t available for the iAquaLink app, so you will have to manually check in to see the status of the filter. 

Best for Inground Pools: Hayward W3RC9740WCCUB SharkVac XL Robotic Pool Vacuum

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Release the Hayward SharkVac XL into your inground pool and let this robotic vacuum scour your pool floor, walls, and waterline for an effortless clean. This robotic pool vacuum for inground pools is self-contained and doesn’t need to be connected to your pool’s skimmer like a suction-side pool vacuum. Instead, it operates using a separate power supply with a 50-foot cord. 

For inground pools up to 20 x 40 feet in size, Hayward SharkVac XL is a great choice. This model is programmed with smart steering technology that helps the vacuum efficiently cover the floor, walls, and any coves of your pool in about 3 hours. An onboard sensor keeps the unit from leaving the water during a cleaning cycle, such as when approaching the shallow end of the pool or scrubbing tile at the waterline. And unlike some robotic pool vacuums that require you to flip the entire unit over to access the filter media, a top door on the Hayward SharkVac XL makes it easy to access the filters and quickly rinse them clean with a hose. 

Best for Leaves: Dolphin Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner

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Leaves pose one of the biggest challenges to robotic pool cleaners since not all models are equipped to handle larger debris. However, the Dolphin Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner comes equipped with 4 unique types of filter media to capture everything from ultrafine particles to larger items like leaves. 

For pools frequently plagued by leaves, take advantage of the oversized debris bag. This bag allows the unit to collect leaves, acorns, twigs, and more, holding them in the mesh bag for easy emptying. You can swap between filter types easily by accessing the panel underneath the vacuum, inserting any of the filter media before starting the unit. A ‘Full Media’ indicator light on the power supply alerts you when it's time to clean the onboard filter. Dual DC motors power a pair of rubber scrubbing brushes, which scrub the floor and walls of your inground pool—all the way up to the waterline.

Best for Vinyl Pools: Polaris F9350 Sport Robotic In-Ground Pool Cleaner

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If you have a vinyl pool liner, you are no doubt looking for a robotic pool cleaner that can clean effectively but gently. The Polaris F9550 Sport is one model to consider, which roves about your pool on Aqua-Track tires considered safe for all pool surfaces, according to the manufacturer. Keep in mind, however, that some vinyl patterns can become worn by any type of repeated action or abrasion—even manual scrubbing or vacuuming. So it’s possible to see wear patterns from the cleaning action of any pool cleaner, robotic or not.

The Polaris F9550 Sport uses a rear propulsion system to get from one end of the pool to another, using ActivMotion Sensor Technology to make its cleaning more efficient. This robot vacuum is even designed to navigate tight spaces, such as corners and stairs, though this ability may be limited in some vinyl pools. The onboard vacuum system captures debris inside of a filter canister, which is easily accessed from the top of the robotic pool cleaner.