Cordless vs corded pool robots: which should you buy?
Cordless robots run on a battery; corded robots take power from a supply unit beside the pool through a floating cable. Here's what each gets you, with every current model we cover.
Cordless: no cable, limited by the battery
No cable means nothing to tangle and nothing floating across the pool. Runtime per charge ranges from 90 minutes (Aiper Scuba SE) to 5 hours of floor cleaning (Beatbot Sora series and AquaSense 2 Ultra, Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max), and up to 10 hours when skimming. You lift the robot out to charge it, or it docks on a wireless charger with some Beatbot and Aiper models.
Corded: unlimited power, a cable in the water
A corded robot never needs charging, so it can run on a weekly timer by itself, and there's no battery to wear out. The cable is the downside: it can tangle, which is why higher-end models add an anti-tangle swivel. Maytronics and Polaris rate corded robots by pool length, up to 60 ft for the Polaris 9550 Sport.
Which to choose
- You want it to clean on a schedule without you: corded, or a cordless model with a dock.
- You hate cables or have an above-ground pool with a low wall: cordless.
- Very long pool: check length ratings; corded Polaris and Dolphin models reach 50–60 ft.
Cordless robots
| Model | Rated size | Cleans | Power | Runtime / cycle | Pool type | Price seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aiper Scuba SE | 860 sq ft | FWWS | Cordless | 90 min | Above-ground | $199.98 |
| Beatbot Sora 10 | 2,600 sq ft | FWWS | Cordless | 5 h | In-ground & above-ground | $469 |
| Aiper Scuba S1 | 1,600 sq ft | FWWS | Cordless | 3 h | In-ground & above-ground | $499.99 |
| Aiper Scuba N1 | 1,600 sq ft | FWWS | Cordless | 2.5 h | In-ground | $499.99 |
| Beatbot Sora 30 | 3,230 sq ft | FWWS | Cordless | 5 h | In-ground & above-ground | $699 |
| Beatbot AquaSense 2 | 3,230 sq ft | FWWS | Cordless | 4 h | In-ground & above-ground | $849 |
| Aiper Scuba V3 | Size not published | FWWS | Cordless | 3 h | In-ground | $849.99 |
| Polaris FREEDOM | 50 ft | FWWS | Cordless | 2.5 h | In-ground | $1,199 |
| Beatbot Sora 70 | 3,229 sq ft | FWWS | Cordless | 5 h | In-ground & above-ground | $1,429 |
| Dolphin LIBERTY 400 | 33 ft | FWWS | Cordless | 2.5 h | In-ground & above-ground | $1,549 |
| Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max | 3,230 sq ft | FWWS | Cordless | 5 h | In-ground | $1,699.99 |
| Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra | 3,875 sq ft | FWWS | Cordless | 5 h | In-ground & above-ground | $2,299 |
| Aiper Seagull SE | 850 sq ft | FWWS | Cordless | 90 min | In-ground & above-ground | Not listed |
Corded robots
| Model | Rated size | Cleans | Power | Runtime / cycle | Pool type | Price seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin E10 | 30 ft | FWWS | Corded | 90 min | Above-ground | $499 |
| Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus (Wi-Fi) | 40 ft | FWWS | Corded | 2 h | In-ground | $849 |
| Polaris 9550 Sport | 60 ft | FWWS | Corded | 2.5 h | In-ground | $999 |
| Dolphin Cayman | 40 ft | FWWS | Corded | 2 h | In-ground & above-ground | $1,129 |
| Dolphin Quantum | 50 ft | FWWS | Corded | 2 h | In-ground & above-ground | $1,999 |
| Dolphin Premier | 50 ft | FWWS | Corded | 3 h | In-ground | $2,499 |
Questions
Do cordless pool robots last as long as corded ones?
Their cleaning runs are often longer: Beatbot and Aiper rate several models for up to 5 hours of floor cleaning per charge, while corded cycles here run 1.5 to 3 hours. The trade-off is a battery that needs charging and will age.
Can I leave a cordless robot in the pool?
Most cordless robots park at the wall or surface when done so you can lift them out to charge. Check each maker's manual for whether it can stay in the water between runs.
Are corded pool robots safe?
Corded robots run on low voltage from a power supply that stays outside the pool. Follow the maker's instructions on where to place the power supply.