Robotic Pool Cleaner vs. Handheld Pool Vacuum: Which One Is Right for You?
Do you have a pool? It doesn’t matter if it is in-ground or above-ground. Because if you don’t keep it clean, then bacteria, fungus, micro-organisms, and algae start to grow. And your pool turns into a swamp. If you have such a swampy pool, you can get sick, especially kids.
This is why pool maintenance is a crucial component, whether you have an in-ground pool or an above-ground pool. A manual pool cleaner is such a hassle. You may want to buy a pool cleaner. But which one should you buy? Robotic pool cleaner vs. handheld pool vacuum, what’s better for you?
You might have different needs. Depending on it, you might need a manual pool cleaner or an automatic pool cleaner. To find out what their advantages and drawbacks are, here is a table for you to navigate quickly.
What are Robotic Pool Cleaners?
Robotic pool cleaners are similar to automatic pool cleaners. They have advanced technology to identify pool shapes and clean them accordingly. They come in different options i.e., corded and cordless pool cleaners. They do have some pros and cons.
Pros of robotic pool cleaners
A robotic pool cleaner is an effective way to clean your pool. Thus, making your pool maintenance task easier. They can clean the whole pool, including walls, waterline and even stairs, depending on the model. Some advanced models can even clean larger pools and even only the water surface, depending on the model. For example, the Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max can cover a pool area of up to 3200 sq. ft., which is very efficient due to its extended 15-hour battery life. You can learn more here:
Since they require minimal effort, they make it an ideal choice for busy pool owners. It's set it and forget it because you can program an automatic pool cleaner to clean at specific intervals. They end up saving money in the long run by cutting down the cost of extensive labor for pool maintenance.
Cons of a robotic pool cleaner
With an automatic pool vacuum, you might find yourself doing some maintenance on them by yourself. For example, cleaning filters requires manual labor. Some robotic pool cleaner could weigh up to more than 30 lbs when dry. Since they have advanced technology, some premium models can range from $1000 to $3000. They have limited space for debris, they often require filter maintenance regularly. This is something you want to keep in mind.
Some automatic pool cleaners may struggle with complex pool shapes or with narrow stairs. And you may need to guide them. Scuba series pool cleaners can definitely help you with that because they can easily navigate narrow stairs or complex pool shapes and clean them for you. Those robotic pool cleaners from Aiper, you can even program them however you like.
Exploring handheld pool vacuums
Handheld pool vacuums are just another category of pool cleaners. They come in various options, including corded and cordless models.
Pros of handheld pool vacuums
Since they are manually operated, they give you control over what spot to clean—making them an ideal choice for cleaning stairs, corners, and hard-to-reach areas.
They are affordable and cost less than automatic pool cleaners, ranging from $200 to $600. But some handheld pool vacuums clog after using them for a bit. With Aiper’s Pilot H2, there is no worry about clogging during pool maintenance because of anti-clog technology. It even has dual filters for pool cleaning with filtration up to 100 μm.
Handheld pool vacuums are extremely lightweight unlike robotic pool cleaners. Thus, making them portable and storage-friendly. They are ideal for quick cleanups.
Cons of handheld pool vacuums
Since they are manually operated, you need to actually be there and put in work to clean the pool, which can be very time-consuming, considering your pool is not small. They are ideal choices for small pools or spas.
If you go to bigger pools, it's not practical to use a handheld pool vacuum because there is a lot of area to clean in pool maintenance, which is very difficult with them. They are compact and this is the reason why they have a short runtime, only 60 minutes whereas with a robotic pool cleaner, you get up to 10 hours. Thus, it requires an extra effort for you to recharge it again and again.
They are small, so most handheld pool cleaners don’t have good suction, which requires a powerful motor.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Pool Cleaner
If you have a small pool or spa or just want to do some cleanups in pool maintenance, then a handheld pool vacuum could be a better solution for you than a robotic pool cleaner. But you might regret buying an Aiper Pilot X1, a handheld pool cleaner with a suction of 1260 GPH, if you have a bigger pool or an in-ground pool. This is where robotic pool cleaners are more suitable and don’t require much effort from you for pool maintenance.
They can clean debris and fine particles as the Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max does with its 9 motors, giving you suction of 8500 GPH. No dirt is left behind with filtration up to 3 μm. Automatic pool cleaners can save you time and effort with automation, but they're more costly upfront than handheld pool cleaners, which are affordable but require manual operation for pool maintenance. This manual labor can give you control over which area of the pool to clean.
With robotic pool cleaners, you save a lot of money in the long run as you don’t have to do any work to clean the pool. Everything can be automated. However, you may need to clean the filter periodically, depending on the amount of debris. Even with a handheld pool vacuum, you need to clean filters more often because of its compact and portable design.
Because handheld pool cleaners are small, they generally have less battery power. Thus, you need to recharge if you are doing pool maintenance for larger pools. However, automatic pool cleaners may struggle with cleaning stairs or corners. Thus, making a handheld pool cleaner a better option for that.
Conclusion
Robotic Pool Cleaner vs. Handheld Pool: What's Best for You? It is tough to say what is better for you based on your needs. If you want something affordable, compact or just want to clean a certain area of the pool or maybe just have a small pool or above-ground pool, then a handheld pool vacuum might be right for your pool maintenance.
If you have an in-ground pool or a bigger pool or want to save time and labor by having an automatic pool vacuum, and you can pay an upfront high price to save money in the long run, then a robotic pool cleaner might be right for you. It could even be a cordless pool cleaner. If you do want to automate your pool maintenance, then Aiper could be right for you. With their mobile app, you can automate everything, including when to clean the pool, which areas to clean, and how to clean them.
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