Shopping for a robotic pool cleaner is not for the faint of heart. They can be expensive and certain models can cost more in repairs than they are worth. There are two main companies making some of the best cleaners on the market. Aquaproducts who manufactures the Aquabot and well as the EcoJet line, And
Dolphin Pool Cleaner. After selling, maintaining and repairing hundreds of other brands of cleaners (polaris, smartpool, dirt devil, hayward, etc.) and seeing these in action working side by side, these two brands are a clear winner. In terms of cleaning capability, power, ease of use and how easy they are to repair I wouldn't recommend any other brands.
Ecojet Plus efficient, effective, and durable
This cleaner was just updated in 2012 and has a new drive system that has solved some of the issues people had with navigation. If your looking to save money on operating costs, this is the unit for you. It doesn't require tracks or belts, but uses Aquaproducts patented Jetdrive technology to navigate your pool. You will never have to worry about the problems that most track driven units have when you use the
Ecojet. It has no belts or moving parts, but it still offers a superior cleaning experience. It is suitable for most pools and is one of the more powerful of the robotic pool cleaner lines. It will not damage your pools liner or walls in any way. I have recommended these to many pool owners with a 100% satisfaction rate so far. Also because of the jet propulsion, this cleaner does the BEST job of any cleaner at mixing your pools chemicals. The
EcoJet is only rated to clean the pool floor and cove, but I have had people tell me it goes right up to the waterline, making the
Ecojet an amazing value for under $1000.
The Aquabot T2 is a rock solid track-driven pool cleaner.
Most people are surprised when they open the t2 box because of the quality and fit and finish of the
Aquabot T series of cleaners. If you could see these cleaners side by side with other brands, you would know that this is a rock solid choice for the price. The form factor alone is more than enough to assure you that this cleaner that is built to last. In our side-by-side tests with polaris, hayward, and even dolphin cleaners the T2 was a clear winner. The dual tracks give this cleaner an advantage over other cleaners because it turns similar to an army tank and doesn't waste any time trying to navigate your pool. It also boasts a "NeverStuck system"that keeps it from getting stuck on things like a main drain or obstacle. This ensures that the cleaner does not sit in one place and wear a hole in your vinyl liner or wear out the tracks on your pool floor, which is a complaint with some other brands. One last benefit of the turbo T is that it is made in the USA, meaning the build quality and quality control is much better than something you would see from somewhere like china. Always be sure to check where your cleaner is made, because that will determine the engineering and lifespan of what you buy.
Dolphin Supreme M4 - step up to a new pool cleaning experience.
Dolphin Pool cleaners seem to be constantly improving their cleaning technology and are moving quickly to the top of the pool cleaning food chain. Every year they are releasing better and better models.
This has been
dolphins flagship model for a while now and is
only sold in brick and mortar stores. This is a great cleaner and it made it to third on our list. Pros: This cleaners form factor is much better than most other cleaners on the market. It is well designed and looks great next to any pool. The system is easy to clean and easy to maintain. It comes with more options than you would ever need. Cons: The options can be somewhat confusing. The cleaner has a weekly timer, but Maytronics does not recommend that you leave it in the pool for that long. The filter cartridges are expensive and need to be replaced much earlier than a filter bag would, and although they are more convenient, they cost a great deal more in the long run vs. a bag filter. This is a good option for someone looking for a easy to maintain, but higher end system.
This cleaner was just updated in 2012 and has a new drive system that has solved some of the issues people had with navigation. If your looking to save money on operating costs, this is the unit for you. It doesn't require tracks or belts, but uses Aquaproducts patented Jetdrive technology to navigate your pool. You will never have to worry about the problems that most track driven units have when you use the Ecojet. It has no belts or moving parts, but it still offers a superior cleaning experience. It is suitable for most pools and is one of the more powerful of the robotic pool cleaner lines. It will not damage your pools liner or walls in any way. I have recommended these to many pool owners with a 100% satisfaction rate so far. Also because of the jet propulsion, this cleaner does the BEST job of any cleaner at mixing your pools chemicals. The EcoJet is only rated to clean the pool floor and cove, but I have had people tell me it goes right up to the waterline, making the Ecojet an amazing value for under $1000.
