Maintaining a swimming pool can be a daunting and time-consuming task. The need for regular cleaning, balancing chemicals, and ensuring the water remains clear can often turn what should be a relaxing luxury into a labor-intensive chore. This is where pool-cleaning robots like the Beatbot AquaSense Pro come into play, promising to alleviate some of the burdens of pool maintenance with advanced technology and automated cleaning capabilities.
Priced at $2,199, the Beatbot Pro positions itself as a high-end solution for pool owners seeking convenience and efficiency. However, does it live up to its promises? I tested the Beatbot to find out if this investment truly simplifies pool maintenance or if traditional methods and other smart cleaners still hold the upper hand.
Setup and Usage
The Beatbot requires virtually no assembly out of the box. It includes the robot, a docking station, and an optional water-clarifying cartridge. Setting it up is straightforward; you just need to plug in the dock and align the robot on it to charge.
Worth noting, the Beatbot does not dock itself, which is a significant inconvenience. Once it surfaces at the end of a cleaning cycle, you must retrieve, clean, and dock it manually. The cleaner can feel heavy for a lot of people so grabbing it from the pool is tough on its own.
The manual retrieval is also particularly problematic for anyone with mobility issues or those who dislike getting wet, as the robot often requires lifting from the pool. Got it out? Great. Now you’ve got to lift it up to place into the dock.
Design
Sticking with the size for a moment, The Beatbot weighs in at 24 pounds, so it’s on the heavier side. This weight could be challenging for users with physical limitations such as older, retired homeowners who don’t have the grip strength or muscle.
Despite its heft, the Beatbot’s build quality feels solid and durable, giving an impression of reliability. The robot charges quickly and retains power well. In one instance, it remained submerged in a pool for multiple days and still had retained much of the charge when retrieved, which speaks volumes about its battery efficiency.
Performance
Pairing the Beatbot with the app via Bluetooth and WiFi is easy. The app allows users to select different cleaning modes—floor, walls, surface, or a combination. However, the robot is prone to connectivity issues once submerged, making the app often useless during the cleaning process.
This loss of control means you can’t cancel a job, ask the robot to surface, or even check its progress. The estimated cleaning time is around three hours for a deep clean, but I found that a quick clean can take almost three hours in a medium-sized pool. If you don’t care about how long it takes to clean at the end of a day, it’s no big deal. But, if you’re hoping to clean things up before a gathering, you might be pressed for time.
General Performance
Generally speaking, the Beatbot’s cleaning performance leaves much to be desired. In a relatively clear pool, it took upwards of three hours to clean and I would still find dirt in corners and on steps. This inefficiency is frustrating, especially when you can see the robot repeatedly missing spots or lingering in the same areas without adequately cleaning them.
The lack of real-time feedback and control is a significant drawback. Unlike robot vacuums or mowers that provide interactive maps and status updates, the Beatbot more or less operates blindly once it hits the water.
The Beatbot offers several cleaning modes designed to address different parts of the pool. And in theory, they’d be excellent.
- Floor Cleaning Mode: In this mode, the Beatbot focuses on the pool floor, navigating the entire area to pick up debris, dirt, and algae. The robot employs its powerful suction and dual brushes to scrub and vacuum the floor effectively. This mode is ideal for routine maintenance to keep the bottom of the pool clean.
- Wall Cleaning Mode: The Beatbot can climb the pool walls to remove dirt and algae buildup. Using its robust motors and traction system, it scales the walls and scrubs them thoroughly. This mode helps in preventing algae growth and maintaining a clean and clear pool surface.
- Surface Cleaning Mode: This mode targets the pool’s surface, collecting leaves, bugs, and other floating debris. The Beatbot’s surface skimming capability ensures that the water remains clear and inviting. It moves smoothly across the surface, and generally captures debris efficiently.
- Combination Mode: For a comprehensive clean, the combination mode allows the Beatbot to tackle the floor, walls, and surface in one go. This mode is particularly useful for deep cleaning sessions, ensuring that every part of the pool is addressed.
Value
Traditional pool cleaners offer better value, plain and simple. These cleaners, which often integrate with the pool’s filtration system, do not require manual intervention like the Beatbot does. And given that you can let that run for hours on end, it’s hard to argue for spending a hefty amount of money that might take the same amount of time.
The Beatbot Pro, priced at $2,199, does not justify its cost with its current performance and features. The price point positions it as a premium product, but it lacks the efficiency and functionality expected of such an investment. I’ve tested a few other models from different brands, all of which seem to have a higher value proposition. Even on sale, at around $1,800 I have a tough time recommending this model.
Conclusion
The Beatbot AquaSense Pro aims to offer a high-tech solution to pool maintenance, but it falls short in key areas. Its hefty weight and manual retrieval process make it cumbersome, particularly for users with physical limitations. The connectivity issues and lack of real-time control through the app significantly hinder its convenience and usability.
Despite its promising cleaning modes, the Beatbot’s actual performance is inconsistent and often underwhelming. Traditional pool cleaners, which are more cost-effective and easier to manage, remain a more practical choice for most pool owners. The Beatbot Pro’s high price point does not match its current capabilities, making it a less appealing option in the competitive market of pool-cleaning solutions.
Until the AquaSense Pro can address its connectivity issues, improve user control, and deliver more consistent cleaning results, traditional methods and other smart cleaners are likely to remain the preferred choice for maintaining a pristine pool.
