Swimming pools are fun. Cleaning swimming pools is not fun. I learned this simple logic as a kid growing up in and around pools—it’s the only way to survive summer in Houston. Four years ago, I became a pool owner myself, and I found that the rule still holds. Jumping into the pool on a hot day remains a rare treat, but if the pool is filled with leaves and dirt, that treat becomes a lot less delightful. And when the thermometer is reading over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, the thought of laboring on the pool deck, scooping out debris with a net, is downright cruel. Robotic pool cleaners were a thing when I was growing up in the ’80s, but there was really only one technology available: pressure-side cleaners that attach to a pump on the surface and use water pressure, not electricity, to move around the pool. These types of cleaners are still around; you’ll recognize them by the length of tubing that floats in the water and connects to a jet set into the wall of the pool. Today, the market is gravitating to electronic cleaners that don’t require a pump or that big, ugly hose in the water. And while corded cleaners are still an option—essentially running off of a long extension cord connected to wall power—battery-powered robotic cleaners are the future of the industry. Battery-powered cleaners have many benefits, including the lack of hoses or cords and the ability to be removed from the water on demand, leaving your pool unencumbered by obstacles when you want to swim in it. Of the ones I've tested, the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra is the best all-around, but I've also found options for other budgets and preferences. Looking to level up your yard? Check out our guides to the Best Robot Lawn Mowers, Best Flat-Top Grills and Griddles, Best Pizza Ovens, and Best Coolers. Updated May 2026: I added the iGarden’s M1 A1 90 and Beatbot Sora 100, and checked and updated prices throughout. After four years of reviewing pool robots professionally and hundreds of test runs, the