Tired of cleaning your pool with a pool brush and vacuum? Want to automate your pool cleaning routine?
Look no further than a robotic pool vacuum cleaner. Like a roomba for your pool, a robotic pool cleaner vacuum, scrubs, and cleans your swimming pool without ever lifting a finger. So here are the top 5 best robotic pool cleaners of 2026.
Features to Look For
Before we dive in, let's go over the top features to look for. With so many makes, models, and brands, it can get confusing. That is why I am here to help.
NanoFiltration
First, one of the newest features for 2024 is NanoFilters. These advanced filters give the robot the ability to clean deeper than other pool robot. How?
Through an advanced process called sieving, small particles are filtered out from your pool water. Leaving you with a crystal clear pool. If you struggle with small debris, algae, or even just cloudy pool water - you'll want a robot with NanoFilters.
Compared to the standard mesh filters, you can see a big difference. These filters (pictured on the left) are the more common filters found across most robotic pool cleaners. Only a select few models have NanoFilters, and let me tell you, they are well worth it.
Weekly Timer
Second, a weekly timer. This is probably the most important feature of all. With this feature, your pool robot can automatically turn on and off daily. Allowing you to fully automate your pool cleaning – a feature I absolutely loved in my testing.
Without this, you will have to start your robot daily. While it may seem like you can add an external time, that is simply not the case. Sadly, all the robots we tested were unable to automatically start with a 3rd party timer. Only a few robots have this feature, but it is one you will want.
Waterline Cleaning
Lastly, waterline cleaning. Have you ever seen a robot defy gravity and scale the walls of your pool? Well, now you have. This innovative feature allows the robot to clean your entire pool – not just the floor!
It’s only found on more advanced models, but definitely worth the upgrade. This is where over 95% of algae and bacteria in your pool lives. So having a cleaner that scrubs this problem area is vital to keeping your pool clean.
Now that I’ve covered what to look for. Let’s dive into the best robotic pool cleaners of the year.
Dolphin Sigma
You can’t get better than this. A part of the Dolphin ProLine, the Dolphin Sigma is Dolphin’s most advanced robot ever. With a gyroscope, quad scrubbing brushes, NanoFilters, and even commercial-grade motors, the Dolphin Sigma stands out as the top robotic pool cleaner.
myDolphin Plus app
With the mydolphin plus app, you can control the Sigma directly from your phone, where you can schedule, remote drive, and even see your cleaning history. The Sigma even has voice control. So you can tell Siri, start cleaning my pool, and the Dolphin Sigma gets to work.
NanoFilter Filtration System
Vacuuming and filtering over 4500 gallons per hour, the Sigma isn't just a vacuum - but an extra filter for your pool. With the NanoFilters, it can clear up cloudy pool water and capture small particles other robotic pool cleaners miss.
It cleans your entire pool, from the floor to the waterline. Its SmartNav 3.0 software allows it to navigate your pool to create the most efficient cleaning route.
Longer 3-Year Warranty
The Dolphin Sigma includes 50% longer warranty. With 3 years of coverage, this ProLine model should be at the top of your list.
With a superior cleaning performance and even better value, it is just one of the reasons the Sigma was crowned the top pool robot of the year.
Dolphin Premier
Another ProLine model, the Dolphin Premier was rated the top robot by USA Today and we have to agree.
With Multi-Media, Media-Alert, NanoFilters, and being the only Dolphin robot with a leaf bag, the Premier offers more filters than any other pool robot. With the ability to customize each and every clean, you can use the NanoFilters to clear up cloudy pool water or the leaf bag to pickup leaves. The choice is yours.
With dual commercial-grade motors, it shares parts with the commercial Dolphin Wave platform which often cost two thousand dollars or more. At nearly half the price, you get the same great performance, a 3 year warranty, more filter options, and waterline cleaning.
The Premier is the best robot if you have a lot of leaves in your pool. It's one of the best values you can find and I highly recommend it.
Aquabot REVA
The Aquabot REVA is known for its incredible value. It features a gyroscope, a smartphone app, and waterline cleaning, all for under $1,000. Recommended by our subscribers, it's a hidden gem among pool robots, and we really enjoyed using it in our pool.
The REVA cleans your entire pool, from the floor to the waterline, covering every single inch. It scrubs with a ton of power and vacuums like a pro. The app is easy to use and has a weekly timer so you can program the robot to run daily. We were impressed by just how much the filter basket could hold.
The REVA does not include Nanofilters or any other filter option, but this may be okay if you have a smaller inground or above-ground swimming pool. It's a high-value, high-performing pool robot that I highly recommend, especially if you're on a budget.
Dolphin Quantum
At number four, the Dolphin Quantum stands out as being a ProLine and Max series model from Dolphin. It utilizes a larger XXL Max bin and includes Nano filters as well.
With a weekly timer and waterline cleaning, this robot offers the best all-around value. You get top-level performance from the Prime, an easy-to-clean Max bin, and Nano filters, with the ability to schedule cleanings daily, every other day, and every three days.
It makes using the Quantum a breeze; simply rinse the filter once a week, and you're good to go as the Quantum automates your pool maintenance. The Quantum keeps your pool crystal clear, thanks to its NanoFilters.
While it costs less than the Premier and Sigma, it also has a shorter warranty. It doesn't include the app you get with the Sigma or the multimedia or leaf bag, but you get one of the best-performing robots on the market while saving money.
Dolphin Cayman
Last, but not least, the Dolphin Cayman.
A part of Dolphin's 2024 Max-Series, the Cayman stands out as the best budget pool robot. There is not a more affordable cleaner that includes a weekly timer, wall climbing, and a HyperBrush. Not to mention the optional NanoFilters you can add to increase performance.
The Dolphin Cayman cleans and climbs your pool floor and walls. Rather than just sticking to the floor like other cleaners, the Cayman defies gravity as it scrubs your pool walls.
Its HyperBrush rotates 2-times faster than standard Dolphin pool robots. The result is impressive. With the increased rotation, the Cayman scrubs away debris other robots miss into its MaxBin. This Gen-2 filter is easier to clean than the Gen-1 cartridges from Maytronics.
The weekly timer is the focal point of the robot. As most robots in this price range are stripped of a weekly timer, the Cayman keeps this essential feature. Schedule the Cayman to run daily, every other day, or every three days. Allowing you to clean the robot just once a week.
Conclusion
And there you have it. The top robotic pool cleaners of the year. Make sure to check out our in-depth reviews on each! Thanks for watching!
