Owning a pool is the best, until it comes time to clean it…which let’s be real, is all the time! Maintaining a pool can be both costly and time consuming, so if there’s a way to offload some of the hard yakka, I’m here for it. And if you own a pool I’ll assume you are too.

For the past couple of months I’ve had the pleasure of trialling the Aiper Scuba X1 cordless robotic pool cleaner, so that I can share my honest thoughts about it with you.

Straight out of the box, it’s a good looking unit that looks and feels like it’s been built tough— which is good because with 3 teenagers in the house who bring their friends over to swim on the regular, and a dog that likes to get in on the pool party action, this thing has had its work cut out for it. We are also situated on a hill with very little to shelter us from the weather, so the pool is prone to collecting more debris during the summer months when Queensland’s storm season is in full force.

Having reviewed the Aiper Scuba S1 Pro last year, I was curious to see what improvements had been made. The most obvious one, and the one that had me genuinely excited was the wireless dock. Whereas the older model plugged into the mains and required you to replace a rubber cap over the charging port before submerging in water, the Aiper Scuba X1 charges through aligned metal contacts on the dock that automatically connect when the unit is placed in position. This reduces the need to open and reseal charging ports, minimising the risk of water ingress and making the overall process feel safer and more streamlined.

If you are in the market for a robotic pool cleaner, as someone who has forgetten to put the rubber cap on once before launching it into the pool (and had to retrieve it in a panic and let it dry out for days), I highly recommend getting one with this kind of charging dock. It removes that extra step and the risk of human error.

What Are Robot Pool Cleaners and Why Are They a Game-Changer for Pool Owners?

So before we dive into what makes the Aiper Scuba X1 stand out, let’s quickly cover the basics of how robotic pool cleaners work and why they’re becoming a must-have for pool owners.

Robotic pool cleaners are self-contained machines that move around your pool, scrubbing and vacuuming debris automatically. Unlike manual vacuums or suction cleaners, they don’t rely on your pool pump and can clean the floor, walls and waterline with minimal effort.

Not only do they save time and reduce physical effort of having to manually scrub the pool walls, but they also help maintain balanced water chemistry by removing leaves, dirt, and even fine particles like algae before they start to cause a problem.

Standout Features of the Aiper Scuba X1

OmniSense

OmniSense is Aiper’s advanced ultrasonic sensor system that detects obstacles in the pool before the robot reaches them, allowing the cleaner to adjust its movement rather than bumping into walls or pool features. This helps to protect both the pool surfaces and the robot itself from unnecessary collisions, leading to smoother, more efficient cleaning cycles.

WavePath 3.0

WavePath 3.0 is the Scuba X1’s smart navigation technology that adapts its cleaning path based on your pool’s shape and layout, rather than just driving in a random pattern. It’s designed to ensure that the robot covers the entire surface – floors, walls and transition — in the most efficient way possible, minimising missed spots and repetitive cleaning loops.

I admit, it is oddly satisfying sitting poolside with a cold beverage watching it work its magic! It certainly seems to know where it has been and where to go next.

WaveLine 2.0

WaveLine 2.0 enhances the Scuba X1’s ability to scrub the waterline area — the band around the top of the pool where grime, oils and sunscreen residues tend to accumulate. Unlike older robotic cleaners that focus mainly on floors or walls, WaveLine 2.0 maintains constant horizontal contact with the waterline, which helps lift stubborn buildup without you needing a brush or harsh chemicals.

I love this feature almost as much as my kids, who have been granted a reprieve from taking it in turns to scrub the walls with a metal brush once a week since we made the switch to robot pool cleaners.

Suction Strength and Performance

The Aiper Scuba X1 boasts an industry-leading 25,200 LPH suction rate, driven by twin jets that maintain strong water flow at depth. This high flow helps the cleaner pull both fine and coarse debris — from sand and algae to leaves and twigs — so you can spend less time maintaining your pool and more time enjoying it.

3 µm MicroMesh Ultra-Fine Filter

The Scuba X1 comes equipped with a MicroMesh ultra fine filter, designed to capture even the smallest particles in your pool. Unlike standard filters, which can let fine sand or algae slip through, this filter traps even the finest debris, helping your pool stay crystal clear.

One of the things I really like about the MicroMesh ultra-fine filter, is that it fits inside the main filter and can be removed if your pool has larger debris in it, for example after a storm. Then you can add it back in when you want to give your pool a deep clean.

However, I will say that although the innovative hydrophilic fibres of the MicroMesh filter do an amazing job of trapping dirt and algae, I find it a pain to clean afterward as even with the hose blasted on it, those particles tend to cling. Having said that, I’ve seen other people saying they find it easy to clean, so maybe it’s just me. It’s my one bugbear about the unit, so I generally try to delegate it to hubby or one of the kids! Problem solved!

The App

I‘m going to be honest and say that whilst it was super easy to connect the app via Bluetooth to the unit, I’ve barely used it since. The only thing that I would use it for would be if I wanted to schedule the eco cleaning cycle which allows the robot to clean the floor for 50 minutes once every 48 hours, as there is no option for this on the unit itself.

Once the robot is submerged it loses connectivity with the app so it isn’t able to provide live updates, and you can’t change settings unless you invest in a HydroComm Pure Smart Underwater Communication module that floats on your pools surface and allows your unit to communicate underwater with the app.

If you’re into your tech stuff, you may love being able to look at the cleaning history and other relevant info like battery life, etc when it’s back on dry land. I’m not saying it’s not a good app, I just don’t use it. Put it this way, if someone in my family does a job around the house, I just want them to get on with it and do a decent job of it. I don’t need them to give me a blow-by-blow account of how they did it afterwards, y’know? If it’s clean, I’m happy!

Smart Retrieval

Another feature of the Aiper robots that I like is how they park at the side of the pool for easy retrieval when the battery runs low.. The unit also comes with a hook that you can attach to your pool pole, that hooks easily around the unit’s handle.

The unit itself weighs around 11kg, (obviously more when it’s full of water)  so bear this in mind when deciding whether it’s suitable for your needs.

The Verdict

The Aiper Scuba X1 makes pool cleaning effortless. With 25,200 LPH twin-jet suction and MicroMesh ultra-fine filter, it tackles leaves, sand and fine debris with ease. WavePath 3.0 navigation and OmiSense sensors keep it moving efficiently, while the wireless dock makes charging simple and safe.

A 4-hour charge delivers up to 180 minutes of cleaning, and the unit is chlorine, salt and temperature resistant,.The app doesn’t give live updates in the water (which is absolutely fine by me), but overall, the Scuba X1 is a powerful, durable and convenient solution for anyone looking to reduce manual maintenance and enjoy a sparkling pool.

Disclosure: I was gifted the Aiper Scuba X1 for the purpose of providing an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own. 

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