Best for most pools
Dolphin Explorer E40
Great choice
- Scrubs floor, walls and waterline
- Runs on a schedule — no charging
- 3-year warranty
- The cord can tangle
Best robotic pool cleaners
Most pools should get the Dolphin Explorer E40. No outlet by the pool? Get the cordless Dolphin Liberty 200.
Best cordless
Dolphin Liberty 200
Great choice
- No cord to tangle
- Cleans sun ledges
- Backed by Dolphin's service network
- You have to lift it out to charge
Best budget
Aiper Scuba S1
Good with caveats
- Cordless and climbs walls
- Cleans the waterline
- About half the price of premium robots
- Smaller filter and shorter lifespan
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Why the Dolphin Explorer E40?
A corded robot never needs charging, so it cleans on a schedule and you can forget about it — and the E40 scrubs floor, walls and waterline. The trade-off is the floating cable, which twists and needs untangling now and then.
Full verdictPopular comparisons
How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications and the problems owners keep reporting, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: The Pool Nerd, Bob Vila, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 6 Oct 2026How we decide
Our verdict is an opinion based on published reviews and owner reports, not our own testing. Specs, prices and availability change — check the manufacturer's and retailer's details before you buy. Terms & disclaimer