--- title: "6 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Buying a Robotic Pool Cleaner" description: "While it’s a big step forward in innovation, transitioning from a traditional suction cleaner to a fully robotic one came with surprises." date: "2026-08-18" modified: "2026-08-18" authors: - name: "Sandi Schwartz" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/sandi-schwartz/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/exterior/robotic-pool-cleaner-tips/" categories: - "Cleaning & Organizing" - "DIY" - "Exterior" - "Pools & Water Features" --- # 6 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Buying a Robotic Pool Cleaner ![Beatbot Sora 70 robotic cleaner cleaning pool steps]() *Photo: Sandi Schwartz* Having an inground pool open 365 days a year in sunny Florida means pool maintenance isn’t just a seasonal chore, but a constant routine. In our previous home, we relied on a traditional suction pool cleaner. It worked well enough, but moving into a new space with a 16 by 38 foot pool (complete with an attached hot tub, steps, and a sunbathing platform) felt like the right time to upgrade to something more modern. We decided to try out the [Beatbot Sora 70]() robotic pool cleaner since these types of home tools, such as [robotic mowers](), mops, and weeders, are becoming more popular. Unlike standard pool vacuums, this cordless robot is completely self-contained. There are no hoses to untangle, drag around, or hook up to the pool’s suction line. It’s an ultra-quiet, sleek, and high-tech approach; you just drop it in the water, tap a button on the app, and watch it go to work. The robo pool cleaner uses smart vision technology to map the pool, rather than just wandering around randomly like older pool cleaners do. Watching the robot climb up the walls, navigate the steps without getting stuck, and use its scrubbers to wipe down gunite surfaces is actually quite fascinating Overall, this gadget earns a solid 9 out of 10 for effectiveness, leaving the water noticeably clearer by tackling the floor, steps, walls, and surface of the entire pool. But while it’s a big step forward with regard to innovation, transitioning from a traditional suction cleaner to a fully robotic one came with a few surprises. If you’re thinking about making the switch to a robotic pool cleaner, here are some considerations we wish we’d known before buying the Beatbot Sora 70. ## 1. The cordless device requires frequent hands-on battery management. Because the Sora 70 isn’t tethered to the pool pump like the traditional pool cleaner we used, the [robotic pool cleaner]() runs entirely on an internal rechargeable battery. That sounded great at first, but what caught us off guard was just how much power a standard cleaning cycle actually uses. The reality is that a single full-pool cleaning uses about 60 percent of the battery, which means we get roughly one run per charge. Since it’s in the water, it doesn’t return to the charging dock like a [robotic mop]() would, so we need to plug it in to charge after every single use, which is tedious. The manual charging is more work since the device is heavy. Carrying the unit back and forth to a power outlet requires a bit of strength. While it has a comfortable, ergonomic handle, it has some real weight to it when wet and filled with water. My husband handles the heavy lifting for charging, but it’s an additional step that we didn’t have to think about with a traditional suction cleaner that stays in the water and needs no charging at all. ![Close up of Beatbot Sora 70 robotic pool cleaner sitting next to a pool]() *Photo: Sandi Schwartz* ## 2. Wi-Fi doesn't work underwater. The robot cleaner’s companion app is intuitive and easy to use, providing precise time estimates, sending a notification when the job is complete, and even offering a remote control feature to manually guide the robot. However, there are some technological limitations. Because Wi-Fi signals can’t penetrate deep water, once the Sora 70 is at the bottom of the pool, your phone loses connection to it. As with most [robotic tools designed for outdoors](), the Sora 70 usually needs no manual intervention while running. But if unexpected guests arrive and we want to pull the robot out of the pool mid-cycle, we can't just press a pause button on the app. Instead, we have to attach the included retrieval hook to our ‌pool skimmer pole and then manually fish it out from the bottom. This is inconvenient, and another task that requires some muscle. ## 3. The tool requires filter maintenance. With our old suction cleaner, we enjoyed a set-it-and-forget-it system where debris was piped directly into the main filtration system. A self-contained [robot vacuum for indoors]() or pools requires more maintenance work. The good news is that filter maintenance is simple and only takes a minute. We open the top latch, lift out the basket, empty the collected leaves and other debris into our garden beds, and then hose down the basket. While the filter basket has plenty of capacity and never overflows during a cleaning, it requires dumping and rinsing out after every single cycle. This is a minor chore, but a new step for anyone used to suction-side pool vacuums. ![Inside of Beatbot Sora 70 pool cleaner after collecting debris from pool]() *Photo: Sandi Schwartz* ## 4. Surface and wall cleaning are unexpected game-changers. Before using the Sora 70, we didn't even realize that pool cleaners could tackle the waterline and surface. This is where the robotic technology completely justifies itself. Watching this machine scale vertical pool walls and scrub off dried-on debris is remarkable. It also floats along the top of the water surface to capture pollen and leaves before they have a chance to sink. While it isn't 100 percent perfect, and occasionally leaves a stray leaf in a tight corner or misses a tiny patch of dried wall debris, its smart navigation covers roughly 95 percent of the pool in various directions. That's a huge upgrade over the randomness of non-robotic cleaners. ## 5. Is it worth it? Although pricey, the Beatbot Sora 70 is the most innovative, high-tech, and enjoyable pool tool we've ever owned. While a suction cleaner requires less maintenance, the Beatbot wins when it comes to performance, wall-scrubbing power, and surface skimming. In fact, the ultimate setup might be to have a suction cleaner for daily floor maintenance and bring out the Beatbot Sora 70 to handle the surface and walls. If you want a pristine pool without bulky hoses cluttering your backyard, then you might want to make this investment—just be prepared to plug it in and rinse the basket when it’s done doing its magic. ## Author Sandi Schwartz is an environmental author and freelance journalist with over 20 years of extensive experience communicating science-based information to diverse audiences in the areas of sustainability, home/garden, green living, nature, and wellness. Sandi began writing for BobVila.com in June 2022. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]()