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After testing a handful of robotic pool cleaners recently, the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 quickly became one of the easiest to live with. I tested it over the course of a full month in my in-ground, open-air Florida pool, which constantly collects leaves, bugs, pollen, and general debris. Instead of manually skimming every day, I could just drop this in the water each morning and let it do its thing.
What stood out most is how truly hands-off it is. Thanks to the built-in solar panel, I never had to think about charging. It just cruised around the pool all day, every day, keeping the surface noticeably cleaner. I’d usually pull it out in the evening for a quick rinse, but even on days I didn’t, it kept working without issue. If you’ve got an open-air pool like mine, this kind of automation feels less like a luxury and more like a necessity. After this, I don’t want to pull a net out ever again.
Rating: 4.5/5
Solar Pool Skimmer
Photo: Paul Rankin for Bob Vila
What We Like
- Truly hands-off daily cleaning
- Solar charging works reliably
- Easy basket removal and rinsing
What We Don’t Like
- Can get caught near pool intake
Product Specs
- Power: Solar + plug-in backup
- Runtime: Continuous (solar-dependent)
- Control: App-enabled with remote steering
Over the month of testing, performance was consistently strong. The EcoSurfer S2 noticeably reduced surface debris day to day, especially when left in the pool continuously. It doesn’t “hug” edges in a precise, methodical way, but in practice, that didn’t matter much. As it bounced around the pool, it disturbed the water enough to pull debris away from the edges and into its path. The result was a consistently clean-looking surface without any real effort on my end.
Navigation was mostly smooth, with one minor exception. Occasionally, the robot would get caught near the pool’s intake. That said, Aiper includes a simple foam bumper (basically a mini pool noodle) that solves the issue if needed. I didn’t always have to use it, but it’s a smart inclusion for pools with stronger or wider suction points.
The app is also worth mentioning. Setup took just a few minutes, including a quick firmware update, and the interface is clean and responsive. You can manually steer the skimmer to grab specific debris, which is a nice feature, though I rarely felt the need to use it. Most of the time, I just let it run automatically and trusted it to handle things.
Maintenance is about as easy as it gets. The debris basket slides out for rinsing, and while it’s not the smoothest mechanism I’ve ever used, it’s quick and straightforward. Even with frequent algae and organic debris in my pool, a simple hose-down was all it took to keep it clean. Depending on debris levels, I found that I could go up to a week or more between necessary cleanouts, though I usually emptied it more often just to stay ahead of buildup.
Compared to hybrid skimmer/cleaner combo robots, the biggest advantage here is the solar power. Those hybrid units do a great job, but eventually, they need to be recharged. The EcoSurfer S2, on the other hand, can keep going indefinitely in sunny conditions. In a place like Florida, that’s a huge advantage—and one less thing to think about.
At around $400, it’s not the cheapest option out there, but it strikes a strong balance between price and performance. If you have an open-air pool, I’d consider a robotic skimmer like this close to essential. It saves time, reduces manual work, and keeps your pool looking clean with almost zero daily effort.
Where To Buy
Photo: Paul Rankin for Bob Vila