Staring down through the crystal clear water of my pool when it’s clean, with the bottom free of all debris, is a completely different experience then when there’s a bunch of stuff hanging around. The problem is that cleaning all that crud, without a reliable vacuum, is incredibly tedious. For the longest time, I used one of those manual, handheld vacuums you attach to the end of a pole. For the uninitiated you usually have to unclip a net and snap on the vacuum. It works, but it’s not the greatest and you have to stop constantly to empty out the reservoir. Given everything else that’s going on in the world, is it really a huge problem in the grand scheme? No, it’s not. But I can say, without a doubt, it’s nice to have an automated system to take care of the mess. Enter the Aiper Scuba S1.

If you look at the smart pool vacuum market broadly, the Scuba S1 is now fairly dated. It doesn’t come with smart controls or app access. There are no remote notifications and alerts, obviously, since there’s no app. The cleaning modes and programs aren’t too advanced. But none of that matters, at least to me, because it works, and it cleans thoroughly. I went with a renewed model. I wasn’t sold yet on spending the inordinate costs for a brand new, hyper-advanced unit. There is an upgraded version of the S1 that comes with smart features. Obviously, that’s not the one I acquired.

Unboxing the pre-owned model and getting started

If you buy new, this next bit won’t apply. It came boxed up well, with all the documentation and all the accessories. Aiper’s Scuba S1 comes with a proprietary charger and a basket, which serves as the debris reservoir when it’s cleaning. It also comes with a hook. You attach that to a pole and use it to remove the bot from the water after a session. When you’re ready, you turn it on, select your mode — we’ll go over those — and drop it into the pool. That’s it.

The very first time the Scuba S1 cleaned there wasn’t any rhyme or reason to its patterns or movement. It went wildly in every direction, often got stuck in a single area going back and forth, up and down. I’ll admit, I was pretty worried I got myself a defective unit. However, every single time after that, it did an excellent job and moved around exactly how you’d expect, progressively cleaning the entire surface area. The initial run must have had to do with the system mapping out the pool. Granted, that very first time it did clean thoroughly, as well, when it was done its shenanigans.

Sussing out the details and features

Because there are no special modes or app controls, there’s really not much to it. It’s not a complicated system and it’s very easy to get started. There are four modes, all of which are pretty self-explanatory. Auto mode is the default, and in this mode it will clean the floors and walls, while planning its own route. Floor mode cleans the floors moving in S-shaped patterns, while wall mode cleans the walls in N-shaped patterns. Finally, Eco mode allows the robot to stay in the pool and it cleans for 45 minutes every 48 hours for a week, provided it’s fully charged. The latter mode is excellent for when you’re going away on vacation or something. It’s also low-effort if you want to toss the robot in the pool and leave it there for a while until it’s time to recharge.

Now, it’s important to note this: My pool is caged, covered completely by a lanai screen. It still gets dirty, especially if I don’t clean often, but not nearly as dirty as an above-ground or open pool. These types of cleaners are designed for continuous cleaning and maintenance after the pool has been thoroughly cleared. You don’t want to use them for seasonal openings, such as when you uncover the pool after a long winter. I also live in Florida, so there’s no way I could test something like that, even if I wanted to.

How the Scuba S1 fared in my pool

As advertised, it does everything it promises. I am both happy and impressed by the efficiency and speed with which the Scuba S1 does its job. Altogether, it requires no poking or prodding, and even with a sizable splash pad on one side of the pool, the robot does well navigating the entire space and cleaning as much as possible. 

My pool is a traditional rectangular shape at 5.5 to 6 feet at its deepest points. The shallow end first starts with an ankle-high sun shelf or splash pad. That drops down to about three feet deep, and a subtle decline carries across the pool to the deepest point. The drain or return is in the center of the deep end and is a thin, rectangular port. As for the skimmer, it’s off to one side, close to the deep end and fairly near the waterline, as to be expected. There aren’t any lavish or unique fixtures or design elements, unless you count the upward facing jet that shoots out water in the center of the splash pad.

Why am I sharing this information? It gives you some idea of the challenge the Scuba S1 faces when navigating and cleaning my pool, which is to say, there isn’t much — it’s all pretty simple. I’m not sure how it would change the progress or efficiency with alternating shapes like circles, ovals, or distinct layouts.

Cleaning the floor and walls swimmingly

The cleaning loop goes something like this: You drop in the robot, it starts cleaning, and when it’s done it parks willingly near the side but still submerged. You take your hook, snag up the vacuum, and pull it to the surface. After it drains excess water, you open the lid and remove and empty the basket. Then, you reinsert the basket now clean and free of debris. I usually rinse off the vacuum with fresh water from a nearby hose before placing it in its storage spot — and plugging it in to charge.

It completes about one full multi-hour cleaning per charge on either of the three primary modes. That’s approximately three or four hours if you let it run until the battery dies. It lasts for about two weeks in Eco mode and, from what I can tell, does a decent job cleaning in spurts during that time. I will note that if you want a pristine pool, like if you’re entertaining guests or want absolutely everything scoured and removed, you’ll want to use one of the primary modes, not the Eco mode.

Ultimately, the Scuba S1 cleans the floor and walls, and it was able to climb onto my sun shelf and clean there, mostly well. On the front of the device it also has a rubber brush that scrubs and cleans the tile and upper areas of the pool as it climbs the wall. That’s a great feature if you’re used to brushing or scrubbing the upper parts of your pool with a brush manually. The bot can do it all for you. It goes without saying, you’ll still need to manage chemicals and algae yourself. We have a salt water pool so the maintenance there is minimal.

What’s the verdict, and the price?

The Aiper Scuba S1 works perfectly for what I wanted. But let’s be clear what that is. I wanted a simple, automated pool cleaner that I could toss in every once in a while and leave to its vices. I also wanted a relatively accessible model without smart features that I could test out before spending more money on an expensive option. We have a covered lanai and pool, so it stays fairly well protected most days. My biggest concerns are dirt, leaves, and small debris that an automated vacuum like this can easily handle.

That is all very important to note because if you have an exposed or above ground pool that’s surrounded by trees, and it gets incredibly dirty with debris, you might have a different experience than me. And not just with this model, but any pool vacuum. As long as that doesn’t apply to you, and your situation is similar to mine, I would absolutely recommend this model (2025). Or, the upgraded model with smart features, though that one is a little more expensive.

Price wise, the Aiper Scuba S1 pre-owned and refurbished was right in line with what I wanted to spend — $295. Actually, it was my wife that surprised me, she wanted to ease my pool cleaning efforts. We purchased it from Aiper official, if you’re curious. I would buy renewed again if given the opportunity. I also wouldn’t be opposed to buying brand new, now that I know it works well.

• Recommended Buy: Yes
• For Who: If you want a low-lift, maintenance free, and set-it-and-forget pool cleaning option this is a great start.
• Alternative: Aiper Scuba S1 (2026 Upgraded) or Beatbot Sora 10 
• MSRP: $500 (New) | $295 (Refurb)