Scuba V3

Bob Vila’s tester observed the V3 heading towards debris in a screened pool and collecting sand, small organic material and algae from the floor. Running it a few times a week produced consistently pleasing results. WIRED also credited camera guidance with strong cleaning, providing a second practical endorsement rather than just a repetition of the feature list.

The V3 is not the same product as the V3 Ultra and does not perform floating-debris skimming. Bob Vila explicitly identified that limitation and discussed a separate skimmer for open pools. Its positive experience concerned a screened pool, where the balance of sand and small debris may differ from an uncovered pool beneath trees.

Bob Vila liked the machine climbing to the waterline and shedding water before pickup. WIRED found it waited there only briefly before sinking again. These observations fit together: retrieval can be easier when you are nearby at the end, without making a hook unnecessary in every situation.

WIRED reported trouble with the AI scheduling mode, limited endurance and awkward cleanup. Bob Vila’s positive routine did not depend on weekly scheduling. Our interpretation is that the strongest evidence concerns individual cleaning runs; buyers whose main goal is an unattended weekly routine should verify that separately.