Scuba S1 2026
Review coverage: three reviews of the earlier Scuba S1. These reviews do not test the 2026 updates.Read the findings →Aiper's light cordless pool robot that climbs walls, now in a 2026 edition. It suits simple-shaped pools if you'll run it more than once. Floor coverage was patchy in tests of the earlier edition, and you lift it out to charge after every run.
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What we know
Three home tests of the earlier Scuba S1, and they don't agree. PCWorld found it skipped large parts of its pool and left about 40% of the test debris behind. Reviewed saw it reach most of a 1,200 sq ft pool but needed four runs to clear the leaves. EFTM used it for a few months and found the pool looked brand new. All three found it simple to run with one button.
PCWorld, hands-on, Mar 2024 (tested on the earlier Scuba S1; Tests the earlier Scuba S1, not the 2026 updates) · Reviewed, hands-on, Jun 2024 (tested on the earlier Scuba S1; Tested in a 40,000-gallon, 1,200 sq ft pool; Tests the earlier Scuba S1, not the 2026 updates) · EFTM, hands-on, A few months in a family pool, Dec 2024 (tested on the earlier Scuba S1; Tests the earlier Scuba S1, not the 2026 updates)
Coverage depends on your pool
PCWorld found the problem wasn't pickup but reach: over repeated runs it never visited whole sections of the pool, leaving about 40% of the debris behind. Reviewed did better in a curved 40 by 30 foot pool, where it reached most of the floor without getting hung up, though leaves were still there after the first run and it took four runs to finish. EFTM, in an average family pool, found a floor-and-walls run left it looking brand new. Expect to run it more than once on a dirty pool.
Walls yes, corners and steps less so
Reviewed found it climbed the walls routinely, stopped at the edge and let its roller spin to scrub, and handled steps and platforms, though it isn't built to clean them thoroughly. PCWorld found it got a little hung up in corners and often slid back down the wall rather than clinging on for a second pass. EFTM was surprised the edges came up clean. Aiper's own FAQ, per Aiper, says its robots aren't designed to clean benches and stairs, so brush those yourself.
Emptying the basket
The basket sits under a top panel. EFTM found it easier to clean than the Seagull Pro's: pop the lid, tip it out and give it a quick hose. Reviewed also found it easy to reach and clean, with enough room to finish a whole run without emptying. PCWorld disagreed, because the attached lid kept flopping shut while it hosed the basket and leaves lodged in the narrow inlet at the bottom. The current edition adds an optional 3-micron fine filter, per Aiper.
Runtime, charging and retrieval
PCWorld and Reviewed got about two and a half hours from the earlier model. Aiper claims a longer runtime for the current edition. If the battery has changed, cleaning time and the charging routine may differ too. Reviewed struggled to be sure the charging port was dry. Follow the current manual for lifting it out, drying and charging.
What's new, and not tested yet
Aiper advertises app controls, cleaning history, updates and scheduling for the current edition, and Aiper adds the optional fine filter and a longer runtime. The earlier model Reviewed tested had a button on the robot and no app. None of the reviews tried the app, scheduled cycles, the fine filter, the longer runtime, the updated route planning, leaving it in the water or the new charging setup, so read the current manual for those.
Our take
Should you buy the Scuba S1 2026?
Best for: Regularly shaped pools needing floor and wall cleaning. Skip it if: You need dependable whole-pool coverage in one cycle; earlier-model reviews sometimes needed another run.
Buy it if you want a light cordless robot that does the walls, your pool is a simple shape and you're happy to run it more than once. The Aiper Scuba S1 Pro did far better in PCWorld's test, though it's much heavier, and the Beatbot Sora 10 is another light option.
The Scuba S1 uses tracks to clean the pool floor and climb walls, with a waterline-cleaning mode. Aiper’s current edition adds app features, an optional ultra-fine filter and a longer runtime claim. The reviews below used the earlier, button-only edition, so their cleaning results don't cover those updates.
All three tests used the earlier edition, and they don't agree. PCWorld found it never visited whole sections of its pool and left about 40% of the test debris behind, and called its performance terrible for the price next to the Seagull Pro. Reviewed found it reached most of a curved pool with steps and scrubbed the walls well, but needed four runs to clear the leaves. EFTM used it for a few months and found a floor-and-walls run left the pool looking brand new. All three found it simple to run with one button. You hook it out, empty it and charge it yourself after every run, and Reviewed struggled to be sure the charging port was dry.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it climb walls and clean the waterline?
Yes. It cleans the floor, walls and waterline, per the specifications. Reviewed found it climbed walls routinely and scrubbed at the edge, while PCWorld found it often slid back down rather than making a second pass.
Is it cordless, and how long does a charge last?
Yes. Aiper claims up to 180 minutes, or 4 hours in Eco mode, with 3 to 4 hours to recharge, per the specifications. The earlier edition managed about two and a half hours for PCWorld and Reviewed.
Will it work in an above-ground pool?
Aiper lists it for in-ground and above-ground pools with concrete, fibreglass, vinyl or tiled surfaces, but not infinity pools, per Aiper. All three tests were in in-ground pools, so above-ground use is untested.
How do I get it out of the water?
It parks near a wall at the end of a run, and you lift it with a hook on your pool pole. PCWorld found parking worked, and EFTM thinks the hook should come in the box. Aiper's US page lists it as included, per Aiper.
Does it handle leaves as well as fine dirt?
Leaves are the test most reviewers used, and results varied: PCWorld saw about 40% left behind, while Reviewed cleared them over four runs. For fine dirt, the current edition offers an optional 3-micron filter, per Aiper, which nobody has tested yet.
Does it need an app?
The earlier model's reviewers picked cleaning modes with the button on the robot. Aiper says the current edition adds app controls, scheduling and cleaning history, but we can't tell from those reviews whether everything still works without the app. Check how the current edition is controlled before you buy.
Alternatives
Other robotic pool cleaners to compare.
Scuba S1 Pro
Why consider it: PCWorld removed 95% of its test leaves with it, and Clubic found its fine filter caught plenty.
The compromise: It's heavy and awkward to lift out when full of water, and the app does little.
Sora 10
Why consider it: Light, simple and cordless, and it cleans the walls and waterline too.
The compromise: Testers found it wanders, skips steps, and may sink again if you're slow to collect it.
Scuba S3
Why consider it: The newer model above it, with a distance sensor for route planning and the same basket size.
The compromise: Nobody independent has tested it properly yet.
Scuba S1 2026 head to head
Head to head
Scuba S1 Pro versus the earlier Scuba S1: what the tested models showed
Our verdict: PCWorld tested both. The S1 left about 40% of its test debris behind, while the S1 Pro removed 95% of its test leaves, and Clubic also rated the Pro's cleaning highly. The S1 is much lighter to lift out, which is its main advantage.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the Scuba S1 2026?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- PCWorld: Aiper Scuba S1 pool-cleaning robot review: Not cheap, not great ↗2.5 / 5Hands-on · Tested on the earlier Scuba S1 · Tests the earlier Scuba S1, not the 2026 updates (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- Reviewed: Aiper Scuba S1 robotic pool cleaner review: A fine Aiper pool cleaner ↗Hands-on · Tested on the earlier Scuba S1 · Tested in a 40,000-gallon, 1,200 sq ft pool · Tests the earlier Scuba S1, not the 2026 updates (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- EFTM: Aiper Scuba S1 Review - It's the only way to clean your pool ↗Hands-on, A few months in a family pool · Tested on the earlier Scuba S1 · Tests the earlier Scuba S1, not the 2026 updates (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
- Aiper: Scuba S1 store page (UK) ↗Manufacturer
- Aiper: Scuba S1 product page (US) ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Search YouTube for Aiper Scuba S1 2026 ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.