P70
Polaris's small corded robot for above-ground and simple flat-bottomed pools. It cleans the floor and the curve where floor meets wall, and one tester found it quick and easy to empty, but it won't climb walls.
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
The short version
The P70 is a small, basic robot in Polaris's US range, built for small, simple pools with a flat bottom or a gentle slope. It plugs into a power unit by the pool and trails a 40ft floating cable. It scrubs the floor and the cove, the curved join between floor and wall, with a front brush, and sucks debris into a 3-litre canister with a clear lid, so you can see when it's full. Polaris puts it in the same owner's manual as the 7240 Sport.
Keeping it simple is the trade-off. There's one cleaning mode, no app, no scheduling and no lift feature, and the caddy costs extra. It doesn't do walls or the waterline, so you still brush those yourself. It's a US model.
Our take: Worth a look for a small above-ground or flat-bottomed pool where the floor is what gets dirty and you're happy to plug in a cable. If you'd rather avoid the cable, the cordless Aiper Seagull SE does a similar floor-only job. If you want walls and the waterline cleaned too, look at the WYBOT C2 instead.
Where it sits in Polaris’s range
- P70This model
- Polaris 7240 SportShares the P70's owner's manual
- 9650iQ SportIn-ground model with walls, waterline and app control
- EPIC 8642 iQIn-ground, app-controlled, front and rear brushes
What we know so far
Limited evidence Only one independent, finished hands-on review so far. A score and badge appear once there is a second.
Only one independent test so far. Bob Vila included it in a tested round-up as its best above-ground pick and found it lived up to Polaris's timing claim, cleaning a 28-foot test pool in about 90 minutes. It liked the strong suction, the scrubbing brush and the top-loading canister, which took seconds to empty. It also noted what the P70 leaves out: it doesn't climb walls, there's no caddy or cover, and the canister can fill quickly. We need a second test before we can call it reviewed.
Bob Vila, hands-on (Part of a tested round-up; 28-foot test pool)
Quick, thorough floor cleaning
Bob Vila was impressed by how much debris it pulled into its canister, and credits it with a lot of suction and good scrubbing from its single brush. Polaris promises a clean in under two hours, and Bob Vila found that true: its 28-foot test pool took about 90 minutes. The 40-foot floating cable gave it enough reach to get round that pool without tangling. How it copes with a larger or more awkward pool is untested.
An easy canister to empty
The clear lid shows when the canister needs emptying, and Bob Vila found removing it very simple and rinsing it a matter of seconds with a hose. It liked the mesh filter that wraps the whole basket, which helps in seasons heavy with pollen and cottonwood. The flip side, Bob Vila warns, is that the basket can fill quickly, so in a leafy garden expect to stop and empty it.
Floor only, so walls are yours
Polaris sells the P70 for the floor and cove, and Bob Vila lists not climbing walls as its main drawback. That makes it a floor helper rather than a full cleaner: you'll still brush the walls and deal with the waterline yourself. Bob Vila also found it light to handle, but there's no caddy or cover in the box, and it doesn't lift itself out.
Only one qualifying review so far. A score and badge appear once there is a second.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Will it work in an above-ground pool?
Yes, that's what it's for. Polaris sells it for small, simple pools with a flat bottom or gentle slope, per the specifications, and Bob Vila named it the best above-ground robot in its round-up.
Does it climb walls and clean the waterline?
No. It has one mode, floor and cove only, per the specifications, and Bob Vila lists not climbing walls as its main drawback. You'll need to brush the walls and waterline yourself.
How do I clean the filter?
Lift it out, unlatch the canister, shake it and spray it, per the specifications. Bob Vila found it took seconds with a hose, and liked the mesh filter around the whole basket, but warns it can fill quickly.
Does it need an app?
No. There's no app and no scheduling, per the specifications; you plug it in and start it from the power unit. Bob Vila found it simple to operate.
Compare with
Seagull SE
A small, light cordless robot that testers found a handy cheap helper for sand and small debris on flat floors.
It won't touch walls either, and it stalls on big leaves.
C2
Cleans the floor, walls and waterline, then parks at the edge, and two testers found it simple and effective.
A third tester found its suction weak.
Sora 10
Small, light and cordless, and it cleans the floor, walls and waterline.
Testers found it wanders, skips steps and may sink again if you're slow to collect it.
Full specifications
Figures come from the manufacturer’s product page unless a source is named. A blank means nobody we trust has confirmed it.
Owner reviews
Own a P70?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner reviews are shown separately from expert tests and never mixed into the score.
Sources
Everything cited on this page. Expert scores are shown as the reviewer gave them.
- Bob Vila: The Best Robotic Pool Cleaners, Tested by Pool Owners · 4.2 / 5Hands-on · Part of a tested round-up; 28-foot test pool
- Polaris: Polaris P70 product page (US)Manufacturer