S3
Limited evidenceRead the findings →WYBOT's flagship pool robot, which maps the pool and empties itself at a poolside dock. It's the most hands-off option WYBOT makes. Its dock needs a permanent spot with a clear approach and power, though.
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What we know
Android Authority used the S3 at home for a hands-on first look and came away impressed: it mapped the pool on its first run, cleaned the floor, walls and waterline well, docked reliably and needed little attention. Setup was the hard part, and the dock only worked consistently once it was moved to a spot with a longer approach. The monthly emptying, runtime and camera claims come from WYBOT.
Android Authority, hands-on, Jun 2026 (Hands-on impressions rather than a finished review, so we don't count it yet.)
Hands-off once it's set up
The dock is what makes the S3 different, Android Authority found. The robot reliably returned at the end of each clean, lined itself up and handed over its debris, so there was no fishing it out to empty it. After a few runs the tester stopped paying attention to where it was. WYBOT says the 10-litre bin on the dock holds enough for around a month of cleaning.
Placing the dock takes care
The dock needs room behind it. Android Authority found the robot couldn't approach consistently from a shallower part of the pool, and moving the dock to a spot with a longer, clearer run fixed it. The tester also ended up in the water to fit the docking section and clips. Plan where the power cable runs, it says, because the dock uses mains power as well as solar. Allow for a longer setup than a normal robot.
Cleaning and mapping
On its first run the S3 builds a map, which Android Authority could watch in the app. After that it seemed to know where to go, coping with the change in depth and climbing walls without getting confused. It picked up everything from fine debris to larger leaves, with leaves and twigs in one filter and fine sediment in the other, and left the waterline visibly cleaner. WYBOT claims the camera mode cleans the floor up to 20 times faster.
What's not checked yet
Android Authority's piece is a first look, and it doesn't say how long it used the S3. Nobody has yet checked how the self-emptying copes with heavy leaf fall or a whole season, whether the 10-litre bin really lasts a month, how often the dock's filters need cleaning, how the robot handles steps, or the claimed 20-times-faster camera mode. WYBOT lists 150 minutes a charge plus extra from the solar panel, but how far the sun stretches that is unknown.
Our take
Should you buy the S3?
Best for: Pools with space beside the water for a charging station. Skip it if: There is no suitable space or power supply for the poolside dock.
consider it if you want the most hands-off pool robot WYBOT makes and have a pool edge with room and power for the dock. If you're happy lifting a robot out and rinsing its filters, the WYBOT S2 cleaned just as convincingly in testing for much less, and for an in-pool dock without the self-emptying look at the WYBOT S2 Pro.
The S3 is WYBOT's flagship, above the S2 family. It learns your pool's shape on its first run and plans its routes from then on, cleaning the floor, walls and waterline with a camera to help it head for dirt. When it's done or low on battery it drives back to a dock at the pool edge, charges, and dumps its debris into a 10-litre bin on the dock, which WYBOT says means emptying things about once a month.
Android Authority used the S3 at home and came away impressed: it mapped the pool on its first run and cleaned the floor, walls and waterline, and the tester loved how little it needed. The dock needs careful placement. It needs a permanent spot with a clear approach and power from a solar panel or a plug, and getting it right can mean getting in the pool. Allow for a longer setup than a normal robot, and plan where the power cable runs.
Where to buy
Where to buy the S3 in United States
No United States price checked in the last 21 days. We re-check daily.
We’re still looking for more United States retailers for this model.
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Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
How do I get it out of the water?
Usually you don't. It drives back to its poolside dock to charge and empty its basket, per the specifications. Android Authority found it docked reliably once the dock sat where the robot had a long, clear approach.
Is it cordless, and how long does a charge last?
Yes. WYBOT quotes 150 minutes per charge from a 7,800mAh battery, per the specifications. The dock charges it, powered by a solar panel or a plug. Android Authority notes you'll still want mains power at the dock, so plan the cable route.
Does it climb walls and clean the waterline?
Yes. Android Authority found it climbed walls and scrubbed the waterline without getting stuck, moving between the floor, walls and waterline through longer sessions, and the waterline looked noticeably cleaner.
How do I clean the filter?
Less often than with most robots, if the dock works as claimed. It moves debris into a 10-litre bin, and WYBOT says that means emptying around once a month, per the specifications. Three filter plates come in the box, from coarse to ultra-fine. None of the reviews we use has tested the monthly figure.
Can it cope with steps and a deep end?
Android Authority found it handled changes in depth without issue once it had mapped the pool. WYBOT says you can steer it up stairs from the app, per the specifications, but no tester has reported on how well it cleans steps.
Alternatives
Other robotic pool cleaners to compare.
S2 Pro
Why consider it: WYBOT's cheaper robot that drives onto a dock on the pool wall to charge, and testers liked its cleaning.
The compromise: It doesn't empty itself, and PCMag's robot couldn't climb onto the dock past protruding tiles.
S2
Why consider it: PCWorld found it cleaned as well as far pricier robots, picking up all but one of 100 test leaves.
The compromise: There's no dock at all, so you lift it out, empty it and plug it in after every run.
Scuba X1
Why consider it: It also comes with a charging dock, and testers agree it's good on floors and fine dirt.
The compromise: You still hook it out after runs, and its layered fine filter is a chore to rinse.
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 S3?
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
- Android Authority: The WYBOT S3 is a smart pool robot that doesn't need constant attention ↗Hands-on · Hands-on impressions rather than a finished review, so we don't count it yet. (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
- WYBOT: WYBOT S3 product page (Europe) ↗Manufacturer
- WYBOT: WYBOT S3 product page (US) ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- ManShed: WYBOT S3 Review | The Most Automated Pool Robot Yet ↗
- Jonathan Casey: Wybot S3 Review: Is This The Best Pool Cleaner You Can Buy? ↗
- Search YouTube for WYBOT S3 ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.