Sora 10
2 independent reviewsRead the findings →Beatbot's smallest and cheapest cordless pool robot. Given time, it gets the floor, walls and waterline of a regular-shaped pool clean. But it wanders rather than plans, misses steps, and can sink again if you're slow to collect it.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Beatbot’s range
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What reviewers found
There are two home tests so far. PCWorld ran it in a residential pool with test debris, and Basic Tutorials stress-tested it over several charges in a 416m² public pool, far bigger than it's designed for. Both found it gets the pool clean if you give it time, and both found the basket easy to deal with. PCWorld found it missed every step and sometimes sank before it could be collected. The deep pool Basic Tutorials used had no steps to test, and it reported no trouble with retrieval.
PCWorld, hands-on, Jun 2026 · Basic Tutorials, hands-on, Several charges in a 416m² public outdoor pool, Jun 2026
Floor, wall and waterline
Reviewers rate it highlyGiven time, it gets the pool clean. PCWorld found it cleared almost all test debris within about two hours and did a credible job on walls and waterline, and Basic Tutorials found no residue on floor, walls or waterline in a large public pool.
Debris
Reviewers rate it highlyPCWorld saw dirt and leaves go in alike, and Basic Tutorials found it collected leaves, sand and algae sludge. Basic Tutorials notes very fine dirt clogs the standard basket sooner; a finer filter is sold separately.
Coverage and navigation
Mixed resultsBasic Tutorials found it covered a very large, uniformly deep pool over several charges. But PCWorld found its route had no obvious pattern and it missed all the debris on the steps, even after nearly five hours.
Battery and charging
Reviewers rate it highlyPCWorld found the battery life solid, running close to five hours in its longest test. Basic Tutorials reckons one charge covers a full floor, wall and waterline clean in pools up to about 100m².
Filter and retrieval
Mixed resultsBoth found the basket quick to lift out and rinse. Basic Tutorials saw it surface and drain itself for an easy lift, but PCWorld found it waited only a few minutes before sinking, with no alert, so the hook was sometimes needed.
Pool types it suits
Not enough evidenceNeither review tried an above-ground pool. Basic Tutorials used a deep public pool with no steps, and PCWorld a residential pool where it couldn't reach the steps.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use ran it long-term or judged Beatbot's support. Basic Tutorials had no app connection drops during testing.
Value
Reviewers rate it highlyPCWorld found it surprisingly capable for the price if you'll brush the steps yourself, and Basic Tutorials calls it a fair price for what it does and the more sensible choice than the Sora 30 for most private pools.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
Thorough, given enough time
In its most thorough test, PCWorld found it had collected over 95% of the test debris within about two hours, and the stragglers after another hour. Dirt and leaves both went in, and it did a credible job on walls and the waterline. Basic Tutorials ran it over several charges in a pool of more than 400m² and found no residue left on the floor, walls or waterline afterwards. Its route is the odd part, with no rhyme or reason to it that PCWorld could see. Run it for long sessions, not a quick tidy before a swim.
Steps are left to you
PCWorld found it missed all the debris on the pool steps, not just on the shallow top step, even after nearly five hours of cleaning. That fits the spec, as Beatbot says it needs about 30cm (12 inches) of water, per Beatbot, so a typical top step is out of reach. The public pool Basic Tutorials used was 1.8m to 2m deep throughout, so it couldn't show anything different. If your steps collect the most dirt, expect to brush them by hand.
Be there when it finishes
It's supposed to rise and wait at the waterline after a run. PCWorld found it did, but only for a few minutes. Miss that window and it sinks, and you need the hook and a pole. There's no push notification to tell you it's done, so PCWorld suggests timing runs yourself. Basic Tutorials describes it rising and staying at the surface, with the drain feature making it easier to lift out. Nobody has explained the difference, so plan to be nearby.
Light, simple and easy to empty
Next to bigger robots, PCWorld called it almost toy-like at about 19lb. Emptying is simple: pop the top hatch, lift out the basket and hose it, though some corners need extra attention. Basic Tutorials found the 5-litre basket quick to rinse but noticed it clogs sooner with very fine dirt such as algae sludge, and a 3-micron filter is sold separately. The app is basic. PCWorld counts just two modes plus an eco setting, and Basic Tutorials had no connection drops.
Our take
Should you buy the Sora 10?
Best for: Smaller pools whose owners want a lighter robot to lift out. Skip it if: You want it to clean steps without help.
a light, simple robot for a regular-shaped pool, if you'll brush the steps yourself and be nearby when it finishes. If you want it to plan its route and charge on a dock, the Beatbot AquaSense 2 does both.
The Sora 10 is the smallest and cheapest Beatbot, about 8.5kg, and it cleans the floor, walls and waterline. A single sonic sensor on the front stands in for a camera or map, so it gets round the pool by covering ground rather than following a plan. It charges through a lead rather than on a dock, and it doesn't skim.
Both testers found it gets the pool clean if given time. PCWorld saw it collect over 95 percent of its test debris within about two hours and the rest an hour later, and Basic Tutorials found no residue on the floor, walls or waterline after several charges in a public pool far bigger than it's rated for. Both found the basket quick to lift out and rinse, though Basic Tutorials says very fine dirt clogs it sooner. PCWorld found it missed every step even after nearly five hours, because it needs about a foot of water. It's meant to float and wait at the end, but PCWorld's sank again within minutes with no alert, while Basic Tutorials saw it stay up and drain.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it climb walls and clean the waterline?
Yes. PCWorld found it did a credible job on walls and the waterline, and Basic Tutorials saw it climb reliably to the waterline in a deep public pool. It doesn't skim floating debris; Basic Tutorials points out that only the Sora 70 does that in the Sora range.
Will it clean my steps?
Don't count on it. PCWorld found it missed all the debris on the steps, even after nearly five hours of cleaning. Beatbot says it needs about 30cm (12 inches) of water to work, per the specifications, so a shallow top step is out of reach.
How do I get it out of the pool?
It rises to the waterline when it finishes, then drains itself. PCWorld found it waited only a few minutes before sinking again, with no phone alert, so you may need the included hook and a pole. Basic Tutorials reported it staying at the surface. Be nearby when a run ends.
Is it cordless, and how long does a charge last?
Cordless, charged with a lead rather than a dock. Beatbot claims up to 5 hours on the floor or 4 hours with walls and waterline, with about 3.5 hours to recharge, per the specifications. Basic Tutorials reckons one charge covers the whole routine in a pool up to about 80m² to 100m².
Will it work in an above-ground pool?
Beatbot says yes, listing above-ground and in-ground pools in vinyl, concrete, fibreglass and tile, per the specifications. Neither PCWorld nor Basic Tutorials tested it in an above-ground pool, so for now that's the maker's word.
How do I clean the filter?
Open the hatch on top, lift out the 5-litre basket and hose it down. PCWorld found that quick, though the corners needed extra attention. Basic Tutorials notes that very fine dirt clogs the standard basket sooner, and suggests the optional 3-micron filter if that's your problem.
Alternatives
Other robotic pool cleaners to compare.
Sora 30
Why consider it: Les Numériques found tidy floor coverage, and in Standard mode it reached some steps and shallow platforms.
The compromise: The waterline was less convincing, and the standard basket is too coarse for fine dust.
Scuba V3
Why consider it: Its camera steers it towards debris, and Bob Vila and WIRED both credited it with strong cleaning.
The compromise: WIRED found it waited only briefly at the surface before sinking, and had trouble with scheduling.
Scuba S1 2026
Why consider it: PCWorld found it simple to operate, with long running sessions, and EFTM settled into a practical daily routine.
The compromise: PCWorld kept finding patches of floor it never visited, and you hook it out after runs.
Sora 10 head to head
Head to head
Beatbot Sora 30 vs Sora 10
Our verdict: Basic Tutorials counts two real differences: the Sora 30's bigger battery and its extra pair of roller brushes. They share the pump and the surfacing trick. For a pool up to about 100m², it calls the Sora 10 the more sensible buy, and for bigger pools, pay for the Sora 30.
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 Sora 10?
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: Beatbot Sora 10 review: The affordable pool robot most people need ↗3.5 / 5Hands-on
- Basic Tutorials: Beatbot Sora 10 in test - Inexpensive pool robot without major compromises? ↗Hands-on, Several charges in a 416m² public outdoor pool
Sources
- Beatbot: Sora 10 product page (Europe) ↗Manufacturer
- Beatbot: Sora 10 specifications and FAQ ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- ModernDayReviews: Beatbot Sora 10 Review: 3 Things to Know Before Buying ↗
- Epic Review Hub : The Beatbot Sora 10 ! Is it Worth Buying ? Watch Before you Buy… ↗
- Search YouTube for Beatbot Sora 10 ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.