Sora 70
3 independent reviewsRead the findings →One of Beatbot's cheaper robots that skims the surface as well as cleaning the floor, walls and waterline. It's very easy to empty and runs for hours. It's slow, though, and skims light floating debris best.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Feedback
What reviewers found
We use three home tests: PCWorld, Digital Trends over two weeks and Bob Vila over a month. All three liked the big basket and the way it parks itself at the edge, and the two that timed it got more than six hours a charge. Cleaning is where they split. Bob Vila found it cleaned well everywhere, Digital Trends called it thorough but slow, and PCWorld found its all-in-one mode left noticeably more floor debris than pricier Beatbots. Skimming also depends on what's floating.
PCWorld, hands-on, Mar 2026 · Digital Trends, hands-on, 2 weeks in an in-ground plaster pool, Apr 2026 · Bob Vila, hands-on, About 1 month in an in-ground pool, Apr 2026
Floor, wall and waterline
Mixed resultsBob Vila found it left floor, walls and surface noticeably cleaner every run. But its all-in-one Pro mode left more floor debris for PCWorld than pricier Beatbots, and Digital Trends found it slow and rated its waterline scrubbing only average.
Debris
Mixed resultsOn the floor it gets there: PCWorld saw it catch nearly all test debris in a floor-and-walls run, though it took six hours. Skimming depends on the debris, with Digital Trends capturing most pollen, leaves and bugs, while PCWorld saw soft leaves and petals pushed under to sink.
Coverage and navigation
Mixed resultsBob Vila found its paths efficient. In Pro mode, though, both PCWorld and Digital Trends saw it miss leaves in corners, and Digital Trends found its stair cleaning inconsistent, if better than most robots.
Battery and charging
Reviewers rate it highlyDigital Trends got over six hours in its most demanding mode, and PCWorld's runs passed six and a half hours once a firmware update fixed an early cut-out. Digital Trends wished it had a charging dock at this price.
Filter and retrieval
Reviewers rate it highlyIt floats to the edge and drains itself, which Digital Trends found quick. PCWorld called the pop-out basket perhaps the easiest clean-up it had seen, and Bob Vila simply hosed it, though it's heavy if lifted before draining.
Pool types it suits
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use compared pool types or tried an above-ground pool, and none tested a tanning ledge. Digital Trends tested a large rectangular pool with stairs.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use ran it long-term. Digital Trends rates Beatbot's three-year replacement warranty highly, and the early fault PCWorld hit was fixed by a firmware update.
Value
Mixed resultsBob Vila liked having surface and underwater cleaning in one robot, but said it doesn't replace continuous skimming. PCWorld preferred pricier AquaSense models for some jobs, while Digital Trends questioned the value without a dock. Weigh the price against the jobs you need doing, including whether leaves still need a separate skimmer.
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
Give the floor its own run
In the everything-at-once Pro mode, PCWorld found it left 8 to 10% of the test debris, usually leaves in corners. Set to floor and walls only, it caught 99%, but took six hours. Digital Trends saw a milder version of the same thing, as its slow, S-shaped path sometimes missed piles in sharp corners in Pro mode, then got them on later passes. Bob Vila had no such complaint. If sunken leaves are your main problem, schedule a floor-focused run rather than relying on Pro mode.
Skimming suits light, dry debris
Twin water jets push floating debris aside, then the robot sweeps the edges to collect it. Digital Trends measured a 90% capture of pollen, leaves and bugs in 45 minutes. Thick live-oak leaves were snapped up in the PCWorld test, but silk test leaves and petals were often pushed under and sank. Digital Trends also saw heavier, waterlogged items sink. Bob Vila found it handled surface and deep cleaning in one cycle, but says it doesn't replace a skimmer running all day. Expect it to help, not to keep the surface spotless.
Very easy to live with
Emptying it is the highlight. PCWorld called the pop-out single basket perhaps the easiest clean-up it had seen, and Bob Vila just lifted it out and hosed it. At the end of a run it floats to the edge and drains itself. Digital Trends found this quick, while Bob Vila warns it's heavy if you lift it before it has drained. Setup took Bob Vila about five minutes. One small niggle, noted by Digital Trends: it takes several minutes to sink and start.
Long runs, but no dock
Digital Trends ran it flat in Pro mode and got 6 hours 21 minutes, with a floor-and-walls session leaving 67% in reserve. The first long run in the PCWorld test stopped after three hours at 54% battery, but a firmware update fixed it and later runs passed six and a half hours. Charging is by a lead into a flap-covered port, which PCWorld found easy. Digital Trends still wanted a charging dock at this price. Keep the firmware updated from day one.
Steps and the waterline
Digital Trends rated its waterline scrubbing average and found it did an OK but inconsistent job on stairs, once pausing on the top step for a few minutes before moving on. It still did better on steps than most robots Digital Trends had tried. PCWorld notes ultrasonic sensors help it handle steps and shallow areas down to about 20cm. None of these three tests covered a tanning ledge, so treat that claim as unproven for now.
Our take
Should you buy the Sora 70?
Best for: Pools with both floating leaves and dirt on the bottom. Skip it if: You want a quick clean rather than a long run.
buy it if you want one robot for the floor, walls, waterline and surface and can let it take its time, especially for open pools with light floating debris. If floor cleaning matters more than skimming, the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra did better in PCWorld's testing, though it's much heavier.
The Sora 70 is one of the cheaper Beatbots that skims the surface as well as cleaning the floor, walls and waterline. To get there Beatbot dropped the camera and the charging dock, but kept a 6-litre basket, a long-running battery and cleaning in very shallow water. When it's done it floats itself to the edge and drains.
All three testers liked the big basket and the self-parking, and PCWorld called the pop-out basket perhaps the easiest clean-up it had seen. The two who timed it got over six hours a charge, after a firmware update fixed an early cut-out on PCWorld's unit. Cleaning is where they split. Bob Vila found the floor, walls and surface noticeably cleaner every run. Digital Trends called it thorough but slow and rated the waterline scrubbing average. PCWorld found the all-in-one Pro mode left 8 to 10 percent of its test debris in corners, though a floor-and-walls run caught nearly everything in six hours. Skimming suits light debris: Digital Trends captured most pollen, leaves and bugs, while PCWorld saw soft leaves and petals pushed under. Digital Trends wanted a dock at this price.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it skim the surface as well as clean underwater?
Yes, it's one of the cheaper robots that does both, per the specifications. Digital Trends measured 90% surface capture in 45 minutes, but PCWorld saw softer leaves and petals pushed under and sunk. It works best on buoyant debris.
Is it cordless, and how long does a charge last?
Cordless, charged by a plug-in lead rather than a dock. Beatbot claims up to 5 hours on the floor or 7 skimming, per the specifications. Digital Trends measured 6 hours 21 minutes in its most demanding mode, and a recharge took about 4.5 hours.
How do I get it out of the pool?
It floats itself to the pool edge when it finishes or the battery runs low, then drains as you lift, according to Digital Trends and PCWorld. It weighs about 10kg dry, so let it drain first; Bob Vila found it heavy when lifted too soon.
Can it cope with steps and a shallow ledge?
Check the ledge's length and width as well as the water depth. Beatbot specifies water deeper than about 20cm and a step or platform at least 1m long and 1m wide. Digital Trends had no tanning ledge to test, and found its cleaning on ordinary stairs inconsistent.
How do I clean the filter?
Pop the single 6-litre basket out of the top hatch and hose it down. PCWorld called it perhaps the easiest clean-up it had seen, with nothing to take apart. The standard mesh is 150 microns; a 3-micron one is optional, per the specifications.
Does it need an app?
No. A switch on the robot starts Pro mode or a preset you choose in the app. The app only reaches the robot on land or at the surface, PCWorld found, so you can't change modes once it's underwater.
Alternatives
Other robotic pool cleaners to compare.
Scuba X1 Pro Max
Why consider it: T3 found its slow skimming collected most floating debris, and gave it top marks for all-round cleaning.
The compromise: It's much heavier to lift, and Reviewed had repeated connection trouble and unfinished runs.
Sora 30
Why consider it: Same battery and pump; reviewers found floor cleaning encouraging, and it surfaces and drains itself.
The compromise: No surface skimming, the waterline was less convincing, and the standard basket is coarse.
AquaSense 2 Pro
Why consider it: Tom's Guide France found it particularly strong on walls and the waterline.
The compromise: Reports on floating leaves are mixed, and one owner found gaps in a sloping, kidney-shaped pool.
Sora 70 head to head
Head to head
Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra vs Sora 70
Our verdict: Pick the Ultra if floor cleaning matters most: PCWorld found its camera went back for missed leaves, and rated the AquaSense models better performers. Pick the Sora 70 for easier emptying and a much lighter robot. Skimming is patchy on both.
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 70?
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 70 review: A (slightly) cheaper way to clean your pool ↗4 / 5Hands-on
- Digital Trends: Beatbot Sora 70 Review: The Cordless 4-in-1 Robot That Finally Cleans Your Tanning Ledge ↗8 / 10Hands-on, 2 weeks in an in-ground plaster pool
- Bob Vila: Beatbot Sora 70 Review: A 2-in-1 Robotic Pool Cleaner ↗4.5 / 5Hands-on, About 1 month in an in-ground pool
Sources
- Beatbot: Sora 70 product page (Europe) ↗Manufacturer
- Beatbot: Sora 70 product specifications ↗Manufacturer
- Beatbot: Sora 70 now available for purchase (press release) ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Andy Slye: I Let This AI Robot Clean My Pool! Beatbot Sora 70 Review ↗
- ManShed: The $1,500 Pool Robot That Does Everything — Beatbot Sora 70 Review ↗
- Search YouTube for Beatbot Sora 70 ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.