C1 2026
Limited evidenceRead the findings →The update of WYBOT's cheapest cordless robot for bigger pools, cleaning floor, walls and waterline. It's aimed at medium pools with everyday debris. It has a single filter cartridge and no ultra-fine filter, which the C2 adds.
Updated
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Where it sits in WYBOT’s range
Feedback
What we know
Family Handyman tested the earlier C1 in 2024 and liked it: it cleaned the walls and floor in about two hours, though its app was the weak spot. That robot had a lower claimed pump flow, so its results are only a guide to this one. The 2026 details come from WYBOT and WYBOT Europe: five modes, up to 150 minutes a run, more pump flow and app scheduling.
Family Handyman, hands-on, Jun 2024 (tested on the WYBOT C1 (earlier version); Tested the earlier C1 in 2024, which had a lower claimed pump flow)
What the earlier C1 did
Family Handyman's tester ran the older C1 in a 14 × 28ft vinyl pool with a sloped floor and trees around it. It charged in about two hours, ran for about two, and cleaned the walls and floor in that time. It struggled with debris in creased parts of the liner, and once wedged itself between a ladder and the wall. It was still working after a winter in storage. The 2026 version has different specs, so take this as a hint, not proof.
The app was the weak spot
Family Handyman found the older C1's app crashed when changing modes, showed no battery level or cleaning history, and had a two-star rating at the time. The tester wouldn't recommend it to people who aren't comfortable with tech. WYBOT now lists scheduling, route choices and over-the-air updates for the 2026 C1.
What WYBOT promises for 2026
WYBOT lists five modes (full, floor, wall, wall then floor, and Eco floor) with two route patterns. It claims up to 150 minutes, a three-hour charge and more pump flow than the older C1. It parks near the wall for pickup, and WYBOT Europe says it can be left in the water. For tiled pools, WYBOT recommends fitting the supplied float blocks so it grips the walls.
Still to be checked
Nobody has tested the 2026 C1 itself, and older results only partly carry over, since Family Handyman's robot had a lower claimed pump flow. Still open: how well this version cleans, whether it really runs for the 150 minutes WYBOT claims, and whether its app is steadier than the older one. Check the listing says it's the current version, since older C1 stock and the C1 Pro are different robots.
Our take
Should you buy the C1 2026?
Best for: Regularly shaped pools needing floor and wall cleaning. Skip it if: You want a stronger record in independent tests before buying.
a reasonable gamble for a medium pool with everyday debris if you want the cheapest WYBOT that does walls and waterline. If you'd rather buy something tested, the WYBOT C2 costs more but two testers found it simple and effective, and for a small or above-ground pool the lighter WYBOT B1 is enough.
The C1 is WYBOT's cheapest robot for bigger pools, sitting above the small B1 and floor-only A1 and below the C2 and camera-guided C2 Vision. WYBOT says this 2026 version has a stronger pump than the C1 reviewers tested before, with five modes, weekly scheduling in the app and a habit of parking by the wall when it finishes. There's a single filter cartridge and no ultra-fine filter, which the C2 adds.
Family Handyman tested the earlier C1 and liked it, but that robot had a lower claimed pump flow, so its results are only a guide. Everything else comes from WYBOT: pools up to 150m² of any shape, walls, steps and the waterline, and up to two and a half hours of running. Check the listing says it's the current version, since older C1 stock and the C1 Pro are different robots.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it climb walls and clean the waterline?
WYBOT says it cleans floors, walls, waterline, steps and slopes, per the specifications, and recommends fitting the supplied float blocks on tiled walls. Family Handyman found the older C1 climbed a vinyl pool's walls and waterline without trouble.
Is it cordless, and how long does a charge last?
Yes. WYBOT claims up to 150 minutes from a three-hour charge, per the specifications. The older C1 lasted about two hours for Family Handyman. If yours stops after about 30 minutes, WYBOT Europe says to check whether a cycle length is set in the app.
How do I get it out of the water?
It parks near the pool wall after a run, per the specifications, and you lift it out with the supplied hook and a pole. It weighs about 8kg (17.6lb) dry. WYBOT Europe says it's fine to leave it in the water between runs.
Does it need an app?
For anything beyond the defaults, yes. Modes, routes, weekly scheduling and updates all live in the app, per the specifications. Family Handyman found the older C1's app crashed and showed little information, so check recent reviews of the app before buying.
How do I clean the filter?
Lift out the cartridge and hose it off. Family Handyman found the older C1's top-loading basket easy to clean, with a fine mesh that held small debris and insects. It's a single 180-micron filter, per the specifications.
Alternatives
Other robotic pool cleaners to compare.
C2
Why consider it: A cordless robot that cleans the floor, walls and waterline and parks at the edge, and two testers found it simple and effective.
The compromise: The Pool Nerd found its suction weak, and one owner reports it failed after eight months.
SPINO E1
Why consider it: A light, compact cordless wall-climber that PCWorld found left no visible dirt after a full cycle.
The compromise: WIRED found it left a fifth of the test leaves, and it only waits about 10 minutes before sinking.
Sora 10
Why consider it: A small, light cordless robot that cleans the floor, walls and waterline, and testers found it gets the pool clean given time.
The compromise: Testers found it wanders, skips steps, and may sink again if you're slow to collect it.
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 C1 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
- Family Handyman: Wybot Pool Cleaner Review ↗Hands-on · Tested on the WYBOT C1 (earlier version) · Tested the earlier C1 in 2024, which had a lower claimed pump flow (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
Videos
- BudgetBuys: WYBOT C1 2026 Pool Cleaner – Worth It? ↗
- Search YouTube for WYBOT C1 2026 ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.