Freedom Lite
Limited evidenceRead the findings →A light cordless Zodiac robot for the floor, walls and waterline, with a fine filter. It's aimed at long, rectangular pools. Early buyers report trouble connecting it to the app, especially over Bluetooth.
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Zodiac’s range
Feedback
What we know
The Zodiac product page and Zodiac describe a light cordless robot with a very fine filter, a claimed three hours a charge and app scheduling. The only user feedback is a few short comments from buyers on Fluidra buyer reviews, Fluidra's own review site. One says it works except in corners and on steps, and several struggled to connect it to their phones.
Early buyers report app trouble
Among the buyer comments on Fluidra buyer reviews, two call Bluetooth complicated, and one couldn't connect it to an Android phone at all, although an iPhone worked. Another says the Wi-Fi features aren't well explained and the end-of-cycle alert doesn't work. That's a handful of buyers posting within weeks of purchase, so take it as a warning rather than a verdict.
Corners, steps and an early fault
One buyer on Fluidra buyer reviews says it cleans well except in corners and on the steps. Another's first robot failed after 15 days and was exchanged. Zodiac's Zodiac notes that very steep slopes may need a different cleaning pattern set in the app, and that slippery pools may need an anti-slip kit, which comes in the box.
Light, with a very fine filter
The Zodiac lists a 10,400mAh battery, three motors and a two-stage filter of 180 and 3 microns in a 4-litre canister. It cleans a 15cm strip at a time, narrower than Zodiac's CNX-based robots. The Zodiac page says it weighs under 8kg, while the leaflet lists 8.2kg. In the Fluidra Pool app you can see the battery level, get an end-of-cycle alert, set modes and update the robot.
Still to be checked
Our search turned up shop listings and the maker's pages, but no reviewer who put the Freedom Lite in a pool and reported back. So we can't say how evenly it covers the floor, how well it climbs to the waterline, or whether three hours is realistic. The Zodiac page says what it's designed to do, and the Fluidra buyer reviews comments are too short to fill the gap.
Our take
Should you buy the Freedom Lite?
Best for: Smaller pools whose owners want a lighter robot to lift out. Skip it if: You want a stronger record in independent tests before buying.
It might suit a long, rectangular pool if you want a light cordless Zodiac with a fine filter, but wait for a proper test if you can. If you want a cordless robot testers have used, the Dolphin Liberty 600 cleans floors thoroughly and filters well. For a Zodiac with a remote and a lift-out helper, look at the Zodiac Freedom+ Control.
The Freedom Lite is a newer member of Zodiac's Freedom family of cordless robots. It cleans the floor, walls and waterline, following a back-and-forth pattern across the floor, and has brushes front and back. It's rated for longer pools than the CNX-Li 52 iQ, up to 15 x 5 metres, with a claimed three hours per charge and a two-stage filter that includes a very fine 3-micron layer. Unlike Zodiac's other cordless models, it runs on the Fluidra Pool app rather than iAquaLink, with five modes and scheduling over several days.
The trade-off is the app and the cleaning path. The only feedback is a handful of short buyer comments on Fluidra's own review site, and several mention Bluetooth and app trouble, so check it pairs with your phone early on. It also has a narrow 15cm cleaning path, so it covers less floor with each pass than Zodiac's CNX-based robots.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Is it cordless, and how long does a charge last?
Yes. Zodiac claims up to three hours from its lithium-ion battery, per the specifications. We couldn't find a test of that, and the leaflet doesn't give a charging time.
Do I need the app?
For its five modes and multi-day scheduling, yes. It uses the Fluidra Pool app over Wi-Fi, not iAquaLink, per the specifications. Several buyers on Fluidra buyer reviews found connecting it awkward, and one couldn't get it working on Android.
Can it cope with steps and a deep end?
We don't know yet. One buyer on Fluidra buyer reviews says it works well except in corners and on steps. Zodiac's leaflet says very steep slopes may need a different cleaning pattern set in the app, per the specifications.
How do I clean the filter?
It has a 4-litre canister with two filter layers, 180 and 3 microns, and a see-through window so you can check it, per the specifications. Zodiac doesn't describe how to rinse it on its page, and we couldn't find a tester who reported on it.
Will it work in an above-ground pool?
Only one with rigid walls. Zodiac lists it for in-ground pools and above-ground pools with rigid walls, of any shape, up to 15 x 5 metres, per the specifications. Soft-sided pools aren't on the list.
Alternatives
Other robotic pool cleaners to compare.
LIBERTY 600
Why consider it: A cordless robot for pools up to 15 metres that testers found cleans floors thoroughly and filters well.
The compromise: It wanders at random rather than following a plan, and doesn't skim.
C2
Why consider it: A cordless robot for the floor, walls and waterline that two testers found simple and effective on everyday debris.
The compromise: A third tester found its suction weak.
AquaSense 2
Why consider it: Testers liked its floor and wall cleaning, and it floats to the edge when it's done, so you don't need a hook.
The compromise: It doesn't skim, and steps and fine silt were hit and miss in testing.
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 Freedom Lite?
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
Sources
- Zodiac: Freedom Lite product page ↗Manufacturer
- Zodiac: Freedom Lite leaflet (technical information) ↗Manufacturer
- Fluidra buyer reviews: Zodiac Freedom Lite (WR000703) buyer reviews ↗Owner thread · Short buyer comments on the maker's own review site, not tests (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Videos
- Fluidra France: ZODIAC - Freedom Lite ↗
- allswimltd: Zodiac Freedom Lite Automatic Pool Cleaner ↗
- Search YouTube for Zodiac Freedom Lite ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.