Robotic pool cleaner buying guide: shape, then walls
Updated: 21 October 2026
A robotic pool cleaner buying guide is the order of the questions, not a winner. The word robotic on amazon.co.uk does not say whether the machine stays on the floor, whether a round pool is allowed, or what the filter catches. The prices here are the amazon.co.uk figures in this set, from about £76.14 to about £1,699, checked on 19 October 2026. This is not a lab test. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The model table is on the [robotic pool cleaner comparison](/hub/pool-care/robotic-pool-cleaner).
A robotic pool cleaner buying guide is the order of the questions, not a winner.
A robotic pool cleaner buying guide is the order of the questions, not a winner. The word robotic on amazon.co.uk does not say whether the machine stays on the floor, whether a round pool is allowed, or what the filter catches. The prices here are the amazon.co.uk figures in this set, from about £76.14 to about £1,699, checked on 19 October 2026. This is not a lab test. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The model table is on the robotic pool cleaner comparison.
Our top picks
| Badge | Product | Coverage | Floor limit | Dry weight | Note | Price | Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall |  Dolphin Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus | Wall climbing and scrubbing | Any surface claimed; slope not stated | 9.45 kg | 8.0 | about £1,699 | View offer |
| Best value |  Bestway Bestway AquaTronix G150 | Not stated; UK reviews describe the bottom | Not stated | 2.41 kg | 7.6 | about £95.93 | View offer |
 EVERCROSS EVERCROSS BOT U8-2026 | Floor, walls and waterline | Not for round or oval | 12 kg | 8.2 | about £399.99 | View offer |
On this page
Start with the pool, not the brand
Measure the outline, the longest length, and whether the floor is flat, gently sloped, or folded before you compare brands. A round framed pool and a rectangular in-ground pool are not the same buy.
The EVERCROSS U8 listings at about £339.99 and about £399.99 allow rectangular or square pools up to 200 m², and they are not for round or oval designs. POOLPURE AquaGuard SE II at about £139 and RPC-100A at about £149 are for flat bottoms, not slopes or heavy wrinkles. The POOLPURE at about £88.63 allows gentle slopes up to 8°, and it says to avoid steps and steep slopes. The YDHZ at about £76.14 prints 25 x 25 x 25 mm beside 3.63 kg. Do not tidy those figures into one dimension.
Floor only, or walls and the waterline
Floor-only is enough if you will brush the scum line. It is the wrong job if the complaint is a stained waterline. Floor claims here include the POOLPURE rows, the hzexun at about £155, and the YDHZ. The Bestway AquaTronix G150 at about £95.93 does not state coverage. A UK review of a 12 ft round bottom is not a wall claim printed by Bestway.
Both EVERCROSS listings name the floor, the walls and the waterline, and both exclude round and oval pools. The WYBOT C1 title at about £649, the Aiper file at about £999, and the Dolphin at about £1,699 also name walls. Who each price band is for is on best robotic pool cleaner UK.
Read the filter number
180 micron is a coarser mesh. A stated 3 μm stage is much finer, and only the Aiper raw file prints both. The U8-UK3 prints a 6 litre basket and 180 micron mesh. The U8-2026 prints a 6 litre basket and does not state a micron. The hzexun bullet says 180 μm, while a capacity field says 180 microlitres. Both are printed. The Bestway states 2 litres and no micron. The Dolphin basket states none either. If the page does not print a number, leave it as not stated. One UK note says the Aiper extra filter pulled more dust. That is two short UK reviews, not a lab particle test.
Weight, cable and who answers the phone
Dry weight is what you lift before the basket is full. It runs from 2.41 kg on the Bestway to 12 kg on the U8-2026. Wet weight is not stated. A UK review says hooking the Wybot out, at 10.4 kg, is awkward.
The Dolphin is the only corded unit kept. UK reviews say part of the cable reaches the supply, the depth uses more, and an extension is forbidden. That decision is on cordless vs corded pool cleaner. A two-year line on the Aiper file is not proof of UK cover. If it is refused, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 is the route against the trader.
Common questions
What should I measure before I look at brands?
Measure the outline, the longest length, and whether the floor is flat, gently sloped, or folded. In this set a round or oval pool is excluded by both EVERCROSS U8 listings, which allow rectangular or square pools up to 200 m². A heavy wrinkle throws out the flat-only POOLPURE rows at about £139 and about £149. Write those three facts down before you sort by star rating, because the star line does not know your shape.
Will a robot clean a round pool?
Only if that listing allows a round outline. The EVERCROSS pages say they are not for round or oval pools. The Bestway G150 does not state a shape limit, and one UK review describes the bottom of a 12 ft round pool. That review is not a printed round-pool size. Do not copy limits from a Bestway G100 or G200 page onto this G150, and do not assume every robot in the set will turn a circle.
What does 180 micron mean next to 3 micron?
180 micron is the coarser mesh printed on the U8-UK3 and in the hzexun bullet, and as one of the two filters on the Aiper file. The 3 μm claim appears only on that Aiper raw listing, next to the 180 micron filter. Finer mesh is aimed at dust you can still see after the leaves are gone. It is not stated on the Wybot, the Dolphin, or the flat POOLPURE rows. If the field is empty, leave it as not stated.
Does a two-year bullet mean UK cover?
No. A warranty line on a listing is not a UK service promise. UK reviews of the Dolphin describe cover that was then called invalid in the UK or valid only in the US. If the seller refuses a remedy, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 is the route against the trader, and it is not a substitute for a local repair desk.
Does the robot replace chlorine?
No. PWTAG treats debris removal and disinfection as different jobs. A robot can pick up what has settled on the floor or, where the listing says so, on the wall. It does not set your chlorine, bromine or pH. A clear floor the morning after a cycle is not a water test. You still check the sanitiser the way you did before the robot arrived.
Related pages
Sources
Public UK sources from the research digest, plus the Maytronics manual and Liberty charger sheet named there. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures for these eleven listings on 19 October 2026.
- HSE: Swimming pool safety (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- PWTAG: Code of Practice (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- PWTAG: Glass in the pool (TN70) (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- IET Wiring Matters: Section 702 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Maytronics: Dolphin operating manual (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Maytronics: Liberty charger safety sheet (retrieved 19 October 2026)
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, chapter 2 (retrieved 19 October 2026)