We may earn a commission from links on this site in the future. Today we hold no affiliate approvals, so every button goes straight to the seller, and rankings are never sold. How we make money
Cordless vs corded pool robots
Both scrub the floor and walls. The differences show up over years: batteries age, cords tangle, and someone has to lift the robot out.
| Cordless | Corded | |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Battery; charge between runs | Power supply beside the pool; unlimited run time |
| Setup | Charge, drop in | Place power supply near a GFCI outlet, drop in |
| Daily hassle | Lifting it out to charge | Managing a floating cable (swivels help) |
| Long-term wear | Battery capacity declines over the years; ask about replacement cost | No battery; cable and power supply can fail |
| Pool types | Often in-ground and above-ground | Many are in-ground only (the Dolphin we checked is) |
| Waterline | Common on mid-range and up | Varies; the Nautilus CC Plus doesn't |
| Checked example | Beatbot AquaSense 2 — $799 (sale; Beatbot lists $1,298 as the regular price), 3-yr ≈ $949 | Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus — $799 (sale; was $849), 3-yr ≈ $919 |
Choose cordless if…
- You have an above-ground pool, or no outlet near the water.
- Cords floating in the pool bother you.
- Someone can lift about 25 lb out of the water a few times a week.
Choose corded if…
- You want the robot in the pool for long daily runs without charging.
- You'd rather not replace a battery in a few years.
- You have an in-ground pool with a GFCI outlet nearby.
Safety notes
Use only the supplied charger and adapter, exactly as the manual describes — a 2023 CPSC recall of about 22,000 Aiper Elite Pro robots involved battery overheating when charged without the adapter. Never handle a corded robot's power supply with wet hands, and keep it on its stand away from splashes.
The FCC rule
Secondary reporting says pool robots that clean the surface may fall under the FCC's July 2026 rule for future models, while underwater-only robots may be exempt. We haven't confirmed this from the FCC text; models already authorized can be sold either way. Explainer.
Last checked . See what changed.