The Aquabot Spirit is a robotic pool cleaner for both above ground and inground pools that has a MSRP of under $500. What price do you really have to pay for such an affordable robotic pool cleaner?
Overview
This lightweight robotic pool cleaner does not really have the ability to climb walls. It also does not climb and clean stairs. It only cleans the bottom of the pool. Nevertheless, its specifications does say it has partial wall climbing up to a 6-inch radius.
The power cable of the Aquabot Spirit is 40 feet long. An anti-tangle swivel cable was added to the cable in 2016. It prevents the cable from twisting most of the time. Be careful when pulling the pool robot by the cord because it might damage the swivel device. Always use the handle when the pool robot is within reach.
The power supply is 120V, 60 Hz, and it has two cleaning programs: a 1-hour or 2-hour cycle for a smaller or larger pool. Even so, the two-hour cycle might not be long enough for the pool robot to cover the entire pool. The pool robot uses only 150 watts.
The Aquabot Spirit is suitable for both inground and above ground swimming pools. The maximum pool size is said to be up to 60 feet, and yet the cable length is only 40 feet. In light of that, I do not recommend the Aquabot Spirit for large swimming pools.
The Aquabot Spirit can clean all pool surface types. A wheel kit is available for fiberglass and tile pool surfaces.
This robotic pool cleaner has top access filters bags which are easy to reach. You remove the top of the robot to expose the two ultra-fine filter bags. The filter bags should be washed regularly to remove dirt and debris.
Aquabot Spirit: Pros And Cons
The Aquabot Spirit has its own set of pleasures and problems, so here is my list of its benefits and drawbacks:
- Jet propulsion system means that there are no gears that might wear out.
- The floating power cord has an anti-tangle swivel to decrease twisted cable issues.
- Filter bags are easy to access by removing the top chassis of the robot.
- This robotic cleaner can be used in both above ground and inground swimming pools.
- Directional control is very basic: the front axle can be pinned to the right or left.
- Filter bags are not as easy to clean as filter baskets or screens.
Aquabot Spirit vs. Pool Rover S2-40i
The Aquabot Spirit resembles the older and cheaper Aquabot Pool Rover S2-40i robotic pool cleaner (read my review here). They probably have very similar specifications, even though there are some external differences. In reality, they both seem to have swivel cables to prevent the cord from coiling like a water snake. They also have top access filter bags.
These models might clean both above ground and inground swimming pools. However, it seems like the Pool Rover S2-40i is only recommended for above ground pools, while the Spirit is suitable for both above ground and inground pools. Nevertheless, do not expect these Aquabot robots to climb and clean the pool walls because they cannot do that.
If you have an inground swimming pool, then the Aquabot Spirit is the better choice. It costs more than the other Aquabot, but it is said to be acceptable for inground pools.
I would probably buy the Pool Rover S2-40i for an above ground swimming pool. It might be the most affordable robotic pool cleaner for an above ground pool (check price on Amazon).
Verdict
What is the dominating characteristic of the Aquabot Spirit? Is it the MSRP of about 500 dollars? You might not find a robotic pool cleaner with rubber tracks in that price range, even though the Dolphin E10 is close enough to touch. Then again, the Spirit does have an internal pump which can circulate water through it at up to 85 gallons per minute. This provides enough water pressure for its filtration and hydro-robotic jet propulsion. Nonetheless, it has neither the power nor the cable length to clean a large inground swimming pool.
It seems like the Aquabot Spirit lacks the animation to climb up and clean the walls and waterline of a swimming pool. It only moves around on the pool floor, so you still have to brush the walls, waterline and stairs.
Overall, the Aquabot Spirit is a lightweight robotic pool cleaner with just about enough motivating force to whisk away debris from the bottom of a swimming pool. However, it gets mixed reviews when it comes to cleaning and reliability. If you have a large inground pool, then you might need something with a lot more spirit. Yet, the suggested retail price makes it a tempting offer (shop now on Amazon).