New 2025 Beatbot Aquasense 2 owner - First impressions...

[The_RealDJ]

First time poster/Long time reader of TFP and wanted to share my thoughts given everyone's help/info in the past.

- Why a robot? Was done w pressure-side cleaners. Replaced my Pentair Racer (3rd unit) and booster pump (4th unit in 5 years).
- Why this one? Was deciding between a corded Dolphin and cordless robot. Narrowed it to the Polaris version or this one. The 3-year full-replacement warranty was the easier option. And the price recently dropped as well.
- Why now? The pool has not been cleaned since the booster pump died in January. Sand/silt and larger debris has been accumulating and manually doing it was not working 100%.

I have a ~20x30 kidney shaped pool with rounded floors. Two steps and lounge ledge.
Updated the firmware (ver. 0.40) as soon as it came out of the box and charged it up.
The unit is hefty (23+ lbs) and took about 2 hours to fully charge (came w 60%).

The app was OK but not necessary to run. It does map a (very) rough image of your pool after the first time it does a full pass.
It took 3 hours to do a full wall/floor cleaning. The whole battery was spent and had to fishhook it out. The basket was filled and weighed about 4-5 lbs w debris/sand.
Charged it again and ran it the second day for a 2x pass on the floor only.

Final first impressions:
- The packaging was very nice and they spent good effort to make the unboxing experience nice.
- The access panel to the basket can seem flimsy. Doesn't have a firm 'click' to close.
- It is very solid and built but w the lexan plastic being shiny and new, you know it will get scuffed quick. Wish it was in a dull finish.
- It took two solid charges to fully clean a pool that had not been formally worked on 3 months. I expect regular use will make the job easier for Benny (that's his new nickname)
- The auto-drain for ballasts doesn't work if it runs out of charge. If it's at 0% and you plug into the base to recharge, it will auto-drain at that point. Keep that in mind. My garage got a nice puddle.
- For me, worth it for the $1100 special price. Daily charging will be a new thing but will keep the box for the first 30 days.

Feel free to ask any questions!

 

[JJ_Tex]

How is the surface cleaning mode, and how big is the debris bin?

I ran my robot nonstop this weekend and have been emptying my skimmer multiple times a day for the past few weeks. I'm curious how it handles our "fall" in the DFW area which is going on right now.

 

[The_RealDJ]

How is the surface cleaning mode, and how big is the debris bin?

I ran my robot nonstop this weekend and have been emptying my skimmer multiple times a day for the past few weeks. I'm curious how it handles our "fall" in the DFW area which is going on right now.

When I picked up the bin the first time, it weighed about 4-5 lbs full. The unit can can compact the debris in there big time. My pool is surrounded by trees so I'll be getting the DFW "fall" soon as well. I would say the bin opening is about 3x9 (roughly) and about 7" deep. I will say for very fine silt/sand, it's not perfect. you could see the brown sand blowing through the top of the vent.

 

[Newdude]

I will say for very fine silt/sand, it's not perfect. you could see the brown sand blowing through the top of the vent.

All robots need fine filters, usually available as a separate purchase. They are a catch22 because finer filters inhibit flow/suction. It doesn't appear they make them yet for yours, just a factory replacement of the filter contraption that filters to 150 microns

By comparison a DE filter can get down to 5 microns, carts 10 and sand 30.

TIA for future updates.

 

[dw886]

Very interested in your feedback. Waffling between these and the Aiper Scuba S1 Pro or Aiper Scuba X1. Still cold where I live, so I have a little time to make a decision. Excited to see your impressions.

 

[The_RealDJ]

Have been running just about two weeks now (almost daily) trying the diff modes on the app.
It does allow for customizing floor/walls (e.g. 1 pass on floor, 2 passes on walls) or even amount of time (just floor for 1 hour).
So far so good though...pool is looking great and not having to hear a booster pump or deal with the hoses is fantastic.

Wish list for the app: direct the unit where to pop up when it's done cleaning.
Sometimes, it sits on the edge of my lounge ledge, needing me to get into the pool. Other times, it randomly picks a corner to park itself.

 

[PGQ24]

I wonder why these cleaners can't find their way back to a base and recharge similar to a Smart vacuum like a Shark IQ self empty. Ideally, put the base at the edge of the pool with a solar panel on top. When the robot is low on battery, navigate back to base.

 

[Newdude]

I wonder why these cleaners can't find their way back to a base and recharge similar to a Smart vacuum like a Shark IQ self empty. Ideally,

IMO it's proof that none of them have the mapping technologies the manufacturers all claim.

Some of these robots are $3k and none have simple Roomba tech that has been out for 23 years ?

The first one to figure it out will scream it from the rooftops. 'Never retrieve or charge your robots again !!! Why buy one for less work only to have to be hands on ?'

 

[suzook]

I wonder why these cleaners can't find their way back to a base and recharge similar to a Smart vacuum like a Shark IQ self empty. Ideally, put the base at the edge of the pool with a solar panel on top. When the robot is low on battery, navigate back to base.

Its cheap no name companies that buy parts and throw them together. They will not spend $ with research and development to make the products better. They work "good enough". So they pocket all the extra $ made, with a decent product.

 

[HermanTX]

I will say for very fine silt/sand, it's not perfect. you could see the brown sand blowing through the top of the vent.

I have the Aiper S1. I do not hose out the filter basket. I dump the big stuff and smear the grit along the screen then run it again. That layer of grit creates a finer filter. Just an idea for you try.

Aquasense is clearly trying to improve the technology but mapping is a challenge for a submerged product. Well at least if you want the retail price to be reasonable.
Thanks for the update and keep us informed.

 

[PGQ24]

I actively talked to Shark development team when they first came out with the Shark IQ vacuum. Maybe I'll touch base with those fellas and see if they want to get into the Shark "skimmer" business. The technology is there. The issue is that these existing pool company either don't have the right partnership or funds to development something that actually is a game changer. Perhaps the market is not big enough. More research is needed.

Personally, I find the pool equipment / cleaner industry very disconnected, low tech, and expensive. I guess not every house has a pool to maintain to create a demand for a product that can be produced with an economy of scale and competition. Which leads to the current state of the industry.

 

[The_RealDJ]

I have the Aiper S1. I do not hose out the filter basket. I dump the big stuff and smear the grit along the screen then run it again. That layer of grit creates a finer filter. Just an idea for you try.

Aquasense is clearly trying to improve the technology but mapping is a challenge for a submerged product. Well at least if you want the retail price to be reasonable.
Thanks for the update and keep us informed.

I'll definitely give the 'smear' technique a try with a 2nd filter (to be purchased soon).
Had the Mrs manage Benny while I was travelling and she didn't have any issues w it either. She said the retrieval, programming, and recharge was straightfwd...

 

[The_RealDJ]

Quick 1 month update: Benny the Beatbot has been fantastic at getting used to the layout of the pool and in "MultiMode" (one of the app options) does a great job at the ledges and steps. A full charge will last just over 3 hours, but most of the time, he's done in about two. Benny has learned to better 'park' himself on a ledge and even when the battery has gone out, have only had to fish hook him out twice.

Benny is amazing quiet and he's able to operate when the main pool pump is running, so no issues there. He and Betty (the Betta pool skimmer) work in tandem to keep the pool clean at all times.

PRO: The best part of it for me is the clean view of the pool (no more hoses and Pentair Racer getting stuck!) and a nice quiet ambience since the booster pump is no longer needed to clean the pool.
CON: As expected, the shiny plastic cover is already getting scuffed. Likely as he comes does from ledge and doesn't stick the landing (the unit typically 'leaps' then lands vertically on the pool floor).

 

[PGQ24]

My beatbot iskim has scuffs were it does not matter. It does a great job when there is full sun, and when there are no tethering robot in the pool. However, I have large area of 4-6 inches, and it will get stuck there depending on the water level. The small feet extension helps a little bit.

 

[tcat]

Curious about the "wireless charging". Won't the contacts corrode from a salt pool? Or are you supposed to dry it before placing it on the charger? I'm thinking you could put a piece of 50 micron aquarium filter material in the basket to trap finer debris. Does the handle get in the way when emptying leaves?

 

[ianwelch001]

I have the Dreame z1 pro and they also dont have a super fine filter so I was able to get a skimmer sock and rig it in there so its been catching pollen and fine silt