My pool’s new best friend is the BeatBot Aquasense I reviewed

Owning a swimming pool is one of those life perks that sounds like it should be pure bliss: sunny afternoons lounging by the water, hosting weekend barbecues, floating in a flamingo-shaped tube without a care in the world.

But if you actually own a pool, you know the real story: it’s fun for about five minutes, then comes the never-ending cycle of skimming, brushing, vacuuming, balancing chemicals and shelling out for professional cleanings when life gets too busy. I learned this the hard way.

That’s why I’ve always kept my eye on robotic pool cleaners. I’ve tried a couple over the years — some decent, some disappointing. But I recently got my hands on the Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra, and let me tell you…this is not your average robo-cleaner. This thing is a fully loaded, AI-powered, pool-cleaning beast.

Let’s get one thing out of the way first. It’s heavy. Like, just-under-30-pounds heavy when dry. It has this solid, industrial feel that makes it obvious you’re dealing with a high-end machine, not a toy. When I unboxed it, I could already tell it meant business. No flimsy wheels or cheap plastic here—this thing looks like it belongs in a high-tech lab more than a backyard pool.

However, it performed well and continues to make my life easier. What’s not to love?

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Setup was surprisingly easy. After downloading the Beatbot app (which, by the way, is refreshingly clean and intuitive), I charged up the unit, synced it via Wi-Fi, and lowered it into my pool. There’s a moment when you watch it sink slowly to the bottom, almost as if it’s taking a deep breath before diving into its work. That’s actually it calibrating; give it a few minutes, and then the magic starts.

I opted for Pro mode right off the bat, because hey, if I’m testing this thing, I want the full experience. Pro mode means it doesn’t just clean the pool floor and walls. It also scrubs the waterline and performs surface skimming. Basically, everything short of grilling burgers while you swim.

Watching the Aquasense 2 Ultra in action is genuinely impressive. It starts by using AI pool mapping, thanks to 27 onboard sensors, it learns the entire layout of your pool, including steps, curves and obstacles. My pool has an awkward shape with an extended shallow shelf and some built-in seating, which has confused other cleaners in the past. Not this one. It navigated the layout with a kind of robotic elegance, adjusting in real time and never getting stuck.

Its roller brushes are no joke. There are four of them, and they really scrub. I noticed it lifting up grime and small debris in just one pass. Even some stubborn algae buildup along the tile line was gone by the end of its first run. It’s got a 200W pump motor powering a suction system that can filter up to 5,500 gallons of water per hour, which explains the sheer speed and efficiency of the cleaning. It’s like dropping a mini power plant into your pool.

It even climbs walls like a pro. The rubber treads make it look like a tiny tank as it scales vertical surfaces and transitions seamlessly from floor to wall. I have this habit of neglecting the waterline (who doesn’t?) but this bot made short work of it, scrubbing right up to the edge and removing all that invisible grime that you only notice when it’s gone.

And, here’s one of the best parts: once it’s done with the underwater work, the Aquasense 2 Ultra activates its Smartdrain system, releasing water from inside its body to float back up to the surface. Watching it rise like a high-tech dolphin is oddly satisfying.

What’s revolutionary about Beatbot is how it cleans. Once on the surface, as the robot moves forward through water, its front hatch opens, and the dual side brushes rotate inward. This creates water currents that draw surrounding debris toward the front of the machine, where it is then quickly collected through the front hatch.

For the overachievers among us (or control freaks, I see you), the app even lets you manually steer the cleaner to specific spots. It’s basically like piloting a submarine with your phone. I used it once just for fun, guiding the robot toward a clump of leaves hiding in the corner, and it picked everything up in seconds.

But what really makes this pool cleaner a standout is its ClearWater system. At the end of its cleaning cycle, the Aquasense 2 Ultra releases a clarifying agent directly into the water. Not some harsh chemical cocktail; this stuff is made from natural, eco-friendly materials and it’s totally safe for skin. The effect? My pool water looked clearer than it has all summer. I usually toss in a water clarifier once a week, but now? I haven’t touched a bottle since.

When the cleaner’s finished, it doesn’t just power down and sit somewhere random. It actually parks itself at the edge of the pool and sends a little ping to your phone through the app. The unit positions itself with the handle in an upward position so you can grab it easily (though fair warning: it’s noticeably heavier once it’s full of water and gunk). Still, the design makes it manageable.

Additionally, when the robot completes cleaning and parks itself at the edge, wait about 3 minutes or so to give the Beatbot time to drain the water inside its body, which will make it lighter and easier to remove. If you retrieve the robot as soon as it docks, it’ll be heavier.

Cleaning out the waste basket is also simple. Flip open the top hatch, pull out the canister, rinse it off and you’re good to go. I do recommend rinsing it thoroughly, especially after a heavy cleaning day. Mine was packed with leaves, pebbles and more than a few surprises I’d rather not mention.

Charging is straightforward as well. Just set it back into the dock, but make sure to keep the charger in the shade. I left it out in direct sunlight the first time, and while it didn’t cause any issues, the user manual makes a point about avoiding heat buildup during charging.

Now, is it perfect? Not quite. For one, it’s expensive and definitely at the higher end of the robotic pool cleaner spectrum. If you’re just looking for something basic, this may feel like overkill. Also, since it connects via Wi-Fi, there were a couple of times it briefly lost connection while submerged. Nothing major, and it reconnected quickly, but worth noting if you’re in the middle of steering it manually.

In fact, the robot disconnects from Wi-Fi when underwater because Wi-Fi signals struggle underwater as water (especially saltwater) strongly absorbs radio waves at 2.4GHz/5GHz frequencies. But, as soon as it returns to the surface, it will automatically reconnect to Wi-Fi immediately.

While it seems like a negative that WiFi is disconnected, the design of this pool cleaner is actually in your favor. Beatbot is designed precisely for users to just throw it in and completely forget about it, letting it clean autonomously until it finishes cleaning, returns to the surface and sends a notification to the app. At that point, all you need to do is retrieve it — so you can spend your free time not hanging poolside if you don’t want to.

It’s also heavy, as I mentioned before. If you have mobility issues or trouble lifting, you might want to factor that into your decision. Once it’s wet, it takes some effort to get out of the water. But hey, a small tradeoff for what it does.

The Final Verdict

Here’s the thing: after a few weeks of using the Aquasense 2 Ultra, I haven’t hired a pool service once. I haven’t spent hours brushing the walls, vacuuming, or skimming by hand. My water looks and feels better than it ever has, and every time I walk outside, I smile knowing the hardest-working member of the household is already at the bottom of the pool, quietly handling business.

So if you’re serious about pool maintenance and want something that genuinely cuts down your effort, keeps your water crystal clear, and makes owning a pool feel like a luxury again — not a chore — I can’t recommend the Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra enough. It’s a pricey investment, but for me, it’s already paid for itself in time, saved service fees, and the pure satisfaction of knowing that I don’t have to lift a finger to have a pristine pool all summer long.

Honestly? This thing might just be my favorite member of the household.

How I Tested

When reviewing the Aquasense 2 Ultra, here’s the detailed criteria I kept in mind to see if the model was worth it in the long haul:

• Cleaning Coverage: I evaluated how effectively it handles all pool zones, including scrubbing of surfaces and its integrated clarifying agent for crystal-clear water.
• Navigation & Obstacle Detection: I tested how well the unit maps the pool, avoids obstacles and navigates complex shapes using its AI-powered camera and array of sensors.
• Battery Life & Runtime Performance: I measured the runtime for various modes (surface versus floor cleaning), assessing how long it can clean before needing recharge, as long as 10 hours for surface or 5 hours for deep cleans on a full charge.
• Ease of Use & Smart Features (App Control, Setup, Retrieval): I gauged user experience —from unboxing and app setup to control via Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi, voice alerts and hassle‑free auto‑return mechanisms like surface parking.
• Physical Design & Durability: I assessed handling and longevity, noting factors like the robot’s heavyweight construction, corrosion-resilient materials, included brushes/accessory kit and storage cover for protection.

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