Aiper Scuba vs Beatbot Sora: Which Cordless Robot?
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How we compared: We did not test these robots ourselves. This is a spec-and-price comparison built from each maker’s own product pages (checked October 23, 2026) plus published hands-on reviews. Makers’ suction and runtime figures are their own ratings, not independent measurements.
Aiper and Beatbot are the two cordless brands most pool owners end up choosing between. Both sell a cheap entry robot, a mid-range model, and a flagship that also skims the surface. The short version: Beatbot’s Sora line gives you more suction, bigger baskets, and better shallow-water reach for the money; Aiper gives you finer filtration out of the box and more model choice, including camera navigation.
The short answer
| If you want… | Buy |
|---|---|
| The cheapest decent cordless robot | Beatbot Sora 10, $469 |
| Fine filtration for a screened or dusty pool on a budget | Aiper Scuba S1, $529.99 |
| A mid-range robot for a pool with a tanning ledge | Beatbot Sora 30, $699 |
| Camera-based navigation for an odd-shaped pool | Aiper Scuba V3, $849.99 |
| Surface cleaning for the lowest price | Beatbot Sora 70, $1,099 |
| Maximum suction for a big pool | Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max, $1,699.99 |
Prices are each brand’s own store sale prices on October 23, 2026 (Aiper, Beatbot). Both brands discount often.
Entry level: Aiper Scuba S1 vs Beatbot Sora 10
| Aiper Scuba S1 (2026) | Beatbot Sora 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (sale / list) | $529.99 / $699.99 | $469 / $699 |
| Cleans | Floor, walls, waterline | Floor, walls, waterline, shallow areas |
| Suction (rated) | 4,200 GPH | 6,800 GPH |
| Basket | 3.5 L | 5 L |
| Filter | 180 µm + 3 µm MicroMesh | 150 µm (3 µm basket sold separately) |
| Runtime (rated) | 180 min; up to 270 min Eco | Up to 4 h full clean (5 h floor only) |
| Rated pool size | 1,600 sq ft | 3,229 sq ft floor coverage |
| Shallow-water limit | 12 in | 12 in |
| Weight | 17 lb | 18.7 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Sources: Aiper Scuba S1, Aiper store, Beatbot Sora 10, Beatbot comparison.
Verdict: On paper the Sora 10 wins on price, suction, and basket size. The S1’s advantage is its 3-micron filter, which matters if your problem is fine dust and pollen rather than leaves. Aiper itself notes that owners see standard-mode S1 runs closer to 60–150 minutes and that it handles stairs and ledges weakly (Aiper). Forbes Vetted picked the S1 as its affordable cordless option (Forbes).
- Leafy open pool: Sora 10.
- Screened pool with fine dust: Scuba S1.
Mid-range: Aiper Scuba X1 or V3 vs Beatbot Sora 30
Aiper has two models near the Sora 30’s price: the high-suction X1 and the camera-guided V3.
| Aiper Scuba X1 | Aiper Scuba V3 | Beatbot Sora 30 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (sale / list) | $799.99 / $1,499.99 | $849.99 / $1,099.99 | $699 / $999 |
| Cleans | Floor, walls, waterline | Floor, walls, waterline | Floor, shallow platforms, walls, waterline |
| Suction (rated) | 6,600 GPH | 4,800 GPH | 6,800 GPH |
| Basket | 5 L | 3.5 L | 5.2 L |
| Finest filter | 3 µm | 3 µm MicroMesh | 150 µm (400 µm + 3 µm basket sold separately) |
| Runtime (rated) | Up to 180 min | 180 min (210 Eco) | Up to 5 h |
| Rated pool size | 2,150 sq ft | 1,614 sq ft | 3,230 sq ft |
| Weight | 24.25 lb | 18.2 lb | 19.6 lb |
| Navigation | WavePath 3.0 | AI camera (Cognitive AI Navium) | 13 sensors incl. 2 ultrasonic |
| Retrieval / dock | Wireless charging dock included | Wireless charging dock included; parks at waterline ~10 min, then sinks | Floats to the surface |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Sources: Aiper lineup, Aiper X1 spec sheet, Beatbot Sora 30.
Verdict: The Sora 30 is the value pick here. It’s the cheapest of the three, has the highest rated suction and runtime, the biggest basket, and works in water as shallow as 8 inches, which helps with sun shelves (Beatbot). Its included filter is coarser, though, and Beatbot says the 3 µm option is sold separately.
Choose the Aiper V3 if your pool is freeform and you want camera navigation. CNET’s tester named it his best overall robot (CNET via Yahoo Tech). Just plan on grabbing it within about 10 minutes of finishing (Aiper).
Choose the Aiper X1 if you want fine filtration, strong suction, and a bigger 5 L basket than the V3.
Flagships: Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max vs Beatbot Sora 70
Both clean the surface as well as the floor, walls, and waterline.
| Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max | Beatbot Sora 70 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (sale / list) | $1,699.99 / $1,799.99 | $1,099 / $1,499 |
| Suction (rated) | 8,500 GPH | 6,800 GPH |
| Basket | 5 L | 6 L |
| Filter | 180 µm + 3 µm | 150 µm (3 µm basket on pre-order) |
| Runtime (rated) | Floor up to 210 min (330 Eco); walls up to 150 min; surface up to 12 h | Up to 5 h floor; 7 h surface |
| Rated pool size | 3,230 sq ft | 3,229 sq ft |
| Weight | 33.07 lb | 22.9 lb |
| Shallow-water limit | Not listed | 8 in |
| Underwater app control | Needs HydroComm Pro add-on | Surface control only |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
Sources: Aiper X1 Pro Max, Aiper X1 Pro Max store page, Aiper lineup, Aiper EU spec table, Beatbot Sora 70.
Verdict: For most homes the Sora 70 is the better buy. It’s about $600 cheaper at current prices, about 10 lbs lighter, and has a bigger basket. Android Authority calls it the best all-around pick (Android Authority), and WIRED recommends it as the cheaper way to get most of its top pick’s coverage (WIRED).
The X1 Pro Max makes sense for a big pool where the 8,500 GPH rating and the 3-micron filter matter, and if lifting 33 lbs out of the water isn’t a problem. Aiper’s own guide calls lifting it a real chore and says its surface skimming is weaker than a dedicated skimmer’s (Aiper).
Brand-level differences
Warranty and returns
- Aiper: 2 years on S1, V3, and X1; 3 years on X1 Pro Max (Aiper EU spec table). 30-day money-back guarantee on its US store (Aiper store).
- Beatbot: 2 years on Sora 10 and 30; 3 years on Sora 70 (Beatbot). 30-day free returns (Beatbot Sora 10).
Filtration philosophy
Aiper ships fine (3 µm) filtration on most models. Beatbot’s Sora line ships a 150 µm filter tuned for daily debris, and sells $59.99 ultra-fine (3 µm) baskets as add-ons (the Sora 70’s was a pre-order on October 23, 2026).
Safety record
Aiper has had two CPSC recalls on older, now-discontinued models: the Elite Pro GS100 (2023) and the Seagull Pro ZT6001 (2025), both for burn and fire hazards (CPSC, CPSC). None of the current models compared here are part of those recalls. We didn’t find a CPSC recall for Beatbot as of October 23, 2026; check cpsc.gov before buying.
Naming at big-box stores
Aiper sells the same hardware under different names at different retailers. For example, the Scuba S1 also appears as the P1, N1, or N1600, and the V3 as the N3 (Aiper). Compare spec sheets, not box names.
Which should you buy?
- Under $500: Beatbot Sora 10.
- Screened pool, fine dust, about $500: Aiper Scuba S1.
- About $700, tanning ledge: Beatbot Sora 30.
- Freeform pool, want smart navigation: Aiper Scuba V3.
- Surface skimming included: Beatbot Sora 70.
- Very large pool, strongest suction: Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max.
FAQ
Is Beatbot better than Aiper?
Neither wins outright. Tier for tier, Beatbot’s Sora models list higher suction, bigger baskets, and lower prices; Aiper’s list finer included filters and offer camera navigation (V3).
Which is lighter to lift out of the pool?
At the top tier, the Sora 70 (22.9 lb) is much lighter than the X1 Pro Max (33.07 lb). In the mid tier, the V3 (18.2 lb) and Sora 30 (19.6 lb) are close.
Do both work in above-ground pools?
Beatbot lists the Sora 30 and 70 for above-ground and in-ground pools (Beatbot). Aiper says every current Scuba cleaner works in both (Aiper).
Can I control them from my phone underwater?
Mostly no. Wi-Fi doesn’t travel through water. Beatbot’s Sora 70 offers remote control on the surface. Aiper’s X1 and X1 Pro Max need the HydroComm Pro floating base for underwater control (Aiper).
Do Aiper and Beatbot price-match?
Beatbot advertises a 30-day lowest price guarantee on some products (Beatbot Sora 30). Aiper runs frequent sales and a trade-in program of up to $200 (Aiper).
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