With the new Dolphin S-Line and the cordless Liberty 600 now on our shelves — plus Zodiac's EvoluX and FreeRider ranges — "which robot should I buy?" has a new answer this year. Here's how we help customers decide in store, minus the sales spin.
What actually matters (and what doesn't)
Forget the marketing fluff. Four things decide whether you'll love your robot:
- Coverage: floor only, or floor + walls + waterline? Waterline scrubbing is the single biggest visible difference.
- Filtration fineness: fine filters (60–100 microns) capture the dust and pollen that make water sparkle.
- Cable management: swivel cables or cordless — tangles are the #1 complaint we hear.
- Local support: robots need servicing. Buy from a shop that repairs them (we do).
Go cordless if…
- You hate handling a cable or your pool area has no convenient power point
- Your pool is small-to-medium (up to about 10–12m)
- You're happy to charge it between cleans, like a vacuum
Our pick: the Dolphin Liberty 600 — up to 4.5 hours runtime and an Eco Mode that keeps the floor tidy for up to two weeks. For mid-sized pools, the Zodiac FreeRider FR500 iQ is a strong value alternative.
Stay corded if…
- Your pool is large (12m+) or gets heavy leaf and debris loads
- You want set-and-forget weekly scheduling without recharging
- You want maximum scrubbing power on walls and waterline
Our picks: the new Dolphin S2000 or S3000 with app control, or the Zodiac EvoluX EX6050 iQ which maps your pool for faster cycles. On a tighter budget, the Dolphin S1000 covers the basics brilliantly.
Try before you buy: bring your pool measurements in store and we'll match you to the right model. We repair what we sell, so our advice is based on what lasts — not what has the biggest box.
The bottom line
Cordless is now genuinely good — but corded still wins for big pools and heavy debris. Either way, buy for waterline scrubbing and fine filtration, and buy from someone who can fix it in five years. That's the whole secret.
