By Justin D. • November 19th, 2024
Introduction to the Aiper Scuba SE
Let me be upfront: the low price tag is tempting, but the Aiper Scuba SE falls short as a reliable robotic pool cleaner. Marketed as an affordable option for above-ground pools, its shortcomings significantly outweigh any benefits. With reported issues—ranging from alleged house fires to an “F” grade on Mozilla Fakespot reviews—there’s a lot to consider when deciding whether an Aiper robotic pool cleaner is right for you.
If you search online, you’ll find numerous influencers and YouTube videos promoting the Aiper Scuba SE, but I’m here to give you the real story.
For those new here, welcome to The Pool Nerd! I’m Justin, your resident pool aficionado, and today we’re taking an in-depth look at the Aiper Scuba SE. We’ll cover what it’s really like to own and use one, discuss safety concerns with cordless pool cleaners, and offer some of my favorite alternatives as well.
Spoiler alert: While the low price tag might make it seem like a good deal, our testing found the user experience and performance fell short. Daily recharging, the hassle of retrieval, and limited debris capacity made using it far more frustrating than expected.
Aiper Pool Cleaners and Fire Risk
Recently, a fellow YouTuber reported that their house caught fire while charging an Aiper Seagull Pro. This isn’t an isolated incident—my research uncovered at least four other cases of an Aiper Seagull Pro allegedly catching fire, ranging from incidents in backyards to photos of burned-out garages. Although this issue specifically involves the Seagull Pro, the broader reports of fires across Aiper’s product lineup are concerning. Aiper even recalled their Elite Pro in August 2023 due to fire hazards, which is another model I’ve reviewed in the past.
If you’re considering an Aiper pool cleaner, be mindful of these potential safety concerns. For a deeper dive, check out my video linked in the bio, where I share photos and footage of some of these incidents. Now, let’s get into the full review of the Scuba SE.
Introduction to Aiper's Low Fakespot Ratings
Let’s not sugarcoat it: Aiper’s products, particularly the Scuba SE, come with red flags that can’t be ignored. The Aiper Scuba SE and the brand overall received an “F” grade on Mozilla Fakespot, which should be a warning for anyone considering their products. According to Fakespot's analysis, only about 20% of the reviews for the Scuba SE are deemed reliable. This means that four out of every five reviews could be unreliable or manipulated, raising a lot of questions about this Chinese company.
In today’s market, where reviews play a crucial role in informed decision-making, an “F” Fakespot rating is a major concern. The rating suggests that the reviews may not be real or authentic. I haven’t personally inspected each review, but this is a reason to proceed with caution.
New Features Overview
The Scuba SE is cordless, which theoretically offers a tangle-free experience. However, I have found this “convenience” comes with some major drawbacks. Battery-operated cleaners I’ve tested are always underpowered with lower suction. Users have reported that the battery lasts only 50–60 minutes rather than the advertised 90 minutes, and I observed similar results in my tests.
Adding to the frustration, it takes over three hours to recharge, making it impractical for full pool cleanings, especially for larger pools. Given the recent reports of the Aiper Seagull Pro allegedly catching fire, I made sure to monitor the Scuba SE closely while charging, placing it far away from the house.
Performance and Cleaning Ability
The Scuba SE is best for flat-bottomed pools but struggles with slopes or textured surfaces. I tested it in an 8x20-foot vinyl pool, which should have been a good match for this model. However, it often got stuck, required manual intervention, and failed to cover the entire pool. Higher-powered corded models like the Dolphin Escape and Dolphin Cayman, which feature larger motors and systematic cleaning paths, provide far superior cleaning and coverage.
As mentioned, the suction power on this model is weak. While it can handle small debris, it struggles with larger particles like leaves, bugs, and debris. A manual skimmer or vacuum pass is still needed to get the pool fully clean. The basic mesh filter design doesn’t capture finer particles, so if you’re hoping for crystal-clear water after a cycle, you may be disappointed.
Disappointing Filter
The filter isn't great. Compared to other robots I've used in my pool, it's quite lame. With only a simple mesh filter, it just isn't enough to capture small particles in my pool. It seemed to struggle with algae and sand in my testing. Where as other robots could grab it with NanoFilters or Ultra-fine filters, the Aiper Scuba SE just left it behind.
Disappointing is an understatement when it comes to the Aiper Scuba SE. The clips are hard to unclip and it's not the cleanest cleaning process. While not the end of the world, once you use another pool robot with a top-loading basket or NanoFilters - you won't go back. The Aiper Scuba SE just constantly had me wanting more.
User Experience and Battery Life
One significant drawback of the Scuba SE is the constant need to recharge. While corded robotic pool cleaners can handle an entire week of cleaning, the Scuba SE drains quickly and requires hours to recharge. Without any type of daily scheduling or timer, using this cleaner feels less like a convenience and more like an added chore.
Battery life concerns extend to durability as well. Users report declining battery efficiency within months, and some batteries fail altogether, leaving users dependent on Aiper’s less-than-stellar customer service. Unlike Dolphin’s models, which usually come with 2-3 year warranties, the Scuba SE offers only a one-year warranty. And, according to some reviews, Aiper’s customer support is unresponsive, leaving the user without resolutions.
Comparison to Alternatives
A low-priced cordless unit with a battery sounds like a good idea, but this single benefit doesn’t compensate for the numerous issues associated with the Scuba SE.
The Dolphin Escape
For instance, the Dolphin Escape has a more powerful motor, continuous energy only available from a cord, smart navigation, and active scrubbing brushes that clean thoroughly and filter more water—all without the hassle of daily recharging.
The Dolphin Cayman
The Dolphin Cayman takes it further with a weekly smart timer, an active scrubbing brush, an easy-to-clean filter basket, and an option for advanced NanoFilters that capture the smallest particles. Its corded power is far superior to battery-operated pool cleaners in every way.
If you’re concerned about price, refurbished models of these corded cleaners are available on some websites for as low as $300 with full warranty. This is a fantastic deal for a robot that outperforms anything cordless I’ve tested.
Final Verdict
The Aiper Scuba SE may appear to be a budget-friendly option with its price and cordless design, but in practice, it falls short. Its weak suction, limited battery life, ineffective navigation, and questionable build quality make it a frustrating choice for pool cleaning.
Given the reported fire risks associated with other models from the company, I felt uneasy every time I plugged in the Scuba SE for charging.
If you’re serious about a pool cleaner that truly automates the cleaning process, a corded model like the Dolphin Escape or Cayman will offer constant power, better cleaning ability, and greater durability.
So what’s my final verdict on the Aiper Scuba SE?
Pool Nerd Disapproved
While the Aiper Scuba SE might initially seem like a great deal for above-ground pools, it ultimately proves more trouble than it’s worth. For those looking for a pool cleaner that cleans thoroughly with a good safety record, I recommend considering other brands.
If you want to keep nerding out over pool robots, be sure to hit that subscribe button. Visit ThePoolNerd.com to see my comparison page and learn more about the differences among robotic pool cleaners. Until next time, enjoy your pool, and stay tuned for more tips and insights on pool maintenance.
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For over 4+ years, The Pool Nerd has been a leading source in the swimming pool industry. With years of experince owning a swimming pool, our hope here is to guide and help making owning a swimming pool easier.
