Let's be honest—when a pool robot costs nearly $3,000, your expectations shoot through the roof. And with flashy marketing phrases like AI-powered mapping, 5-in-1 cleaning, and world's first water clarification system, the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra sounds like it's about to change pool cleaning forever.
But after testing it hands-on, I've got news for you: it's not the gamechanger it claims to be.
From constant recharging and surprisingly weak suction to a filter that feels like an afterthought, the AquaSense 2 Ultra let me down in just about every way that matters. And that's before we even get into the F rating on Fakespot, or the sea of overly enthusiastic reviews that seem a little too good to be true.
So before you spend three grand on what sounds like the future of pool cleaning, let me show you what really happens when the marketing ends—and the robot hits the water.
Hey there, I'm Justin – your resident pool aficionado, and today we're diving into the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra. And after testing it, it was super disappointing.
After testing over 30 robotic pool cleaners in search of the best robotic pool cleaners for 2026, I can tell you that this one doesn't live up to its price tag.
Between the constant recharging, poor suction power, and disappointing filter, it feels like Beatbot spent more money on marketing than actually developing a solid product.
What is the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra?
The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra is marketed as the world's first AI-powered 5-in-1 robotic pool cleaner. This flagship model from Beatbot promises to clean your pool's floor, walls, waterline, water surface, and even includes a water clarification system. The Ultra combines three different technologies to "see" your pool: a 4K underwater camera, infrared sensors, and ultrasonic technology.
For a pool cleaner at this price point, you'd expect revolutionary performance – but the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra didn't really impress me.
Design and Build Quality
This thing is heavy. At 26.5 pounds, it feels solid. The plastic body is tough but looks good with its matte finish. Nothing about it screams "cheap." The build quality is impressive—this feels like a premium product from the moment you unbox it.
The charging dock setup is straightforward, using a wireless charging system that eliminates the need for waterproof ports. However, the weight becomes a significant factor in daily use. At nearly 30 pounds when waterlogged, retrieving this robot from your pool requires serious effort, especially from the deep end.
You have to break your back to get it out. While juggling a pool pole, you have to hook it and fish it out. It's not the hardest thing in the world, but it isn't easy.
The Cordless Reality Check
Let me address the elephant in the pool: cordless design sounds revolutionary, but in practice, it creates more problems than it solves. Unlike a robot vacuum that can return to its dock automatically, the AquaSense 2 Ultra requires manual daily recharging.
Here's the daily routine you'll need to use the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra:
- Go outside
- Retrieve the 30-pound robot from the pool
- Clean and empty the filter basket
- Place it on the charging dock
- Wait 4-5 hours for a full charge
- Go back outside
- Throw it in the water for the next cleaning cycle
Compare this to a corded robot with a weekly timer that you can set and forget, running automatically every day without any manual intervention. The "convenience" of cordless quickly becomes a daily chore.
If you have never lived with a corded pool robot, you may not know how much of a pain this is.
I've tested over 30 plus pool robots, and the corded options with a weekly timer are way easier. You just use the weekly timer, set it to run daily, and go out once a week to clean. That's 1 interaction a week for the same amount of cleaning cycles – compared to the Beatbot's 14.
Performance
This is where I was the most disappointed. For nearly $3,000, you expect the Beatbot to clean like a pro. But I didn't feel like it was better than any other pool robot I've used. And if anything, it was worse compared to corded robots.
It moved rather slowly throughout the pool. And while that isn't a bad thing necessarily, it just didn't seem to have a ton of power while cleaning.
While it did a good job picking up some debris, it couldn't live up to the performance you get from corded pool cleaners. I think this is largely due to the battery restraints you get with a cordless pool robot. You won't get the constant power you would get from a corded vacuum. Instead, it seems like the power and cleaning ability tapered over time. I'm unsure if it was the filter filling up or the battery draining – but it was noticeable.
AI Mapping: Impressive Technology, Inconsistent Results
The mapping though is seriously impressive. It actually learns your pool's shape and cleans in a logical pattern instead of bumping around randomly. The HybridSense AI mapping system does create a sophisticated understanding of your pool's layout, and watching it work is genuinely impressive from a technology standpoint.
However, impressive mapping doesn't automatically translate to thorough cleaning. During testing, the robot would often create efficient patterns while still missing debris in predictable problem areas like tight corners, steps, and curved edges. The AI seems optimized for coverage rather than thoroughness.
AI Mapping: Strategic Movements, But Not a Breakthrough
The cleaner definitely moved in a way that looked more strategic than most—less of the typical aimless bump-and-go. It followed cleaner lines and seemed to have a purpose. But I wouldn't go as far as saying it "learned" the pool. It just didn't feel that smart.
Yes, the HybridSense AI sounds cool. But in real life? It felt like the AI was more about looking efficient than actually being thorough.
So while the mapping feels like progress, it doesn't really translate into noticeably better cleaning. More of a talking point than a gamechanger.
Filter System
The filter just isn't good. It's basically two thin mesh layers stacked together, and that's it. No fine filtration, no smart design—just basic material that struggles to trap smaller debris.
On top of that, it's tiny. Compared to something like Dolphin's XXL MaxBin with NanoFilters, this thing feels like a toy. You'll be emptying it more often, and even then, you'll probably notice stuff slipping through that should've been caught.
And while it did a good job filling it up with leaves, it really seems to miss the fine things that other filters I've used have.
Side-by-side, you can see the difference between the Beatbot filter vs Dolphin's NanoFilters. I love the NanoFilters and really wouldn't go back.
For this price tag, I wish the filter was better. You'd think that for two to three times the price that you'd get a significantly better filter – but you don't. Robots that cost a third to half the price seem to have better filtration – and that's what is so disappointing.
App Connectivity: Limited When It Matters Most
The app experience highlights a fundamental limitation of cordless pool robots. While charging, scan the QR code from the sticker placed on the device to download the app and pair the device. Setup is straightforward, but functionality is severely limited when the robot is actually cleaning.
Once the Beatbot is in the water, the robot loses connection entirely. You can't:
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Track cleaning progress in real-time
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Manually steer to problem areas
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Cancel a cleaning cycle remotely
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Receive completion notifications
Using the physical buttons on the robot // The Pool Nerd
For a "smart" device at this price point, these connectivity limitations feel like significant oversights.
Compare that to a corded robot, where the app actually works while the cleaner's running. You get real-time control, proper scheduling, and actual usability. This one feels like the app was built more for the product page than the pool.
Battery Performance
The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra features a 13,400 milliamp hours (mAh) battery. That gives it up to 10 hours of surface skimming, 5 hours of floor cleaning, and/or 5 hours of wall and waterline cleaning. And out of all of the cordless robots I've tested, this is the longest battery life.
When you run a full cleaning cycle—floor, walls, and surface—the battery often doesn't last long enough to finish the job in larger pools. And as the charge gets lower, the suction power drops too, so it gets less effective toward the end of the cycle.
The "smart parking" feature is a nice idea—it surfaces the robot when the battery's low so you can grab it. But if you're not right there to pull it out, the battery dies completely, and it sinks back to the bottom anyway. So much for convenience.
Water Clarification: Innovative but Expensive
ClearWater uses "natural, skin-safe clarifying agents" made from—yep—recycled crab shells. They say it helps bind up fine particles so your filter can catch more debris. It's definitely a unique idea, and I haven't seen anything quite like it from other brands.
But here's where it falls apart: the cost.
Each $50 2-pack gives you 8 total uses (4 uses per packet), which means it's over $6 per treatment. So if you're actually using it daily like some people do with clarifiers, you're looking at $180+ a month—just for this one component.
Compare that to a bottle of standard pool clarifier from your local store. A good-sized bottle runs about $15–$20, treats thousands of gallons, and lasts weeks—sometimes longer depending on how often you use it. You're getting basically the same end result for a fraction of the cost.
So yeah, crab shells are a fun gimmick, but unless you're made of money, the old-school clarifier from the pool aisle is still the smarter buy.
Comparing Value: Premium Price, Mid-Tier Performance
At over $3,000, the AquaSense 2 Ultra costs significantly more than the robots I've rated as the best of the year.
Price Comparison:
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Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra: around $3,000
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Dolphin Premier: around ~$1,500
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Dolphin Sigma: around ~$1,500
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Dolphin Quantum: around ~$1,200
The side rollers on the AquaSense 2 Ultra // The Pool Nerd
For the price difference, you could purchase a top-tier corded robot like the Dolphin Premier, add a dedicated solar surface skimmer like the Betta SE, and still have over $1,500 remaining. That combination would outperform the AquaSense 2 Ultra in every category.
Dolphin Premier
The Dolphin Premier is a workhorse—and it's priced like one of the best values in high-end pool robots. What sets it apart is its Multi-Media filtration system, which lets you swap between a leaf bag, fine filters, or micro-cartridges depending on the job. It also has commercial-grade dual motors, offering noticeably stronger suction than what you get with battery-powered robots. The weekly timer is straightforward, and since it's corded, you don't have to deal with charging or limited runtimes. It's a set-it-and-forget-it kind of machine that just works—day after day, year after year.
Dolphin Sigma
The Sigma punches well above its weight with triple motors—a rarity even among top-tier cleaners—and it moves with a smooth, deliberate motion thanks to its gyroscope-enhanced navigation. The NanoFilters included are great at capturing small debris and even algae. Its SmartNav 3.0 system gives it excellent coverage, and like the Premier, it features a programmable weekly scheduler that actually works—unlike battery models that need to be recharged manually. In terms of raw power and control, the Sigma holds its own and still leaves you room in the budget for a top-notch skimmer.
Dolphin Quantum
The Quantum is a slightly more affordable alternative, but it still packs a lot of punch. It uses PowerJet 3D Mobility to help it climb walls and maneuver tight spaces better than many bots in this range. The MaxBin filter is easy to clean and holds a surprising amount of debris. While it doesn't offer the same premium filtration options as the Premier like the leaf bag, it still features a weekly timer, NanoFilters, and excellent wall cleaning. It's not as "smart" as the Sigma, but for the price, it handles day-to-day cleaning incredibly well.
Review Reliability Concerns
Don't believe all the hype on the reviews you see.
One red flag that jumped out during research? The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra has an F rating on Fakespot at the time of writing this video, which analyzes Amazon reviews for authenticity. That's about as bad as it gets—and it means a large portion of the glowing reviews may be fake, paid, or incentivized.
A closer look confirms it. Many of the 5-star reviews are from Amazon Vine members, who receive free products in exchange for reviews. While not all Vine reviews are dishonest, they're not exactly unbiased either—especially when the product is brand new to market and loaded with early hype.
And let's be honest: when you're dropping three grand on a pool robot, you shouldn't be relying on potentially padded reviews. Real, independent testing matters more than ever here. It's easy to fall for flashy marketing and doctored praise, but trust needs to be earned with performance—not stars.
My Final Verdict
What's my final verdict on the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra?
It's Pool Nerd Disapproved.
The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra looks great on paper. But it seems Beatbot spent more time on marketing than developing a product meant for the real world.
Despite its futuristic design and some genuinely innovative features, the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra ultimately falls short where it matters most: performance, usability, and value. For a price tag nearing $3,000, it underdelivers on suction power, requires too much hands-on upkeep, and offers limited app control once the cleaning cycle begins. The small filter fills up quickly, daily maintenance becomes a chore, and its hefty weight makes it frustrating to retrieve from the pool.
Why I didn't like it:
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Weak suction power for a $3,000 robot
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Constant daily recharging is a major hassle
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Tiny filter with basic mesh construction
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App loses connection once it's in the water
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Heavy and awkward to retrieve
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F rating on Fakespot raises review authenticity concerns
The robot near the pool stairs // The Pool Nerd
What it does well:
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Premium build quality
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Impressive AI mapping technology
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Longest battery life among cordless robots
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Innovative water clarification concept
The LED light on the AquaSense 2 Ultra // The Pool Nerd
When you can get a more powerful, more convenient corded robot for half the price—and still have money left for extras like a solar skimmer—it's hard to recommend this model. For that reason, the AquaSense 2 Ultra is Pool Nerd Disapproved.
As always, if you wanna keep nerding out over your pool, head on over to my deals page at ThePoolNerd.com/deals where I post the best deals on robotic pool cleaners and other top pool equipment.
Your resident pool aficionado.
For over 5+ 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.