Independent, hands-on testing
Clear Pool Cleaner Reviews
Clear makes the most innovative pool robot we've tested in years — the Clear UV, the first residential cleaner with a built-in UV-C lamp. Here's our hands-on review of the lineup.
Watch Before You Buy
Tested hands-on in our own pool.
Best Robotic Pool Cleaners of 2026
35K viewsThe Clear UV earned our Best Newcomer award in this year's head-to-head rankings. See how it stacks up against the Dolphins.
Reviewed by Justin D.
Hey, I'm Justin — The Pool Nerd. My team and I tested the Clear UV and Clear S alongside dozens of robotic pool cleaners in our own test pool. Our independent reviews explain the results and who each model suits.
The Pool Nerd's Take on Clear
The Clear UV pairs quad-motor cleaning, 1-micron UltraFilters, a weekly timer, and built-in UV-C hardware. It earned our Pool Nerd Approved rating because the cleaning system performed well in our tests and the UV-C feature adds something meaningfully different to evaluate. If you do not need UV-C, the related Clear S keeps the core cleaning platform without the lamp. See the current lineup on the official Clear website.
Pool Nerd Ranking: Every Clear We've Tested
Every Clear robotic pool cleaner we've reviewed, ranked based on our hands-on testing.
Ranked by our star ratings from hands-on pool testing.
Clear Pool Cleaner Reviews
Our hands-on reviews of the Clear lineup after repeated pool testing.
Why Clear Stands Out
What sets the Clear lineup apart from the dozens of robots we've tested.
Built-In UV-C Lamp
The Clear UV integrates a UV-C lamp designed to treat water near the cleaner as it moves. Our hands-on review evaluates its operation and cleaning performance; we did not perform laboratory pathogen-reduction testing.
1-Micron UltraFilters
Filtration rated down to 1 micron pulls out the fine pollen, silt, and algae spores that make water look hazy. For perspective, a human hair is about 70 microns.
Quad-Motor Power
Two pump motors and two drive motors push over 8,500 GPH — among the strongest suction we've felt in a residential robot, filling the UltraBin on nearly every run.
App Controls & Weekly Timer
A polished app with mode selection, a virtual drive-to-spot joystick, a live water temperature readout, and a true weekly timer for set-it-and-forget-it cleaning.
The Clear Lineup
Clear builds the same powerful robot in two versions — with and without the UV-C lamp. Browse both on the official Clear site.
Ready to buy? Order direct from Clear: Clear UV, Clear S, or browse all Clear pool robots.
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Clear Pool Cleaner FAQ
Is the Clear UV a good pool cleaner?
Yes. In our testing, the Clear UV delivered strong cleaning, 1-micron filtration, and a polished app, earning our Pool Nerd Approved rating. Its built-in UV-C lamp is an uncommon feature in this category.
What does the built-in UV-C light do?
UV-C is germicidal ultraviolet light — the same technology used in commercial aquatic centers. As the Clear UV drives, the lamp disinfects the pool surface, disrupting the DNA of bacteria and algae. It's a helpful extra layer alongside your sanitizer — not a replacement for proper chlorine and chemistry.
What's the difference between the Clear UV and the Clear S?
They're the same robot — same quad motors, 1-micron UltraFilters, and app features. The Clear S simply leaves off the UV-C lamp and costs about $250 less. If you want the UV disinfection, get the Clear UV.
Is the Clear UV worth the price?
If you want the most innovative and powerful robot we've tested and value UV-C disinfection, yes. We're not ready to crown it our overall #1 yet — that comes down to long-term reliability, which only time can prove — but on performance and innovation, it's at the top of the conversation.
Is the Clear UV corded or cordless?
Corded — and that's a feature, not a compromise. Both the Clear UV and Clear S run off a corded power supply, which is what lets them push 8,500+ GPH for an entire cycle and run on a true weekly timer with no battery to recharge, retrieve, or worry about. See how they stack up against the Dolphin lineup in our best corded pool robots guide.
Shop Clear Direct
Order the Clear lineup straight from the official Clear website.
Shop the Clear UV → Shop the Clear S → All Clear Robots →Looking for the Best Pool Robot?
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Independent, Hands-On Reviews
Why Pool Owners Trust The Pool Nerd
We're not a big media company. We're a small, independent team that gets in the water and tests the products we cover.
Tested in Our Pool
Every robot, pump, and skimmer runs through repeated cycles in our test pool with dirt, leaves, algae, and other everyday debris—not a lab or demo tank.
Side-by-Side Comparisons
We don't review products in isolation. We test them head-to-head so you can see exactly how they stack up against the competition.
5+ Years of Experience
We've been testing pool products since 2020 — through every season, firmware update, and product launch. That depth of experience means we know what holds up and what doesn't.
Our Testing Process
We run each product through multiple cleaning cycles in our test pool — floors, walls, waterlines, and filtration all get evaluated.
Products go up against their direct competitors so you can see the performance differences, not just marketing specs.
We publish what we find — good and bad. If a $500 robot beats a $2,000 one, we'll tell you.