Beatbot AquaSense X Review: Self-Cleaning Station Promises Less Work for Pool Owners
The Beatbot AquaSense X is a new pool cleaning robot with a self-cleaning station called AstroRinse. Its performance is similar to the previous model, but the new system simplifies maintenance.
AstroRinse station requires careful placement
The AstroRinse needs access to electricity, water supply, and drainage. It must be placed on a level surface, which can be achieved with adjustable feet and a built-in spirit level. The robot itself weighs 29 pounds (more when freshly pulled from water), so the station should be located as close to the pool as possible. In testing, this meant carrying the robot across the yard.
Robot is nearly identical to AquaSense 2 Ultra
The AquaSense X looks and performs similarly to the AquaSense 2 Ultra, except for the basket design — now a single piece instead of two. Setup is simple: attach side brushes (used only for the skimmer function), place the robot on the AstroRinse station to pair them wirelessly, and install the Beatbot app (requires Bluetooth and 2.4 or 5 GHz Wi-Fi). After a firmware update, the initial pairing broke, but it was easily restored by repeating the pairing process.
Cleaning performance: excellent on floor, poor on surface
In tests with organic and synthetic debris, the robot picked up an average of 97% of material from the pool floor, performing especially well on steps and platforms. However, surface cleaning results were middling to awful, collecting less than half of floating debris and sinking most of the rest. The unit is too slow to effectively collect surface debris, although the side brushes help slightly. The battery capacity is 13,400 mAh, providing up to 4.5 hours of runtime.
Self-cleaning system operates automatically
After a cleaning cycle, the robot parks itself at the waterline and waits to be retrieved. Once placed in the AstroRinse station, cleaning begins automatically within seconds. An overhead arm swings into place and connects to the robot's surface skimmer opening, then a high-pressure water stream sprays into the filter basket for 3 minutes (or 1 minute in quick mode). After that, the arm retracts. Debris is captured in a net-covered basket in the station's base, while excess water drains through a mesh screen at the bottom.
