The budget-friendly Poolease X1 pool robot, priced at just $110, struggles with basic cleaning tasks, collecting only 70-80% of debris and frequently getting stuck.
During testing, the robot was only able to gather a portion of leaves and other debris from the pool floor, leaving a noticeable amount scattered. While this is better than nothing, it's far from a thorough clean. The X1 also frequently got stuck, particularly on the pool's floor drain, an issue that could leave it immobilized for several minutes.
Retrieving the robot requires a pole and hook, and the cleaning process itself can be messy. Debris often becomes lodged in narrow crevices within the chassis, necessitating manual removal or a powerful hose blast that can soak the user. Furthermore, the X1 showed no ability to pick up dirt or silt, suggesting its suction power is insufficient for finer particles.
Despite its listed specifications, the Poolease X1 appears to be underpowered for anything beyond very small pools. While its low price point makes it a low-risk purchase, potentially useful for occasional emergencies, the performance issues highlight the old adage: you get what you pay for.
