The Aiper Seagull SE is a cheap, light, cordless robot that vacuums the floor of above ground pools and small flat in-ground pools. At about $150 it is worth it if floor debris is your main chore, but it does not touch walls, the waterline or steps, so skip it for pools with a deep end.
What the Aiper Seagull SE is
The Aiper Seagull SE is an entry level cordless robot pool cleaner. You charge it, press the single button on top and drop it in the pool. It runs along the floor, scrubs with two bottom brushes and pulls debris into an onboard filter Smart Home Compared ↗.
The 2026 version weighs 7.5 pounds and has a 45 Wh battery rated for up to 100 minutes of cleaning, with about 2.5 hours to recharge Smart Home Compared ↗. Suction is rated at 1,320 gallons per hour, up from 1,200 on the 2025 model Smart Home Compared ↗. The new version also adds a built in chemical dispenser and a four color status light Smart Home Compared ↗.
Aiper rates it for above ground pools and flat floored in-ground pools up to about 40 by 20 feet, or roughly 860 square feet of floor Smart Home Compared ↗. It does not climb walls, so sloped floors and deep ends are out of reach Smart Home Compared ↗.
What it does well
Price is the headline. It was listed at $149.99 on Amazon, down from $179.99, when we checked Smart Home Compared ↗. That is a fraction of what wall climbing robots cost. Bob Vila named it the best bang for the buck in its robot pool cleaner guide and gave it 4.4 out of 5, with a perfect 5 for ease of use Bob Vila ↗.
It is also very simple. There are no hoses, no cords and no app to set up Bob Vila ↗. Bob Vila's testers said it performed far better than they expected for the price and called it useful for routine upkeep and quick cleanups between deeper cleanings Bob Vila ↗. They measured about 90 minutes of runtime per charge in their pool Bob Vila ↗.
The low weight helps. At 7.5 pounds it is easy to lift out of the water, which matters if you clean the filter often Smart Home Compared ↗. When the battery runs low, it parks itself at the wall so you can grab it with the included hook Smart Home Compared ↗. Owners quoted by Smart Home Compared praise the build quality and value Smart Home Compared ↗.
Where it falls short
It cleans the floor and nothing else. No walls, no waterline, no steps, no platforms and no surface skimming Smart Home Compared ↗. If your problem is a greasy ring at the tile line or leaves floating on top, this robot will not help.
Navigation is basic. It moves in a random pattern with no sensors, camera or mapping, so coverage depends on time in the water rather than a planned path Smart Home Compared ↗. It has no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, app, scheduling or cleaning history Smart Home Compared ↗.
The filter is small. Both Smart Home Compared and Bob Vila flag it, and owners say it needs emptying often in a dirty pool Smart Home Compared ↗ Bob Vila ↗. Owners also report that it struggles with larger twigs and oak leaves, can get stuck on wrinkled liners or steep slopes, and may not finish a larger pool on one charge Smart Home Compared ↗. The warranty is 1 year, shorter than the 3 years some premium brands offer Smart Home Compared ↗. Hands on testing is in progress; we will update this review with results.
Pricing and plans
There is no subscription. You buy the robot once. Amazon listed the 2026 Seagull SE at $149.99 against a list price of $179.99 when we checked Smart Home Compared ↗. Bob Vila also lists it at about $150 and points buyers to Amazon Bob Vila ↗. Prices on pool robots move often with sales, so check the current price before you buy.
The warranty is 1 year Smart Home Compared ↗. There are no required consumables. The robot has a cleanable mesh filter rather than disposable bags, and the built in chemical dispenser uses your own pool chemicals Smart Home Compared ↗. It has no charging dock or solar charging, so plan on plugging it in to charge between runs Smart Home Compared ↗.
Who should (and shouldn't) use it
- Good fit: owners of above ground pools who are tired of vacuuming sand, bugs and leaves off the floor Smart Home Compared ↗ Bob Vila ↗.
- Good fit: small flat bottom in-ground pools, plunge pools and container pools under about 860 square feet Smart Home Compared ↗.
- Skip it if: your pool has a deep end or sloped walls, since it cannot climb Smart Home Compared ↗.
- Skip it if: you need the waterline or walls scrubbed, or you get heavy leaf loads that would fill a small filter fast Smart Home Compared ↗.
Alternatives worth a look
- Beatbot AquaSense 2: our main pick for in-ground pools, it cleans the floor, walls and waterline and was on sale for about $799 Beatbot store ↗.
- Aiper Scuba S1: Aiper's step up for wall climbing, smarter navigation and app control, at a considerably higher cost Smart Home Compared ↗.
- Polaris P70: Bob Vila's best above ground pick, a lightweight top loading cleaner for smaller pools Bob Vila ↗.
- Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra: the premium option if you also want surface skimming, listed at $2,299 Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra ↗.
Where it appears
Budget pickThe Best Robot Pool CleanerWhat’s good
- Very low price
- Simple, no app needed
- Light and easy to lift
What to know
- No walls, waterline or steps
- Random path, small filter
Key features
- Floor cleaning only
- Up to 100 minutes per charge
- 1320 GPH suction, dual bottom brushes
- Auto parks at the wall when battery is low
- 7.5 lb
Questions people ask
Does the Aiper Seagull SE climb walls?
No. It cleans the pool floor only. It does not climb walls, clean the waterline or steps, or skim the surface Smart Home Compared ↗.
How long does the Aiper Seagull SE run on a charge?
Aiper rates the 2026 model for up to 100 minutes, with about 2.5 hours to recharge Smart Home Compared ↗. Bob Vila's testers measured about 90 minutes Bob Vila ↗.
Can I use the Aiper Seagull SE in an in-ground pool?
Only if the floor is flat. It is rated for flat floored pools up to about 40 by 20 feet. Deep ends and sloped floors are out of reach Smart Home Compared ↗.
Is the Aiper Seagull SE worth it?
For an above ground or small flat pool, yes. Bob Vila called it the best bang for the buck at about $150 Bob Vila ↗. For a typical in-ground pool, a wall climbing robot is the better buy Smart Home Compared ↗ Beatbot store ↗.
Where this comes from
Checked Oct 9, 2026. Vendor pages describe their own products; independent sources add outside views. Hands on testing is in progress.
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