Aiper Scuba X1 Pro Max

The Scuba X1 Pro Max is the top of Aiper's X1 line and the only one of the three that skims the surface. It runs on nine brushless motors, pulls 8,500 gallons per hour, and charges on a wireless dock with no contacts to dry. Aiper's US store listed it at $1,699.99 against $1,799.99 when this page was checked.

What it cleans

Aiper rates it for in-ground pools up to 3,230 square feet and 100 feet long, and for raised platforms and slopes as well as the floor, walls, waterline and surface. The manual gives a maximum depth of 10 feet and says it is for permanently installed pools only, not storable ones.

Against the rest of the X1 line, by Aiper's comparison: the X1 and X1 Pro have four motors, 6,600 gallons per hour, 2,150 square feet and no skimming. All three have a 5-liter top-load filter box.

Runtime

Aiper gives this robot five different runtimes. The manual says up to 5 hours on the floor and 10 hours skimming, and its own Skimming mode description says 3 hours. The product page says 10 hours of surface cleaning, the store's FAQ 12, and its comparison table 720 minutes. For the floor, the product page gives 5 hours in Eco and 3.5 in Max, and the store's table 210 minutes. The long numbers are all for skimming.

The battery is 10,400 mAh and the manual says it cannot be replaced. A recharge takes about 4 hours.

The wireless dock

Unlike the X1 and the V3, the Pro Max charges without metal contacts. Aiper's store says it needs no drying before charging, because there are no direct electrical contacts. The dock itself is rated IPX4, and Aiper still recommends charging indoors. Keep the charging spot at least 11.5 feet from the pool, out of direct sun, on a wall outlet with no extension cord.

Modes

The button selects four modes:

• Hero: the floor, then the walls with the waterline, then the surface.
• Floor: the floor only.
• Floor + Wall: the floor, then the walls with the waterline.
• Skimming: the surface, for 3 hours.

A second button sets the cleaning intensity to ECO, AUTO or MAX, and the app adds more modes. After the floor, the manual says, it goes back for areas it missed.

Setting it up

• Turn off the pool pump and the heater before a run. The manual says so, and not to run the robot alongside a filter, another cleaner or a skimmer.
• Use a 2.4 GHz network, or a mixed 2.4 and 5 GHz one. Control in the water needs a HydroComm Pro, sold separately.
• Keep the water above 59°F if it is not climbing. Aiper's store FAQ says cold water hurts climbing, though the manual's operating range runs down to 32°F.
• Keep it out of freezing weather. The manual says it is not protected against freezing.

When the battery falls below 15%, Aiper's store says, the robot comes up and parks at the edge for you to lift out.

Cleaning and maintenance

• Empty the filter box after every run. The manual says not to leave the robot in the pool, and the store FAQ says to take it out at least weekly.
• Replace the MicroMesh filter about every 30 uses.
• Clean the propeller and the surface impeller when they need it.
• Replace the caterpillar tread and the roller brushes as they wear. The manual shows how; Aiper does not sell either in the US.
• For winter, charge it fully, power it off, clean and dry it, and recharge it every six months.

When it is not cleaning properly

The manual's troubleshooting table, in short:

• Tilts in the water, or cleans poorly: the filter box is full, the filter is clogged, or, with a flashing red light, the propeller is jammed.
• Solid red light: below 15% battery. Charge it.
• Flashing red light: a fault. Follow the app's instructions.
• Sits on the main drain: keep the drain closed while it cleans. It frees itself.
• Hangs at the waterline: a bump the sensor missed. It sinks back down within a minute.
• Bumping into things: wipe the sensor lens with a soft, dry cloth.
• Will not charge: it is not seated on the dock, the charger has no power, or the battery is too hot or cold. Charge it between 50°F and 104°F.

Where Aiper's own pages disagree

• Runtime, five ways, as above.
• Battery. The manual says 10,400 mAh. One of Aiper's store comparison tables says 13,400.
• Sensors. The product page says 40. A dealer page on Aiper's own site says 24 in its description and 40 in its FAQ.
• Filter rating. The manual says 3 to 10 microns; the product page says 3.
• Pool size. 3,230 square feet on the product page and 3,200 in the manual.
• Weight. The store says 33.07 lb. Aiper's dealer page says 13.9 lb, with a box weight of 20.5 lb, less than the store's robot weight.

Buying it

Thirty-six months on the battery and motor, the longest in Aiper's current warranty table. Aiper's policy covers robots bought from Aiper or an authorized seller, and its list of US sellers includes Amazon.com. Keep the order number: Aiper's warranty form will not take a claim without proof of purchase.