Robotic pool cleaners under $300 have finally caught up – the Pooloob PF1, EUHOME, ROBOKLEEN X1 and Garvee models all deliver cordless cleaning, decent runtimes and basic wall or floor coverage without the $700+ price tag. The trade-offs are honest – simpler navigation, smaller debris bins, shorter battery life – but for most above-ground and mid-size in-ground pools, that's plenty.
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Overview The Pooloob PF1 is a cordless floor-focused robotic pool cleaner built for daily maintenance on above-ground pools. Roughly 90-minute runtime per charge with a dual-motor suction system rated for fine debris and sand. Random-path navigation with auto-parking near the wall when the cycle ends.
At under $150, the PF1's standout is simply that it works unattended – drop it in, press a button, and it covers the floor of a small to mid-size above-ground pool in one cycle. The lightweight body (under 9 lb) means you're not wrestling it out of the water, which matters more than people expect when you're using it twice a week.
Secondary features are deliberately stripped back – no app, no wall climbing, no waterline scrubbing. The filter basket is on the smaller side, so heavy leaf seasons mean emptying mid-cycle. Navigation is random rather than mapped, which is fine for rectangular pools but leaves occasional missed spots in oval or kidney shapes.
Pros
Cheapest fully-cordless robotic option that actually finishes a cycle
Lightweight – easy single-hand retrieval
Dual-motor suction handles sand and fine silt
Auto-parks at the wall for easy pickup
Quick top-load filter basket access
Cons
Floor only – no wall or waterline cleaning
Random navigation misses spots in irregular pools
Small filter basket needs frequent emptying
Best for Owners of small to mid-size above-ground pools who want the lowest-cost path to hands-off daily maintenance.
Overview The EUHOME Cordless is an in-ground capable robotic cleaner with roughly 100-minute runtime and dual-drive motors for floor coverage. Suction is rated around 4500 GPH with a top-load filter tray. Path logic uses sensor-assisted directional changes rather than full mapping.
For $180 the EUHOME punches above its tier by handling actual in-ground pools up to about 850 sq ft – most cleaners at this price cap out on above-ground only. The 100-minute battery is long enough for one full floor pass on a typical 16x32 pool, and the suction is genuinely strong on leaves, acorns and pine needles rather than just dust.
The compromises show up at the edges – no wall climbing, no app, and the directional sensors aren't true mapping, so coverage on stairs and tight corners depends on luck. LED indicators tell you charge and fault states but there's no schedule or remote start. For pools without major debris loads it's the best dollar-per-feature pick in the budget tier.
Pros
Genuine in-ground capability at sub-$200
100-minute runtime covers a full mid-size floor cycle
Strong suction on leaves and heavier debris
Top-load filter – no flipping the unit
Sensor-assisted turning beats pure random paths
Cons
Floor only – walls and waterline stay manual
No app, schedule or remote control
Stair and tight-corner coverage is hit-or-miss
Best for In-ground pool owners who want the most cleaner-for-the-money without paying for app or wall-climbing features.
Overview The ROBOKLEEN X1 is a cordless robotic cleaner with wall-climbing capability, normally listed at $359.98 and currently discounted into budget territory. Around 110-minute runtime, dual-motor drive, and a triple-layer filter sized for both fine and coarse debris. Path logic uses gyroscope-assisted turns for more consistent coverage.
The discount is what makes this one interesting – at full price it sits in the mid-tier, but on sale it's the only sub-$300 option here that actually climbs walls and reaches the waterline. That single feature is what most premium $500+ cleaners charge for, and it's the difference between a clean floor and a clean pool.
Trade-offs are real – the X1 is heavier than the floor-only picks, so retrieval takes both hands, and the wall-climbing pass burns battery faster than the spec sheet suggests, especially on textured liners. Still no app, but a physical mode button toggles floor-only versus floor-and-wall cycles. Worth grabbing while the discount holds.
Pros
Only sub-$300 option with real wall-climbing
Gyroscope-assisted navigation – more thorough than random
Triple-layer filter handles fine and coarse debris together
Selectable floor-only mode preserves battery
110-minute runtime on floor-only cycles
Cons
Heavier – two-hand retrieval
Wall cycles drain battery faster than advertised
Value depends on the discount holding – full price is mid-tier
Best for Buyers who want premium wall-climbing performance while the discount keeps it in budget territory.
Overview The Garvee Cordless Robotic Pool Vacuum is a floor-cleaning cordless cleaner with a 130-minute runtime – the longest battery in this budget roundup. Dual-motor suction with a translucent top-load filter basket. Auto-shutoff when the cycle ends or the unit beaches itself.
The 130-minute runtime is the headline – it's long enough to do two full passes on a small in-ground or a thorough single pass on a larger above-ground without recharging. At $139.99 listed year-round (not a flash discount), it's the most reliable budget pick if you don't want to time-watch a sale.
The compromises are the usual budget-tier set – no wall climbing, no app, random path logic. The translucent filter is genuinely useful since you can see when it's full without lifting the unit. Build quality is plastic-heavy and the handle attachment point is a known weak spot in long-term reviews, so handle with care during retrieval.
Pros
Longest runtime in the budget tier – 130 minutes
Consistent year-round price, not a flash sale
Translucent filter shows fill level at a glance
Auto-shutoff prevents dry-running
Light enough for single-hand pickup
Cons
Floor only – no walls or waterline
Random path logic misses corners on irregular pools
Plastic handle attachment is a known wear point
Best for Buyers who want the longest cordless runtime at a stable budget price without waiting for a sale.
