How does each robot cope with a heavy load of fallen leaves?

The Dolphin Premier's Multi-Media system includes an oversized leaf bag, and independent testing ran it against a heavy leaf load. The Polaris Alpha iQ+ uses a 5 L top-loading canister, and its app flags when heavy leaf fall fills it before the cycle ends. The Aiper Scuba S1 Pro's 5 L basket fills quickly under heavy leaves and restricts intake, cutting the cycle short. The Beatbot AquaSense Pro's record carries a 3.7 L basket and no leaf test.

How often do cartridge filters need replacing?

None of these records gives a replacement interval in months. The Aiper Scuba S1 Pro's 3 micron MicroMesh element is replaced when it stops clearing. The Beatbot AquaSense Pro's 250 and 150 micron polyester filters are rinsed and reused, with no disposable cartridge. Polaris prescribes no cartridge replacement for the Alpha iQ+, only a weekly rinse of its filter media. The Dolphin Premier's media are rinsed by hand and chosen to suit conditions rather than replaced on a schedule.

Does silt damage pool robot motors?

None of these robots' records documents motor damage from silt or how each protects its motor. What the records state is filtration: 2 micron on the Dolphin Premier with NanoFilters for fine sand, 3 micron on the Aiper Scuba S1 Pro, and 250 and 150 micron filters on the Beatbot AquaSense Pro, which independent testing found did a mediocre job on finer dirt and sand. The Polaris Alpha iQ+'s filtration rating is not stated on its record.

Can these robots handle mix of leaves and silt together?

No record reports a test with leaves and silt together. The Dolphin Premier is the one whose media are swapped to match the debris, from an oversized leaf bag to NanoFilters for fine sand. The Beatbot AquaSense Pro carries two filter grades, 250 and 150 micron, at once. The Polaris Alpha iQ+ and Aiper Scuba S1 Pro each use a single 5 L canister or basket, and both records note that a heavy debris load fills it before a cycle ends.

What does emptying each robot's basket or filter involve?

None of these robots' records times a cleanout. The Polaris Alpha iQ+'s 5 L canister lifts from the top and is cleared with a few shakes and a hose. The Beatbot AquaSense Pro uses a 3.7 L top-access basket whose filters are rinsed after every use. The Aiper Scuba S1 Pro's 5 L basket is rinsed after most cycles. The Dolphin Premier's media cartridge comes out and is hosed after cycles.

Comparisons · Robot Pool Cleaners4 robots · checked 16 Oct 2026

A situation

Pool robots for leaves vs fine silt: which filter do you need?

Leaves need a roomy basket that is easy to empty. Fine silt needs a filter that holds back small particles. This page sets out what each robot lists for both.

This page checks

Basket sizeRoom for leaves before it fills
Finest filterThe smallest particle size listed
EmptyingWhere the filter opens
Leaf testsWhat hands-on reviews found

Maytronics

Dolphin Premier

IIAssistedStrong

$2,499list

Where to buy

Amazon

Polaris

Alpha iQ+

IIIConditionalStrong

$1,649.95list

Where to buy

Manufacturer Amazon

Mar 2026Launches with 4-wheel drive smart mapping

Wybot

C2 Vision

IIIConditionalCapable

$899.99list

Where to buy

Amazon

Aiper

Scuba S1 Pro

IIIConditionalLimited

$1,199.99list

Where to buy

Amazon

Full specifications19 figures on record · 14 differ

Figure

Dolphin Premier

Alpha iQ+

C2 Vision

Scuba S1 Pro

List price

Dolphin Premier$2,499

Alpha iQ+$1,649.95

C2 Vision$899.99

Scuba S1 Pro$1,199.99

Released

Dolphin PremierJan 2015

Alpha iQ+Dec 2022

C2 VisionJan 2025

Scuba S1 ProMar 2024

Power

Dolphin PremierCorded (deck-side power supply with weekly timer)

Alpha iQ+Corded

C2 VisionCordless battery

Scuba S1 ProCordless battery

Cleans

Dolphin PremierFloor, walls and waterline

Alpha iQ+Floor, floor/wall/waterline, or waterline only

C2 VisionFloor, walls and waterline

Scuba S1 ProFloor, walls and waterline

Cycle

Dolphin Premier180 min

Alpha iQ+Not on record

C2 Vision180 min

Scuba S1 Pro180 min

Pool length

Dolphin Premier50 ft

Alpha iQ+60 ft

C2 VisionNot on record

Scuba S1 Pro66 ft

Filter

Dolphin Premier2 micron

Alpha iQ+Not on record

C2 Vision180 micron

Scuba S1 Pro3 micron

Filter basket

Dolphin PremierNot on record

Alpha iQ+5 L

C2 Vision3 L

Scuba S1 Pro5 L

Weight

Dolphin Premier20.3 lb

Alpha iQ+21 lb

C2 Vision17.6 lb

Scuba S1 Pro26 lb

Runtime

Dolphin PremierNot on record

Alpha iQ+Not on record

C2 Vision180 min

Scuba S1 Pro180 min

Charge time

Dolphin PremierNot on record

Alpha iQ+Not on record

C2 Vision180 min

Scuba S1 Pro240 min

Battery capacity

Dolphin PremierNot on record

Alpha iQ+Not on record

C2 VisionNot on record

Scuba S1 Pro197 Wh

Battery type

Dolphin PremierNot on record

Alpha iQ+Not on record

C2 VisionLi-ion

Scuba S1 ProLi-ion

Noise

Dolphin PremierNot on record

Alpha iQ+78 dB

C2 VisionNot on record

Scuba S1 ProNot on record

Navigation

Dolphin PremierCleverClean scanning coverage of floor, walls and waterline, computed live rather than from a stored map. Vector Climbing Technology with dual stabilizers for wall and waterline work. No map storage, no route programming, no remote.

Alpha iQ+Deliberate Navigation with the Sensor Nav System, which adjusts to changing water depth and acceleration during a cycle, plus 4-wheel-drive obstacle navigation

C2 VisionAI camera visual guidance with eight cleaning modes (floor, wall, waterline, turbo, eco, dirt hunting, wall-then-floor, waterline-only)

Scuba S1 ProWavePath Navigation Technology 2.0 with four infrared sensors for wall, step and obstacle detection before contact; quad-motor gyro-stabilized drive; WiFi remote monitoring. No stored pool map.

Connectivity

Dolphin PremierNot on record

Alpha iQ+Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

C2 VisionWi-Fi

Scuba S1 ProWi-Fi, Bluetooth

Size

Dolphin Premier16.1 × 16.7 × 10.1 in

Alpha iQ+16.9 × 18.9 × 10.6 in

C2 Vision14.2 × 14.2 × 9.4 in

Scuba S1 Pro18.1 × 13.4 × 7.5 in

Cable length

Dolphin Premier60 ft

Alpha iQ+70 ft

C2 VisionNot on record

Scuba S1 ProNot on record

Max pool area

Dolphin PremierNot on record

Alpha iQ+Not on record

C2 Vision2,152 sq ft

Scuba S1 Pro2,150 sq ft

Add a robot72 robot pool cleaners on record + Add a robot72 robot pool cleaners on record

Some links earn Robovations a commission. Nothing on this page is ranked by it.

Leaves or silt

What each filter holds and how it empties

Aiper lists the finest filter, 3 µm, and the C2 Vision lists 180 plus 10 µm. Baskets are 5 L for the Alpha iQ+ and Scuba S1 Pro and 3 L for the C2 Vision. No micron figure or basket volume was found for the Dolphin Premier or the Alpha iQ+ mesh.

MaytronicsDolphin Premier

PolarisAlpha iQ+

WybotC2 Vision

AiperScuba S1 Pro

1Basket or canister sizeRoom for leaves before it fills

Dolphin Premier

Not found

The page lists a filter bag and cartridge but no volume. Searched the Maytronics product page.

Maytronics product page

Alpha iQ+

Illuminated canister, as listed by US dealers.

US dealer listings

C2 Vision

Filter capacity from the maker's EU spec comparison. No gallon figure printed.

Maker EU product page

Scuba S1 Pro

Top-load basket.

Aiper product page

2Finest filterSmallest particle size listed, for silt

Dolphin Premier

Not found

Fine and ultra-fine kits are named, with no micron figure on the Maytronics page.

Maytronics product page

Alpha iQ+

Not found

Fine-mesh canister. Mesh size not found on dealer listings; the maker's own pages did not load.

Searched US dealer listings

C2 Vision

180 + 10micron

Large-particle cartridges plus ultra-fine filters.

Maker product page

Scuba S1 Pro

3µm

A 180 µm basket first, then a 3 µm MicroMesh element.

Aiper product page

3Emptying itWhere the filter opens

Dolphin PremierBottom access

Filter bag and cartridge swap out through the bottom. A full-filter indicator is listed.

Maytronics product page

Alpha iQ+Top access

Top-access canister with a clear lid, as listed by US dealers.

US dealer listings

C2 Vision

Top lid; basket lifts out

Open the lid button, lift out the basket and ultra-fine filter, empty and rinse.

Maker user manual

Scuba S1 ProTop load

Basket lifts out the top. One hands-on review found it awkward to hose out.

Aiper product page

4Leaves in testsHands-on results

Dolphin Premier

Leaf bag option

A hands-on review says its oversized leaf bag does not clog the intakes. No test figure found.

Hands-on review

Alpha iQ+

Not found

No leaf test found. Searched dealer listings; the owner's manual file was too large to open.

Searched dealer listings and manual

C2 Vision

Collected leaves and insects without trouble

Round steel-wall pool. Leaves and insects went in even without the ultra-fine filter fitted.

Hands-on review, Sep 2025

Scuba S1 Pro

Reviews differ

One review: 95% of synthetic leaves removed. Another: leaves and twigs stayed on the floor after several cycles.

Two hands-on reviews, 2024 and 2025

Same on the Dolphin Premier, Alpha iQ+ and Scuba S1 Pro: each is listed for floor, walls and waterline cleaning.

On the paving beside a pool, a pool robot lies upside down on a towel with its bottom hatch open and its leaf bag pulled out, while a second robot stands with its clear lid raised and its canister of leaves lifted out of the top.

Your home

How each one fits a home like yours

Set the conditions that describe your home. Each robot answers from its own Fit Check; nothing is scored until you choose.

Fit check

Describe your home

Pick what applies. Each robot answers from its own record.

Pool type

Pool size

Debris load

Across what you setEach robot’s own Fit Check

Dolphin PremierSet a condition

Alpha iQ+Set a condition

C2 VisionSet a condition

Scuba S1 ProSet a condition

Pool typeNot set

Dolphin PremierNot set

Alpha iQ+Not set

C2 VisionNot set

Scuba S1 ProNot set

Pool sizeNot set

Dolphin PremierNot set

Alpha iQ+Not set

C2 VisionNot set

Scuba S1 ProNot set

Debris loadNot set

Dolphin PremierNot set

Alpha iQ+Not set

C2 VisionNot set

Scuba S1 ProNot set

Sources

Where every figure comes from

Dolphin Premier · Maytronics US product page (in stock); a hands-on review of the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme that compares it with the Premier (poolbots.com)
Alpha iQ+ · US dealer listings (epoolsupply.com, simplifiedpools.com); Polaris pages would not load; owner's manual PDF too large to open
Scuba S1 Pro · aiper.com US product page; hands-on reviews, PCWorld 1 Jul 2024 and The Pool Nerd 24 Jan 2025
C2 Vision · Maker product page, EU product page and manual; hands-on review, Sep 2025

Every value was read from the page named on 2 Oct 2026. "Not found" means the pages listed were opened and say nothing; it never means the robot lacks the feature.

Questions

What readers ask

Which of these lists the finest filter for silt?

Aiper lists a 3 µm element, the finest figure found. Wybot lists 180 plus 10 µm for the C2 Vision. The Maytronics page for the Dolphin Premier and the dealer listings for the Alpha iQ+ give no micron figure.

Which has the largest basket for leaves?

The Alpha iQ+ and Scuba S1 Pro list 5 L, and the C2 Vision lists 3 L of filter capacity. Maytronics gives no volume for the Premier, which a hands-on review says has an oversized leaf bag option.

What did hands-on reviews find with leaves?

A review of the C2 Vision on a round steel-wall pool found leaves and insects went in without trouble. Reviews of the Scuba S1 Pro differ. A review notes a leaf bag option for the Premier. No leaf test was found for the Alpha iQ+.

Common questions

What readers ask about this comparison.

Next up

Robot pool cleaners: what does $500 more actually buy?

Read the comparison

Comparison ID: RV–CMP–2198 · Last reviewed Jun 1, 2026 · Based on owner reports, manufacturer documentation, and firmware release notes

Suggest a correction