Hayward
Hayward TigerShark QC
- Autonomy
- IIAssisted
- Score
- 68/100Capable
- Readiness
- Ready Now
- Price
- $1,489list
ComparisonHayward TigerShark QC
Up to three
Autonomy Ladder
- IManual
- IIAssisted
- IIIConditional
- IVEnvironmental
- VGeneralized
All robot pool cleaners. Every figure below is placed against the whole class, so a gap can be read against how much the class itself varies.
Where each one suits you.
The conditions each robot was assessed against, side by side. Rows marked in gold are where these machines genuinely differ.
| Condition | Hayward TigerShark QC |
|---|---|
| Pool type | |
| In-ground | GoodStandard in-ground operation; random pathing works well in pools under 15k gallons with consistent pump schedules. |
| Above-ground | GoodSuction cleaners pair directly with above-ground pump filtration; no separate equipment required. |
| Mixed setup | GoodWorks with either pool type, provided pool size stays under 15k gallons and floor is stable. |
| Pool size | |
| Small (< 400 sqft) | GoodRandom pathing naturally recycles the floor; small pools see consistent weekly coverage with light debris loads. |
| Medium (400 – 800) | DependsPool size around 12k–15k gallons benefits from 8+ hour daily pump schedules; shorter cycles risk coverage gaps. |
| Large (> 800) | PoorPools over 15k–20k gallons show unvisited dead zones; random pathing cannot ensure complete coverage. |
| Debris load | |
| Fine (sand / silt) | Poor100-micron mesh basket clogs rapidly with fine silt or algae; fine debris forces daily basket empties instead of weekly. |
| Leaves / large debris | DependsModerate leaf load manageable with weekly emptying; heavy seasonal leaf fall requires two to three empties per week. |
| Algae / heavy fouling | PoorActive algae blooms clog the fine-mesh basket within hours; unsuitable for pools experiencing algal blooms without chemical treatment. |
| Coverage you want | |
| Floor only | GoodPurpose-built for floor cleaning with fine-mesh debris capture; operates unattended on level floors. |
| Floor + walls | DependsFloor cleaning is effective; walls and steps require separate manual tools or a dedicated wall-climbing cleaner. |
| Floor + walls + waterline | PoorNo built-in capacity for wall or waterline cleaning; random pathing keeps the cleaner on the pool floor. |
A robot being poor for a condition is a fact about fit, not a fault. “Depends” means the record names a limit worth reading, not that the answer is unknown.
What the score is built from.
Nine inputs across three pillars, each weighted as shown and each scored so more is better. A robot can lead on one and trail on another, which is the point of showing them apart.
Capability
Task completion16% of score
Does it finish the job it is sold to do, unattended
70
- Hayward TigerShark QC70
18median 72 across 444 scored robots100
Coverage and navigation10% of score
Does it work the whole area, and hold that between runs
50
- Hayward TigerShark QC50
0median 72 across 432 scored robots100
Edge-case recovery10% of score
Does it recover from the failures its category presents
25
- Hayward TigerShark QC25
18median 53 across 329 scored robots100
Operating envelope4% of score
How far conditions can vary before performance drops
60
- Hayward TigerShark QC60
28median 68 across 408 scored robots100
Dependability
Field failure rate16% of score
Documented hardware failures per owner-year
91
- Hayward TigerShark QC91
6median 70 across 365 scored robots100
Software stability14% of score
Whether updates fix more than they break
37
- Hayward TigerShark QC37
15median 65 across 346 scored robots100
Support longevity10% of score
Committed parts, service and updates, with dates
97
- Hayward TigerShark QC97
0median 62 across 440 scored robots100
Ownership burden
Routine maintenance12% of score
Hands-on time it asks for in normal operation
56
- Hayward TigerShark QC56
22median 68 across 445 scored robots100
Consumables8% of score
Parts that must be bought to keep it working
86
- Hayward TigerShark QC86
8median 69 across 445 scored robots100
How far apart is a long way?
A number only means something next to the spread it sits in. Each track is the real range across every classified robot in the class, with the median marked.
These robots share no measured specification with enough published figures to plot. That is a gap in the record, not a finding about the robots.
What the numbers leave out.
Written on each record, and the only thing here every robot on the site carries.
The trade-off
What each design gives up to be good at what it is good at.
Hayward TigerShark QC
You get full-basin cleaning with no programming overhead, but every session starts and ends by hand: the unit is carried to the water, started, lifted out, and the cartridge rinsed.
Two fixed cycles and nothing between them: four hours for a full clean, or 90 minutes on Quick Clean. No scheduling, no pause and no app, so the choice is made at the deck each time.
Who each one is wrong for
Stated by the record itself. A robot being wrong for a household is a fact about fit, not a fault.
Hayward TigerShark QC
- Above-ground pools
- Hayward sells and rates the TigerShark QC for in-ground pools only, and the model name carries Inground at every retailer. Above-ground use is outside what the machine is sold for.
- Pools with persistent fine algae or silt loads
- The cartridge loads quickly with fine debris under heavy conditions, so rinsing moves from after each run to during it. Algae blooms and clay-heavy surroundings keep the owner in the loop.
- In-ground pools larger than 20 x 40 ft
- Hayward's rated coverage is 20 x 40 ft. Larger basins are outside the rating; that is a size limit rather than a coverage-pattern problem.
- Owners wanting scheduled or remote-controlled operation
- The QC runs the cycle you start, then stops. No scheduling, pause, resume or app control; manual placement and start are required each session.
- Pools without a GFCI-protected outlet within reach of the 55 ft cord
- The transformer runs from a grounded, ground-fault-protected receptacle and the cord is 55 ft. Closing a gap with an extension lead is not an acceptable option on a pool cleaner; an outlet in reach has to be installed by an electrician.
What stays your job
The upkeep ownership hands back to you, whatever the autonomy level says.
Hayward TigerShark QC
- After each run: Unplug the transformer, lift the unit out, open it and rinse the reusable cartridge with a garden hose.
- Monthly: Check the brushes and drive tracks for wear and clear hair or fiber from the rollers.
- Every 3-6 months: Inspect the full length of the 55 ft cord for nicks and cracked insulation, and the transformer connector for corrosion. A damaged cord takes the machine out of service.
- Annually: Before storage, rinse the unit and the cartridge, let both dry fully, and keep the machine and the transformer indoors over winter.
- As needed: Replace the cartridge if the media tears or stops seating; replace brushes when they no longer make contact with the surface.
How much each of these is standing on.
Classifications rest on different depths of evidence. A pre-release assessment and a verified one are not the same kind of claim.
| Robot | Evidence status | Sources reviewed | Last assessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward TigerShark QC | Provisional | 10 | Aug 2026 |
Evidence status counts the sources behind a classification, not their kind. A high count can be maker documentation and price coverage, so read it as how much was reviewed rather than as independent testing. How we weigh evidence.
Keep going.
Robovations classifies robots; it does not rank them. Nothing on this page is a recommendation, and no manufacturer influences a classification or its placement here.
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