Hayward
Hayward SharkVac
- Autonomy
- II Assisted Autonomy
- Score
- 54/100 Limited
- Readiness
- Ready Now
- Price
- $1,199confirmed
Comparison · 2 robots
Hayward SharkVac · Polaris 9450 Sport
All robot pool cleaners. Every measure below is plotted against the full class, so a difference can be read against how much the class itself varies.
- Hayward SharkVac
- Polaris 9450 Sport
Polaris
Polaris 9450 Sport
- Autonomy
- II Assisted Autonomy
- Score
- Not scored
- Readiness
- Ready Now
- Price
- $999confirmed
Up to three
01 Classification
What each one does on its own.
The Autonomy Ladder is the same five rungs for every robot on the site. A rung describes the conditions a robot handles without you, not how good it is.
V
Generalized
Any task, any setting
IV
Environmental
Handles new obstacles without help
III
Conditional
Finishes familiar jobs on its own
II
Assisted
Runs preset routines, needs rescue
Hayward SharkVacPolaris 9450 Sport
I
Manual
One action, on command
02 Assessment
Where they actually differ.
The Robovations Score is nine inputs across three pillars, each weighted as shown and each scored so that more is better. A robot can lead on one and trail on another, which is the point of showing them apart. Cost of ownership and data handling are reported on each robot's own page and are never averaged into the score.
Capability
Task completion16% of score
Does it finish the job it is sold to do, unattended
28
- Hayward SharkVac28
18median 72 across 354 scored robots100
Not scored: Polaris 9450 Sport
Coverage and navigation10% of score
Does it work the whole area, and hold that between runs
30
- Hayward SharkVac30
15median 70 across 344 scored robots100
Not scored: Polaris 9450 Sport
Edge-case recovery10% of score
Does it recover from the failures its category presents
25
- Hayward SharkVac25
18median 50 across 261 scored robots100
Not scored: Polaris 9450 Sport
Operating envelope4% of score
How far conditions can vary before performance drops
70
- Hayward SharkVac70
25median 70 across 320 scored robots100
Not scored: Polaris 9450 Sport
Dependability
Field failure rate16% of score
Documented hardware failures per owner-year
94
- Hayward SharkVac94
6median 70 across 344 scored robots100
Not scored: Polaris 9450 Sport
Software stability14% of score
Whether updates fix more than they break
71
- Hayward SharkVac71
15median 65 across 275 scored robots100
Not scored: Polaris 9450 Sport
Support longevity10% of score
Committed parts, service and updates, with dates
100
- Hayward SharkVac100
0median 63 across 354 scored robots100
Not scored: Polaris 9450 Sport
Ownership burden
Routine maintenance12% of score
Hands-on time it asks for in normal operation
68
- Hayward SharkVac68
22median 68 across 355 scored robots100
Not scored: Polaris 9450 Sport
Consumables8% of score
Parts that must be bought to keep it working
91
- Hayward SharkVac91
30median 69 across 354 scored robots100
Not scored: Polaris 9450 Sport
03 Measured against the class
How far apart is a long way?
A number only means something next to the spread it sits in. Each track below is the real range across every classified robot in the class, with the median marked.
Price62 with a published figure
$1,199$999
- Hayward SharkVac$1,199
- Polaris 9450 Sport$999
$249median $1,194$4,250
Weight60 with a published figure
21.5 lbs16 lbs
- Hayward SharkVac21.5 lbs
- Polaris 9450 Sport16 lbs
7.9 lbsmedian 21 lbs37 lbs
Height54 with a published figure
3.5 in12 in
- Hayward SharkVac3.5 in
- Polaris 9450 Sport12 in
3.5 inmedian 10.5 in19 in
Not compared, because fewer than two of these robots carry a published figure: Suction, Runtime, Charge time, Noise.
04 Ownership
What the numbers leave out.
The trade-off
What each design gives up to be good at what it is good at.
Hayward SharkVac
A design that has gone a decade largely unchanged at $1,199 MSRP comes with no app, no scheduling and no wall climbing. You are buying floor cleaning only.
Polaris 9450 Sport
The 7-day timer is the only scheduling interface: no remote start, no app override, no on-demand cycle without a manual power reset.
Systematic gyroscopic navigation covers the pool methodically, but the 60-foot cable imposes a hard 50-foot pool-length limit; larger pools require a longer-cable model.
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 SharkVac
- Above-ground pools
- The SharkVac is sold as an in-ground cleaner. Surface material is not the constraint: Hayward lists the supported surfaces as gunite, vinyl, fiberglass, pebble and tile. The installation type is what rules it out here.
- Owners prioritizing wall and waterline coverage
- Floor-only operation; no brush or wall-climbing mechanism. Waterline and wall algae require manual brushing or separate cleaner.
- Homeowners with limited electrical outlet access
- The 50 ft cord has to reach a GFCI-protected outlet serving the pool area. Extension cords are not a sanctioned way to add reach on a mains-fed cleaner, and there is no cordless version of this model.
Polaris 9450 Sport
- Above-ground pool owners
- Manufacturer specifies in-ground pools only. Drive track configuration and cable management are designed for in-ground shapes. Above-ground pool walls and entry points are not supported by the drive system.
- Pools longer than 50 feet
- The 60-foot swivel cable constrains operational radius. Pools exceeding 50 feet in length may not receive full systematic coverage in a single 90-minute cycle, leaving uncleaned zones.
- Owners requiring remote or on-demand spot cleaning
- The 9450 has no handheld remote and no app trigger. Cleaning runs only per the 7-day timer or a manual power cycle. The step-up 9550 Sport adds a handheld remote for on-demand control.
- Owners wanting Wi-Fi scheduling or app-based monitoring
- No iAquaLink, no Wi-Fi module, no companion app of any kind. The programmable timer is the sole scheduling method. A networked pool-cleaner alternative is required if app connectivity is a priority.
- Pools without a 120V GFCI outlet near the pool edge
- The control unit requires a 120V GFCI outlet. Pools without this outlet require electrical work before installation. Cordless robotic pool cleaners are the alternative for sites without accessible GFCI power.
What stays your job
The upkeep ownership hands back to you, whatever the autonomy level says.
Hayward SharkVac
- After every use: Lift out the two top-access filter elements and rinse them with a garden hose. Clear the intake of visible debris.
- Weekly: Inspect the cable for kinks or damaged insulation. Wind it loosely on an anchor peg or spool.
- Annually: Inspect the cable connections for corrosion and test the GFCI outlet feeding the power supply.
- As needed: Replace the filter elements when the mesh is worn or torn. Hayward publishes no replacement interval; the OEM pair (RCX70101PAK2) runs about $89. Replace the cord assembly (RCX97413, about $125) if the insulation is damaged, rather than on a schedule.
Polaris 9450 Sport
- After every use: Remove unit via Easy Lift System, rinse 5L top-load canister under garden hose, reinsert canister before storage.
- After every use: Lay cable out flat or coil loosely to prevent set-in tangles before next cycle.
- Monthly: Inspect drive tracks for debris embedding or visible wear; rinse track channels clean.
- Every 3-6 months: Inspect swivel cable along full 60-foot length for kinks, cracks, or connector wear.
- Every 3-6 months: Inspect scrubbing brush for wear and replace if waterline scrubbing effectiveness has declined.
- Seasonally: Drain and dry unit before off-season storage; do not store with water in the internal chambers.
- As needed: Reprogram the 7-day timer after power outages or daylight-saving-time changes.
05 Evidence
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 SharkVac | Provisional | 3 | Aug 2026 |
| Polaris 9450 Sport | Pending | 1 | Aug 2026 |
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