Poolease X1 Pool Robot Review: A $110 Gamble

The Poolease X1 is a budget pool-cleaning robot priced at just over $100, significantly undercutting the thousands of dollars typically spent on high-end pool scrubbers. This review, published by Wired, examines whether such a low-cost device can deliver satisfactory performance. The X1 weighs only 9 pounds and is powered entirely by water jets, which propel it in a random zigzag pattern across the pool floor, collecting debris into its body rather than a removable basket. It lacks the ability to clean walls, waterlines, or steps, and offers no smart features or app connectivity. The device requires some assembly, including snapping on wheels and scrapers, and its charging port is awkwardly located on the bottom, with a rubber stopper that is easy to lose. The battery charges in about three hours and provides a specified 90-minute runtime, though in testing it lasted nearly two hours. Performance was mediocre: it collected only 70-80% of debris from the pool floor, leaving material scattered, and it frequently got stuck on the floor drain. The robot also failed to pick up dirt or silt effectively. The review concludes that while the X1 may be suitable for very small pools, it is underpowered for larger ones, and its low price makes it a low-risk but ultimately limited purchase.