UMVA has learned that Aiper's latest pool robot, the Scuba V3 Ultra, has hit the market as a rocky work in progress, leaving much to be desired in its current state.
The Scuba V3 Ultra boasts an impressive array of features, including AI-driven navigation, waterline docking, plug-free charging, and surface skimming, making it a direct competitor to the top-shelf Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra.
However, its massive size and weight of 29 pounds make it challenging to maneuver in and out of the pool, and its 18 x 16 x 11-inch dimensions only add to the difficulty.
The robot's 10,400 mAh battery is touted to run for up to four hours underwater and eight hours in skimmer-only mode, but in reality, it struggled to complete tasks, often terminating abnormally due to battery drain.
Despite these challenges, the AI navigation system proved effective in quickly hunting down debris, and the floor cleaning quality was very good, making it a redeeming feature.
The V3 Ultra's AI Patrol mode was particularly impressive, efficiently locating and collecting debris on both the floor and surface, although it struggled with very small pieces.
In contrast, the skimming mode was a disappointment, managing to pick up less than half of the test leaves scattered on the surface, and the robot's slow movement on the water's surface often pushed debris away from its path.
The cleanup process was a nightmare, with the nested debris basket and ultra-fine mesh filter being a pain to clean and maintain, and the manual devotes three pages to this process alone.
Moreover, the build quality raised concerns, with the hatch covering the debris basket not fully closing on the review unit, and the app was glitchy, often freezing and requiring multiple force-quits.
At $2,000, the Scuba V3 Ultra is a massive ask for a device in its current state, and potential buyers may want to consider the Scuba S1 Pro, which cleans nearly as well and costs $800 less.
Ultimately, the Scuba V3 Ultra feels like a V1 product, full of bugs and concerns about overall build quality, leaving much to be desired before it can live up to its full potential.
