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If you are looking for an affordable and reliable robotic pool cleaner for your above ground or in-ground pool, the Aquabot Spirit is an excellent choice.
As you might expect from its relatively low 
But it does come with the most important ones – including an anti-tangle swivel cable, top-access dual filters and a powerful water jet propulsion and suction system.
The Aquabot Spirit is designed for use in all types of in-ground and above ground pools of up to 60 ft in length.
Our Impression: Aquabot Spirit
Aquabot Spirit Robot Pool Cleaner Review
If you don’t have $1,000 to spend on a top-end robotic pool cleaner, then you can’t go wrong with the Aquabot Spirit. It is an excellent, reliable pool cleaner that can clean any vertical or floor surfaces you have – without all the bells and whistles.
That said, if you have a lot of stairs in your pool or suffer from caked-on debris or algae blooms, then I’d skip this one and go with a brush-based cleaner instead.
Price:
Cleaning Ability
Despite its low price point, the Aquabot Spirit has a motor that is just as powerful as those used in more expensive robotic pool cleaners.
Pushing water through its filters at 85 gallons per minute, the Spirit is actually more powerful than several pricier brands.
This throughput means the Spirit can clean your pool much faster and more efficiently than most other cleaners.
The Aquabot Spirit works roughly the same way as your old suction/pressure side cleaner – it uses water suction instead of a brush to remove debris.
Specifically, it uses dual high-force water jets to move around the pool and to dislodge stubborn dirt and algae from the pool floor and walls. The dual ultra-fine filters capture even the tiniest bits of debris.
Water jets are really good at keeping a cleaning bot stuck to walls and other vertical surfaces, so if you have problems with fine debris like sand or dust settling everywhere, then you’ll appreciate the Aquabot Spirit.
The main downside to me is that the Spirit doesn’t have agitating brushes, which I think is something Aquabot should offer on all robot pool cleaners they sell. Some customers complain that they have to manually brush difficult or extra-dirty spots the robot’s jets were unable to clean.
But even without brushes, the Aquabot Spirit does an overall solid job cleaning – and it’s really fast.
The swivel cable and the obstacle avoidance system ensure the Spirit cleans all around the pool without tripping up or getting stuck.
Note: the Aquabot Spirit pool cleaner does not clean stairs very well. But it does climb and clean flat walls quite well.
Features We Like
1. Anti-tangle Swivel
Many older budget robots come with a frustrating cable-tangle problem. Some use a poorly-designed swivel cable while others use a fixed/unhinged cable that keeps tripping up the pool cleaner.
The Aquabot Spirit comes with a true 360 degree tangle free swivel cable. It rotates with the twists and turns of the robotic pool cleaner, ensuring it doesn’t tangle around itself or the robot. It works well.
2. Powerful Jet Propulsion System
The high-flow water jet propulsions system in the Aquabot Spirit serves two purposes.
One, it propels the pool cleaner around the pool. This eliminates the need for complex mechanical linkages between the motor and the wheels.
It’s not only more energy-efficient, but it also does a great job propelling the robot over obstacles and up the wall.
Two, the water jets dislodge debris and algae stuck on the pool surface. It’s not as effective as spinning brushes, but it manages to get most of the dirt.
3. Dual Ultra-Fine Filtration with Top-access Filter Bags
The Aquabot Spirit uses two ultra-fine filters that can capture everything from large leaves and twigs to sand and fine silt.
Because there are two oversized filter bags, the pool cleaner can clean the entire pool before they fill up and need to be emptied.
At the end of the cleaning session, it’s very easy to remove the bags. You don’t have to turn over the pool cleaner. Just push a button to open the lid and pull out the two filter bags.
4. NeverStuckTM Obstacle Guidance System
Aquabot’s NeverStuckTM system guides the robotic cleaner over pool features and obstacle and keeps it from getting stuck.
So even though the Aquabot Spirit moves on wheels, which are not as good as tracks on wet pool surfaces, it never gets stuck on drains, lights or any other obstacle.
5. Light Weight
The Aquabot Spirit weighs 25.6 lbs. You will have no problem lifting it in or out of the pool, even if you’re 80 years old.
When you lift this unit out, the water drains quickly to ensure you are not struggling with the extra water weight.
If you are thinking about buying this pool cleaner for an elderly parent, rest assured that they can easily handle it.
Aquabot went one step further to make this pool cleaner even easier to use by using a TwinBodyTM chassis.
A single button splits the Spirit’s body in half, providing easy access to everything inside including the filter bags.
So you don’t have to fuss with trap doors or special opening mechanisms that require tools.
Pros
- Great low price.
- Good cleaning of all flat surfaces, both horizontal and vertical.
- Easy to use thanks to its lightweight design and TwinBody chassis.
- Dual filtration with two oversized filter bags.
Cons
- No agitating brushes: this reduces ability to clean pools with built-up dirt.
- Cannot clean stairs.
- No weekly timer.
Specifications
- Dry weight: 25.6 lbs (light)
- Cycle time: 1-hour & 2-hour options
- 60 ft cable
- For in-ground pools and above ground pools
- 2-year warranty
Conclusion
If you don’t have $1,000 to spend on a top-end robotic pool cleaner, then you can’t go wrong with the Aquabot Spirit. It is an excellent, reliable pool cleaner that can clean any vertical or floor surfaces you have – without all the bells and whistles.
That said, if you have a lot of stairs in your pool or suffer from caked-on debris or algae blooms, then I’d skip this one and go with a brush-based cleaner instead.
