Aiper
Aiper Surfer S1
Cheapest — but charging-flawed — The cheapest surface skimmer here at about $285, and the cautionary one — a real thread of owners report the battery or cord charging failing, which is why it rates a middling 3.6★
Contender in the Lightweight division — Best Value Robotic Pool Skimmers (2026): Betta SE Plus vs Aiper EcoSurfer S2 vs Beatbot iSkim
Specs
| Power | Solar + DC adapter |
| Runtime | Up to ~12 hr + solar |
| Basket capacity | ~5 L |
Pros
- Cheapest surface skimmer here (~$285)
- Solar + DC-adapter charging, app control, pool-temperature monitor
- ~5 L basket
Cons
- Charging is the weak spot — a real thread of owners report the battery or cord charging quitting within a season (the main reason it sits at 3.6★)
- Superseded by the EcoSurfer S2, which rates a full star higher on a far deeper base
- Shorter unattended runtime than the S2/iSkim
“Simple design but doesn't charge on cord now. Will charge from sun but charger should be durable enough to last.”— Rachel Pritchett, Amazon · Verified owner
✓ Safety: no active recall — No active CPSC recall found (checked July 2026). Solar surface unit with a rechargeable battery — the recurring owner complaint is charging reliability, not a safety recall.
Size your pool first → ·All pool gear →
Data last verified: July 2026. Ratings are real, dated reads — never scraped or invented. Full methodology and monetization disclosure: how we test.