So you’re looking at the Beatbot lineup and trying to figure out which one to go with – the AquaSense 2 or the AquaSense 2 Pro. I get it. They’re from the same brand, they look similar, and the marketing makes both sound incredible. But are either of them worth your money?
Hey guys, I’m Ryan with ActuallyUsed, and today we’re putting these two Beatbot models head-to-head. I’ve used both of them in our test pool, tested them side by side, and even broke out the manometer to get suction numbers at the intake.
I’ll also be comparing their numbers to some of the top corded models I’ve tested, like the Dolphin Premier and Dolphin Sigma, to give you some real context on where these Beatbots land in the bigger picture. Let’s dive in.
Price – What You’re Paying For
Let’s start with the obvious – price. The AquaSense 2 comes in at around $1,000 and the AquaSense 2 Pro bumps that up to $2,000. That’s a thousand dollar jump. So the question is – what does that extra grand actually get you?
The build quality feels slightly more refined, and the filter is a dual-layer system versus the base model’s single-layer mesh. Those are real differences, sure. But when you zoom out and realize you’re spending over two thousand dollars on a cordless pool robot – and corded robots that outperform both of these exist for less – it starts to feel like you’re paying a premium for convenience features that don’t always deliver.
Suction Power – The Manometer Test
This is the part I always look forward to, because this is where the marketing falls away and the numbers do the talking.
I hooked both robots up to my manometer – that’s a tool that measures actual suction pressure at the intake port. Same pool, same conditions, same test. Here’s what I got:
Beatbot AquaSense 2: 1.6 PSI
Beatbot AquaSense 2 Pro: 1.5 PSI
Yep, you read that right. The Pro actually tested slightly lower than the base model. Now, that’s within the margin of what I’d consider normal variation between tests – battery charge level, water temperature, all that can play a small role. So I’d call them roughly equal in suction. But the point is – spending an extra thousand dollars did not get you more cleaning power. And that’s a big deal.
Now here’s where it gets really interesting. Let’s stack those numbers against the corded robots I’ve tested:
Dolphin Premier: 2.2 PSI
Dolphin Sigma: 2.0 PSI
The Premier pulled 2.2 PSI – that’s roughly 37–47% more suction than either Beatbot, depending on which one you’re comparing. The Sigma came in at 2.0 PSI, still comfortably ahead of both. And here’s the kicker – both of those corded robots maintain that suction level from start to finish. Full power, the entire cycle, every time. No fade. No drop-off.
With the Beatbots, that 1.5–1.6 PSI is the best-case number – on a full battery. As the battery drains, motor output drops, and suction goes with it. Halfway through a cycle, you’re working with even less than what I measured. It’s the nature of battery-powered motors, and it’s something you just can’t get around with cordless design.
Why does PSI matter this much? Because suction is what lifts sand, dirt, leaves, and fine debris off the pool floor and pulls it into the filter. Less suction means more passes, more missed debris, and more time you’re wondering if the robot actually finished the job. In my testing, both Beatbots had to make multiple passes over the same areas to pick up what the Premier grabbed in one.
Filtration – Where Both Models Fall Short
Filtration is one of those things that doesn’t get enough attention in marketing, but it’s honestly the heart of any pool robot. Strong suction doesn’t mean much if the filter can’t trap what gets pulled in.
The base AquaSense 2 ships with what I’d describe as a basic mesh screen. No pleats, no structure – just fabric stretched across a tray. It catches leaves and larger debris fine, but the fine stuff? Silt, pollen, fine sand? A lot of that passes right through and gets recirculated back into the pool.
The Pro upgrades to a dual-layer filter, which is a step up. But even so, it’s still mesh-based, and I wouldn’t call it ultrafine by any stretch. Compared to what I’m used to with Dolphin’s NanoFilter cartridges – which are available on the Premier, Sigma, and Quantum – the Beatbot filters feel like they’re a generation behind. NanoFilters trap particles down to 2 microns, and you can physically see the difference in water clarity after a single cycle. With the Beatbots, it took multiple runs to get similar results, and even then, the water didn’t have that same crystal-clear polish.
For what these robots cost, I expected more from the filtration. Especially on the Pro at two grand – that’s premium pricing, and the filtration should match.
The Battery Problem – Let’s Talk Interaction Math
This is where I think a lot of people get sold on the idea of cordless without thinking about the daily reality of it.
Both Beatbot models run on battery. The AquaSense 2 gets around 180 minutes of runtime, and the Pro is similar. That sounds reasonable. But once the cycle’s done, you’re looking at several hours of recharge time before you can run it again. And because these are cordless, you’re physically interacting with the robot every single day – dropping it in the pool, fishing it out when it’s done, carrying a wet, heavy robot to the charger, lining it up just right.
Let’s do the math. That’s two interactions per day – one to deploy, one to retrieve and charge. Over a week, that’s 14 interactions. If each one takes about 5 minutes, you’re spending over an hour a week just managing your pool robot.
Now compare that to something like the Dolphin Premier or Sigma with the Weekly Smart Timer. You press one button, set a schedule, and walk away. It turns on automatically, cleans your pool daily, and you maybe rinse the filter once a week. That’s one interaction per week. Fourteen versus one. Over a month, that adds up to hours of your time back.
And here’s the thing that really gets me – if you forget to charge the Beatbot, or you’re out of town, or you just don’t feel like dealing with it that day? Your pool doesn’t get cleaned. It just sits there collecting debris. With a corded robot on a timer, it runs whether you think about it or not. That’s real automation. What the Beatbots offer is more like a daily chore.
App Experience – Similar Frustrations
Both models come with app control, and the Pro gets a slightly upgraded interface. But the core issue is the same on both – the app only works when the robot is at the surface. Once it’s underwater cleaning, you lose connection. You can’t steer it, you can’t switch modes, you can’t check on progress. If the battery dies mid-cycle, it sinks to the bottom and you’re grabbing a pool pole to fish it out.
The Pro’s wireless charging dock is admittedly a nice touch – no fumbling with cables. But it doesn’t solve the fundamental connectivity issue. And when you compare that to something like the Dolphin Sigma’s app, which uses a poolside controller with a constant Wi-Fi connection – meaning you can start cleans remotely, monitor in real time, and actually control the robot – the Beatbot app experience feels half-baked on both models.
So Which Beatbot Is Better?
If you’re set on going Beatbot, the base AquaSense 2 is the better value. You’re getting essentially the same suction power, the same core cleaning performance, and the same battery-operated daily routine – for a thousand dollars less. The Pro adds nicer packaging and wireless charging, but the cleaning performance – which is the only thing that really matters – is nearly identical in my testing.
I can’t justify telling anyone to spend $2,099 on the Pro when the base model does the same job for half the price.
The Bigger Question – Should You Go Cordless at All?
Look, I want to be fair here. Beatbot makes a decent-looking product, and cordless design has its appeal. No cord management, no control box, clean aesthetics. I get it. And for someone with a very small pool who doesn’t mind the daily routine, a cordless robot can work.
But in my experience – having tested over 20 pool robots at this point – the trade-offs you make going cordless are significant. Less suction power. Battery fade over the cycle. Basic filtration. Daily manual interaction. No true set-and-forget automation. And often, a higher price tag for all of those compromises.
The data backs it up. At 1.5–1.6 PSI, both Beatbots are working with roughly 25–45% less suction than the top corded models, which sit in the 2.0–2.2 PSI range. That gap shows up in real-world cleaning. It shows up in water clarity. And it shows up in how much time you spend thinking about your pool robot instead of just enjoying your pool.
If you’re spending a thousand dollars or more on a pool robot, I think you deserve consistent power, real filtration, and genuine automation. In my testing, corded robots like the Dolphin Premier, Sigma, and Quantum deliver all three – and they cost less than the AquaSense 2 Pro.
That’s not me being biased – that’s just what the numbers say. And at ActuallyUsed, the numbers are all that matter.
Final Thoughts
Between these two? Save your money and go with the base AquaSense 2 if you’re committed to cordless. But if you’re open to corded – and you want the best cleaning performance per dollar – I’d point you toward the Dolphin Premier, Sigma, or Quantum. Better suction, better filters, real weekly automation, and a lower price point than the Pro.
Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one.
