Aiper Scuba S1 Review

tcat · May 24, 2025

I'm thinking the new one has more color, but the Aiper site shows it more like the 2024 one. If it's advertised 180 minute runtime, it's the new one. Personally I'd get the Seagull Pro (I have it), bigger motor, bigger easier basket. I understand the S1 has a finer filter option which is appealing.

Tubbs · May 24, 2025

Ya I think your right on the colors identifying which model. I ordered it on walmart and the extra 2 year warranty was only $50. I don't see the 2025 upgrade model so these must be leftover 24 models. Not sure what to do with the suction port just leave it closed or do I need to adjust some valves for more main drain and skimmer suction?

tcat · May 24, 2025

Tubbs said:
Ya I think your right on the colors identifying which model. I ordered it on walmart and the extra 2 year warranty was only $50. I don't see the 2025 upgrade model so these must be leftover 24 models. Not sure what to do with the suction port just leave it closed or do I need to adjust some valves for more main drain and skimmer suction?

Just leave suction off or a crack open to keep water circulating in the line. Pull most/all from drain & skimmer.

Gnarbrah · May 24, 2025

Borrowed my parents S1 today for a test run. Ran about 3.5 hours and picked up a ton of sand I didn't even know was in the pool!
Is this thing a no brainer at the current $499 price?

DarkCyrix · May 26, 2025

I bought my Scuba S1 (1st Gen, not 2025) last season and was happy with it, my pool was almost clean at that time and the scuba helped me to keep it that way.
But this season, when I opend my pool, the water was clear but there was a lot of green on my floor/walls (like every years).
Fired up some Fast Chlore and launched the Scuba S1 but, unfortunatly, it does nothing.

What happens is, the first 5 minutes of every run is fine but then it stops climbing walls, and suck almost nothing.
The sucction is so low that when he moves forward he lifts up then immediatly change direction.
So after 3 minutes, he juste stays in the middle of the pool turning around

So I get it out of the water, clean the filter which is really dirty (green), launch again and he works fine for 5 minutes, then get the filter is dirty again and the robot does nothing again

Battery seems fine.

TLDR: the robot does NOTHING if the pool is dirty

Somebody have the same problem ? Is it a malfunction or the design is flawed ?

Katodude · May 26, 2025

When you pull it out does the filter hold water or does it drain out quickly?

If it holds water you may need to clean the filter. I do that with some TSP powder.

DarkCyrix · Tuesday at 1:25 AM

Katodude said:
When you pull it out does the filter hold water or does it drain out quickly?

If it holds water you may need to clean the filter. I do that with some TSP powder.

It holds water, yes I wash it with water, it's not enough ?

Katodude · Tuesday at 7:52 AM

That may be your problem. The filter is clogged. You need to soak it in TSP powder. If you cannot find that try powder for a dishwasher.

BollFam · Tuesday at 10:15 AM

Tubbs said:
I see there is a 2025 version with a longer runtime are the big box stores selling the 2025 version? I don't see any part #s or anyway to distinguish the newer version. There a couple hundred cheaper than the Aiper website.

If you want to be sure to get the 2025 version, I'd recommend going with a vendor that specifically lists that it is a 2025 rather than big box. My understanding is that the 2025 has the ultra fine filter, which is worth the extra cost in my opinion.

BollFam · Tuesday at 10:17 AM

Katodude said:
@setsailsoon I think you are looking at this with the wrong perspective. This is not a pet, it’s a consumable. I expect it to break. The warranty service is pretty good, and with the credit card I have an extra year. Which means when it fails next year and it out of warranty, I usually get my money back. Then I can decide what to do for a new one.

In the meantime, my charging port has failed and it’s going back.

I went with the X1 for the charging dock. It's more expensive than the S1, but it eliminates one of the main points of failure on the S1.

tcat · Tuesday at 10:46 AM

Does anyone have the 2025 version? Does it really come with the ultra fine filter? In the description it says it does, but fine print "and an optional ultra-fine 3μm Replaceable MicroMesh™ filter in addition to the standard 180μm basket." Optional being the question. 3 micron is REALLY fine and I'd expect it to clog really fast. Hoping they do the same for their Seagull Pro.

Nevermind, just watched this video.

DarkCyrix · Wednesday at 2:09 AM

Katodude said:
That may be your problem. The filter is clogged. You need to soak it in TSP powder. If you cannot find that try powder for a dishwasher.

Ok, thank you very much, I'll try that !

GaryParr · Friday at 11:11 AM

S1 vs S1 Pro... anyone had "getting stuck on transition" issues with the S1 that were solved with the S1 Pro?

My Active 30 died and, wanting to jump on the no-cord bandwagon, I picked up an N1. So far I'm pretty happy with the decision. Unfortunately, the little guy keeps getting stuck on the transition from shallow to deep. The angle of change is pretty severe and he ends up running parallel to the drop with one track on the shallow side, one track on the deep side, and neither track able to get traction. He sits there, helpless, until his battery dies or I come move him.

This happens often enough that it's driving me crazy. My old Active 30 never had this issue and I'm thinking that having both a front and rear roller is one reason why. Has anyone experienced this and solved it by upgrading to the Pro version which has that back roller? Or, any other ticks/tips/magic incantations that might help prevent this guy from getting stuck like this?

Also... I did start a separate post for this question but it hasn't gotten many eyeballs. I'm desperate so cross posted here in the very active 38 page thread on all things Scuba. Forgiveness vs Permission and all that.

tcat · Friday at 11:27 AM

GaryParr said:
S1 vs S1 Pro... anyone had "getting stuck on transition" issues with the S1 that were solved with the S1 Pro?

My Active 30 died and, wanting to jump on the no-cord bandwagon, I picked up an N1. So far I'm pretty happy with the decision. Unfortunately, the little guy keeps getting stuck on the transition from shallow to deep. The angle of change is pretty severe and he ends up running parallel to the drop with one track on the shallow side, one track on the deep side, and neither track able to get traction. He sits there, helpless, until his battery dies or I come move him.

View attachment 650978

This happens often enough that it's driving me crazy. My old Active 30 never had this issue and I'm thinking that having both a front and rear roller is one reason why. Has anyone experienced this and solved it by upgrading to the Pro version which has that back roller? Or, any other ticks/tips/magic incantations that might help prevent this guy from getting stuck like this?

Also... I did start a separate post for this question but it hasn't gotten many eyeballs. I'm desperate so cross posted here in the very active 38 page thread on all things Scuba. Forgiveness vs Permission and all that.

I'm happy with the Seagull Pro, updated. Has a small 5th wheel at the center. The previous model got stuck on drains, this one doesn't.

GaryParr · Friday at 11:49 AM

tcat said:
I'm happy with the Seagull Pro, updated. Has a small 5th wheel at the center. The previous model got stuck on drains, this one doesn't.

Any pictures of that 5th wheel? The marketing images on Aiper's website don't show it. I'd assume it would also help with this issue, but kind of want the visual to make sure I'm thinking of it correctly. Hadn't really considered the Seagull... shorter run time than the Scuba and an older(I think ?) version of the navigation system was putting me off. Might not be an issue, but the Scuba is already close to the "not quite getting the whole pool in one run" department.

tcat · Friday at 12:04 PM

GaryParr said:
Any pictures of that 5th wheel? The marketing images on Aiper's website don't show it. I'd assume it would also help with this issue, but kind of want the visual to make sure I'm thinking of it correctly. Hadn't really considered the Seagull... shorter run time than the Scuba and an older(I think ?) version of the navigation system was putting me off. Might not be an issue, but the Scuba is already close to the "not quite getting the whole pool in one run" department.

The only thing I don't like is there's no ultra fine basket option. The 2025 S1 looks appealing to me, but sticking with Seagull until it dies.

GaryParr · Friday at 12:08 PM

tcat said:
The only thing I don't like is there's no ultra fine basket option. The 2025 S1 looks appealing to me, but sticking with Seagull until it dies.

Many thanks for that picture! You have given me another option to consider for sure.

Tubbs · 2025-06-01T10:07:44-0400

I haven't had any issues with my S1 transitioning from deep to shallow with a pretty steep incline. Although it seems to die in the deep end which will be a small issue in the winter for retrieval.

tcat · 2025-06-01T10:14:03-0400

Tubbs said:
I haven't had any issues with my S1 transitioning from deep to shallow with a pretty steep incline. Although it seems to die in the deep end which will be a small issue in the winter for retrieval.

That's what a pole & hook is for, it's just a big fish.

Tubbs · 2025-06-01T10:21:30-0400

tcat said:
That's what a pole & hook is for, it's just a big fish.

I understand the method I have a 3' raised beam on the back wall + 8' of water makes it more difficult especially if its parked facing the wrong way. I like the fully exposed handle better as it can be hooked from either direction.

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