Is it worth $350? Review, Alternatives, and Testing the Aiper Surfer S2 Robotic Solar Skimmer

The Aiper Surfer S2 robotic pool skimmer looks impressive right out of the box. Gold trim, solar charging, app control—it checks a lot of boxes on paper.
But after testing every major robotic pool skimmer, the real question is this: Is the Aiper Surfer S2 the best choice for your pool—or just the best-looking one?

Shop the Aiper Surfer S2: https://amzn.to/4aNSDH1
Shop the Betta SE: https://amzn.to/489iFS9
Shop the Betta SE Plus: https://amzn.to/4852cyd
Shop Dolphin Skimmi: https://amzn.to/4soTCE1

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Aiper Surfer S2 Review – Is This Solar Robotic Pool Skimmer Worth It?

The Aiper Surfer S2 robotic pool skimmer looks great on paper: solar powered, app controlled, and finished with premium gold trim. After weeks of hands-on testing, it does deliver solid surface cleaning performance. But after testing every major robotic pool skimmer on the market, the real question is whether the Surfer S2 is actually the best choice for your pool.

In this review, I break down what the Aiper Surfer S2 gets right, where it falls short, and why certain design decisions and Aiper’s reliability history kept me from recommending it.

Real-world surface cleaning performance
Edge and waterline debris pickup
Navigation behavior and coverage issues
Solar charging vs real battery runtime
App functionality and scheduling
Design flaws Aiper didn’t address
Built-in chlorine dispenser concerns
What the user manual reveals
Aiper recall history and why it matters
Comparison vs Dolphin Skimmi and Betta SE
Final verdict: is it worth buying?

The Good: It Actually Cleans

The Surfer S2 reliably removes floating debris you didn’t realize was in your pool.
Picks up leaves, pet hair, and fine debris
Captures maple helicopters and surface pollen
Removes approximately 85–90% of waterline debris
Three brushless motors provide consistent suction
DebrisGuard design keeps collected debris contained

The Bad: Design Decisions That Make No Sense

Despite being larger than the Surfer S1, Aiper made some questionable choices.
Filter capacity reduced from 5L to 4L
Intake opening shrunk from 9 inches to 8 inches
Slower cleaning speed than competing skimmers
Cleaning cycles take 4–5 hours instead of 2–3

Battery Life and Solar Charging

Solar performance is strong but condition-dependent.
Up to 35+ hours in full sunlight
20–25 hours in partly cloudy conditions
15–18 hours in overcast weather
Shaded pools require frequent DC charging

Aiper Surfer S2 vs Competitors

How it stacks up against other robotic skimmers.
Dolphin Skimmi: faster cleaning and better navigation
Supports infinity pools where the S2 cannot
Betta SE: more consistent coverage and fewer design compromises
Both avoid the slow cleaning speed of the S2

There are better-performing robotic pool skimmers available that offer faster cleaning, more thoughtful engineering, and greater peace of mind.

Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next one.

0:00 - Intro
0:57 - Cleaning Performance
2:13 - Chlorine Dispenser
2:44 - What the Manual Reveals
3:14 - Navigation
3:46 - Anti-Stranding Bars
4:12 - Smartphone App
5:09 - Battery Life
5:31 - Comparing to Other Top Skimmers

#Aiper #PoolSkimmer #PoolCleaning