Solar Pool Skimmers

A photovoltaic panel on top of the skimmer charges an internal lithium battery while the skimmer floats in sunlight; the stored charge runs the motors at night and in shade. Beatbot lists a 24-watt panel on the iSkim; Maytronics, Betta and Aiper do not publish panel wattage.

Betta rates the SE Plus for more than 30 hours per charge, Aiper rates the EcoSurfer S2 for up to 35 hours per DC charge, and Beatbot rates the iSkim for up to 28 hours. Maytronics publishes no battery-only figure for the Dolphin Skimmi; the Skimmi 300 lists a 45-minute default cycle between charges.

The Aiper EcoSurfer S2 ships with a DC adapter (4 to 6 hour charge) and the Betta SE Plus with an adapter that charges it in about 3.5 hours. Beatbot has not published an adapter charge time for the 2026 iSkim; the 2025 iSkim Ultra used a magnetic wireless charger. Maytronics lists solar charging for the Dolphin Skimmi.

They run on battery while shaded and recharge only when the panel is in direct sun. The Aiper EcoSurfer S2 drives itself into sunlit areas to recharge (SolarSeeker); the Dolphin Skimmi also seeks sunny spots. Maytronics lists the Skimmi as compatible with pool covers.

No. A skimmer collects floating debris from the water surface only. Robotic pool cleaners vacuum the floor and, on most models, the walls and waterline. The makers position the two as complementary.

The Dolphin Skimmi and the Betta SE Plus, both with free shipping and a 30-day trial. The Aiper EcoSurfer S2 and Beatbot iSkim are sold on Amazon; Poolbots lists their facts and earns a commission on qualifying Amazon purchases. The Dolphin Skimmi 300 is sold through pool stores only.

Maytronics rates the Dolphin Skimmi and Skimmi 300 for pools up to 65 feet long. Aiper and Beatbot list in-ground and above-ground pools of regular and irregular shapes for the EcoSurfer S2 and iSkim without a maximum size; Betta lists in-ground and above-ground pools for the SE Plus.

Aiper lists a 4-liter top-load basket on the EcoSurfer S2 and Beatbot a 9-liter basket holding about 800 leaves on the iSkim. Betta describes the SE Plus basket as large with 200-micron mesh; Maytronics describes the Skimmi basket as oversized without a volume.

150 microns on the Aiper EcoSurfer S2, 200 microns on the Betta SE Plus and 550 microns on the Beatbot iSkim. Maytronics describes the Skimmi filter as coarse mesh without a micron rating.

The Beatbot iSkim uses two ultrasonic sensors and four retractable legs, the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 two optical sensors and four retractable anti-stranding columns, the Betta SE Plus ultrasonic radar and a shallow-water safeguard, and the Dolphin Skimmi infrared sensors above and below the waterline.

The Dolphin Skimmi (MyDolphin Skimmi app over Bluetooth), the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 (Aiper app: start, stop, schedules, remote steering, alerts) and the Beatbot iSkim (Beatbot app: start, stop, schedule, battery level, One-Tap Return). The Betta SE Plus has no app.

Beatbot lists salt- and chlorine-resistant construction and saltwater up to 5,000 ppm for the iSkim; Aiper lists salt-chlorine tolerant motors on the EcoSurfer S2; Maytronics lists the Skimmi for any pool type. Betta does not publish a salt limit for the SE Plus.

1 year on the Dolphin Skimmi and Betta SE Plus, 3 years on the store-only Dolphin Skimmi 300, 24 months of product care on the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 and 3 years on the Beatbot iSkim.

Poolbots lists the Dolphin Skimmi at $549 and the Betta SE Plus at $499 list; Aiper lists the EcoSurfer S2 at $399.99 and Beatbot the iSkim at $499 (regular price), with Amazon's current prices shown on each card above.