Photo credit: Emily Murray
If you’re keen on outsourcing dreaded cleaning tasks, there are some robotic gadgets you know you need before trying them – such as a vacuum cleaner or lawn mower – but a robotic pool cleaner? Now that is something I hadn’t considered.
A robotic pool cleaner wasn’t at the top of my wishlist. I already have a pool cleaner at home – it’s attached to an unsightly long blue cord that weaves its way around our pool area and connects to the pump. But it does the job, and while it’s hardly the most attractive addition to our backyard, I’ve put up with it and the cord to contend with every time we go for a swim. I figured all pool cleaners must be built this way.
So, when I was given the opportunity to put MOVA’s new Diver A10 Robotic Pool Cleaner to the test, I was intrigued. The concept completely makes sense. I’d heard of robot vacuums – I even own one myself – so if technology can vacuum the floors, then why not a pool? But I’d never heard of a robot that cleans your pool, plus no long cord attached? Genius!
With the weather warming up, the timing was perfect to test it out. My family is spending more time in the pool again, and the idea of having something quietly cleaning while we get on with life sounded pretty appealing. What I didn’t expect was how easy it would be to use, and just how attached I’d become to it. It was strangely satisfying.
MOVA Diver A10 Robotic Pool Cleaner Review:
- Our rating: (9 of 10)
- Why we rated it a (9/10):
Pros
- It’s completely cordless, so no cords to dodge while swimming
- Surprisingly easy and simple to set up
- Cleans the pool floor, walls and waterline
- Can be controlled and scheduled via the MOVA Home app
- Up to four hours of runtime
- Large 3.5L debris basket
Cons
- It requires charging in between cleans
- Comes with a price tag of $1,299RRP to invest in this pool cleaner
What’s so special about the MOVA Diver A10?
Without a doubt, the feature I have appreciated most is no more pool-cleaner cord. Our old cleaner cord was always in the way and became something to navigate around. We also had a particularly painful experience last year when our puppy decided it was a good idea to chew through the cord, leaving us with an expensive repair bill.
The MOVA Diver A10 Robotic Pool Cleaner is completely cordless, which means there is nothing to dodge around while swimming (or a puppy to sink her teeth into). It sounds like a small thing, but removing that cord from the equation streamlined our pool maintenance and made time spent in and around our pool feel much easier.
Robotic Pool Cleaner materials and size
- Dimensions: 425 × 386 × 234mm
- Weight: 9kg
- Material: Plastic
- Power: Cordless, rechargeable battery
- Battery: 169Wh / 7800mAh lithium-ion
- Debris basket: 3.5L
- Cleaning coverage: Floors, walls and waterline
- Pool coverage: Up to 180m²
- Runtime: Up to 4 hours
- Suction: Up to 22,700L/h
How to use the MOVA Diver A10
Getting started with the Robotic Pool Cleaner is surprisingly easy. Once charged, connect the cleaner to the MOVA Home app (I used the QR code that took me straight to the setup process on my phone), then select your preferred cleaning mode and place it into the pool. It’s honestly that simple.
The A10 Diver then gets to work, independently navigating the pool floor, walls and waterline all while collecting debris in its 3.5L basket. You can also use the app to schedule future cleaning sessions, check the cleaning log and monitor its progress while in use. Once complete, the A10 Diver automatically makes its way to the pool edge and parks where it’s easy for you to retrieve, empty and recharge – ready for its next clean.
The best part? No more cord
For me, the biggest surprise was how little effort is involved in setting it up. I expected a learning curve or some hair-pulling trying to figure out what to do with it once I got it out of the box. I resisted the urge to call my husband, thinking, “Nope, you can do this girl, you’ve got this.” And once it was set up, the A10 pretty much took care of itself.
There are certainly cheaper ways to clean a pool, and you still need to empty the debris basket and make sure the robot is charged, so it isn’t completely hands-off. But compared with the old routine of dealing with a cord and manually thinking about when the pool needs cleaning, it certainly feels like a worthwhile upgrade.
Overall, is this Robotic Pool Cleaner worth it?
I went into this review thinking a robotic pool cleaner sounded like a nice-to-have, a luxury gadget that probably didn’t exist. But it really does! Now I’m very happy to have one, and honestly can’t see myself going back to a pool cleaner with a long blue cord anytime soon.
Where to buy the MOVA Diver A10
The MOVA Diver A10 Robotic Pool Cleaner is currently available in Australia from:
- MOVA, $1099.00 (RRP $1299.00)
- Amazon, $1099.00
- Harvey Norman, $1098 (save $200)
Watch the MOVA Diver A10 in action
