One of Our Top Robot Vacuum Brands Is Diving into Pool Care
The RockAqua P1 made its splashdown at IFA 2026 in Berlin, and we saw it first.
Robot vacuum giant Roborock is making a splash with its new robotic pool cleaner, the RockAqua P1. This innovative device, unveiled at a bustling exhibition, is designed to keep swimming pools sparkling clean. The RockAqua P1 is equipped with an adaptive cleaning path, allowing it to navigate pools of varying shapes and depths. It also features vision-based obstacle avoidance, which helps it steer clear of potential hazards like drain covers and steps.
While the RockAqua P1 doesn't boast the same AI-driven debris-detection capabilities as some competitors, such as the top-rated Aiper Scuba V3, it more than makes up for it with impressive suction power. Delivering a robust 6,800 gallons per hour, the robot cleaner competes with some of the most powerful pool-cleaning robots from established brands.
However, raw power doesn't always equate to superior cleaning results. In lab tests, the RockAqua P1 demonstrated that its performance was more dependent on its ability to adapt its suction based on the situation.
For instance, when encountering larger debris, the robot intelligently reduces its suction to prevent water flow from disturbing the debris and pushing it out of the cleaning path. As it gets closer to the debris, it increases suction to ensure its effective capture. This smart, situation-dependent suction adjustment is a notable feature that sets the RockAqua P1 apart from other pool cleaners.
The RockAqua P1 offers a respectable run time of up to 3.5 hours on a single charge, which is on par with high-end models. Once a cleaning cycle is complete, the robot gracefully rests on the water's surface, a feature that simplifies the process of retrieving the device for emptying and recharging. Instead of remaining at the pool's bottom, where it would require manual extraction, the RockAqua P1's surface-resting design enhances its user-friendliness.
Currently, the RockAqua P1 is set to launch in the European market, with a potential rollout to the United States still pending.
Written by urgent.news from CNET's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
