29% OFF
$499.99
$699.99
Updated October 2026
Data from the official Aiper site.
2026 verdict
Stepping up within the Aiper Scuba line, the Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra is the flagship that does the most, and the Aiper Scuba S1 is where the range begins.
The V3 Ultra wins on cleaning coverage, adding surface skimming and shallow-ledge work down to 7.9 inches on top of the floor, walls and waterline the S1 already covers, and it wins on navigation with dual-camera AI vision paired with ultrasonic sensors. It also runs longer (up to 480 minutes on the surface) and adds 5 GHz Wi-Fi, a magnetic charging dock and a three-year warranty. The Scuba S1 is the more affordable of the pair and still filters to 3 microns, so it remains the pick for a typical in-ground pool that only needs the surfaces cleaned.
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| Feature | Aiper Scuba S1 | Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $499.99 | $1899.99 | Aiper Scuba S1 |
| Rating | 4.3 | 4.2 | Aiper Scuba S1 |
| Cleaning Coverage | Floor Cleaning, Wall Cleaning, Waterline Cleaning, Steps & Platform Cleaning | Floor Cleaning, Wall Cleaning, Waterline Cleaning, Water Surface Skimming, Steps & Platform Cleaning | Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra |
| Navigation | None | AI Camera Vision, Ultrasonic Mapping, Obstacle Avoidance, Auto Parking | Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra |
| Battery Life | 180 minutes | 480 minutes | Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth | 2.4 GHz WiFi, Other | Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra |
| Pool Compatibility | In-Ground Pools | In-Ground Pools | Tie |
| Cordless | YES | YES | Tie |
| Solar Charging | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Cleaning coverage
The Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra skims the surface and works shallow ledges down to 7.9 inches on top of the floor, walls and waterline. The Aiper Scuba S1 covers the floor, walls, waterline and a 12 inch shallow area, so a pool that collects floating leaves as well as sunken grit asks for the V3 Ultra.
Navigation
The V3 Ultra uses two front cameras for stereo depth plus an ultrasonic sensor, and recognises more than twenty kinds of debris and obstacle. The S1 relies on WavePath 2.0 inertial navigation, which covers a simple pool but cannot route to the dirt the way the V3 Ultra does.
Runtime and charging
The V3 Ultra skims for up to 480 minutes and charges on a magnetic wireless dock with no exposed contacts. The S1 runs up to 180 minutes and plugs in through an included DC cable, so a large pool needs two or more S1 cycles to match one V3 Ultra pass.
Pool size
The V3 Ultra is rated for in-ground pools up to 3,875 sq ft, where the S1 is rated at 1,600 sq ft. For a typical residential pool both are enough, but a large or freeform pool leaves the S1 running flat out.
Connectivity
The V3 Ultra connects on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and the S1 on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi plus Bluetooth. Neither has smart home platform support, so both are driven from the Aiper app while at the surface, but the V3 Ultra's dual band is more tolerant of a crowded network.
Which one to buy if
- your pool collects both sunken grit and floating leaves
The V3 Ultra cleans and skims in one machine, so you do not need a separate surface skimmer.
- you have a sun shelf or a shallow ledge
The V3 Ultra works shallow areas down to 7.9 inches with anti-fall sensors, which the S1 does not reach.
- you want one machine instead of a robot plus a skimmer
The V3 Ultra answers the floor, the waterline and the surface, replacing two devices with one.
- you want the lower outlay for a modest in-ground pool
The Scuba S1 covers the standard surfaces and filters to the same 3 microns for considerably less.
29% OFF
$499.99
$699.99
- + Price: $499.99
- + Rating: 4.3
- - Cleaning Coverage: Floor Cleaning, Wall Cleaning, Waterline Cleaning, Steps & Platform Cleaning vs Floor Cleaning, Wall Cleaning, Waterline Cleaning, Water Surface Skimming, Steps & Platform Cleaning
- - Navigation: None vs AI Camera Vision, Ultrasonic Mapping, Obstacle Avoidance, Auto Parking
Winner
24% OFF
$1899.99
$2499.99
- + Cleaning Coverage: Floor Cleaning, Wall Cleaning, Waterline Cleaning, Water Surface Skimming, Steps & Platform Cleaning
- + Navigation: AI Camera Vision, Ultrasonic Mapping, Obstacle Avoidance, Auto Parking
- + Battery Life: 480 minutes
- - Price: $1899.99 vs $499.99
- - Rating: 4.2 vs 4.3
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Aiper Scuba S1 or Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra?
The Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra for a large or debris-heavy pool, since it cleans and skims, works shallow ledges down to 7.9 inches, uses dual-camera AI navigation and runs up to 480 minutes on a magnetic dock. The Aiper Scuba S1 is the value pick for a typical in-ground pool that only needs the surfaces cleaned.
What is the biggest difference between the Aiper Scuba S1 and the Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra?
Coverage and navigation. The Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra adds surface skimming and shallow-ledge cleaning with dual-camera AI vision, while the Aiper Scuba S1 covers the floor, walls, waterline and a 12 inch shallow area using inertial navigation.
Does the Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra dock itself?
No. It surfaces on its own and holds at the waterline for you to lift out, then sits on a magnetic wireless dock at the pool edge to charge. The Aiper Scuba S1 has no dock at all and plugs in through a DC cable.
Do the Aiper Scuba S1 and Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra work with Alexa or Google Home?
No. Neither has smart home platform support. Both are controlled through the Aiper app over Wi-Fi while at the surface, and the Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra adds a 5 GHz band on top of 2.4 GHz.
Who should buy the Aiper Scuba S1?
A pool owner with a typical in-ground pool who wants the core surfaces cleaned and fine 3 micron filtration without paying for cameras, skimming or a dock.
Who should buy the Aiper Scuba V3 Ultra?
An owner of a large in-ground pool that collects both sunken debris and floating leaves, or one who wants shallow-ledge cleaning, camera navigation, a wireless charging dock and a three-year warranty.
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