This is the world’s first robotic pool cleaner with a UV light built into it. Yes — you heard that right. UV. Ultraviolet Light. And you’re probably reading this because, like me, you want to know “Is this a gimmick? Or does it actually work?”
And after testing it for a few weeks, it works – it works really well – and what really caught my attention wasn’t the UV. It was the suction power and cleaning performance. On my manometer, the Clear UV recorded the second-highest suction reading I have ever measured — over 2.09 PSI in my testing.
So today I’m going to break down what this UV light actually does, what it doesn’t do, how the Clear UV can put pool cleaning on autopilot – something no cordless pool cleaner can say – and lastly why I think this is the best and most innovative pool cleaner of the year.
Hey guys, I’m Ryan with ActuallyUsed, where we put the products to the test so you don’t have to. I buy these robots, run them in our pool, and measure what they actually do. I don’t read off the box; I really use these robots and live with them. Then I share just my data and my opinion. And today, I’m covering the brand new Clear UV robotic pool cleaner. Let’s dive in.
What Is the Clear UV?
To start with the basics — the Clear UV is a robotic pool cleaner. That means it drives itself around your pool, vacuums the floor, scrubs the walls, and filters the water as it goes, so you never have to lift a finger. Drop it in, let it run, pull it out. No assembly, no booster pumps. It’s plug and play.
It comes from a brand that’s new to this channel — Clear. And the UV in the name is the headline feature: an ultraviolet light module built into the bottom of the cleaner. As the robot drives, that light turns on and sanitizes the surface passing directly underneath it.
Everything else about it is a fairly conventional corded robot. You plug the power supply in, drop the unit in the pool, and it goes to work on autopilot. You can set it to run every day, leave it in the pool, and it cleans for you. So you never have to think about it.
No battery to babysit, no charging dock, no dead robot waiting at the bottom of the deep end. It can run automatically every single day, thanks to its corded design. So all you have to do is go out once a week and clean the filter.
But at around $2,000 as of today, it’s playing in the same neighborhood as the big-name flagships — so it needs to earn that. Let’s start with the question everyone asks me first.
Is the UV Light Safe?
Yes — and let me explain why, because I know it’s the first concern. The light is mounted on the bottom of the unit, facing straight down. According to Clear, it only activates when the robot is submerged and running — there are safety interlocks designed to keep it from firing out of the water. And in my testing, that held up. I never once saw the light come on while the robot was on the deck, in my hands, or being lifted out.
And to activate it in the app, you do have to press the button in the top right and turn it on. It doesn’t turn on automatically – so just something to note.
That said, common sense still applies. You should never look directly into a UV light. Treat it the way you’d treat any UV source — it does its work face-down against the pool floor, and that’s exactly where it should stay.
So is the UV a gimmick? Here’s my straight answer: the technology itself is legit — but you need to understand what it can and can’t do.
UV light has been used to treat water for decades. Municipal water plants use it. Whole-home purifiers use it. High-end pool systems like SpectraLight build dedicated UV chambers right into the plumbing of your pool. Using ultraviolet light on pool water isn’t new — what’s new is strapping it to the bottom of a robot.
This light helps neutralize algae and microorganisms in the water and on the surfaces passing under the unit while it cleans.
Do I have a lab? No. Can I count microbes on my pool floor? Also no. So I’m not going to stand here and tell you I verified a kill rate, because I didn’t — and can’t.
Here’s what I can tell you from my own experience: my pool’s water has never been clearer. It is true to its name, Clear. But here’s the big one — I did not change my chlorine routine, and you shouldn’t either. This is not a chlorine replacement. Think of the UV as a bonus layer riding on top of a cleaner that still has to earn its keep the old-fashioned way: with suction, filtration, and coverage. Which brings me to my favorite part of every review.
The Suction Test: My Manometer Numbers
If you’re new here, this is the thing we do that nobody else does. I hook a hydro manometer directly to the intake port of every robot I test and measure the actual suction pressure — in PSI — right where the debris gets pulled in. Manufacturers love to advertise gallons per hour, and to be fair, GPH is a real number — it just measures a different thing. Flow tells you how much water moves. Pressure tells you how hard the robot can actually pull a wet leaf, sand, or gritty sediment off your floor. On my gauge, PSI is the number that predicts real-world pickup.
So here’s the reading. On my manometer, the Clear UV pulled over 2.09 PSI at the intake port. To put that in context, that’s the second-highest reading I’ve recorded out of the twenty-plus robots I’ve tested. Only the Dolphin Premier, at 2.2 PSI, has pulled harder on my gauge — and the Clear UV edges out even the triple-motor Dolphin Sigma at 2.0. For a first effort from a new brand, that stopped me in my tracks.
| Robot | PSI on my gauge |
|---|---|
| Dolphin Premier | 2.2 |
| Clear UV | 2.09 |
| Dolphin Sigma | 2.0 |
| Dolphin Quantum Pro | 1.9 |
| Dolphin Cayman | 1.5 |
| Aiper Scuba X1 | 1.1 |
And it shows up in the water. In my testing, it pulled in leaves, sand, and the fine gritty stuff.
The most impressive part is that out of all of these robots, it has the widest SINGLE intake. Where there is a basket, everything is coming into this one wider intake port – whereas the Premier and Sigma have dual intake ports.
Your results may vary depending on your pool, but strong pressure at the port is the single best predictor of pickup I’ve found — and the Clear UV didn’t disappoint.
Filtration
Suction gets debris to the door — filtration decides what stays. The Clear UV uses an UltraFilter that’s easy to access and rinse: pop it out, hose it off, drop it back in. In my experience, the whole cleanup took about a minute.
This filter is comparable to Dolphin’s NanoFilters and per Clear’s website is rated at around 1 micron. Which is pretty impressive.
Living With It Week to Week
Day to day, this is where corded robots quietly win, and the Clear UV is no exception.
You plug it in, you drop it in, and it runs. There’s no battery to charge, no charging dock on your deck, and no dead robot sitting on the bottom waiting for you to fish it out with a pole.
If you’ve watched my cordless reviews, you know my math on this: a battery robot can mean upwards of fourteen separate interactions a week between retrieving, charging, and redeploying. A corded robot on a schedule is pool cleaning on autopilot.
Cleaning Modes & Power Supply
One of my biggest complaints about other robots I’ve tested is that it either has an app OR controls on the power supply. The Clear UV has both. And it has one of the widest ranges of options of ANY cleaners I’ve tested.
It has 3 speeds it can clean at: fast, normal, and slow.
3 areas you can choose to clean: Floor, Walls, & Waterline – pick floors, walls & waterline, or all 3.
This level of customization isn’t found in other cleaners I’ve tested – which is something I was kind of shocked it had.
And to start the cleaner, you don’t need to pull out the app if you don’t want to. Just press the button on the power supply and it gets to work.
Smartphone App
Now the app is pretty good. You’re able to schedule the robot to clean daily, select cleaning modes, turn on the UV, and the best part – even manually control it if needed.
It sounds basic. But after testing dozens of cordless cleaners that drop connection underwater, it’s amazing.
There are also other modes like Pickup mode and even a temperature display – which is handy.
And you can even connect to it via Wi-Fi if you want. So if you’re not home and need to start your cleaner, it just takes a few presses of a button.
Things to Keep in Mind
Now — every robot has its unique quirks, so let’s talk about a few practical things to consider to make sure this is the right fit for your pool.
First, let’s talk about the expectations around the UV feature. It’s an awesome concept, but remember that it’s designed to be a helpful supplement, not a chemical-free shortcut. You’re still going to be running your regular sanitizer—like liquid chlorine—just like before. It’s best to look at the UV as a fantastic bonus layer that works with your current water chemistry, riding on top of what is already a really strong vacuum.
Second, because it uses actual UV technology, the lamp is a consumable part. Just like any lightbulb, it will naturally dim over time and eventually need a swap. It’s completely standard for this kind of tech, just an extra line item to factor into your long-term ownership that you wouldn’t have with a traditional robot. However, you can swap it out at home – which is super nice.
Who Should Buy the Clear UV?
So who is this robot for? If you want top-tier suction and you like the idea of an extra layer of clean riding along for free, this belongs on your shortlist. It is one of the most powerful cleaners I’ve tested and deserves the spot in your pool. It’s really hard to beat the bang for your buck you get with this pool cleaner.
If you like everything about it except the UV price premium, the Clear S is the same cleaner without the light.
Final Thoughts
The Clear UV is not a gimmick riding on a light bulb. In my testing it put up the second-strongest suction number I’ve ever measured.
If you want to see current pricing on the Clear UV — plus every robot I mentioned today — head to the deals page. I keep that page updated with the best prices I can find, and it’s the easiest way to support the channel.
Thanks for watching — I’ll catch you on the next one.
