Aiper Surfer S2: four-month solar-skimming notes for EcoSurfer S2 buyers

Initial S2 experience · 2025-09-27

The next post has an update after two months of use.

I bought the Aiper Surfer S1 in January this year. What attracted me most was its dual charging: it could charge by solar power or from a power supply. Its efficiency was average, but the biggest headache was the small battery. After charging fully from the power supply, it could make it through the night without sun and have about 30% left by daytime. The solar charging during the day would bring it to about 60%, but it would not last through another night and would enter standby mode.

The charging port was also extremely prone to water ingress and corrosion. In May, one of the metal charging pins corroded and broke. However, the after-sales service was very good. I photographed it and sent the pictures to customer service, and they immediately gave me an Australia Post label so I could return it for free. I handed it to the post office on the first day, they received it the next day, and that afternoon I was told a replacement had been sent. I received a completely new one at noon on the third day.

I recently saw that the S2 had launched and compared the main upgrades

1. The battery is larger and can last 35 hours... I do not know whether that is true.
2. The sensor has been upgraded and is more sensitive.
3. The filter is finer and can filter smaller debris.
4. A tablet compartment has been added, so it can release treatment chemicals while collecting leaves.
5. It can schedule start and stop times.

For me, the battery was the main reason, followed by the ability to schedule the operating time. I immediately went on Facebook, sold the S1 and ordered the S2.

After using it for a few days, I felt it was very good.

1. First, I no longer had to take it out to charge every other day. Solar charging was completely sufficient.
2. The collection design is more practical and efficient.
3. Feet have been added to help prevent it from getting stranded.
4. It is much, much quieter. The S1 was somewhat noisy, while with the S2 I could barely hear anything unless I paid attention.

Of course, there are also things I am not satisfied with.

1. The collection box is smaller. I estimate that some space was given up for the tablet compartment.
2. The tablet compartment is too shallow; the tablets I bought at Bunnings would not fit.
3. The charging port is still at the waterline. I do not know how waterproof the redesigned port is.

I will come back with another update after using it for a while.

Aiper pool robot; Aiper Surfer 2 swimming pool robot; pool skimmer; Aiper; Yuanding Intelligent Aiper; Australian pool cleaning; life in Australia.

Two months of use · 2025-11-05

Following the previous post. Update to the next post: four months of use, returned to the factory.

My direct assessment: it is excellent.

It is much better than the S1. It stayed in the water for about 24 hours a day on most days for two months. On one occasion, it rained continuously for two days and the battery fell to 19%, so I took it out and charged it. Normally, daytime solar charging was completely sufficient.

Here are my impressions and experience.

1. It uses about 40%–50% of its battery overnight. During the day, solar charging stops at 90%, supposedly to protect the battery. It can reach 100% only when connected to a power supply.
2. Its collection efficiency is higher than the S1's because it has a suction action rather than relying purely on blades to stir leaves inward. However, its collection box is a little smaller than the S1's, so I have to take it out and check it every two or three days, then clean it. Cleaning is still convenient: I just rinse it with water.
3. It travels around the edge of the pool and covers the corners. You can also set it not to go into the corners, supposedly to protect the machine from impacts. However, many floating objects collect in the corners, so I let it bump into them.
4. I do not know whether it is because the water level is high and the pool edge is low at my house, but it feels as though it often hits the edge. However, when I wave my hand in front of the sensor, it detects me, stops and changes direction.
5. There is still water around the charging port. The manual says it is best to let it dry before charging. However, as long as there is sunlight, I generally do not need to plug it in.
6. It dropped in price too quickly... It had only been on the market for two months and the price had already fallen by 150 Australian dollars... The drop was more dramatic than with Tesla and Samsung phones.
7. Many people ask how I clean the pool underwater. I have a wired underwater robot that has been running for 15 years. It is very efficient and cleans everything in about an hour, but it fights with the surface robot. When it stops, its hose floats on the surface and tangles the S2. After thinking about it for a long time, I bought PVC pipe and fittings from Bunnings and made a ring. When the underwater robot stops, I place the hose inside the ring. It solved the problem perfectly, although I have to coil the hose by hand after every use of the underwater robot. Since I usually run it two or three times a week, that is manageable.
8. Oh, right. The S2 has removed water-temperature monitoring. Unlike the S1, it cannot display the pool temperature. I do not know why; being able to display the temperature was quite useful.

Tip: people who currently have an S1 should be patient. I saw people online saying that the S1 has been discontinued and is sold out. If your S1 has a problem and you use the warranty, they will give you an S2 for free. I do not know whether this is a special case. If anyone has successfully received a free upgrade, please share it.

Life in Australia; Aiper pool robot; Aiper Surfer; Aiper Australia; Aiper pool cleaning; Yuanding Intelligent Aiper.

Four months and a replacement · 2026-01-21

Following the previous post.

During four months of use, after running for more than 2,000 hours as shown in the second photograph, I was still quite satisfied with the S2. Its efficiency at collecting leaves and debris was good. I had to clean the collection box about every two or three days, possibly because there are many trees around my home.

It worked almost continuously, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. There were only two occasions when Sydney had several consecutive rainy days and solar charging could not fully charge the battery, so I took it out and charged it from the power supply.

In January, when the weather improved, I noticed that the remaining battery level at night was lower than before. I later found that daytime solar charging could no longer go above 77%. Charging from the power supply could reach 100%. I asked ChatGPT, which said it might be a battery problem rather than a solar-panel problem: the solar panel has low voltage, and an aging battery may no longer charge fully. Two days later, I found that solar charging could reach only 43%. I emailed the shop where I bought it to explain the situation, and they immediately gave me an Australia Post label so I could return it. They said they would replace it.

As with the previous S1 replacement, I took it to the post office, and the next day the tracking showed that the machine had arrived back at the warehouse. One day later I received the tracking number for the replacement, and the next day I received a completely new S2.

The new machine also charges only to 90% in sunlight. They said this is to protect the battery.

What I want to tell everyone is

1. Keep the box the machine came in; do not throw it away.
2. Use the machine heavily. The more you use it, the sooner you can discover problems and replace it while it is under warranty.
3. The machine is quite good, and the after-sales service is very responsive.

Pool cleaning; Aiper pool robot; pool robot; life in Sydney.