# Aiper EcoSurfer S2 vs Betta SE

As of Nov 4, 2026, the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 costs $360 and the Betta SE costs $370, so the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 is $10 cheaper. Pick the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 for owners who want app scheduling. Pick the Betta SE for pools with leaves and bugs on the surface.

Prices checked Nov 4, 2026. HTML version: https://robotsforthat.com/vs/aiper-surfer-s2-vs-betta-se/

## Side by side

| | Aiper EcoSurfer S2 | Betta SE |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $360 | $370 |
| 3 year cost | $360 | $370 |
| Our score | 9.1/10 | 9.1/10 |
| Rank in Pool | #1 | #2 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | 2 years (Aiper US store) | 1 year (Betta store) |
| Pool types | Regular, irregular and spa or lounger attached pools (Aiper); size limit not published | Above-ground and in-ground; Betta says its SCT motors work in saltwater and chlorine pools |
| Cleans | Water surface only (skimmer), plus a 3 in chlorine tablet holder | Water surface only (skimmer); does not clean floor or walls |
| Power | Cordless, charges by solar panel or DC adapter (Aiper); PCWorld lists a 5,200 mAh battery and 24 W panel | Cordless, solar charged built in lithium battery; no plug in charging (Betta) |
| Runtime | 35 h on an adapter charge (Aiper); PCWorld saw 24 h nonstop use only about 25% of the battery | 30+ h on a charge, including cloudy days (Betta); The Pool Nerd ran it daily for weeks with no stops |
| Charge time | 4 to 6 h by adapter (Aiper); PCWorld cites about 6 h | 5 to 6 h of direct sunlight (Betta) |
| Filter | 4 L top load basket with 150 micron filter (Aiper); The Pool Nerd notes the S1 basket was 5 L | Top load fine mesh basket, 200 micron (Betta) |
| Max pool size | n/a | Up to 40 x 60 ft, about 2,400 sq ft (Betta) |
| App | Aiper app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for start, schedules, remote control and history (Aiper, PCWorld); Bob Vila had trouble connecting at first | No app; wireless remote for mode changes, auto mode only (Betta) |
| Weight | 13 lb (PCWorld) | n/a |
| Warranty | 2 years (Aiper store) | 1 year, plus 30 day home trial (Betta) |
| Best for | owners who want app scheduling | pools with leaves and bugs on the surface |
| Skip if | you get heavy leaf fall | you want app control or floor cleaning |

## What reviewers found

### Aiper EcoSurfer S2

- PCWorld: Cleared synthetic leaves in about 3.5 h with roughly 80% collected by the robot. 24 h of nonstop running used about 25% of the battery, and it kept a 10 h daily schedule through weeks of overcast weather. Slow, slightly underpowered, and the basket is hard to remove. [Source](https://www.pcworld.com/article/3125386/aiper-ecosurfer-s2-review.html)
- Bob Vila (4.5/5): Named Best With App. Picked up leaves and bugs well and was compact, but app pairing was difficult at first and it sometimes got stuck after head on wall hits. Subscores: Ease of Use 4.3/5, Performance 5/5, Value 4/5. [Source](https://www.bobvila.com/reviews/best-robotic-pool-skimmer/)
- The Pool Nerd: Budget option at $299 with no approval badge; leaves often slipped past or sank, and the author suggests paying about $70 more for the Betta SE. Notes the S2 is not part of Aiper's Seagull Pro or Elite Pro recalls. [Source](https://www.thepoolnerd.com/best-pool-skimmers)

### Betta SE

- Bob Vila (4.6/5): Named Best Basic. Called it the fastest skimmer tested, with solar charging that kept it running and ultrasonic navigation that rarely left it stuck. It occasionally missed tight corners, and the test unit's rear propellers stopped working after about 12 months (covered by warranty). Subscores: Ease of Use 5/5, Performance 5/5, Value 5/5. [Source](https://www.bobvila.com/reviews/best-robotic-pool-skimmer/)
- The Pool Nerd: Pool Nerd Approved and named Best Overall Pool Skimmer. Cleared the surface within a few hours, ran daily for several weeks with no jams, and the basket needed emptying every few days. The site earns affiliate commissions. [Source](https://www.thepoolnerd.com/betta-se-review)
- The Pool Nerd: Best Overall in its April 2026 skimmer roundup at about $370; estimated it delivers about 80 to 90% of the cleaning of skimmers costing twice as much. [Source](https://www.thepoolnerd.com/best-pool-skimmers)

## Questions buyers ask

### Which is better, the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 or the Betta SE?

Pick the Aiper EcoSurfer S2 for owners who want app scheduling. Pick the Betta SE for pools with leaves and bugs on the surface.

### Which is cheaper?

The Aiper EcoSurfer S2 at $360, versus $370 for the Betta SE, checked Nov 4, 2026. Over 3 years with running costs: $360 vs $370.

### What is the difference between the EcoSurfer S2 and the SE?

Pool types: Regular, irregular and spa or lounger attached pools (Aiper); size limit not published on the EcoSurfer S2, Above-ground and in-ground; Betta says its SCT motors work in saltwater and chlorine pools on the SE. Cleans: Water surface only (skimmer), plus a 3 in chlorine tablet holder on the EcoSurfer S2, Water surface only (skimmer); does not clean floor or walls on the SE. Power: Cordless, charges by solar panel or DC adapter (Aiper); PCWorld lists a 5,200 mAh… on the EcoSurfer S2, Cordless, solar charged built in lithium battery; no plug in charging (Betta) on the SE.

Full reviews: [Aiper EcoSurfer S2](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/aiper-surfer-s2/index.md), [Betta SE](https://robotsforthat.com/robot/betta-se/index.md)
