poolcleanerreviews

Suction-side pool cleaner review

VEVOR R5 Suction Pool Cleaner

5.4BasicValue 9.2/10
Pump-drivenWallsWaterline?Skims surfaceWi-FiBluetoothRandom nav

Spec-based review: scored from VEVOR's published specifications with the same weights as every other suction-side cleaner. Not a hands-on test. How we score.

Our take

The VEVOR R5 Suction Pool Cleaner is a suction-side cleaner driven by your pool pump from VEVOR. It cleans the floor and walls, navigates at random, turning when it bumps into a wall, and has no app.

On paper it scores 5.4 out of 10 (basic) against other suction-side cleaners. Its strongest areas are filtration (7.0) and cleaning coverage (6.5). Where it gives ground: warranty (3.0) and navigation (4.0). Random navigation: it can miss spots and take longer to cover the pool.

The best price we found is $141.36 at Home Depot. The typical suction-side cleaner we track costs $404, so this one is cheaper than most. For what it does, its value score is 9.2 out of 10.

If you want waterline scrubbing, the cheapest we track with it is the Zodiac MX6 Suction-Side Pool Cleaner at $349.

To spend less for nearly the same spec score, the VEVOR PAC11 Suction Pool Cleaner rates 5.4 for $81.99.

Bottom line: a basic pick for large pools, above-ground pools, buyers who want the most features per dollar and low running cost and nothing to charge.

Pros

  • +Climbs and cleans the walls, not just the floor.
  • +Rated for large pools, up to 40 ft long.
  • +No battery or cord to manage: it runs whenever your pool pump does.
  • +Works in above-ground pools as well as in-ground.
  • +Light to lift out at 13.7 lb.

Cons

  • −Random navigation: it can miss spots and take longer to cover the pool.
  • −Runs off your skimmer or suction line and the pool pump, so the pump has to be on while it cleans.
  • −Warranty length isn’t stated.
  • −Rated only for small pools, up to 800 sq ft.

Best for

  • Large pools
  • Above-ground pools
  • Buyers who want the most features per dollar
  • Low running cost and nothing to charge

Skip it if

  • You want the fastest full-pool coverage

Where to buy the R5

StoreCheckedBuy
Home DepotSold on Home Depot under the brand name SKYSHALO, but the model number is VEVOR's SKU XSYCQJQXCLS4UGXSPV0. Price from JSON-LD. Stock and seller not checked.$141.36—todayView deal
VEVOROut of stockVEVOR SKU XSYCQJQXCLS4UGXSPV0 ('Small Wheel Type' option). JSON-LD OutOfStock, stock 0.$136.99—todayView deal

Similar-priced alternatives

5.4

VEVOR PAC11 Suction Pool Cleaner

VEVOR · Suction-side · value 10.0/10

Pump-drivenWallsWaterline?Skims surfaceWi-FiBluetoothRandom nav
  • +Climbs and cleans the walls, not just the floor.
  • +No battery or cord to manage: it runs whenever your pool pump does.

$81.99

at Home Depot

Read review

Compare the R5 with any cleaner →

Head to head: PAC11 vs R5 · Wanda the Whale vs R5