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Closing my pool is one of the most stressful household tasks I do each year — but this robot cleaner made it a lot easier
As a family of five that lives in the pool all summer, keeping the water crystal clear is really important to us. From hosting pool parties to just hanging out on a lazy Sunday, the goal is always to keep the pool swim-ready straight through Labor Day.
That’s why I wanted to try out the Bublue BuHybrid L6 pool cleaning robot as summer started to ebb away. It’s supposedly the “world’s first hybrid cord and cordless robotic pool cleaner,” which is another way of saying you can plug it in or run off the internal battery.
Most of the time, we kept it wireless and got two hours of unrestricted battery-powered runtime. It was great for daily upkeep. When we wanted more, we plugged it into its generous 49-foot tether for unlimited deep-cleaning and enhanced settings like Eco, Performance and Corner Boost.
The BuHybrid L6 delivered impressive coverage, scrubbing floors, waterlines, and yes — even climbs pool walls. For the final test, I put it to work during pool closing, a chore I usually dread as much as saying goodbye to summer. This time, though, the process felt easier, and I’m confident our pool will be sparkling and ready to go when next season rolls around.
But while the BuHybrid L6 impressed us with its hybrid design and lightweight build, it isn’t perfect. Here’s what stood out, and what left us wanting more.
What I liked
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Hybrid cleaning modes
One of the BuHybrid L6’s biggest selling points is its flexibility. The corded and cordless modes mean you’re not locked into one setting or setup. For example, when we wanted continuous power for full pool deep cleans, the corded option let us have the ability to deep clean for hours without worrying about battery life.
Although we used the cordless mode most of the time, having the option was nice. The hybrid design made it versatile enough to match our cleaning schedule. On Sundays, I regularly did a scrub while tethered but during the week, I dropped the vacuum in, cord-free.
Lightweight and easy to use
The weight of this cleaner was a huge selling point for me. I’ve tested other pool vacuums that were so heavy I couldn’t move them without the help of my husband. But this one is fairly light, and one of the easiest pool cleaners to move around, so setting it up before a swim or packing it away for the season is a one-person job.
Solid cleaning performance (when tethered)
When plugged in, the BuHybrid L6 did a great job clearing debris from the pool floor, walls and waterline. It comes with multiple cleaning modes, including a full pool cycle and a targeted eco mode.
The L6 comes with four built-in cleaning options that cover all the basics:
- Floor: Focuses solely on the pool bottom, great for daily debris.
- Wall: Climbs and scrubs vertical surfaces.
- Waterline: Targets that stubborn ring around the edge of the pool.
- Full Pool (Auto): A complete cycle that tackles the floor, walls, and waterline in one go.
The AI-based navigation coupled with the unit’s ultrasonic sensors meant that the cleaner moves accurately across slopes, steps and around drains. And because of the machine’s light size, it seemed to move with greater ease around the pool than other models I’ve tested.
Advanced modes (corded only)
Plugging in the L6 unlocks extra features through the companion app. These gave us more control for deeper cleans:
- Eco: A power-saving mode that keeps things tidy between bigger sessions.
- Performance (Power): Cranks up suction for a more aggressive scrub.
- Corner Boost: Makes multiple passes to target tricky edges and corners.
You can also customize run times (2, 3, or 4 hours) and even adjust the “path width” for more tightly spaced sweeps.
Good value for money
The L6 connects to the companion smartphone app via Wi-Fi, which unlocks more customizations than you’d typically find on a cleaner at this price. Its sonar-guided navigation also helps it cover ground methodically.
It’s not as pricey as high-end models, but still delivers a strong feature set for families who want a reliable pool companion without overspending.
What I didn’t like
Not everything went swimmingly (!) with the BuHybrid L6. None of these downsides are a deal-breaker, but it’s worth keeping these factors in mind before you make a choice on whether to invest in this robot pool cleaner.
Cordless mode underwhelms
When the battery life on the cordless mode tops out around two hours, switching to cordless mode is a must if the pool still needs cleaning. Without the cord, cleaning performance drops considerably. In other words, don’t expect a spotless pool unless the vacuum is plugged in.
I found the hose to be clunky. Having used a number of pool vacuums that do the job without an attachment, the hose can be really annoying. It can drag, tangle or tug far more than expected and I was always going out to the pool to help smooth it out. With three young kids, the last thing I need on my agenda is to keep track of a pool hose.
Navigation and filter hiccups
The cleaner struggled with navigation at times, often getting stuck on the stairs and ladder, and unable to handle any type of awkward angle. While the app is great, the occasional glitch or lag, seemed to be the norm.
The filter basket is awesome; its large size holds a lot of debris, but the lid doesn’t always completely secure itself. A few time the lid even popped off, mid-cycle.
Is the BuHybrid L6 worth it?
The BuHybrid L6 is a solid, mid-price pool vacuum that strikes a strong balance between convenience, performance and price. For families like ours who practically live in the pool all summer, its lightweight build and cordless feature made maintenance far less of a chore.
I regularly leaned on the cordless mode for quick touch-ups; the tethered option, though awkward, handles the heavy lifting with impressive consistency. Yes, the hose can be frustrating, and the navigation isn’t perfect, but for the price range, the L6 delivers where it counts.
If you want a reliable robotic cleaner that adapts to your schedule without a hefty price tag, this hybrid vacuum is well worth it. I also recently tested the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra, which I was quite taken with. It’s more expensive, but was also a fantastic option for hassle-free pool maintenance.
