Polaris PCX 868 iQ Smart Robotic Pool Cleaner

The PCX 868 iQ is the corded, connected Polaris — it trades the cordless convenience of the Freedom line for uninterrupted power and adds iAquaLink, which is genuinely one of the better-executed pool control apps on the market.

Double Helix brushes

Polaris's brush design uses staggered rubber blades on both the front and rear rollers. The staggering matters: instead of one continuous edge dragging across the surface, individual blades make contact in sequence, which agitates bonded dirt rather than skating over it. It's a real advantage on plaster and pebble finishes where a smooth roller tends to polish rather than lift.

Easy Lift removal

One button — on the control unit or in the app — sends the cleaner up the wall to the waterline, where it rapidly evacuates the water it's holding. You end up lifting a drained 38.8 lb shell instead of a full one, which is the single biggest quality-of-life feature on a cleaner this size.

Filtration and maintenance

The canister is large, top-accessible, and has a transparent window, so you can see the fill level without opening anything. Emptying is a remove-shake-rinse job with no filter bags to handle.

Where it fits

Best for in-ground pools up to 50 ft where you want scheduling and remote start but don't want to manage a battery. If deck-side cable is a deal-breaker, look at the Freedom or Freedom Plus instead.

Another model worth a look

Before spending flagship money on a 38.8-lb wheeled Polaris, compare the 16.5-lb Dolphin Explorer E70 (caddy included, 3-yr warranty) or our extra-large Dolphin Quantum—both offer true 2-micron pleated filtration for fine silt.