AIPER Surfer S2 test: Is the successor worth it?

Scope of delivery

• Includes pool robot with power supply unit
• Documents in turquoise envelope
• Additional accessories: Floating noodle

The scope of delivery of the AIPER Surfer S2 focuses on the essentials and can be summarized without a lot of superfluous frills. The pool robot itself is included, along with the associated power supply unit and the usual documentation. The latter include an operating or quick start guide, the cover of which is turquoise. Worth mentioning is the enclosed floating noodle, which can be inserted into your own pool skimmer. This prevents the Surfer S2 from being carried off course by the current.

Optics & processing

• Modern and more angular design compared to its predecessor
• Mixture of dark grey and black housing with bronze-colored accents
• Higher-quality workmanship such as quieter impeller

Compared to its predecessor, the S1, the AIPER Surfer S2 has a new design. While the S1 mainly looked like a catamaran, the Surfer S2 has a more angular shape. Similar developments can also be observed in the automotive sector. While vehicles with curves used to be in demand, modern cars are becoming increasingly angular over time. The new design is therefore very much to our taste.

Apart from that, the main functionality of the pool robot has remained unchanged. The large solar panel is still located on the top of the device, which also houses the controls and carrying handle. The ultrasonic sensors for obstacle detection on the water also remain on the front as usual. In addition to the power connection, the two black propellers can also be seen on the back, which are highlighted with a bronze accent on the outside. The AIPER lettering on the carrying handle is also in the same color.

In terms of workmanship, the manufacturer has gone one better with the AIPER Surfer S2. Although we had no reservations about the previous model, the components make a higher quality impression. This is particularly evident in the filter basket. The option of using a chlorine tablet and the quieter impeller are a successful further development. In terms of the underside, the hull has a much more closed design. We remember: Due to its design, the AIPER Surfer S1 was rather open in this area, which meant that the propellers and motor were easily visible. In this respect, the AIPER Surfer S2 looks appropriate in view of its price and does not suggest cheap components.

Features

• Large solar panel and brushless motors
• Longer battery life and improved obstacle detection
• Filter basket with 4 liter capacity including chlorine tablet compartment

Let’s get to the hard facts of the AIPER Surfer S2, in other words: What can this thing do? The large solar panel has remained unchanged, but unlike its predecessor, it no longer has a cut-out in the middle. With the Surfer S1, the entire deck could be pushed back to access the filter basket. This feature is no longer available on the new model, as the filter basket can now be removed from the front. There are still three brushless motors. Two of them are used to drive the propellers and one for the impeller.

Thanks to the improved two optical sensors on the front of the AIPER Surfer S2, obstacles should also be better detected. On the other hand, the battery has been increased by 1,200 mAh, resulting in a total capacity of 5,200 mAh. This ensures a battery life of up to 35 hours on a single charge. In addition, the manufacturer’s own control center and the optional app connection are still supported. In addition to the increased suction power of the motors, a new function has been added that virtually eliminates the risk of ‘battery death’. If the battery is empty, the pool robot automatically moves to the sunny area of the pool and recharges for a few minutes. It then continues cleaning with a slightly more charged battery.

As far as the filter basket is concerned, its capacity has shrunk by one liter, so that it now holds a total of four liters. It can now also hold smaller particles from 150 µm in size. A dispenser for chlorine tablets with a diameter of up to three inches has also been added. And then there is the manufacturer’s patented DebrisGuard™. This is an additional device in the filter basket that prevents dirt from being ejected in the event of wave impact or reversing.

App scope

• App available for Android and iOS
• Used to control the pool robot and create schedules
• Intuitive app despite bumpy translations in some places

As with the predecessor model, the AIPER Surfer S2 also has a smartphone app that can be used to control the pool robot smartly. The app is available for both Android and IOS. Once the account has been set up with the manufacturer and the pool robot has been paired via QR code or Bluetooth, nothing stands in the way of immediate use.

Among other things, the app gives you access to the latest weather data and allows you to configure your own pool. The functions of the AIPER Surfer S2 include the storage of individual schedules for cleaning processes as well as manual starting and stopping. If desired, the pool robot can even be controlled using a joystick. Compared to the previous model, the steering is more precise, but direct directional control is still not possible. Apart from this, the status of previous cleaning processes can be displayed and the pool robot’s instructions are also available digitally.

The UI of the AIPER app looks contemporary and is easy to use. Overall, the app for using the Surfer S2 is therefore definitely recommendable, even if some words in the German language still sound a bit bumpy.

Practical test

• Significantly quieter operating volume compared to the predecessor model
• Charging via solar panel still works well
• High dirt yield on the water surface

The test environment

A round pool surrounded by a steel wall is used for our test. The pool has a capacity of approx. 19,000 liters, a height of 120 cm and a diameter of 460 cm. In the following, we will examine whether the AIPER Surfer S2 is able to remove all dirt particles from the water surface. Or do some flies, leaves or similar remain in the tank?

Commissioning

When first unpacking and connecting to the app, a battery level of 59 % was displayed. As the AIPER Surfer S2 has two charging options – charging via solar power on the one hand and DC charging via a mains adapter on the other – you have a flexible setup. Despite the end of the merry month, the weather here in Germany is still somewhat mixed. However, we have decided to use solar power. So the Surfer S2 was sent into the pool and put into operation at the touch of a button on the power switch.

If the weather puts a spanner in the works or a full charge is required, option two, i.e. charging via mains adapter, is available. The charging port on the back of the AIPER Surfer S2, which is usually hidden behind a rubber cover, is intended for this purpose. A full charge of the approximately 5,200 mAh battery can take up to six hours. Realistically, however, this is more likely to be necessary at the start of the season, as the solar panel consistently recharges the battery during the day. Depending on the weather conditions, the intensity can of course be higher or lower.

Cleaning the water surface

The practical test will now show what the AIPER Surfer S2 can do. As soon as it rests on the surface of the water, the pool robot consistently moves across the pool. It reliably sucks particles of various sizes into the filter basket. We actually like the low-noise impeller of the filter basket best. Compared to the previous model, which glided audibly through the tank, the Surfer S2 works much more quietly. AIPER has clearly hit the right nerve here!

As far as navigation is concerned, there are still no fixed movement patterns. Accordingly, the AIPER Surfer S2 moves continuously in the pool and steers in a different direction when approaching a wall. The same applies to moving around people thanks to ultrasonic sensors. In principle, this already worked very well on the previous model, which is why we did not notice any significant improvement here. The same applies to charging via solar power during cleaning. The AIPER Surfer S1 already impressed us here with a running time of up to 12 hours. Even though the manufacturer has now tripled the runtime, this should only play a minor role in sunny environments.

However, the problem of the protruding pool edge still exists with the AIPER Surfer S2. The pool robot recognizes the wall as an obstacle and reliably turns against it. However, it becomes more difficult when cleaning near corners, as the Surfer S2 does get a few scratches here and there. For in-ground pools without protruding corners, this should not be a cause for concern. However, users of above-ground pools in particular may be surprised by this fact.

Cleaning

• Filter basket can be pulled out to the front
• Then simply open and rinse out with the garden hose
• Optional: insert chlorine tablet for even dosing

To clean the AIPER Surfer S2, the filter basket must first be pulled out of the housing. To do this, there is a stop on the underside labeled “Remove” where you can simply pull the filter basket out to the front. The filter basket lock must then be released. This allows the top cover to be lifted and opened to the other side.

First, the filter basket is completely rinsed out with the garden hose. If necessary, you can then place a chlorine tablet in the corresponding compartment and close the filter basket again. Finally, push the filter basket back into the housing – and the cleaning process is complete. The rinsing process is therefore still simple and without any major hurdles. Although the filter size has been reduced from 5 to 4 liters in the new model, this should hardly be noticeable in practice.

AIPER Surfer S2 test: Conclusion

So what conclusions can be drawn about the AIPER Surfer S2? From our point of view, the enhancements to the successor model make sense, as they make the already good model even better. These include the much quieter impeller of the filter basket and the separate dispenser for chlorine tablets. We were also impressed by the new protective device, which prevents dirt from being flushed out of the filter basket. The app also does what it should and proves to be a good everyday companion. The significantly improved battery life from the original 12 hours to up to 35 hours stated on the sheet is also excellent. In practice, however, this is unlikely to make too much of a difference.

Are there any drawbacks in addition to the positive aspects? Well, there are indeed. For example, the pool robot still does not recognize protruding obstacles, which means that the housing is likely to become damaged over time. The test also shows that the pool robot does not follow a recognizable cleaning pattern. And then, of course, there is the current price of €449, which is around €50 more than the previous model.

All in all, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages: In particular, the use of chlorine tablets for even dosing and the significantly quieter operation are real game changers. The AIPER Surfer S2 is definitely worthwhile for anyone looking for a quiet, mobile skimmer that is used on a daily basis. In view of the high price, it is probably more worthwhile for small pools to grab a landing net and lend a hand for a few minutes.

VORTEILE

• Effective cleaning of the water surface
• Charging during operation by solar power
• Quiet cleaning process
• Separate compartment for chlorine tablets

NACHTEILE

• Cleaning process without a specific pattern
• Protruding obstacles cause abrasions on the housing

Detailbewertung

Design & processing 90

Ease of use 100

Cleaning performance 95

Equipment 90

Price-performance ratio 85

Fazit

AIPER has added a number of useful functions to the previous model with the Surfer S2. Admittedly, the price for pure water surface cleaning still seems high. However, the overall package now offers significantly more convenience.

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