The Future of Pool Cleaning: Unveiling the Cordless Zodiac FreeRider Robotic Cleaner
Do you love your pool robot but hate that the cable gets tangled? The future is here, and it’s battery operated, cordless robotic pool cleaners!
Stepping into the New Age
Zodiac, along with other leading brands, have invested in the latest battery technology and have been developing their new range of battery operated pool cleaners. Customers have been asking for a cable-free machine for some time. The FreeRider signifies a major leap in pool robot technology for Zodiac and Fluidra in Australia. Imagine all the power and performance of one of their top of the range pool robots, but without the cable.
Why the FreeRider Stands Out
The FreeRider is not just any robotic pool cleaner; it’s the evolution we’ve all been waiting for from Zodiac. It comes from a well-respected brand and is modelled on the Duo-X which is the model below the top of their range, the Evolux. It’s already been released in the northern hemisphere summer of 2023 and Australian customers will now get it with several improvements. The FreeRider FR1000 iQFreeRider FR2000 iQ are currently available in Australia.
We were lucky enough to get our hands on one and road (that is, pool) test it and we were very impressed with its performance and ease of use. Which are the best cordless pool cleaners?Check out our video below for all of the features and to see the FreeRider in action.
Freedom of Movement
Gone are the days of worrying about your cleaner getting stuck because of a tangled cable. Or the cable getting tangled in knots or caught in the scrubbers. With its cordless design, the FreeRider navigates your pool with unprecedented freedom.
Intuitive Design
Very simple to operate. Either start with the Slider switch or from the AquaLink app; both are very simple. Then let it sink and watch it work its magic.
Advanced Features
The FreeRider innovation isn’t just it’s cable-free. They’ve included the best design from other machines including the helix-shaped brushes which actively scrub away the dirt, funnelling the debris towards the centre to be sucked up for thorough and efficient cleaning. The suction inlet can cope with large debris and cyclonic suction creates a vortex to keep debris suspended in the filter canister it can collect a lot of debris.
A Battery to Last the Distance
It sports a high-performance 9.6AH lithium-ion battery which will last a full cycle of 2.5 hours cleaning the floor, walls and waterline before needing to be pulled out of the pool and recharged. And it takes less than 5 hours to fully charge. You can save battery life and run for several days on the floor only mode.
Pool Size
The FreeRider suits pools up to 12 x 6 metres which is better than other leading cordless robots currently on the Australian market.
Warranty
3 year warranty for the cleaner including the battery and because it’s Zodiac, it’s on site warranty which means they come to you and you won’t have to send it back for repair.
The Control at Your Fingertips
The FreeRider embraces WiFi connectivity and the iAqualink App is simple to use, making controlling your robotic cleaner a breeze. Want to change cleaning modes? Just tap. Need to check battery status? It’s right there. Technical data … there too. And you’ll get sent an alert to your smartphone telling you it’s finished and is ready to be removed from the pool at the end of its cleaning cycle.
My Verdict
Cordless robots are a game changer for pool robots. Like all robotic pool cleaners, they’re a luxury item and we encourage you to look after it well and it is likely to last years looking after your pool. For those that have been used to one with a cable, they’ll love that there’s no cable to cause problems but because the battery needs to be recharged after each use, they might miss the convenience of leaving it in the pool for days (actually, more like weeks for some users). Typically, from our experience repairing robotic pool cleaners, this ‘misuse’ tends to lead to water in the motor, a premature death and a very expensive repair! However, for new users who haven’t developed this ‘bad habit’, they’ll love how easy it is to drop the machine in the pool and retrieve it after use before cleaning and giving it a rest on the charging station. We’d prefer to see the cleaner be looked after and last longer.
Would we recommend this robotic pool cleaner? Based on what we’ve seen, and that it comes from a good pedigree and is based on the Duo-X, YES!
- Head over to our Videos section and more pool robot cleaner reviews.
- For more helpful advice on looking after your pool robot and extending its life, check out our other Expert Tips.
- For troubleshooting if your cleaner is not working properly, have a look at A Step-By-Step Guide To Troubleshooting Your Robotic Pool Cleaner.
Need More Help?
Feel free to call and speak with our expert technicians.
Author’s Note:
This review is based on personal experience and is not sponsored. However, if you’re interested in the Zodiac FreeRider or other pool robots, do check out our website or YouTube for more information.
