Can a pool robot skim leaves off the surface?
Short answer
Yes. Some cordless pool robots now skim the surface as well as cleaning the floor and walls, such as the Beatbot Sora 70 and Mova Rover X10.
Which robots can do it?
- Mova Rover X10Yes
The Rover X10 handled floating debris as well as the floor and walls in Bob Vila's testing.
Good to know: One of the heaviest robots in the test.
- Beatbot Sora 70Yes
In a month of testing in a Florida pool, the Sora 70 collected floating debris in skimming mode and parked at the edge for pickup.
Good to know: Doesn't skim continuously like a dedicated skimmer; pricey.
Why it matters
Floating leaves, bugs and pollen sink before most floor-cleaning robots can reach them, so owners still skim by hand.
Not proven yet
How they compare with dedicated solar skimmers that float all day.
How we know (1 source)
Roundup of tested pool robots (updated Jul 15, 2026; 40+ tested, 10+ new for 2026). The cordless Mova Rover X10 cleaned floor, walls, waterline, steps and surface but is very heavy; the Beatbot Sora 70 skimmed floating debris and parked at the edge after a month in a Florida pool; the corded Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus was best overall.
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