Betta SE Plus Solar Robotic Pool Skimmer Review
A research-based review of the Betta SE Plus, a solar robotic pool skimmer with adapter backup, covering pool fit, basket care, and warranty terms.
Updated October 30, 2026
The Betta SE Plus solar robotic pool skimmer is a floating robot that works only on the surface of the water. It picks up leaves, pollen, and bugs before they sink, runs on a solar panel, and adds a wall adapter for cloudy weeks. Betta, which sells it through BettaBot.com, describes the SE Plus as an upgrade from the original Betta SE. It suits an above ground or in-ground backyard pool that collects floating debris most days. It does nothing for dirt on the floor, and it has to come out of the water whenever people swim.
We did not run this skimmer ourselves. This research-based review draws on Betta’s product page, its FAQ page, its warranty page, the Betta SE Plus owner’s manual, the Amazon listing for this exact model, and the owner rating data behind its BackyardPoolLab Score.
This guide is general product information, not repair or electrical safety advice. Follow the manufacturer’s manual for installation and use, have pool electrical work done by a licensed electrician, keep children supervised around water, and stop using any product that sparks, overheats, or has a damaged cord.
We earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page. Commissions never affect our rankings or BackyardPoolLab Scores.
Betta SE Plus Solar Robotic Pool Skimmer
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At a Glance
Rows without a note come from Betta’s SE Plus product page. Rows marked FAQ, manual, or listing come from those sources.
| Specification | Betta SE Plus |
|---|---|
| Type | Robotic surface skimmer; no floor cleaning (listing) |
| Charging | Solar panel plus an included AC adapter |
| Run time | 30+ hours per full charge |
| Recharge time | 5 to 6 hours of direct sun; 3.5 hours on the adapter |
| Debris basket | Fine mesh, 200 microns (0.2 mm per the FAQ) |
| Control | Automatic, with a handheld wireless remote |
| Pool types | Above-ground and in-ground |
| Ideal pool size | Up to 40 x 60 ft (about 2,400 sq ft) |
| Minimum water depth | 3.5 in (FAQ) |
| Water | Fresh water, or salt levels up to 5,000 ppm (manual) |
| Battery | Lithium-ion, 32.56 Wh (listing); not user-replaceable (FAQ) |
| Size and weight | 22 x 18.5 x 8 in, 6.8 kg, about 15 lb (listing) |
| Warranty | 1-year standard warranty |
What We Like
- Two ways to charge. Betta lists solar charging plus an AC adapter, and its FAQ says the adapter is there so the SE Plus keeps going when sunlight is limited.
- Long run time per charge. Betta’s product page claims 30+ hours of continuous cleaning on one charge, even on rainy or cloudy days.
- Works in shallow water. Betta’s FAQ gives a 3.5-inch minimum depth for the SE Plus, the lowest figure it lists across its models, and the manual describes anti-stranding bars for stairs and shelves.
- A remote in the box. The manual says the remote comes paired from the factory, and the unit returns to Auto mode on its own after 2 minutes without a button press.
- Built for salt and chlorine pools. Betta lists twin Salt Chlorine Tolerant (SCT) motors, and the manual rates the unit for salt water up to 5,000 ppm.
What Could Be Better
- Surface only. According to the Amazon listing, the SE Plus leaves the floor alone, so sunken dirt still needs a vacuum or a floor cleaner.
- Out of the pool when people swim. The manual says no swimming while it works, and it wants the robot lifted out and parked somewhere cool and shaded during swim time.
- Mixed advice on running it with a floor cleaner. The manual rules out running it while another pool cleaning device is in the water. Betta’s FAQ answers the same question with a qualified yes, warning that cleaner hoses can get in its way.
- No published adapter rating. Neither Betta’s pages, the manual, nor the listing gives the adapter’s input voltage.
- A hard shell and no app. Betta’s comparison table shows no soft casing and no app control for the SE Plus.
Solar Charging, the Adapter, and Cloudy Weeks
The SE Plus charges itself from its top-mounted panel while it cruises. Betta’s FAQ explains that it cannot charge at night but can keep working on stored power until the battery runs down, and that rain or clouds slow solar charging and shorten run time. The manual adds a seasonal warning: in fall and winter the sun sits at a shallow angle, charging efficiency drops significantly, and you should expect shorter run times than in summer, even on sunny days.
The adapter is the SE Plus’s answer to that problem, and the main reason to pick it over the solar-only SE. One detail in the manual is easy to miss: the power switch must be ON for solar charging, but it must be switched OFF for adapter charging. The manual’s adapter steps are short. Open the charging port cover, turn the unit off, plug in the charger, and remove it when the indicator changes from red to green. Use the adapter that comes in the box and follow the manual for the rest.
The manual offers a second option for low-sun months. Below 68°F, it suggests taking the skimmer out and leaning it against a wall at a 45-degree angle facing the sun, with the switch on, for a full day. The FAQ also points to the solar panel itself: white mineral residue and dirt can build up, and a quick wipe with a soft cloth is the first fix when charging seems weak.
One limit to plan around: the FAQ says the battery is not user-replaceable, so a battery problem means sending the unit to Betta. Betta says the battery should still hold roughly 80% of its original capacity after about three years.
Pool Fit: Steps, Ledges, and Pool Size
Betta lists the SE Plus for above-ground and in-ground pools up to 40 x 60 ft, or about 2,400 sq ft. A 15 x 30 ft in-ground rectangle has 450 sq ft of surface, and a 27 ft round above ground pool has about 573 sq ft, so pools in that range sit well inside the figure. Betta does not list the SE Plus for infinity-edge pools; its comparison table gives that pool type only to the Betta Flex.
Shallow features are where the SE Plus differs most from the original SE. Betta’s FAQ lists a 3.5-inch minimum depth for the SE Plus against 5 inches for the SE, and the product page credits a “shortened ship draft” for handling shallow stairs. If it still gets hung up, the manual describes anti-stranding bars that pull down to two heights; it says to set them in pairs, front and rear, to keep the unit level.
Two FAQ tips deal with common snags. If strong flow from the pool’s skimmer or pump pulls the robot into the opening, Betta suggests placing the included foam noodle in front of the opening as a bumper. If your pool has a lip or overhang that traps the unit, Betta suggests adjusting the water level or adding a small foam noodle to the front of the robot. Betta’s FAQ also says it does not recommend the skimmer for spas, koi ponds, or other water features that are not pools.
Basket Care, Safety Notes, and Storage
Betta’s two documents describe emptying the basket a little differently. The product page says the top handle and fine mesh mean there is no need to remove the robot from the water: you dock it, open the cover, and empty the basket. The manual’s cleaning steps have you lift it out flat with two hands, set it on a flat surface, switch it off, unlock the cover, and rinse the basket with a hose. It suggests doing this every 2 to 3 days. Betta’s FAQ adds that the basket should be cleaned regularly, especially during heavy leaf seasons or after storms.
The manual’s safety list is short, and each point matters for a robot that lives in the pool:
- No swimming while it runs. “DO NOT SWIM while Betta is working in the pool,” the manual says, and the FAQ adds that you should remove the unit before entering the water.
- Not a toy. The manual says to keep it away from children.
- Watch your footing. It tells owners to watch their steps and keep their balance when working by the pool side, and to use the remote or wait for the unit to reach the shallow end before lifting it out.
- Gentle cleaning only. Do not use a pressure washer on the unit, and do not scrape or brush the solar panel with tools.
- Do not leave it unattended in a hot, dry spot out of the pool. The manual gives this warning to avoid severe damage to the unit. It is separate from the manual’s fall and winter tip of charging the skimmer in the sun with the switch on.
At pool closing, the manual’s routine is to take the skimmer out, hose it off, let it dry fully, and keep it inside at room temperature, somewhere dry and away from high heat. Before the next season, check all the parts before putting it back in. Betta’s FAQ adds one firm rule for cold snaps: the unit must come out when air temperatures reach 32°F or below, since ice can form around it and cause damage.
SE Plus or the Original SE?
Betta still shows the original SE in the comparison table on the SE Plus page. Both models share twin SCT motors, Auto mode, a handheld remote, continuous cleaning, and the same 40 x 60 ft pool size. The SE Plus adds two things: adapter charging (the SE is solar only) and the shallow water safeguard design (the table marks it absent on the SE). Betta’s FAQ also gives the SE a deeper 5-inch minimum depth. For a sunny pool with no steps or ledges, those differences may not matter. For a shaded yard, a pool used into the fall, or a tanning ledge, they are the reason to pick the Plus.
Warranty and Where It Is Sold
Betta’s warranty page gives every unit a 1-year standard warranty for mechanical and electrical breakdowns from the purchase date. It does not cover cosmetic wear, accidents, misuse, tampering, or failure to follow the manual, and it says using the unit in seawater pools voids the warranty. Betta Care, the extended plan, can only be bought within 30 days of purchase and only applies in the United States and Canada. The page also states that Amazon extended warranty claims are not accepted by Betta and are handled by Amazon.
When we checked, the Amazon listing was sold by a storefront named BettaOfficial. Keep your order confirmation, since the warranty runs from the purchase date.
How It Compares
Both robots below appear in our best pool skimmer guide. Their details come from Betta’s product pages and FAQ, and each comparison is built around the question an SE Plus shopper is most likely to ask.
Betta SE Plus vs Betta Flex
Do you want a plug at all? The Betta Flex is solar only, with no adapter, and Betta pitches it as eliminating “the need for plugs or charging.” It adds an Eco mode for periodic sweeps next to a Normal mode for continuous running, a soft-touch casing, and infinity-edge pools on its list of pool types. It gives up the handheld remote and needs more water, with a 6-inch minimum depth in Betta’s FAQ. Choose the Flex for a sunny or infinity-edge pool. Choose the SE Plus if your yard has shade, you swim late into the season, or the robot has to get over shallow steps.
Betta SE Plus vs Betta Neo
Do you want to manage it from your phone? The Betta Neo keeps solar and adapter charging but adds app control through an included gateway with a range of up to 600 feet, plus Smart Weather-Adaptive and Scheduled modes and a soft-touch casing. Betta’s FAQ does not list a minimum depth for the Neo. The SE Plus is the simpler machine: one Auto mode, a physical remote, and nothing to pair with your Wi-Fi. If you cannot see the pool from your kitchen window, the Neo’s app makes sense. If it is right outside the back door, the SE Plus covers the basic surface work.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Owners whose main problem is sand, silt, or leaves on the floor, since the Amazon listing rules out bottom cleaning for the SE Plus.
- Households that swim most of the day, because the manual says to take the robot out whenever the pool is in use.
- Owners who run a robotic or suction pool cleaner every day and want both in the water at once, given the manual’s instruction not to use the SE Plus alongside other cleaning devices.
- Infinity-edge pool owners, since Betta lists only the Flex for that pool type.
- Anyone with a spa, koi pond, or water feature, which Betta’s FAQ says it does not recommend.
Why You Should Trust Us
Nothing here comes from running the skimmer ourselves. The review is built from Betta’s product page, FAQ, warranty page, and SE Plus manual, all of which we opened and checked, plus the Amazon listing for this exact model and owner rating data. The BackyardPoolLab Score on the product card starts from a base derived from the owner rating, plus an editorial adjustment of up to half a point either way; the full method is on our How We Review page. Commissions never change what we write or how a product scores.
Final Verdict
The Betta SE Plus is a focused tool: it keeps floating debris off the surface, charges from the sun with an adapter for gray weeks, and handles shallow steps better than the original SE, per Betta. Its limits are just as clear. It leaves the floor to another cleaner, it comes out of the pool every time someone swims, the manual says not to run it beside other cleaning devices, and Betta does not publish the adapter’s input rating. If leaves, pollen, and bugs on the surface are your daily chore and you can live with lifting it out for swim time, it fits the job. For other surface tools and accessories, see our skimmers and accessories section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Betta SE Plus clean the bottom of the pool?
No. According to the Amazon listing, the unit handles the surface only and leaves the bottom to other equipment. Betta’s FAQ describes robotic pool cleaners as the tools for floors and walls.
Can I swim while the Betta skimmer is in the pool?
Not while it is working. The manual rules out swimming while the unit runs and asks you to move it out of the water to a cool spot in the shade whenever people are swimming.
How long does the Betta SE Plus run on a charge?
Betta claims more than 30 hours of running time from a full battery. A recharge takes 5 to 6 hours of direct sun, or 3.5 hours on the adapter, and the manual expects shorter run times in fall and winter.
Can the Betta skimmer run with my robotic pool cleaner?
The SE Plus manual says no, not while another cleaning device is in the water. Betta’s FAQ says hoses of wired cleaners can interfere with its path. The manual is the stricter of the two, so follow it.
Is the Betta skimmer for pool owners with salt water systems?
Yes, within a limit. The manual covers fresh water and salt levels up to 5,000 ppm, and Betta’s warranty page says use in seawater pools voids the warranty.
Do I need to take it out at night or in cold weather?
Betta’s FAQ says you can leave it in or take it out at night, as you prefer. It must come out when air temperatures reach 32°F or below, and the manual says to remove, rinse, dry, and store it indoors when you close the pool.
About the author
Allen Ortiz writes about pool water care, covers and accessories for BackyardPoolLab. His guides follow product labels and guidance from the CDC, EPA and CPSC, with a focus on clear, safe steps for home pool owners.