According to PCWorld, robotic pool cleaner leader Beatbot is launching a new Sora series, starting with the Sora 70 model, at CES 2026. This move targets a market where advanced robots easily exceed $1,500, with some hitting $4,000. The Sora 70 boasts a 6,800 gallon-per-hour suction, a 10,000mAh battery for up to 5 hours of floor cleaning, and a unique ability to clean in water as shallow as 8 inches. It also features surface cleaning for up to 7 hours and, like other Beatbot models, parks on the pool’s surface when done. However, the crucial price point for the Sora 70 has not been set, with sales slated to begin in Spring 2026.
The Mid-Range Gamble
Here’s the thing: the pool robot market is screaming for a value play. Beatbot’s strategy here is classic. They’re taking proven, high-end features from models like the AquaSense 2 Ultra—surface skimming, massive filter baskets, that clever auto-park function—and presumably packaging them for less. That shallow-water cleaning for steps and shelves is a legitimately smart differentiator for real-world pools. But it’s all a bit theoretical until we see the number. “More reasonable” than $1,500 could mean $1,200, or it could mean $999. That’s a huge difference in this niche.
Features vs. Convenience
Technically, the specs are solid. A 6-liter debris basket is huge, meaning fewer trips to empty the thing. The dual-mode operation for floor and surface is a real labor-saver. But let’s be honest, the killer feature for most people might be the simplest one: it parks itself on the surface. You don’t realize what a hassle it is to fish a heavy robot out of the deep end with a pole until you don’t have to do it anymore. In cold off-season water, that’s not just convenient, it’s a game-changer. Beatbot is betting that these practical conveniences, not just raw cleaning power, define the “high-end” experience they can trickle down.
The Competition Wakes Up
They aren’t the only ones thinking this way, though. The article notes that Maytronics’ Dolphin Eon series also just announced a similar shallow-clean feature. So that unique selling point just got a little less unique. This is where the unannounced price becomes everything. If Beatbot can undercut the established players significantly while matching on features, they could own this new mid-range tier they’re trying to create. But if they price it too close to their own AquaSense line or the competition’s new models, then what’s the point? It becomes just another robot in a crowded, expensive pool.
The Waiting Game
So we’re left in a familiar CES holding pattern. The promise is compelling: a do-it-all robot that doesn’t require a second mortgage. The specs and features suggest Beatbot knows what they’re doing. But the entire value proposition is floating in the air, untethered to a price tag. Spring 2026 is a long way off, giving competitors plenty of time to react. For now, it’s a hopeful sign for pool owners tired of the cost of automation. But is it the real deal? We’ll have to wait and see what the final damage to our wallets will be.
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