You Bought That? · 2026-08-31 · Ratings
The Pool DustBuster
Starrybot handheld pool vacuum
Mrs. Questionable Approved
Paid: $59.99, Amazon
A 3.2-star Amazon product that does the one job the robot won't.
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Who it's for
Pool owners with a robot vac that ignores corners, steps, and that one pile in the deep end.
Who should skip
Anyone expecting it to replace the robot. It's the DustBuster, not the Shark.
We have the Dolphin Nautilus pool robot and we love it (review for another day). But just like having a Shark home vacuum, there are times when it's easier to grab that one pile of dirt in the corner with the DustBuster. Enter the Starrybot.
I bought the 3.2-star product so you don't have to.
I review-shopped Amazon looking for a rechargeable handheld and the prices run the gamut from a couple hundred dollars down to some lesser-heralded units in the $29.99 range. Across the board, regardless of price, the reviews were a mixed bag and very few devices cleared 4.0 stars. I settled on the Starrybot for its okay reviews (3.2 stars) and its $59.99 price tag: better reviews than the cheaper units, cheaper than the slightly better-reviewed ones. Questionable math, but math.
In the pool.
Solidly constructed, easy to assemble, easy to adjust the handle length, and good suction. It does exactly what we want: grabs the piles in the corners where the big robot doesn't go. The product write-up says 60 minutes of charge. I have no idea if it runs for that long, but it runs for 5 to 10 minutes multiple times on a single charge, which has been just fine for my needs.
The one legit complaint.
The charging cable is proprietary. Not USB-C. I have exactly one cable. I hope I don't lose it. Off-brand replacement cables look to be available from Amazon for between $12 and $24.
The Mrs. Questionable Test.
Mrs. Questionable is always a little leery of my appliance-gadget purchases (rightfully so, e.g. the dishwasher birthday gift of 2015), but even she has given her endorsement to this low-cost, functional tool. That's the whole review, really.
Pros
- Solid build, easy assembly, adjustable handle
- Real suction for a $60 handheld
- Reaches the spots the robot skips
Cons
- Proprietary charging cable, and you get one
- 3.2 stars on Amazon for a reason: expectations should stay modest
