I bought this Intex cordless vacuum years ago as a backup and never used it. Then, in the summer of 2024, my pool robot stopped working, and this little handheld cleaner surprised me with its suction power.
A simple tool
The Intex 28620NP is a very simple vacuum: a cleaning head, a filter inside that you can remove, and one button. A thicker filter was also included in the box, but the standard one is fine for me. It had been sitting around for a couple of years because my robot was doing all the work. When the robot broke, I thought: let's give it a try.
Sand from the Sahara
Here in the south of Italy, lately it's been "raining sand". Hot winds carry dust, probably from the Sahara, and when it rains it all ends up on the bottom of the pool. I had no idea how to get rid of it, but this vacuum solves the problem. As you can see in the video, it really takes away the impurities from the bottom, and it works great with heavier particles like sand and general debris.
Where it struggles
The one thing it didn't handle well was the very fine residue left by flocculant, the product we use in Italy to make the water crystal clear. Last year I tried it with the same net and the tiny particles escaped from the sides. The mesh is probably too big for them. I don't use that product anymore, so it's not a problem for me.
Cleaning and charging
Maintenance is easy: open it, take out the net and wash it under the tap. That's about it. You charge it with a cable, but the cable doesn't come with a power brick, so you need your own plug adapter. And don't lose the cable: it's proprietary to Intex, and other adapters won't work.
Overall it's a great product. I strongly suggest it as a backup to a pool robot, or as the main cleaner for an inflatable spa or a very small pool.