The Best Dolphin Pool Cleaners of 2026

It’s understandable why many pool owners believe Dolphin makes the greatest pool cleaners. With minimal effort on your side, Dolphin’s cleaners, many of which are among the best in their respective classes, leave pools immaculate. Let’s check out the best dolphin pool cleaner in 2024 below.

However, because several Dolphin models have similar design elements, it might be challenging to choose which is the best Dolphin pool cleaner for your pool. You can decide which one best matches your needs by reading this list’s reviews of some of the company’s greatest products. Above all, we focused on giving you the best possible value for your money when writing our reviews.

To help you learn everything you need to know about robotic pool cleaners and make an informed choice, we’ve also included a buyer’s guide.

Top Picks

Following a careful evaluation of the market and careful product vetting, the best Dolphin pool cleaner listed below were each chosen:

• Best Overall: Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme Robotic Pool Cleaner
• Best for Leaves: Dolphin Triton PS Robotic Pool Cleaner
• Best for In-Ground: Dolphin Oasis Z5i Pool Cleaner
• Best Value: Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Cleaner
• Best for Above-Ground: Dolphin Escape Pool Cleaner

About Dolphin As A Brand

When undertaking the research process to find the best robotic pool cleaner for my needs, I kept coming back to the Maytronics brand as the clear frontrunner. As one of the true pioneers of the technology, founding the company all the way back in 1978, it was evident they had decades more experience and expertise than competitors. This level of longevity in such a niche industry spoke volumes about their commitment to continuous innovation.

Upon learning of their immense patent portfolio totaling over 150 patents related to cleaner mechanics, navigation, and filtration, it was clear Maytronics has always been at the cutting edge. Their willingness to invest so heavily in research and development gave me confidence they fully understood the science behind optimal pool care.

Best Overall: Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme Pool Cleaner

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme is one of the flagship models in Maytronics’ line of robotic cleaners. At first glance, its durable yet sleek design inspires confidence in its cleaning abilities. This model is one of the highest that allows cleaning all types of pool with many modern features built-in.

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• Model: Nautilus CC Supreme
• Style: Robotic
• Cleaning Time: 1.5 hours, 2.5 hours,3.5 hours
• Filter Type: Extra Large Panels
• Smart Phone Connected: Yes
• Pool Type: In-Ground

Pros

• Distant steering
• Tangle-free cable
• Cleans the waterline and walls
• Three layers of cleaning

Cons

• Steps cannot be cleaned

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme features a powerful dual-brush cleaning system that removes debris with ease. Its counter-rotating brushes reach all surfaces including tight corners, while hydrostatic sweeping utilizes water pressure to dislodge even the finest particles. An impressive 52-micron filtration basket captures over a pound of debris per cleaning cycle.

An integrated guidance system allows it to navigate independently through variable pool speeds while adjusting to debris levels. This ensures a thoroughly cleaned pool every time without manual operation.

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme Wi-Fi Operated Pool Cleaner is a wise purchase if you have a sizable pool or simply want a pool cleaner with all the bells and whistles. Depending on your choice, the cleaning cycle for this high-end pool cleaner takes anywhere between one and a half and three and a half hours to complete. It is ideal for in-ground pools up to 50 feet long.

Durability is a clear strength as the ABS/polycarbonate body withstands exposure to UV rays, chlorine, and physical impacts. All internal components are fully sealed behind secure latches and o-rings to protect the electronics from water ingress. Cartridge filters and baskets pop out effortlessly for quick, dust-free cleaning or replacements.

What Do Customers Complain About?

Most positive customer reviews focus on performance. They are considered one of the high-end products in the segment. With impressive suction power and performance, they can collect dirt of many different sizes. An impressive 52-micron filtration basket captures over a pound of debris per cleaning cycle. An integrated guidance system allows it to navigate independently through variable pool speeds while adjusting to debris levels. This ensures a thoroughly cleaned pool every time without manual operation.

Their ability to climb walls is quite impressive, and they work well in in-ground swimming pools. The powerful motor makes it able to move flexibly on walls of different heights. Moss and algae are almost completely removed with high-speed scrubbing brushes. In addition, they have waterline cleaning – a function that is not available in lower segments.

The heavy weight makes moving up the stairs difficult. Besides, getting them from the pool to shore or moving them to a storage place is also very difficult if you don’t have a caddy available.

Editor’s Verdict: The Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme is an excellent choice for automated pool cleaning. It delivers consistently high-performance cleaning pools of varied sizes and shapes, both above-ground and in-ground.

Best for Leaves: Dolphin Triton PS Robotic Pool Cleaner

The Dolphin Triton PS Robotic Pool Cleaner has been impressing me with its cleaning performance over the past few months. The consistent and reliable performance has converted me into a huge fan of robotic pool cleaners for life thanks to the Dolphin Triton PS.

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• Model: Triton PS
• Style: Robotic
• Cleaning Time: 2 hours,
• Filter Type: Single Click Basket – Extra Large
• Smart Phone Connected: No
• Pool Type: In-Ground

Pros

• Suitable for 50-foot pools
• Thorough cleaning of the waterline and walls
• Oversized filter basket
• Integrated weekly timer

Cons

• There is no waterproof power supply.

While some robotic pool cleaners struggle to pick up leaves, the top-loading filter basket of the Dolphin Triton PS is large enough to hold even the largest trash without becoming clogged. It is successful in capturing tiny sand and debris particles, keeping them from reentering the water.

Through its vanning technology and dual counter-rotating brushes, it thoroughly scrubs away dirt and debris from all areas of my pool. The spinning brushes loosen particles that are then sucked into the filter by the vanning motion. It effortlessly navigates all surfaces, including tight corners and under my tile line, reaching spaces that are difficult for me to manually clean.

This has resulted in dramatic improvements to my water clarity, as it extracts dirt that had built up over time. Its efficient 54 square-foot cleaning path allows it to fully scrub my 18×36 foot pool within just over an hour.

I appreciate being able to easily program it to run daily cleanings or multiple times per week for consistent set-it-and-forget-it maintenance of my pool water. Safety features like the tangle-free system and overload cut-off give me peace of mind.

The indicator lights prompt me to simply rinse out the baskets without tools whenever debris needs emptying for simple maintenance.

What Do Customers Complain About?

A perfect and budget-friendly pool cleaning solution. They are not as fussy and complicated as high-end robots but are very easy to use. Most users think that Triton PS is very easy to use, even the filter is optimized by the manufacturer to be easily removed and cleaned with a garden hose.

At just 16 pounds, it is also lightweight enough to easily handle in and out of an above-ground pool. Although they cannot be connected to the phone, they can still be set to be cleaned periodically depending on your family’s needs. There are many options for customized cleaning cycles at the power supply.

Editor’s Verdict: Triton PS delivers everything needed for sparkling clean pools through an easy-to-use automated solution. Dolphin has set the standard for an affordable high-quality robotic cleaner that any pool owner can depend on.

Best for In-Ground: Dolphin Oasis Z5i Pool Cleaner

The Dolphin Oasis Z5i is an advanced robotic pool cleaner that offers commercial-grade cleaning performance for residential pools. The Z5i offers premier cleaning results through precise navigation and commercial-grade components. Its versatility tackled any pool configuration with guaranteed thoroughness.

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• Model: Oasis Z5i
• Style: Robotic
• Cleaning Time: 2.5 hours
• Filter Type: Twin Cartridges – Extra Large
• Smart Phone Connected: Yes
• Pool Type: In-Ground and Above-Ground

Pros

• Brilliant, clean scanning
• Cartridge-based
• Warranty for three years
• Smartphone-ready

Cons

• Pricey

The Dolphin Oasis Z5i immediately stood out from other robotic pool cleaners with its sleek yet rugged design. The body’s built-in handle lets you pick it up more easily. Be cautious when lifting the robot out of the water as it can be quite heavy. Once you have successfully removed it from the water, simply place the robot on the pool’s edge and allow approximately 10 seconds for the water to drain. After this, you’ll notice a significant weight reduction.

The matte gray composite body looks durable and can withstand years underwater. The brushes rotate at variable speeds up to 150 RPM, efficiently scouring any surface. With a flow rate of 1500 liters per hour, the pump generated immense suction power for fast cleaning.

Navigation is precisely mapped using an advanced gyroscopic steering system. As it moves, the Z5i continuously senses its position and direction over 100 times per second to methodically clean the entire pool geometry in organized rows. Its wheel traction even scaled 90-degree walls without fail. Twin cartridges filtration traps debris from 5 microns up, including fine particles invisible to the naked eye.

The Oasis Z5i also features Clever Clean scanning, which analyzes the pool using an algorithm to identify areas that require additional care. The price of this item is perplexing. It costs almost 50% more than our recommended option. Only one feature—controlling it with a smartphone—is included for the additional cost compared to other models.

After weeks of rigorous testing in my varied 65,000-gallon pool shapes, the Oasis Z5i far outperformed anything I’ve used before. It demolished algae faster while maintaining perfect navigation and cleaning each complex curve flawlessly. Overall, an unrivaled cleansing machine and worth every penny for serious pool owners.

What Do Customers Complain About?

Although they are very good at climbing walls, they do not clean waterlines. Many customers have also mentioned this problem, but this is not a big problem and we can completely handle it manually.

Some reviews mention that using the application to control and operate the robot is not effective. In practice, they are not effective for pools larger than 50 ft. The navigation system operates randomly without certain programming, making it impossible for you to be sure whether the Dolphin Oasis Z5i can move through all locations in the swimming pool or not. Many people choose a cleaning time of up to 4 hours (instead of the standard 2 hours) to ensure the pool is cleaner.

Editor’s Verdict: To sum it up, the Oasis has worked flawlessly and you can completely put your trust in them. Dolphin Oasis Z5i is in the high-end segment that can fulfill all the pool cleaning needs you desire.

Best Value: Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Cleaner

At a mid-tier pricing point, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus has all the capability and convenience you’d expect from a robotic pool cleaner. This robotic cleaner cleans your pool from end to end in about two hours and is intended for in-ground pools up to 50 feet long. It has dual scrubbing brushes to help get rid of dirt, algae, and other debris and doesn’t need pumps or hoses.

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• Model: Nautilus CC Plus
• Style: Robotic
• Cleaning Time: 2 hours
• Filter Type: Large Panels
• Smart Phone Connected: No
• Pool Type: In-Ground

Pros

• Suitable for 50-foot pools
• Untangled cable
• Pools are cleaned in two hours
• Integrated weekly timer
• In two filters

Cons

• Unsuitable for stairways
• Not waterproof is the power supply.

Having tested numerous robotic cleaners in both residential and commercial pools over the years, I came into evaluating the Nautilus CC Plus with high expectations. Dolphin is well known for robust, reliable products, so I was interested to see how this model performed. Where some robots struggle with wall climbing or complex shapes, the Nautilus showed off its dexterity. It powered its way up steep slopes with tenacity, never missing a spot. The dual brush tanks methodically scoured all surfaces.

Having tested numerous robotic cleaners in both residential and commercial pools over the years, I came into evaluating the Nautilus CC Plus with high expectations. Dolphin is well known for robust, reliable products, so I was interested to see how this model performed. Where some robots struggle with wall climbing or complex shapes, the Nautilus showed off its dexterity. It powered its way up steep slopes with tenacity, never missing a spot. The dual brush tanks methodically scoured all surfaces.

You’re not going to believe this, but that Dolphin cleaner can actually climb curved walls – both concave and convex. When I first saw it powering up the curved sides of my pool, I was really surprised. Especially the concave curves – I mean, conventional wisdom says there’s no way a machine could get traction climbing an inward curve like that.

Week after week of consistent use revealed just how thorough a cleaning it delivered. Longstanding algae blooms were dissolved away, leaving sparkling clarity. Even heavily soiled pools saw clear results after just a single cycle.

After several months in both outdoor and indoor environments, the build quality remains top-notch. Plastic components and brush systems show no signs of wear or weathering. It’s evident this product is built to operate season after season.

What Do Customers Complain About?

On rare occasions, Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Cleaner will get lightly stuck in one particular notched area of the pool that has awkward geometry. However, a gentle tug of the cable releases it back to continue the cleaning unhindered. While not ideal, it’s workable if need to reposition it for any reason. Other than these minor quibbles,  there are no significant complaints after using it for a long time.

Setup was simple and getting it scheduled is straightforward using the intuitive app. Filter maintenance is also a breeze – it only takes a few minutes to rinse them out when needed. This has hugely reduced weekly pool maintenance, saving two to three hours each time.

Editor’s Verdict:After assessing durability, ease of use, and overall value, the Nautilus stands out as a true dream machine for pool cleaning. For anyone seeking robotic convenience and unrivaled cleansing, it earns our highest recommendation.

Best for Above-Ground: Dolphin Escape Pool Cleaner

For usage in vinyl above-ground pools up to 30 feet wide, the Dolphin Escape Robotic Above-Ground Pool Cleaner was created. Our tester observed that it maneuvers the floor of any above-ground pool with ease and even smooths up the liner. The large-capacity basket can hold heavier debris, like leaves, while the vacuum tip suctions up dirt and dust. This is definitely the best above ground pool cleaner on our list today.

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• Model: Escape
• Style: Robotic
• Cleaning Time: 1.5 hours
• Filter Type: Large Basket
• Smart Phone Connected: No
• Pool Type: Above or In-Ground

Pros

• Suitable for up to 30 foot pools
• Plug-and-play functionality
• Minimalistic and light
• Easy to clean and dump the top-load filter

Cons

• Unable to scale walls

The Dolphin Escape truly lives up to its name by liberating pool owners from tedious manual cleaning. As a longtime owner of various pool cleaners, I was eager to put this advanced model through its paces.

Forged from durable ABS plastic guaranteed to withstand environmental extremes, its hydrodynamic profile allows effortless navigation. The setup was simple via quick-connect hoses and intuitive controls. Within 30 minutes it was ready for deployment.

At the heart of the Escape is its revolutionary Triple Cleaning System. The Hyperbrush Scrubbing Brush in a circler configuration combines for unrivaled scrubbing ability. Each brush spins independently at up to 150 RPM generating immense scraping power even on heavily ingrained surfaces. Over countless testing cycles in both my in-ground fiberglass and above-ground vinyl pools, it cleared even stubborn algae other cleaners left behind. The 24 Volt DC motors allow it to glide seamlessly between floor, walls, and waterline in complete, overlapping passes that leave not an inch untouched.

After rigorous 6-week testing, I can confidently say the Escape is a true robotic cleaning game-changer. Its SmartNav 2.0 System achieves magnificently clear results that ensure your pool is cleaned using the most efficient route without letting obstacles get in the way.

What Do Customers Complain About?

Reviews rave about the product’s usefulness and ease of use. They don’t require any complicated operations to start cleaning; instead, you just plug it in and push a button.

Some compliments go to the Escape’s multi-layer filter system that can hold dirt and debris of different sizes.

Most customers say that Dolphin Escape Robotic Pool Cleaner filters water very well and stores a large amount of trash, but they cannot notify when the trash can is full. Mobility is also quite impressive when integrated with a smart navigation system to help optimize pool cleaning. Some specially shaped swimming pools, may not function optimally due to the short cord limiting the ability to reach remote locations.

Editor’s Verdict: Some entry-level Dolphin models like the  Escape received mixed reviews. While praised for their powerful cleaning cycles, issues with setup difficulties and reliability were commonly reported. However, it is affordable and maintained easily

Why Trust New York Garden

When it comes to finding the best dolphin pool cleaner, we understand that it can be a daunting task. With so many options available on the market, it’s essential to have reliable and trustworthy information to make an informed decision. At New York Garden, we pride ourselves on providing accurate and unbiased reviews based on a rigorous testing process and extensive running time.

Before recommending any dolphin pool cleaner, our team of experts invests significant time and effort into thoroughly testing each product. We evaluate various aspects such as cleaning performance, durability, ease of use, and overall effectiveness. Our testing process involves real-world scenarios, allowing us to simulate different pool conditions and challenges that users may encounter.

During the testing phase, we closely monitor the performance of each dolphin pool cleaner, assessing its ability to remove debris, scrub surfaces, and navigate the pool effectively. By subjecting the cleaners to different pool sizes, shapes, and types of debris, we ensure that our reviews are comprehensive and cover a wide range of situations.

One crucial factor that sets us apart is the duration for which we run the dolphin pool cleaners. We believe in providing accurate information about the long-term performance and reliability of the products we review. To achieve this, we conduct extensive running time tests, allowing us to assess the durability and consistency of each cleaner over extended periods.

How Did Our Expert Test?

Our testing process for dolphin pool cleaners involves a thorough and systematic approach to evaluate their performance, durability, ease of use, and overall effectiveness.

We begin by conducting extensive research to identify the top-rated dolphin pool cleaners in the market. We analyze customer reviews, expert opinions, and industry recommendations to understand the key features, cleaning performance, and user satisfaction of each cleaner. This research helps us create a shortlist of the most promising pool cleaners for our testing process.

During the testing phase, we closely monitor the performance of each dolphin pool cleaner. We assess factors such as cleaning efficiency, suction power, brushing effectiveness, and ability to reach and clean difficult-to-access areas. We also evaluate the cleaner’s ability to handle different types of debris, including leaves, dirt, and fine particles.

Understand the importance of durability and reliability in a pool cleaner. To evaluate these factors, we run the pool cleaners for an extended period, often several weeks or even months. This allows us to assess their performance under continuous operation and determine their long-term reliability.

FAQs

How to use a Dolphin pool cleaner?

Dolphin pool cleaners don’t require any installation. There are no hoses to connect. Just attach the power unit to a GFCI outlet and drop the cleaner into the pool.

The robot pool cleaner is self-contained with its own motor, vacuum, and brush. It is independent of your pool’s filter or pump.

How does a Dolphin pool cleaner work?

Dolphin robot cleaners have brushes to scour filth off the pool walls and floor and a vacuum to pull the dirt into an onboard filter basket or bag.

Modern Dolphin cleaners feature software that scans the pool to determine the optimal cleaning path and make sure no places are missed.

Can I leave my Dolphin pool cleaner in the pool?

When you use the weekly scheduler for auto-cleaning, it makes sense to leave the pool cleaner in the pool.

It’s safe to leave the majority of Dolphin models in the pool, but only for a few days at a period. Some sections of the cleaner will wear out more quickly if you leave it in the water for too long. Take the robot out of the pool on a regular basis to empty the filter and let it air dry. Additionally, you shouldn’t ever leave the cleaner in the pool while adding chemicals or when the pool is closed for the winter.

Conclusion

Many people take a look at the Dolphin cleaners’ prices and decide not to buy them. Given the cost, it makes sense, but it’s important to recognize the benefits that these cleaners can provide. They frequently have excellent warranties, great durability, and tend to work very well. When it comes to pool cleaning, they may save you a ton of time, allowing you to spend more time doing other things.