Which Dolphin pool robot should you buy?

Why these 3

We do not test robots. A pick must be sold new on Amazon and fit the pool on Maytronics’ own figures. Among the Dolphins that fit, the one with the better record from named testers wins: a “best” award counts for it, a “disapproved” counts against it. Price breaks a tie. Our inground and above-ground pool pages use the same rule, so they name the same Dolphins. The pools: inground, 35 ft long, walls included; above ground, 24 ft across.

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus

For: Most inground pools

Maytronics builds it for inground pools up to 40 ft and says it cleans the floor and walls. It runs a 2-hour cycle and has the MyDolphin Plus app, a weekly timer and a swivel that keeps the cable from tangling (Maytronics). For a 35 ft inground pool, it is the cheapest Dolphin that fits, and Bob Vila, Popular Mechanics and Pool Research each name it best overall. Our inground pool page picks it too.

The catch: The Pool Nerd’s review of the current model, dated July 31, 2026, says “It's Pool Nerd Disapproved. It just simply isn't the robot it used to be” (The Pool Nerd). It says Dolphin cut the warranty from 2.5 years to 1 year, that it does not clean the waterline, and that the unit it ordered on Amazon came with mesh filters, not the ultra-fine kit Maytronics lists. It still says the robot will “clean your pool better than any cordless cleaner under $1,000”.

How old the praise is: Bob Vila’s guide (updated July 15, 2026) tested it hands-on. Popular Mechanics says it “talked to pool-care experts and dug into the specs”, and it describes the robot for pools up to 50 feet, while Maytronics’ page now says 40 ft. Pool Research’s review is dated January 6, 2024. When yours arrives, check which filter is in the box.

$829 at Amazon

Dolphin Explorer E50

For: You want the waterline scrubbed

It is the Dolphin for you if the ring of grime at the waterline is the chore you want gone. Maytronics says it cleans the floor, walls and waterline in pools up to 50 ft, in ground or above ground, with a 2-year warranty and a light that tells you when the filter is full (Maytronics). Two Dolphins on Amazon scrub the waterline. This one has the better tester record: PoolBots calls it “a strong all-around cleaner” (PoolBots), while The Pool Nerd disapproves of the Nautilus CC Supreme. Our inground pool page names it as the upgrade too.

The catch: it costs $180 more than the CC Supreme, and only one tester has reviewed it. PoolBots notes it uses standard filters, not the NanoFilters on Dolphin’s top models.

$1,629 at Amazon

Dolphin E10

For: Above-ground pools

Maytronics builds it for above-ground pools up to 30 ft. It cleans the floor on a 1.5-hour cycle and has a 2-year warranty, longer than any Nautilus. Popular Mechanics calls it “our top recommendation” for above-ground pools (Popular Mechanics). It is the lowest-priced Dolphin on Amazon and the pick on our above-ground pool page.

The catch: it does not climb walls or scrub the waterline. It has no app, no timer and no cable swivel, so you press start each time (Maytronics). The Pool Nerd rates it “Pool Nerd Caution” and says “Two better options exist at nearly the same price” (The Pool Nerd). If you want the walls of an above-ground pool cleaned, the Nautilus CC climbs walls in above-ground pools up to 33 ft, for $169 more.

$530 at Amazon

What each step up buys

1. E10, $530: the lowest price. Above-ground pools up to 30 ft. It cleans the floor only. 2-year warranty.
2. Nautilus CC, $699 ($169 more): it climbs walls, in inground or above-ground pools up to 33 ft. No app, no timer and no cable swivel. The warranty drops to 1 year.
3. Nautilus CC Plus, $829 ($130 more): inground pools up to 40 ft. It adds the app, a weekly timer and a swivel cable. It is not rated for above-ground pools, and it still skips the waterline.
4. Nautilus CC Supreme, $1,449 ($620 more): it scrubs the waterline, in inground pools up to 50 ft. An ultra-fine filter kit comes in the box, and the default cycle is 2.5 hours. The warranty is still 1 year.
5. Explorer E50, $1,629 ($180 more): a 2-year warranty. It scrubs the waterline too, in pools up to 50 ft, inground or above ground, and a light says when the filter is full.
6. Sigma: It is sold on Maytronics’ own site, not on Amazon, so it is not a pick here. The price there is $2,999 at the maker (we read that price on November 2, 2026). It has a 3-year warranty, the longest here, and an ultra-fine filter kit in the box. The Pool Nerd calls it “my pick for the best robotic pool cleaner you can buy” (The Pool Nerd).

Prices are Amazon’s on November 2, 2026. Figures are Maytronics’ own.

What named testers found

These are other people’s reviews, quoted word for word, with the date each page gives. The Pool Nerd’s reviews of the CC Plus, CC Supreme and Sigma are the newest here, all dated July 31, 2026.

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus

• The Pool Nerd, on the current model: “It's Pool Nerd Disapproved. It just simply isn't the robot it used to be” (The Pool Nerd, July 31, 2026).
• The Pool Nerd, on the filters: “While the listing on Maytronics sites says it uses an ultrafine filter system, we only received the mesh filters from our order on Amazon” (The Pool Nerd, July 31, 2026).
• The Pool Nerd also says: “It'll still clean your pool better than any cordless cleaner under $1,000” (The Pool Nerd, July 31, 2026).
• Bob Vila: “the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Cleaner stood out as the best overall” (Bob Vila, guide updated July 15, 2026).
• Popular Mechanics: “The Nautilus CC Plus, the flagship of the Dolphin line, hits the perfect sweet spot between price and cleaning performance” (Popular Mechanics, guide updated May 19, 2026, picked from experts and specs).
• Pool Research: “The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is a top-notch overall robotic pool cleaner that is affordable and does the job” (Pool Research, January 6, 2024).
• PoolBots: “it doesn't perform like the premium robotic pool cleaner Dolphin wants it to be” (PoolBots).

Dolphin Explorer E50

• PoolBots: “The E50 is a strong all-around cleaner, and it climbs walls and waterlines well, but it does use standard filters rather than NanoFilters” (PoolBots).
• We found no review of it from The Pool Nerd, Bob Vila or Popular Mechanics.

Dolphin E10

• Popular Mechanics, on above-ground pools: “The Dolphin E10, another member of the Maytronics family, is our top recommendation for this” (Popular Mechanics, guide updated May 19, 2026).
• The Pool Nerd: “Pool Nerd Caution But for most pool owners? Two better options exist at nearly the same price” (The Pool Nerd).

Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme

• The Pool Nerd rates it Pool Nerd Disapproved, and says “the reason is value, not performance. It cleans with the best of them” (The Pool Nerd, July 31, 2026).
• PoolBots: “it's hard to see how the price aligns with its performance” (PoolBots).

Dolphin Nautilus CC

• The Pool Nerd rates it Pool Nerd Disapproved: “There are just so many better robots out there” (The Pool Nerd).
• Popular Mechanics, for smaller pools: “The Nautilus CC might be a better pick” (Popular Mechanics, guide updated May 19, 2026).

Dolphin Sigma

• The Pool Nerd rates it Pool Nerd Approved: “it is my pick for the best robotic pool cleaner you can buy” (The Pool Nerd, July 31, 2026).
• The Pool Nerd says it “includes Gen-2 NanoFilters in the box” (The Pool Nerd, July 31, 2026).
• It is sold on Maytronics’ own site, not on Amazon, so it is not a pick here.

Questions buyers ask

Nautilus CC or Nautilus CC Plus?

Get the CC Plus ($829 on Amazon) for an inground pool. For $130 more than the CC, it adds the app, a weekly timer and a cable swivel, and it is rated for pools up to 40 ft instead of 33 ft. PoolBots notes the CC’s 50-foot cable has no anti-tangle swivel (PoolBots). Get the CC ($699 on Amazon) only if your pool is above ground or under 33 ft and you are fine pressing start each time.

Nautilus CC Plus or CC Supreme?

The CC Supreme scrubs the waterline and is rated for pools up to 50 ft; the CC Plus does neither. Both have a 1-year warranty. The Pool Nerd disapproves of both, the Supreme on value: “the reason is value, not performance. It cleans with the best of them”. If you want the waterline, the Explorer E50 has a 2-year warranty for $180 more.

Dolphin Sigma or Nautilus CC Supreme?

Both scrub the waterline in pools up to 50 ft. The Sigma has a 3-year warranty against the Supreme’s 1 year, and The Pool Nerd approves of the Sigma and disapproves of the Supreme. The Sigma is sold on Maytronics’ own site, not on Amazon, so it is not a pick here. The price there is $2,999 at the maker (we read that price on November 2, 2026).

Dolphin E10 or Nautilus CC?

For an above-ground pool, the E10 ($530 on Amazon): it is built for above-ground pools up to 30 ft and has a 2-year warranty. The Nautilus CC ($699 on Amazon) adds wall climbing and works in pools up to 33 ft, inground or above ground, but its warranty is 1 year.

Is the waterline scrub worth it?

Yes, if you brush the tile line by hand today and want to stop. The Pool Nerd calls the waterline “one of the dirtiest parts of the pool” (The Pool Nerd). The cheapest Dolphin on Amazon that scrubs it is the CC Supreme ($1,449 on Amazon); our pick for it is the Explorer E50 ($1,629 on Amazon), for the 2-year warranty and the better tester record. If the waterline stays clean with a quick brush, the CC Plus saves you $620.

What warranty does a Dolphin have?

By Maytronics’ pages: 1 year for the Nautilus CC, CC Plus and CC Supreme; 2 years for the E10 and Explorer E50; 3 years for the Sigma. The Pool Nerd says Dolphin “quietly cut the warranty on every single Nautilus model down to 1 year” (The Pool Nerd), and that the cover “only holds up if you buy from an Authorized Maytronics Dealer” (The Pool Nerd). Check who the seller is on Amazon before you buy.

Why pick the CC Plus if The Pool Nerd disapproves of it?

Because three other testers name it best overall, and our rule counts every named award. The Pool Nerd’s review is the newest and covers the current model. Of the three awards, only Bob Vila’s comes from a hands-on test in a 2026 guide. If the waterline or the 1-year warranty worries you, the Explorer E50 scrubs the waterline and has a 2-year warranty, for more money. The Pool Nerd itself would spend “just a little more on the Cayman”, a Dolphin we do not cover (The Pool Nerd).

Sources

Maytronics pages and tester reviews read October 19, 2026. Amazon prices and listings checked November 2, 2026. These are Maytronics’ figures and other people’s reviews, not our tests. How we work.

1. Maytronics: Dolphin E10 page
2. Maytronics: Dolphin Nautilus CC page
3. Maytronics: Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus page
4. Maytronics: Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme page
5. Maytronics: Dolphin Explorer E50 page
6. Maytronics: Dolphin Sigma page
7. The Pool Nerd: Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus review (July 31, 2026)
8. The Pool Nerd: Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme review (July 31, 2026)
9. The Pool Nerd: Dolphin Sigma review (July 31, 2026)
10. The Pool Nerd: Dolphin Nautilus CC review
11. The Pool Nerd: Dolphin E10 review
12. Bob Vila: best robotic pool cleaners (updated July 15, 2026)
13. Popular Mechanics: best robotic pool cleaners (updated May 19, 2026)
14. Pool Research: best robotic pool cleaners (January 6, 2024)
15. PoolBots: Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus review
16. PoolBots: Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme review
17. PoolBots: Dolphin Explorer E50 review
18. PoolBots: Dolphin Nautilus CC review

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