NEWS AND UPDATES: Thanks for watching! Pelican shops will have most of the models on the chart. They also offer an ENHANCED warranty on most models, meaning, that they cover not only part costs but labor and shipping costs. They also get it done MUCH faster than dolphin directly or other stores. I will also most likely be the one to fix it when this occurs! No other store will cover shipping to and from and most do not cover labor. The goal is to let you have 100% peace of mind just in case it happens. Here is the link: pelicanshops1.com/collections/robotic-pool-cleaners I WILL ALSO ATTACH NEW INFO OR CHANGES THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE SEASON ONTO THIS COMMENT BELOW THE REST SO CHECK THIS AS INFO MIGHT CHANGE MIDSEASON THAT WONT BE REFLECTED IN THE VIDEO Feel free to comment in the comment section any questions you might have! I know not every little detail could be covered in this video otherwise it would be a decade long. Ask away if you have some more specific questions! the goal is to make this video as well as the comment section a resource of knowledge people can go to without any "BS" marketing confusion. Update 1: (04.23.24) Liberty 400 gen 1 will only have 1.5 hour cycle. Gen 2 is planned to have 2.5 hour but I'm unsure when that will happen. The video states it will have 2.5 hours but dolphin has clarified not at first... Update 2: (06.18.24) Liberty 400s have finally hit shelves. There are multiple coupons out for E70 bringing the price down to $1899 ($100 off) from most places like Pelican. Being the same price as M600 makes this worth considering however M600 still have the rebate on it while E70 does not
@@MichaelRaduazzo Essential dolphin offers the the E10, Escape, T15, S50, Active 10 for "above ground units" that will only do the floor of the above ground pool. HOWEVER you can use any unit in reality (although it might be overkill). I would say you can go up to the S300 column on the chart in the video without being considered overkill or look at the models I mentioned in the beginning of this comment. They have the same specs as the first column but will only do the floors
I can’t thank you enough for such a comprehensive, no BS, explanation on the different models. I’ve wasted so much time trying to figure this out on my own. Excellent comparisons of the models and differences. You have a talent for explaining things without wasting a lot of time - thanks. I had a few candidates in mind; and, after watching this, I have decided on the M400 and ordered today. It is so rare to find an English speaking, knowledgeable person that I can call and get my questions answered!
This is literally THE BEST pool cleaner video available. NO QUESTION. I have watched so many of these videos. They are by in large worthless. This is so thorough and so clear. I have also bought three robots so far and have returned all three prior to watching this. Dying for information. This was so helpful. I only wish you covered Polaris as well. Obviously, I understand why not. Amazing. Thank you so much!
Dude this video is exactly what I needed! There are so many dolphin models its hard to tell one from the other. This video is really well put together and has a ton os useful information for anyone looking to buy a pool vacuum. Thank you!
Commenting again on this video for the algorithm. Your content is excellent for the pool owner community. You’ve mentioned making it in the past, but please make a Polaris vs Dolphin comparison video similar to what you did with Aiper!
I'm ready to upgrade from my Dolphin DX5 plus that I've had since around 2010 or so. It still does a good job but I'm so tired of cleaning out the bags and the remote hasn't worked for years. I am considering the E70 but now I'm considering the M600. Thanks for the video!
Great video. Do you see any improvements across models in not getting stuck in floor drain covers? I got a Quantum when my old DX3 died and was disappointed to find that it too gets stuck.
unfortunately the main drain issue is really dependent on the drain itself. if the drain is to large to the point where the unit can get fully pinned on it most robots will have an issue EXCEPT for the M400 and CC SUPREME which have that 3rd brush in the middle which allows it NOT to have a spot where it can be pinned up. those two units are pretty much immune to this issue. However units with dual drive motors (like the m400, cc supreme, m600, active 60, e70) also fair better due to moving faster and having usually momentum to get up and OVER compared to up and STUCK. Another remedy you can try is to run the unit without the pump running as sometimes the main drain suction and cleaner suction can create an effect where they just get stuck to each other in a way.... Sometimes that solves the issue all together. The unit might get stuck but most of the time it has fail safes in place to notice its stuck and get off. it might take 5-10 minutes but usually it can get off.
This was one of the most informative videos on this topic. I finally understand all the features and benefits especially since just because it's more money doesn't mean it's better for your pool. Thanks.
Very comprehensive summary analysis of the product line. It was very useful to distinguish online-only models which I will steer away from. I think I made up my mind which model to get. Thank you very much.
This was an amazing video! I just sent back the Beatbox Aqua sense pro. That thing didn’t work for me. So I needed to understand all the different models dolphin makes and you helped tremendously!
great! I have been hearing the same with multiple people about the BEATBOT. I think its important that you leave a review on their site or amazon to share your experience. the reviews sound to good to be true based on how many people have told me bad things about it. They might be censoring the bad reviews. Glad the video helped!
@@thedolphindoctor does the ultra fine filters come in the box already or do I need to purchase separately? Definitely something I’m going to use most of the time
As a content creator for multiple channels... I see the effort and just have to say that with this video, you are doing god's work. Great rundown of the models and differences. Our old dolphin 4 deluxe died and I have been stuck in analysis paralysis for about a week on what to buy. This helped me choose the discontinued dx4 for $100 off locally and order a ultra fine filter set online (so both for just under the normal price of a dx4 or... basically 100+ off the quantum that I was looking at).
By far the best video I've watched to help pick a new cleaner! Thank you sooo much for taking the time to describe the differences and build the amazing chart for reference. Great job!
Almost! I almost bought the Dolphin Premier since all the fake reviews and videos promoted it so much. I watched many of them and all the Google-sponsored reviews that just can't be trusted anymore. I am happy I came across this video. I am purchasing the M600 instead. Top load basket vs. upside down with an old bag design stuffed into a small chamber. Triple motors with dual scrubbing brushes vs. two motors vs. no active brush, caddy vs. no caddy, gyro vs no gyro, wi-fi app vs. none, manual drive and three cycle times vs. one, full bag indicator, smart nav with a new design vs. outdated Premier. I'll get the $100 rebate on the M600 and spend the extra $400. It is worth the difference to me.
Thank you!!! I'll probably be calling to order in the next few days. Trying to decide which model to get. I will probably have to call to see what is available
Also, you're the only one who said what I found to be inconvenient. The bag with those cartridge slots it's absolutely ridiculous. Every advertisement and review talked about this huge bag but you stuffed it in that small cavity. The upside down loading and unloading. Again thank you!
yeah now you know my pain! people fall for that marketing ALL THE TIME. The video helps whoever watches it but only a small fraction of people ever see it but its good it helps who does see it for sure
Hey man, just wanted to say thanks for the review. I did order the M400 from from Pelican Shops because of this video. Best product I've purchased in a long time.
Best video on pool cleaners, period. I wish you had done this 2 months ago before I watched several scores of confusing (and lying) reviews of these robots. Thank you!
I'm glad you think so highly of it. Unfortunately your situation is a common thing that ends up happening. I try to post as much as possible on forums / groups online to help spread that awareness but it only goes so far.
Excellent video! Question for you. I am deciding on M400 vs M600. I notice the M600 does not have the dual stabilizer the M400 has. Why is that? And does that make the M400 more effective at the water line? Also, I don’t understand the difference in the filter designs between both (cartridge and basket). Thanks.
Watch the video and you'll see the difference between the filters. I have a dead Dolphin s300i, and loved the basket design. Very easy to spray clean and empty. FWIW, after this incredibly helpful video, I'm replacing it with an M600 due to the active brush, basket filter and total of 3 motors. I live in NJ, so will buy from pelican, and am looking forward to the store-supported warranty/repair work, if needed. FWIW, there is currently a $100 manufacturer rebate during May (last day today) for the M600. You can see what other models have rebates on the Maytronics website.
Love your videos. Question, i own a nautilus cc 99996113-us. It works great but it needs a new communication cord. Can i buy a upgraded cord with a swivel so the cord does not tangle up all the time. If so, what is the part number? Thanks for any help
great video, very comprehensive review! I just want to add that there are ultrafine filters for the Cayman, I own one and works wonders if your pool is exposed to sand or fine dust !
Appreciate your honest opinion and criticism of all the Dolphin models, most informative youtube video out there regarding Dolphin cleaners. Pelicanshops also looks like a trusting authorized reseller.
Hi - just finished building a pool. Your video was fantastic and very informative. Noticed it has been a few months since this video - was hoping you have an update on the liberty 400? I am considering s400 but have been told by many to go cordless? The liberty looks the part but appreciate that it is fairly new hence I can’t find many reviews on it. Hope you can help
Liberty 400 still only have 1.5 hours. once it hits 2.5 it will be worth considering for sure. Jury is still out on how long those batteries will hold up as this is the 2nd year dolphin has cordless out. they have actually been very good in the reliability section as the only issues ive run into are a few chargers breaking where it was confirmed the customers were charging it in the sun which the instructions STATE NOT TO DO. Cord is still more powerful in my opinion as of now. if you take care of the cord and keep it neat you wont have an issue.
I have a Nautilus CC Plus. Actually have 2 of them when one of the power supplies was acting up I bought a second one. There's 2 main performance issues I have with it and i'm looking to upgrade. I already have a CADDY so I don't need that. My CC Plus almost always get stuck on my steps. It's really annoying. And the second issue is i'm having a hard time keeping the pool clean. I have the FINE and ULTRA fine filters. I always keep the ultra fine filters in it. But i can literally see the dirt on the floor, it'll roll over it, pick it up, and i'll see the pump spit it back out the top. I've checked the filters and they don't have any holes in them. Any suggestions what I should upgrade to? Any will any of the other units use the same power supply that I currently have since i have 2 of them?
some units have a dual layer filter in addition to the other filter types in the basket / cartridge. this might help your situation. the CC plus is known to get stuck on steps due to the weight distribution within the cleaner. Usually raising or lowering the waterline will help. Either that little bit of extra buoyancy will help it not get stuck. or lowering it a little will make it not get up there in the first place. Not sure what would be getting through the ultra fine filters though. You can try moving to a basket design to see if that helps. or an M400 for an upgrade of what you already have but without the weight distribution issues I mentioned earlier.
Thank you so much for the video and the great information. I have a 24' round above ground pool - I have been using a very old model with a bag and I'm thrilled that I can upgrade to a basket design which is so much easier to use and clean. My needs include a large number of cleaning cycles upon opening but I keep on top of the pool when it's clean and will likely only run the unit once per week. I ordered two E10 models from Amazon which I need to return because both short circuited within a few days. I need some guidance as to what model would be best for me to purchase. I was talked into a Liberty 200 at a pool store today and after viewing your video, I'm planning on returning it in the box without even trying it out. Can you please help me with your recommendation as to what model I should buy. Your help would be much appreciated. Thanks so much.
if you aim for 1 time a week I think an S200 is the safer option for that size above ground. But I also think its possible to get away with an E20. You might need to run that more than 1 time a week though. even though the pool is clean its good to have it run just to brush the walls and floor to disrupt algae growth.
Great video! I had the Triton PS since the summer of 2017 and last season it finally went dead on me. A few weeks ago I ordered the Proteus DX3 to try that one out. Weirdest thing but one of the tracks fell off while vacuuming. Also, one of the rubber sweepers on the bottom kept falling off during every cycle. Anyways, I returned the Lemon and ordered the Triton PS again. The only question is I have is that the new Triton has this white tube like piece that connects the end of the power supply to the cable that was not on the original model I got in 2017. Do you know that that is?
So is the M600 and Active 60 identical? Trying to decide which to go with. If I order from y’all and have an issue do I send back to you for repair work? How does that work?
M600 and active 60 are the same other than color. M600 is the more popular of the two and I recommend that one due to the color fading to light blue vs white going to yellow. Pelican covers shipping back and forth up to 2 times for warranty claims. labor is always covered and parts are covered under maytronics. You would just contact via phone or email to get that process started
Hello - I have a 17x32 in ground vinyl pool with drop in steps. Would you recommend the s200 over any of the nautilus models? Also is the s200 different than the quantum or is it literally just a reskin? The quantum got bad reviews on amazon. My local pool robot servicer is recommending the s200
S200 is similar to quantum. I find that a lot of people on Amazon have insanely high expectations. Especially for a base line unit. The quantum and s200 should ideally be ran 2-5 times a week in season. It shouldn't be left in the pool all the time either. People often complain about how short theirs lasted, tangling cord, or missing stuff in the pool. All are avoidable issues if you run the unit enough, take it out of the pool and keep the cable neat, use the right filters in the right situation, and not expose it to high chlorine levels. A lot of people think that it can clean any pool in any situation in 2 hours which won't be the case if the pool is a swamp. Which ends up happening most times. People get them in the spring most of the time, then complain they don't clean their swampy spring pool just opened in 1 cycle. There are more expensive units out there that are better but the value on s200 can't be beat as long as you run it enough to keep up with the pool. Basically your saving money by buying a cheaper unit than stronger units but it requires needing to run more so it can keep up.
@@thedolphindoctorthanks for the feedback! I live in NJ and the pool is only open from May to September. I was initially looking at the E20 and then stumbled on the S200 based off recommendations and having a hard time figuring which to buy
@@CypriotMalaka E20 isnt bad but does not do waterline scrubbing, no rebate, and no ultra fine filters. Often times people buy it and immediately need to order the ultra fiine basket for $80-100 om addition to the $599 price. S200 having them already and the $100 rebate, tangle reducing cord, bigger basket, two brushes, and waterline scrubbing make it worth the cost in my opinion.
@@thedolphindoctor Would you recommend the quantum over the s200? Doing some research shows the quantum has upgraded navigation and "power jet" technology that the s200 does not have. seems like they are the same price and same warranty
Loved the video. My Polaris Sport 3900 pressure-side cleaner is in the shop and I'm considering a robot. This is all new to me so your comparisons were very helpful. These are pricey for sure but I'd expect some cost savings from the lower electrical cost (pressure-side pump vs robot).
yes definitely more cost heavy upfront (IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A BOOSTER PUMP). Dolphin in most yards and climates only need to be used 1-4 two hour cycles a week depending on the unit so they don't need to live in the pool which also helps you have less maintenance over time compared to the Polaris which always seem to need yearly maintenance due to the constant chlorine exposure.
Great video and easy to follow chart/comparison. I've had a Nautilus cc for 4 years and have replaced almost every part in it several times. Tracks always come off, sooner or later despite what you change. Replaced the cord after it broke in a spot. Worked for 2 weeks and now "attempts to come on" but nothing. Thinking it is the "brain box", but tired or throwing money at it. Sent it once to Nautilus. Returned with the same new parts doing exactly the same thing. Very frustrated. Have a 8-9000 gal pool at home. Need something good, does walls, no need for caddy, no wifi/bells and whistles, works daily, AND reliable. Suggestions to narrow it down??
good questions. Was the robot left in the pool most of the time? used when the chlorine was really high (like after shocking it, or maybe after using pH- chemicals)? you definitely should not have had this many issues. However the chlorine exposure does cause everything you have said over time. See my other comments on the leaving it in the pool topic to see what I mean. As for suggestions on what to go with next. You can go with a basket design so it is easier for you to maintain and empty out. The basket designs have less parts as well which in my mind is "less that can go bad" down the line. However basket designs are definitley geared more towards "keeping" a clean pool compared to CLEANING a really dirty pool. If you want something heavier duty than M400 would be an option Id look at as the value is there. Although it has wifi it does not rely on it.
@@thedolphindoctor yes, it was in the pool almost all the time. Lazy me figured it is meant to be in water and set to go off daily, so why add the work of in/out daily? Like I said, when it worked, especially the first few months, it was more than plenty for me. Poll does need a good cleaning now, but once cleaned it doesn't really need it daily. I just did it because it was already there. I'll look into the suggestion above, but hoping to spend a lot less than that if at all possible.
@@dgasmd1 At that point look at S200 or stay with CC plus, I think knowing that the issue was indeed the chlorine exposure and just being submerged too long I think youll have an improvement on the next one regardless of if its the same unit or different
Thank you for your quick reply. I know the pool is large, and it probably will take two days to clean it all. But, do you think it can handle the corners and the slant down to the deep end and back. If you say no, then I respect that. Thank you
This was truly one of the best video's I've seen in comparing in a practical way all of the 2024 lineup for Dolphin. As a result, i bought the Nautilus Supreme from Pelicanshops and hope to be able to come back and let you know how well it works. I had a Polaris P825 that i bought in 2017, never had an issue, but the controller went out so i decided to buy a new pool robot, we'll see how well these compare...thanks again for the great info!
Thanks for the video. I have a 30L x 12W, gunite pool with a slope going from 3 to 6 feet in southwest FL. I am trying to decide which robot will be best for me. I get some leaves and mulch in my pool so I am considering a basket design; however, I don't mind picking up most of the leaves with the net if needed. Do I need the app and the caddy? If no, I am wondering if I can get away with the some of the models in the standard series, namely the S200, Quantum, Active 20. I know I want the ultra fine filters. If I should have the app and caddy, I am considering the S300, Active 30 or T45. The CC Supreme and the M400 with the 3 motors are intriguing but I don't know if I need all that power and I am wondering if I should have the basket instead of cartridge. As you can see, even though I know a lot more after watching the video and looking at the chart, I still don't know which model I should buy. Thanks in advance for your help.
WIFI and caddy aren't necessary. they are there for people who want the added convenience but they are not necessary. Netting/ brushing will always be something you might have to do if the pool is bad and I always suggest doing it for people who open up in the spring. You being in FL don't need to worry about that part lol. S200 would get the job done, its designed to KEEP a pool clean. where M400 is much more efficient in cleaning a dirty pool. BOTH UNITS can do that but it just take S200 longer to do so, more cycles. You also need to run S200 more through out the week where M400 not as much. I would say look at those two models if you don't want WIFI. ALTHOUGH m400 has WIFI, its not reliant on it... The value is there to make it worth its price regardless if you use the WIFI or not. Feel free to call me at Pelican 9733134424 and just ask for John during the week days. Its definitely a complicated purchase to make
@@thedolphindoctor thank you John for helping me select the best option for my pool and my location. I really appreciated the consideration to the different models I had in mind and how we came to decide on the M400. I am in the middle of a seawall replacement project, so the M400 will be put to the test right away as they are kicking up a bunch of dust.
I have the m500 which has a crappy Bluetooth system and has given up climbing walls despite changing filters - would like to move to cordless - how does the dolphin compare with the aiper s1 or aiper s1 pro?
Any cordless unit no matter the brand wont compare to the M500 in terms of cleaning power.... if your willing to make a sacrifice in cleaning power to go cordless the Liberty 300 - 400 would be the best option. stay away from Aiper. battery problems have caused multiple house fires and they hide negative reviews online. Untrustworthy company and the quality is bad from china. If your looking for same power look into M400 or M600 at this time. There is always going to be some sort of trade off. You lose the cord but also lose cleaning power if you go cordless. Plus battery replacements down the line are almost the cost of the robot itself
@@Vic-wg5uz Does it still have climbing rings? or do you need to get replacements on it. you can try extending the floats on the handle as well. it could be that if it isn't climbing walls, they can be slippery from micro algae if they haven't been brushed in a while. that's the most common thing people run into if they haven't brushed and cleaner hasn't run in a bit.
I have an M400 and a fiberglass pool with a safety ledge near the bottom. It has problem getting over the safety ledge to continue up the wall and the waterline. I’ve already replaced. The climbing rings. Is there a different model that would work better?
Its definitely the ledge. I've had customer switch to a basket design in this case due to the larger wheels up front and this usually solves the issue!
Looking at the chart, what is the difference between basket and dual layer basket? If it just says basket, does that mean you have to switch between the filters depending on what you need while the dual layer has both filters in at the same time?
LOVE YOUR VIDEO. I've watched it about 5 times. So glad for the info on the Premier. My big problem is leaves and every other video says to get the Premier and only show a big bag full of leaves. But what you said makes sense about stuffing the big bag doesn't get you more than the confines of the space. I want a basket on top. I have been using an old school Polaris 3-wheeled thing with a tail using a booster pool pump that came w the pool 5 yrs ago. It is probably 20 yrs old but works. My concern is I have a pebbletec 25 yr-old pool. The Polaris will collect a small quantity of pebbles each week. I am wondering will a scrubber 'scrub away' significantly more pebbles? The stairs show some concrete thru which is probably inevitable but the rest of the pool pebbletec looks fine and when I brush it, I don't see any pebbles coming off. My main thing is LEAVES. Sounds like the S300 is what I want. BIg basket, carrier and ability to choose floor only. Also, what is the difference between the 300 and 300i? Thanks so much.
If leaves are you main enemy I would say S300 is a solid choice. Anything with floor only will be more efficient as when it's set to floor only it's not getting distracted with where the leaves aren't. I have never seen a huge issue with pebbletec. The brush isn't that strong to sheer it off. S300 isn't as strong as anything with 3 motors but will get the job done as long as you run it enough. Usually 3-5 times a week compared to 2-3 on a stronger unit. Also run it when pool pump is off so leaves don't get suspended in circulation. 300i is discontinued for at least 5 years now. S400 replaced it in 2020. It's the same as s300 but more wifi options and a double layered basket. Nothing ground. Breaking. Your better off buying these new m550 for that price range or even m600. You'll be surprised the amount of stuff any dolphin will filter out over the Polaris. Fine dust you didn't even realize was there
Are Ultra Fine Filters available for the Nautilus CC Pro? If so, do you know the part number or have a link? Do they come as a whole basket replacement or just the screens? I did not see them on Dolphins website. Thank you!
9991467-ASSY make sure the listing you buy says that part number. I'm sure other parts will come up for that result when you google it. Also make sure its a genuine product by Maytronics.
Thank you for the prompt reply! I'm b/t the Nautilus CC Pro & the Supreme. I would plan on buying the UF filters for the pro so that jumps the price +$100. Is the extra motor+increased suction rate (supreme) worth the +$200-300 difference for the Supreme? I thought you said the basket (pro) was preferable to the cartridge (supreme)- how much so? The increased WiFi functions, while nice, are not overly appealing to me personally. ~18000g, 38' x 18' in ground pool. Thank you! @thedolphindoctor
@@mjrwoody3396 CC supreme is worth it for the power increases. Cartridges are a slightly better cleaning performance due to having 2 entrances for debris compared to 1 on the basket. dual drive motor units also dont need to run as much during the week since they are more efficient. also they clean a dirty pool faster. The value is there to make the jump. floor only mode also comes in clutch and the extra warranty. you just lose a SMALL amount of convenience with losing the more convenient basket cleaning.
This is a great video that helped me to buy one that is within my budget and needed performance. I just bought the Proteus DX4.....I'll update once I receive and utilize. Thank you
I have inquired from my local pool store about the Active30 but I just wanted your opinion on it for a 40 foot long fiberglass pool with a toe ledge all the way around it? Will it do a sufficient job climbing the walls and cleaning the waterline?
It should be able to get over the hump of the toe ledge. The motor being situated towards the front of that model keep it from falling backwards on those types of ledges, instead it usually falls towards the inner wall after the ledge. Just keep in mind if the robot can't fully fit on the ledge it might not get the best suction to vacuum the actual ledge.
Thank you so much! I’m in Cincinnati. Our local store doesn’t do service. If I call your store and order from you guys could I ship it to you for service? I’d love to purchase from you!
How is the dolphine app fidelity? There seems to be multiple complaints online about the app "hanging up/ lagging" when navagating between screens, have you experienced the same feedback?
no particular strain. but the motor considers the filter full when the strain increases so when the thicker filters are in it tends to consider itself full quicker when cleaning a really dirty pool. you want to just make sure you use fine filters as much as possible when the pool is dirty and then when the pool is pretty much clean swap to the ultra fine filters. its always a trade off. the thicker filters are great for filtering but suction power goes down to support that. fine filters allow higher suction power but less filtration. Still, most of the time you will be using ultra fine filters
Either one but M600 will be easier to clean out, It will do a better job cleaning the waterline, has less parts overall, and has two important features that might seem like a "bell and whistle" feature. FLOOR ONLY and the PICK UP MODE. both these features come in handy. FLOOR ONLY to focus on the floor where the debris is. so the robot doesn't get distracted with the walls when your just trying to vacuum debris out. and PICK UP MODE so you don't pull on the cord to take the robot out of the pool. this will cause the robots cord to last longer so no possibly breaks happen at the detangler part of the cable from the pressure of pulling on it. M600s basket design will be a lot easier to clean out as well compared to the cartridges. M400 is still a slightly better value in terms of specs and bang for your buck but if you value convenience M600 is a better value at that point
Thank you so much for this video. I'm a new pool owner and I have been so overwhelmed with figuring out which robot to buy. I only have a 12 x 24 salt water pool in Tampa. I want to make sure it cleans my waterline. Had no idea about the active brush. I don't have a cage and bump up against a conservation area (trees). I prefer to purchase at a brick and mortar. Which dolphin do you recommend?
depends on how bad the pool gets and how quickly. you can go S200 as it will do waterline but that unit might need to run more throughout the week since its not as strong as an M400 or M600. If you want a unit to run less but still clean just as good than M400 or M600. M600 if you really want the basket but also the power upgrades of M400. I leaves are an issue constantly a dual drive unit with higher suction might fair better (M400, M600) or run the weaker units more throughout to keep up
I have a M400. Sometimes has trouble getting to water line. Also what position do I put the handle and do I put the counter block on handle out? Need some advice. Thanks so much!!! Great video!
Not sure which direction to take. Could you weigh in? Looking for a cordless cleaner for a 32,000 gallon kidney-shaped pool. Down to Aiper S1 Pro, Dolphin Liberty 400, or Polaris Freedom (or any other if you recommend something else). Any thoughts?
Liberty's will be getting a 2.5 hour run time soon. I would say liberty 300 in a few weeks when they start hitting shelves. Liberty 400 won't have 2.5 hour until next year
I have a vinyl liner pool and my local pool shop person was telling me the M600 is not a good idea for vinyl pools due to it's powerful suction could pull the liner off. It is only recommended for gunite. She was recommending the S line like the S400 instead. Is this true? I was set on the M600, but now I am concerned. What are your thoughts? Thanks
thats not true. if that were the case there would be warnings all over the place in regard to liner damage. The suction difference between S and M line is only 500 gallons per hour. that nothing. not enough to make a difference
convenience would be one as it'll probably take you 30 seconds to a minute to clean out a basket vs 2-4 minutes with two cartridges. basket design has less parts overall compared to a cartridge design and they are easier for you the customer to maintain for example track and brush replacements are easier on a basket design. however the cartridge's deisgn is a little bit more efficient getting leaves as there is two entrances for large debris vs one on the basket.
Thank you for the excellent comparisons and comments. Considering the filtration and extra features of the S400/Active 40, is the additional $330 CDN (in my market) worth it over the S300/Active 30 in your opinion? Would the filtration system of the S400 be all that different from the S300? Thank you.
I would say if you are gonna use the different cleaning cycle options and times as well as the pick up mode the S400 would be worth it. But if you only plan on going out and hitting that power button manually most of the time than the S300 would be a better value. The pick up mode is nice on the S400 though as your not putting strain on the cable when taking the unit out of the pool. HOWEVER you can use the manual drive mode on the s300 via WIFI to essentially do the same thing. The filtration difference is nice but should not be a sole reason to upgrade.
Hello. It's not a US cleaner but from what I understand about the Australian S150 is is has the same specs of the s200 but instead of separate filter options it has the "dual filtration" basket similar to what the s400 has here in the US. I'm not 100% sure though. If your in Australia I would reach out to Sydney pool robotics to get more accurate info as they are on a lot of forums I'm on and seem to be a good hearted company based on how they try to help people similar to me in the US.
I wish I would have found this video a week ago before my Sigma purchase. I even saw an M400 at my pool store and didn’t get it and ordered the Sigma. But, the Sigma clean is great! It took things out of my pool that I had no idea were there including a ton of dirt.
Any idea why my cc plus stop moving. If I take it out from the water and give it a push. It will move for a little bit. Should I send in for a repair or just get a new one?
have you checked the impeller. check out dolphins dealer locater and see where the closest one that works on them is. See if they do free diagnostics or if its under warranty if they can fix it. the model has a 2.5 year warranty
@@thedolphindoctor impeller is running. just not the belts. it is out of warranty by a hair. I was going to send it in to dolphins but it will be at least $200 for whatever it is.. i guess now is time for a new one...
I am deciding on M400 vs M600. I notice the M600 does not have the dual stabilizer the M400 has. Why is that? And does that make the M400 more effective at the water line? Thanks
The m600 is more effective at the waterline cleaning as it no longer needs the dual stabilizer due to having the power stream tech that the basket design has. This allows it to eject water out of the side vents of the unit (which m400 does not have) to traverse the waterline.
It is new. It is made by Maytronics on a lower price point similar to Aiper... Stores don't have them yet. Only Amazon I believe. Stores won't have them until 2025. I wouldn't view this as a "dolphin" hence the dramatic model name. They are made in China. Not Israel like the other dolphins. The "niya" will be a whole different sub brand of Maytronics who also makes "dolphin". Have not seen them in action. Im optimistically cautious..... I wouldnt view it as a dolphin or a dolphin alternative at this point. its more of an aiper alternative. completely different standards
Hi, thanks for the video. My pool is overflow, 6x12 meters. No leaves no debris in the pool. only problem is dirt in the bottom of the pool. Iam between M400 , M600 , M550 and M700 . In addition which filter is better for dirt.. fine filters or ultra fine filters?. Please suggest. Thanks :)
with dirt, try to see what fine filters will get. then go ultra fine. you don't want to overload the ultra fine filters with too much dirt. M550 and M700 are not available in US. but M550 seems like a good value.
Thanks for the video and explaining all the different models, it definitely got confusing and overwhelming! So we currently have an oval 15x27 semi inground pool and need to get a pool robot. We're considering the M600 or Active 60, can you tell me which you recommend and if either will work with (is recommended for) our pool? Thanks!
M600 or active 60 will be the same unit other than color and name however I Would go M600 as the blue over time will fade to a lighter blue. active 60 will yellow out over time. its purely cosmetic though
Great video and glad I watched this (I watched last years as well)as u make it easy to navigate all the models so thank you! Just curious if you can say which store in NJ u work at? I’m about to pull the trigger on a unit and would like to personally say thanks if the store is close.
The website the chart is on and the location I work at is the Morris plains NJ location. The other locations are independently owned and do not have the same inventory or pricing unfortunately
without killing the bank S200. But keep in mind units that don't kill the bank have a lower performance. Not as strong, need to run more throughout the week especially if pool is dirty etc.
Hi John thankyou for putting the comparison together verry interesting, i had a S200 which has failed (motor) 3 times last time out of warranty . i have purchased a M400 very happy with its performance, i have one issue in that it will typically run 0.5Hour cycle time, have you come across this before is there a solution Thanks Stephen
@StephenArnold-x3v Hello Stephen. This particular issue is something I see when there is something stuck in the tracks. The most common culprit is the plastic packaging that comes around the front and back brushes. if they were not taken off before being put in the pool (happens more than you would think) its a good chance one of them was sucked up into the track system. the robot runs for 15-30 minutes until the motor notices its working way to hard and then stops. You can check this buy unscrewing the side plates (4 screws on each side) and verifying nothing is stuck in the track or behind the guide wheels. You can also check the impeller to make sure its not blocked as that could also be it. That is something you should be checking bi-monthly to avoid blocks anyway as mentioned in the manual. It could be a motor issue but in my experience 95% of the time its either blocked track or impeller. I cant tell you how many times people have the same issue, tell me the tracks are clean, it comes back here for repair and the tracks have the plastic packaging or a small pool toy, or stick stuck in them.
@@thedolphindoctor Thanks John for your advise i removed the side plates and impeller but found nothing stuck, replaced and it ran for 58min then stopped, restarted and it ran for 20min and stopped. i think i will return it for replacement. thanks regards Stephen
Thank you! My Triton PS I bought back in 2019 just started to make grinding noises and not move anywhere. Cannot find any replacement gears anywhere, time for a new one, bummer. Thanks for the reviews!
the tanning ledge will be something you still want to brush manually as the unit will most likely not be full submerged to work properly. The best cordless at this point will be the Liberty 300 until the 400 hits shelves
I notice the M400 and M600 do not have nanofilters as an option, they do have ultra-fine filters though. How significant do you think this is, or is it a marketing gimmick? In what scenario is having a nano filter a good thing? The Sigma does have a nano filter. I also read about one supposed customer having a Sigma get stuck on the drain and Maytronics took it in and added an active brush. Is this correct?
It's a marketing gimmick. I mention in the video nano filters specifically. Some sellers change the wording and make it seem like only the ones on their site have it..... Ultra fine filters (what dolphin calls it,) = what the misleading sellers call nano filters. Maytronics wouldn't take it. The seller would've had to do that.
Thank you so much for this!! Immediately subscribed 😊 I’ve been looking for the right robotic cleaner and you have the BEST video by far. Do all of these cleaners work for a kidney-shaped concrete pool (3 to 10 feet)? And do the cords get tangled often? I’m looking at the Aiper Scuba N1 but I’m concerned with its power and ability to clean a freeform pool
I would definitely stay corded at this point for cleaning performance and longevity. they will handle a freeform shape pool. the cord being tangles is easy to avoid if you unplug the cord from the power box when its done and taken out. otherwise the tension just gets worse and worse and causes the tangling. if you keep it neat you wont have a problem
Really appreciate your very thorough video. I found it after 3 hours of online research and going to my local pool store. I suspected that Maytronics sells identical models with different names through distribution channels at slightly different prices and you confirmed it! Also see that my now broken Pentair Prowler 520 is made by Dolphin so seems like there is not much competition in the robot cleaner market ... all roads lead to Maytronics? Does the pool mapping across the various models really make a difference? With my existing Prowler it seemed to be pretty much random. Do you fix a lot of problems with the power supply? My has needed to be replaced twice in 4 years ... could it just be because it is exposed to rain during the May - Oct pool season?
I find that power supply's are my most common warrantied part. In an effort to lower that number I have suggested to customers to do a few things. 1. do not let it bake in the sun. keep it shaded, especially when running. 2. keep it out of the rain. although its water resistant if it really DOWN pours, water resistance might not cut it. I first suggested the keeping it out of sunlight thing last July and have seen a SIGNIFICANT decrease in power supply warranties. Also keep in mind low grade extension cords and even high grade ones have an effect on the power supply and might effect their longevity and that is why Dolphin will say not to use them. The sunlight tip works because the power supply in its own right is computer, it heats up when on. Adding 90 degree + days on top of that can not be good for it. Can it run in the sun YES. but is it better to run shaded YES. Dolphin is the largest brand by far at this time. You can look at Polaris as I think they are the only legitimate company worth possibly moving too but dolphin still has them beat on most fronts; quality, warranty process, filtration, and simplicity of design being what comes to mind. The dolphin does map the pool out using INFORMATION AND MEASURING. in the most simple way: it measures distances between walls and wall heights to map the pool every time it runs and will clean the pool using that info. It doesn't retain this info in-between cycles otherwise it would need to start in the same exact spot every time. Going with a unit that has 2 drive motors compared to 1 will increase performance since it does more laps around the pool in the same time. More coverage. They also have a stronger vacuum motor in most cases. that is why the M400 is such a good value this year
My old Dolphin that used a bottom loading bag filter finally crapped out. I'm on an extreme budget. My most essential need is ultra fine filter that cleans the bottom of the pool. Do you have a recommendation?
depends on how extreme. you can get away with an E20 at $599 and put the ultra fine filter basket seperately for $80-100 and get away under $700. or you can go with an S200 at $1099 that comes with the filters and also the $100 rebate...... both units will clean the pool as long as you run them enough to keep up. they are more PREVENTATIVE and excel as keeping the pool clean if you run them consistently (3-5 days a week) both will still take numerous cycles to clean an already filthy pool.
@@thedolphindoctor Thanks for the advice. So the E20 and the other $499 models are all the same. I don't get why all pool robots don't come with at least the option to purchase ultra fine filters like Dolphin does. I had my pool filter pump and robot cleaner break at the same time this spring so my pool budge is stretched thin. I have solar panels so running it all the time is not a problem. I live near farms and river with a strong delta breeze in California. I need to get the ultra fines that can collect when its windy. I think both recommendations will do at least as good as my 20 year old Dolphin did. And it did well.
We have a 40 ft long pool. Was going to get the premium 20 but the website says “ideal pool length up to 33 ft”. In your video you say these models are good up to 50 ft pools. Any advice on if a cleaner with a 50ft cable can clean a 40 ft pool? Thanks
I do not have the premium line on this chart as its primarily only in Canada. you might be confusing it with the PREMIER which is on this chart and in the video. I would go off dolphins recommendation as the premium 20 will have a smaller basket and it would probably fill before being done. although the cord is 50 ft. you have to account for the depth of the pool as well! you might be able to pull it off but it would probably leave some room to be desired over an S200
Hi, I just bought a home with a med size above ground pool. I was recommended the Polaris by friends who have had it for several years and swear by it. After reading all the reviews, I don’t feel I want to move forward with that model. I was surprised to hear the negative reviews. I do know from listening to your videos that I want one with both fine and ultra fine filters, active brush, I don’t care if it’s cordless or not, waterline, side and floor cleaner, 3 motors if possible but will settle for 2, preferable rebate but want it ASAP, active brush, app would be nice, 24+ mo warranty, Caddy would be nice but not necessary, basket design preferred. I’m looking for convenience and super ease of use
Hi appreciate the great review and explaining things out in simply layman terms. Which one is these corded Dolphins is comparable to Polaris P965IQ? What's your thoughts on the Polaris P 965 IQ compared to a similar Dolphin?
closest in terms of specs would be either M400 or M600 but the design is pretty different from what polaris has going on with the big wheels. I find that polaris often has over complicated designs with more parts that become a pain to work on. They also lack the filtration quality that the Dolphins have. Dolphin is often a bit more $$$ but the quality of parts is also higher compared to what Polaris uses in my opinion
I own a 12-yr old Dolphin Supreme M4. It's a powerhouse and works great for my 32' long pool. I am wondering which one of the presently-manufactured models most resembles the Supreme M4? Mine has ultrafine filters, 2 gray brushes and one active brush in between them. I've done maintenance on this M4 myself and feel as though I know the machine inside and out--it's super easy to maintain. Is the M400 or the M500 most like my M4?
Hi, new subscriber here. Great content you provide! I have a question, I've had a pool in my old house and I just built a new pool in my new house. This one came with a side vacuum port which I have been using my MX6 Zodiac from before. Is there any benefit to something like a Dolphin, say the 800-1500 range of devices? The one thing that kind of annoys me now with my vac is the hoses all over my pool but I notice the Dolphin's still require the power cord in place when using. Do people just leave them in the water most of the time?Thanks!
the dolphins will filter more than just big leaves and dirt which the suction sides focus on. The dolphin will also SCRUB, and filter the water when using the ultra fine filters. amongst other benefits like wifi and not needing to run with the pool pump energy and many more. People leave them in and people take them out. I always say the more its in the pool the more the chemicals will eat at it. I suggest watching the video I made about common mistakes as it covers all that stuff and its a lot to type out here lol ua-cam.com/video/ofG0QSFvPqg/v-deo.htmlsi=e7uFi0i4Ot0in9TT
Hey! Thanks for a very comprehensive and illuminating video! I have a question. If I buy the S300 and connect it to the control unit of the S300i, will that enable these features from the S300i on the S300? Backstory: I have an S300i, which (according to service) has the drive motor broken) I now only have the choice of buying an S300 (not i) which has less features than my old S300i! For instance, S300 has no weekly schedule and max 2 hours vs S300i with weekly schedule and also 2.5 hours cleaning time! My other option is M400 supreme! I am inclined to this, but It would be interesting if the S300 will be “unlocked by the contro unit of the S300i and benefit from its features . Thank you!
The newer s300 is WIFI based so i dont believe the controls of the 300i will work on it since it was bluetooth based. You can also look at the S400 as that is what replaced the S300i in the line up
@@thedolphindoctor The S300I was wifi enabled (as well as bluetooth enabled)! I have used all features for 3 years now:) Basically connected to the cloud so I could start it over the internet as well! The old S300 (not “i”) was the one that was only Bluetooth enabled! So basically I have a fully working wifi enabled control unit from the S300i, with werkly scheduling and 1.5,2,2.5 hour cycle, and all combos of floor, walls and waterline cleaning, and the question is will this control unit work on the new S300 unit that also has wifi, but no weekly scheduling?
A common question often brought up by customers for sure! Here is my take: (be sure to read the 2nd paragraph as it adds some context!) My viewpoint is that the scheduling is a double edged sword, although convenient its not the best for your cleaner as its in the pool most of the time. It also depends on how much you need to use the pool vacuum. Some pools only need it 1 or 2 times a week, some need more. So if your only using it 1 or 2 times there is really no need to use the scheduling feature in my opinion as the benefits of taking it out and potentially getting years more in life far outweigh the benefits of the scheduler. This is common debate amongst any automatic pool vacuum owner. On one hand you have the argument of “well it made for the pool it should be in the pool”. This is a common viewpoint some people have, especially if they are coming from a suction side pool cleaner which was ALWAYS in the pool. This argument makes sense if you don’t account for anything else. The biggest Killer of automatic pool cleaners is long exposure to chlorine (ESPECIALLY HIGH LEVELS OF CHLORINE). The longer its in it the longer it has time to eat at your vacuum. It causes a tangling cord and it slowly dries out the o rings that keep the water out of the important spots like the motor and the cable detangler. So, when you take into account these facts, the argument of “it is made to be in the pool it should be in the pool” falls apart. It might be made for water but its not designed to withstand chlorine all the time. I’ve seen cleaners that are only a year old come back looking like they are 10 years old and I’ve seen the opposite. So, on the other hand, my suggestion is, take it out when not in use OR at the very least take it out when you shock the pool. So, for example, if you shock the pool (or super chlorinate it if you have a salt generator) on a Sunday night then leave the pool vacuum out until Tuesday night. Giving that high chlorine level to come back down to normal levels. DOLPHIN suggest to only run their robots in chlorine levels lower than 4ppm.
Great video. Thanks for putting in the effort. I have owned the M400 for a few years now. The insulation has broke in a couple of places on the cord. I was thinking about replacing the unit, but now I think I will just replace the cord since this still seems to be a good unit on the market.
Does anyone know the difference between the standard clean and the ultra clean on the M600 They both seem very similar? Both clean floor , wall and water line both work for up to 2.5 hours Thanks Msrk
Yes. They are primarily in CANADA however there are a few sources of them in US. The correlate to s200, s400, m600. I would encourage you to buy one of those instead since parts (like the colored shells and side plates) in the US might be harder to come by down the line compared to the main US lines. However you might not ever need to replace them of course.
I have a CC plus It will move around and when it gets to a step and run along the side of it, it turns on its side and wont right itself Any ideas, Thanks
that unit is lopsided in terms of it's weight. I believe I mention it in the video as well. the single drive motor sits on the one side which makes it heavier on that side and causes this issue. so much to the point they added the wheel on the one side to help it off its side. ALSO the two floats on the cable SIGNIFICANTLY help this issue but with the steps usually the unit isn't fully submerged so the floats don't help in that situation. My suggestion is if its returnable, do so and swap to an S200. its a bit more but with the $100 rebate, the fact it can do waterline, basket design, and comes with both filter types more than make up for the price difference. If you cant return it you can try adjusting your water level to be a bit higher or lower so its either submerged more to help get off that step or have it lower so it cant get up onto that step in the first place. I wish I had a better answer but I do not. unfortunately its not a common issue but it still happens sometimes in certain pools
Hi, thanks for this great video! I live in Italy and have a 12 meters pool. My local pool shop who sells and repairs dolphin cleaners recommended to stay away from all the "new design" models with filter basket below 1500$, because he says they break more often. He instead recommends the "older style" models with the dual filter cartridge on the top and the big swivel handle. However some of those models only have the active brushing through a third optional brush and he says it's not worth to have it because it doesn't add much to the cleaning power but breaks often. I'd love to hear your opinion on this! Thanks again! Angelo
I can see their point (sort of) but I feel like the breaking more is a result of being taken care of improperly (noticeably high chlorine exposure and being left in the pool way to much) that causes these issues. not the design. The older designs actually have more moving parts in them compared to the newer basket design.
It's a good cleaner. Commercial grade unit compared to residential units. Hence why it's not in the video or chart. Commercial grade units have brushless motors which are a higher quality motor compared to the residential. So you'll often see residential units have more "features" like wifi and still be the same price as the commerical grade unit with less features but keep in mind it's because of the different motor type inside. For a residential pool, the 60 is the only commercial unit worth considering. Others get out of price range fast
correct. Not usually available in the US however. only in some states. I would be concerned about shell replacement parts availability down the line for that line since its not widely available. Also not sure if it has a rebate
Hello from Upstate New York. Wife and I got our first inground pool last fall and are now in the market for a vacuum. Our pool is salt, 16x36, and is in large open space with no trees and will not have much foot traffic for the most part (just the wife and I). Do you think the Liberty 200 would do the job? I like the idea of going cordless and having to charge it before every use is not an issue. Thanks!
for an inground pool the liberty 200 wont perform at the same level a corded would at this point. the 1.5 hour cycle time is going to lead to the pool not being cleaned as much as a 2 or 2.5 hour cycle. The Liberty 400 which is eventually..... coming this year (keeps getting delayed) will be the full fledged in ground cordless from dolphin, having a 2.5 hour cycle time and water line cleaning. I would definitely stick with dolphin either way. Going corded is not bad at all. Cordless has its own downsides at this point that I think outweigh the cord. Liberty 400 will be the exception though!
NEWS AND UPDATES: Thanks for watching! Pelican shops will have most of the models on the chart. They also offer an ENHANCED warranty on most models, meaning, that they cover not only part costs but labor and shipping costs. They also get it done MUCH faster than dolphin directly or other stores. I will also most likely be the one to fix it when this occurs! No other store will cover shipping to and from and most do not cover labor. The goal is to let you have 100% peace of mind just in case it happens. Here is the link: pelicanshops1.com/collections/robotic-pool-cleaners
I WILL ALSO ATTACH NEW INFO OR CHANGES THAT HAPPEN THROUGHOUT THE SEASON ONTO THIS COMMENT BELOW THE REST SO CHECK THIS AS INFO MIGHT CHANGE MIDSEASON THAT WONT BE REFLECTED IN THE VIDEO
Feel free to comment in the comment section any questions you might have! I know not every little detail could be covered in this video otherwise it would be a decade long. Ask away if you have some more specific questions! the goal is to make this video as well as the comment section a resource of knowledge people can go to without any "BS" marketing confusion.
Update 1: (04.23.24) Liberty 400 gen 1 will only have 1.5 hour cycle. Gen 2 is planned to have 2.5 hour but I'm unsure when that will happen. The video states it will have 2.5 hours but dolphin has clarified not at first...
Update 2: (06.18.24) Liberty 400s have finally hit shelves. There are multiple coupons out for E70 bringing the price down to $1899 ($100 off) from most places like Pelican. Being the same price as M600 makes this worth considering however M600 still have the rebate on it while E70 does not
Very informative videos. I recently purchased a 27-foot above-ground pool. Can you do a video about vacuums for above-ground as well?
@@MichaelRaduazzo Essential dolphin offers the the E10, Escape, T15, S50, Active 10 for "above ground units" that will only do the floor of the above ground pool. HOWEVER you can use any unit in reality (although it might be overkill). I would say you can go up to the S300 column on the chart in the video without being considered overkill or look at the models I mentioned in the beginning of this comment. They have the same specs as the first column but will only do the floors
What is the expected life expectancy of a CC plus
I've never seen a Cayman for $599. Find me one and I will buy it on the spot. Great video otherwise
@@michaelraduazzo6146 yeah. unfortunately the stores might not follow MSRP. that's why I would suggest finding an equivalent like an E20
I can’t thank you enough for such a comprehensive, no BS, explanation on the different models. I’ve wasted so much time trying to figure this out on my own. Excellent comparisons of the models and differences. You have a talent for explaining things without wasting a lot of time - thanks. I had a few candidates in mind; and, after watching this, I have decided on the M400 and ordered today. It is so rare to find an English speaking, knowledgeable person that I can call and get my questions answered!
thank you! appreciate the positive comments
This is literally THE BEST pool cleaner video available. NO QUESTION. I have watched so many of these videos. They are by in large worthless. This is so thorough and so clear. I have also bought three robots so far and have returned all three prior to watching this. Dying for information. This was so helpful. I only wish you covered Polaris as well. Obviously, I understand why not. Amazing. Thank you so much!
Which one do you recommend? Which one did you end up with?
Dude this video is exactly what I needed! There are so many dolphin models its hard to tell one from the other. This video is really well put together and has a ton os useful information for anyone looking to buy a pool vacuum. Thank you!
Glad you liked it! I know its insanely confusing
Thanks for taking the time to put this information together. You are absolutely right about which models are being pushed on UA-cam.
I'm glad the video helped!
Commenting again on this video for the algorithm. Your content is excellent for the pool owner community. You’ve mentioned making it in the past, but please make a Polaris vs Dolphin comparison video similar to what you did with Aiper!
thanks! I will make the video eventually. Just want to make sure its done the right way
I'm ready to upgrade from my Dolphin DX5 plus that I've had since around 2010 or so. It still does a good job but I'm so tired of cleaning out the bags and the remote hasn't worked for years. I am considering the E70 but now I'm considering the M600. Thanks for the video!
Great video. Do you see any improvements across models in not getting stuck in floor drain covers? I got a Quantum when my old DX3 died and was disappointed to find that it too gets stuck.
unfortunately the main drain issue is really dependent on the drain itself. if the drain is to large to the point where the unit can get fully pinned on it most robots will have an issue EXCEPT for the M400 and CC SUPREME which have that 3rd brush in the middle which allows it NOT to have a spot where it can be pinned up. those two units are pretty much immune to this issue. However units with dual drive motors (like the m400, cc supreme, m600, active 60, e70) also fair better due to moving faster and having usually momentum to get up and OVER compared to up and STUCK. Another remedy you can try is to run the unit without the pump running as sometimes the main drain suction and cleaner suction can create an effect where they just get stuck to each other in a way.... Sometimes that solves the issue all together. The unit might get stuck but most of the time it has fail safes in place to notice its stuck and get off. it might take 5-10 minutes but usually it can get off.
This was one of the most informative videos on this topic. I finally understand all the features and benefits especially since just because it's more money doesn't mean it's better for your pool. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful! I appreciate the kind words
Very comprehensive summary analysis of the product line. It was very useful to distinguish online-only models which I will steer away from. I think I made up my mind which model to get. Thank you very much.
This was an amazing video! I just sent back the Beatbox Aqua sense pro. That thing didn’t work for me. So I needed to understand all the different models dolphin makes and you helped tremendously!
great! I have been hearing the same with multiple people about the BEATBOT. I think its important that you leave a review on their site or amazon to share your experience. the reviews sound to good to be true based on how many people have told me bad things about it. They might be censoring the bad reviews. Glad the video helped!
@@thedolphindoctor does the ultra fine filters come in the box already or do I need to purchase separately? Definitely something I’m going to use most of the time
@@VCMCmusic depending on the model. some online models or lower price point models do not come with them
@@thedolphindoctor guess I didn’t say the E70.
As a content creator for multiple channels... I see the effort and just have to say that with this video, you are doing god's work. Great rundown of the models and differences. Our old dolphin 4 deluxe died and I have been stuck in analysis paralysis for about a week on what to buy. This helped me choose the discontinued dx4 for $100 off locally and order a ultra fine filter set online (so both for just under the normal price of a dx4 or... basically 100+ off the quantum that I was looking at).
By far the best video I've watched to help pick a new cleaner! Thank you sooo much for taking the time to describe the differences and build the amazing chart for reference. Great job!
Almost! I almost bought the Dolphin Premier since all the fake reviews and videos promoted it so much. I watched many of them and all the Google-sponsored reviews that just can't be trusted anymore. I am happy I came across this video. I am purchasing the M600 instead. Top load basket vs. upside down with an old bag design stuffed into a small chamber. Triple motors with dual scrubbing brushes vs. two motors vs. no active brush, caddy vs. no caddy, gyro vs no gyro, wi-fi app vs. none, manual drive and three cycle times vs. one, full bag indicator, smart nav with a new design vs. outdated Premier. I'll get the $100 rebate on the M600 and spend the extra $400. It is worth the difference to me.
I'm glad this video helped you! your kind words mean a lot.
Thank you!!! I'll probably be calling to order in the next few days. Trying to decide which model to get. I will probably have to call to see what is available
This is the best video I have found so far to try and help me decide what product does what
Hello! I have a 2011 Nautilus that all of a sudden only goes forward in full speed. Never reverse. Is there a factory reset to fix this?
Unfortunately no. Technically the robot is reset whenever you turn it on. Most likely there is a motor issue
Also, you're the only one who said what I found to be inconvenient. The bag with those cartridge slots it's absolutely ridiculous. Every advertisement and review talked about this huge bag but you stuffed it in that small cavity. The upside down loading and unloading. Again thank you!
yeah now you know my pain! people fall for that marketing ALL THE TIME. The video helps whoever watches it but only a small fraction of people ever see it but its good it helps who does see it for sure
Hey man, just wanted to say thanks for the review. I did order the M400 from from Pelican Shops because of this video. Best product I've purchased in a long time.
Great to hear!
Best video on pool cleaners, period. I wish you had done this 2 months ago before I watched several scores of confusing (and lying) reviews of these robots. Thank you!
I'm glad you think so highly of it. Unfortunately your situation is a common thing that ends up happening. I try to post as much as possible on forums / groups online to help spread that awareness but it only goes so far.
Excellent video! Question for you. I am deciding on M400 vs M600. I notice the M600 does not have the dual stabilizer the M400 has. Why is that? And does that make the M400 more effective at the water line? Also, I don’t understand the difference in the filter designs between both (cartridge and basket). Thanks.
Watch the video and you'll see the difference between the filters. I have a dead Dolphin s300i, and loved the basket design. Very easy to spray clean and empty. FWIW, after this incredibly helpful video, I'm replacing it with an M600 due to the active brush, basket filter and total of 3 motors. I live in NJ, so will buy from pelican, and am looking forward to the store-supported warranty/repair work, if needed. FWIW, there is currently a $100 manufacturer rebate during May (last day today) for the M600. You can see what other models have rebates on the Maytronics website.
I would like a reply on this one as well!
Love your videos. Question, i own a nautilus cc 99996113-us. It works great but it needs a new communication cord. Can i buy a upgraded cord with a swivel so the cord does not tangle up all the time. If so, what is the part number? Thanks for any help
99958907-DIY should work.
@@thedolphindoctor thank you so much.
great video, very comprehensive review! I just want to add that there are ultrafine filters for the Cayman, I own one and works wonders if your pool is exposed to sand or fine dust !
Appreciate your honest opinion and criticism of all the Dolphin models, most informative youtube video out there regarding Dolphin cleaners. Pelicanshops also looks like a trusting authorized reseller.
Hi - just finished building a pool. Your video was fantastic and very informative. Noticed it has been a few months since this video - was hoping you have an update on the liberty 400? I am considering s400 but have been told by many to go cordless? The liberty looks the part but appreciate that it is fairly new hence I can’t find many reviews on it. Hope you can help
Liberty 400 still only have 1.5 hours. once it hits 2.5 it will be worth considering for sure. Jury is still out on how long those batteries will hold up as this is the 2nd year dolphin has cordless out. they have actually been very good in the reliability section as the only issues ive run into are a few chargers breaking where it was confirmed the customers were charging it in the sun which the instructions STATE NOT TO DO. Cord is still more powerful in my opinion as of now. if you take care of the cord and keep it neat you wont have an issue.
I have a Nautilus CC Plus. Actually have 2 of them when one of the power supplies was acting up I bought a second one. There's 2 main performance issues I have with it and i'm looking to upgrade. I already have a CADDY so I don't need that. My CC Plus almost always get stuck on my steps. It's really annoying. And the second issue is i'm having a hard time keeping the pool clean. I have the FINE and ULTRA fine filters. I always keep the ultra fine filters in it. But i can literally see the dirt on the floor, it'll roll over it, pick it up, and i'll see the pump spit it back out the top. I've checked the filters and they don't have any holes in them. Any suggestions what I should upgrade to? Any will any of the other units use the same power supply that I currently have since i have 2 of them?
some units have a dual layer filter in addition to the other filter types in the basket / cartridge. this might help your situation. the CC plus is known to get stuck on steps due to the weight distribution within the cleaner. Usually raising or lowering the waterline will help. Either that little bit of extra buoyancy will help it not get stuck. or lowering it a little will make it not get up there in the first place. Not sure what would be getting through the ultra fine filters though. You can try moving to a basket design to see if that helps. or an M400 for an upgrade of what you already have but without the weight distribution issues I mentioned earlier.
Thank you for this informative video, much appreciated. I have a small 10 x 20 ft pool, will a cordless be good enough to clean it?
It would be yes!
These videos are simply the best there is on Dolphin Robotic pool cleaners. I wish I could purchase from this company. Watching in Mexico. 👍
thank you!
Thank you so much for the video and the great information. I have a 24' round above ground pool - I have been using a very old model with a bag and I'm thrilled that I can upgrade to a basket design which is so much easier to use and clean. My needs include a large number of cleaning cycles upon opening but I keep on top of the pool when it's clean and will likely only run the unit once per week. I ordered two E10 models from Amazon which I need to return because both short circuited within a few days. I need some guidance as to what model would be best for me to purchase. I was talked into a Liberty 200 at a pool store today and after viewing your video, I'm planning on returning it in the box without even trying it out. Can you please help me with your recommendation as to what model I should buy. Your help would be much appreciated. Thanks so much.
if you aim for 1 time a week I think an S200 is the safer option for that size above ground. But I also think its possible to get away with an E20. You might need to run that more than 1 time a week though. even though the pool is clean its good to have it run just to brush the walls and floor to disrupt algae growth.
Great video! I had the Triton PS since the summer of 2017 and last season it finally went dead on me. A few weeks ago I ordered the Proteus DX3 to try that one out. Weirdest thing but one of the tracks fell off while vacuuming. Also, one of the rubber sweepers on the bottom kept falling off during every cycle. Anyways, I returned the Lemon and ordered the Triton PS again. The only question is I have is that the new Triton has this white tube like piece that connects the end of the power supply to the cable that was not on the original model I got in 2017. Do you know that that is?
In the cable itself? Do you mean the cable detangler?
@@thedolphindoctor Yeh in the cable towards the top where it connects to the power supply. Is that the detangler?
So is the M600 and Active 60 identical? Trying to decide which to go with. If I order from y’all and have an issue do I send back to you for repair work? How does that work?
M600 and active 60 are the same other than color. M600 is the more popular of the two and I recommend that one due to the color fading to light blue vs white going to yellow. Pelican covers shipping back and forth up to 2 times for warranty claims. labor is always covered and parts are covered under maytronics. You would just contact via phone or email to get that process started
@@thedolphindoctor ok, great thank you!
Hello - I have a 17x32 in ground vinyl pool with drop in steps. Would you recommend the s200 over any of the nautilus models? Also is the s200 different than the quantum or is it literally just a reskin? The quantum got bad reviews on amazon. My local pool robot servicer is recommending the s200
S200 is similar to quantum. I find that a lot of people on Amazon have insanely high expectations. Especially for a base line unit. The quantum and s200 should ideally be ran 2-5 times a week in season. It shouldn't be left in the pool all the time either. People often complain about how short theirs lasted, tangling cord, or missing stuff in the pool. All are avoidable issues if you run the unit enough, take it out of the pool and keep the cable neat, use the right filters in the right situation, and not expose it to high chlorine levels.
A lot of people think that it can clean any pool in any situation in 2 hours which won't be the case if the pool is a swamp. Which ends up happening most times. People get them in the spring most of the time, then complain they don't clean their swampy spring pool just opened in 1 cycle.
There are more expensive units out there that are better but the value on s200 can't be beat as long as you run it enough to keep up with the pool. Basically your saving money by buying a cheaper unit than stronger units but it requires needing to run more so it can keep up.
@@thedolphindoctorthanks for the feedback! I live in NJ and the pool is only open from May to September. I was initially looking at the E20 and then stumbled on the S200 based off recommendations and having a hard time figuring which to buy
@@CypriotMalaka E20 isnt bad but does not do waterline scrubbing, no rebate, and no ultra fine filters. Often times people buy it and immediately need to order the ultra fiine basket for $80-100 om addition to the $599 price. S200 having them already and the $100 rebate, tangle reducing cord, bigger basket, two brushes, and waterline scrubbing make it worth the cost in my opinion.
@thedolphindoctor much appreciated!
@@thedolphindoctor Would you recommend the quantum over the s200? Doing some research shows the quantum has upgraded navigation and "power jet" technology that the s200 does not have. seems like they are the same price and same warranty
Loved the video. My Polaris Sport 3900 pressure-side cleaner is in the shop and I'm considering a robot. This is all new to me so your comparisons were very helpful. These are pricey for sure but I'd expect some cost savings from the lower electrical cost (pressure-side pump vs robot).
yes definitely more cost heavy upfront (IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A BOOSTER PUMP). Dolphin in most yards and climates only need to be used 1-4 two hour cycles a week depending on the unit so they don't need to live in the pool which also helps you have less maintenance over time compared to the Polaris which always seem to need yearly maintenance due to the constant chlorine exposure.
Great video and easy to follow chart/comparison. I've had a Nautilus cc for 4 years and have replaced almost every part in it several times. Tracks always come off, sooner or later despite what you change. Replaced the cord after it broke in a spot. Worked for 2 weeks and now "attempts to come on" but nothing. Thinking it is the "brain box", but tired or throwing money at it. Sent it once to Nautilus. Returned with the same new parts doing exactly the same thing. Very frustrated. Have a 8-9000 gal pool at home. Need something good, does walls, no need for caddy, no wifi/bells and whistles, works daily, AND reliable. Suggestions to narrow it down??
good questions. Was the robot left in the pool most of the time? used when the chlorine was really high (like after shocking it, or maybe after using pH- chemicals)? you definitely should not have had this many issues. However the chlorine exposure does cause everything you have said over time. See my other comments on the leaving it in the pool topic to see what I mean. As for suggestions on what to go with next. You can go with a basket design so it is easier for you to maintain and empty out. The basket designs have less parts as well which in my mind is "less that can go bad" down the line. However basket designs are definitley geared more towards "keeping" a clean pool compared to CLEANING a really dirty pool. If you want something heavier duty than M400 would be an option Id look at as the value is there. Although it has wifi it does not rely on it.
@@thedolphindoctor yes, it was in the pool almost all the time. Lazy me figured it is meant to be in water and set to go off daily, so why add the work of in/out daily? Like I said, when it worked, especially the first few months, it was more than plenty for me. Poll does need a good cleaning now, but once cleaned it doesn't really need it daily. I just did it because it was already there. I'll look into the suggestion above, but hoping to spend a lot less than that if at all possible.
@@dgasmd1 At that point look at S200 or stay with CC plus, I think knowing that the issue was indeed the chlorine exposure and just being submerged too long I think youll have an improvement on the next one regardless of if its the same unit or different
Thank you for your quick reply. I know the pool is large, and it probably will take two days to clean it all. But, do you think it can handle the corners and the slant down to the deep end and back. If you say no, then I respect that. Thank you
it should. maybe not the absolute corners but definitely the slants down.
This was truly one of the best video's I've seen in comparing in a practical way all of the 2024 lineup for Dolphin. As a result, i bought the Nautilus Supreme from Pelicanshops and hope to be able to come back and let you know how well it works. I had a Polaris P825 that i bought in 2017, never had an issue, but the controller went out so i decided to buy a new pool robot, we'll see how well these compare...thanks again for the great info!
I'm glad my video helped! I think you will be happy! Be sure to check out my Do's and Don'ts Video to help make the cleaner last a long life
Great and very detailed! Can the M600 handle tanning shelves that is around 8 inches below water level?
Unfortunately no. It's not deep enough. Those areas will need to be brushed off manually into the main pool area
Thanks for the video. I have a 30L x 12W, gunite pool with a slope going from 3 to 6 feet in southwest FL. I am trying to decide which robot will be best for me. I get some leaves and mulch in my pool so I am considering a basket design; however, I don't mind picking up most of the leaves with the net if needed. Do I need the app and the caddy? If no, I am wondering if I can get away with the some of the models in the standard series, namely the S200, Quantum, Active 20. I know I want the ultra fine filters.
If I should have the app and caddy, I am considering the S300, Active 30 or T45. The CC Supreme and the M400 with the 3 motors are intriguing but I don't know if I need all that power and I am wondering if I should have the basket instead of cartridge.
As you can see, even though I know a lot more after watching the video and looking at the chart, I still don't know which model I should buy. Thanks in advance for your help.
WIFI and caddy aren't necessary. they are there for people who want the added convenience but they are not necessary. Netting/ brushing will always be something you might have to do if the pool is bad and I always suggest doing it for people who open up in the spring. You being in FL don't need to worry about that part lol. S200 would get the job done, its designed to KEEP a pool clean. where M400 is much more efficient in cleaning a dirty pool. BOTH UNITS can do that but it just take S200 longer to do so, more cycles. You also need to run S200 more through out the week where M400 not as much. I would say look at those two models if you don't want WIFI. ALTHOUGH m400 has WIFI, its not reliant on it... The value is there to make it worth its price regardless if you use the WIFI or not. Feel free to call me at Pelican 9733134424 and just ask for John during the week days. Its definitely a complicated purchase to make
@@thedolphindoctor thank you John for helping me select the best option for my pool and my location. I really appreciated the consideration to the different models I had in mind and how we came to decide on the M400. I am in the middle of a seawall replacement project, so the M400 will be put to the test right away as they are kicking up a bunch of dust.
I have the m500 which has a crappy Bluetooth system and has given up climbing walls despite changing filters - would like to move to cordless - how does the dolphin compare with the aiper s1 or aiper s1 pro?
Any cordless unit no matter the brand wont compare to the M500 in terms of cleaning power.... if your willing to make a sacrifice in cleaning power to go cordless the Liberty 300 - 400 would be the best option. stay away from Aiper. battery problems have caused multiple house fires and they hide negative reviews online. Untrustworthy company and the quality is bad from china. If your looking for same power look into M400 or M600 at this time. There is always going to be some sort of trade off. You lose the cord but also lose cleaning power if you go cordless. Plus battery replacements down the line are almost the cost of the robot itself
Thxs for your reply - Any advice on how to get the M500 to climb walls again?
@@thedolphindoctorthx for your reply = any advice on how to get the m500 t9 start climbing walls again
@@Vic-wg5uz Does it still have climbing rings? or do you need to get replacements on it. you can try extending the floats on the handle as well. it could be that if it isn't climbing walls, they can be slippery from micro algae if they haven't been brushed in a while. that's the most common thing people run into if they haven't brushed and cleaner hasn't run in a bit.
I have an M400 and a fiberglass pool with a safety ledge near the bottom. It has problem getting over the safety ledge to continue up the wall and the waterline. I’ve already replaced. The climbing rings. Is there a different model that would work better?
Its definitely the ledge. I've had customer switch to a basket design in this case due to the larger wheels up front and this usually solves the issue!
@@thedolphindoctor very interesting. Suggested best model for this? One corded/one cordless? And thoughts on beatbot?
Looking at the chart, what is the difference between basket and dual layer basket? If it just says basket, does that mean you have to switch between the filters depending on what you need while the dual layer has both filters in at the same time?
you still have to swap but the dual layer basket comes with an additional insert that goes inside the basket to add another layer of filter
LOVE YOUR VIDEO. I've watched it about 5 times. So glad for the info on the Premier. My big problem is leaves and every other video says to get the Premier and only show a big bag full of leaves. But what you said makes sense about stuffing the big bag doesn't get you more than the confines of the space. I want a basket on top. I have been using an old school Polaris 3-wheeled thing with a tail using a booster pool pump that came w the pool 5 yrs ago. It is probably 20 yrs old but works. My concern is I have a pebbletec 25 yr-old pool. The Polaris will collect a small quantity of pebbles each week. I am wondering will a scrubber 'scrub away' significantly more pebbles? The stairs show some concrete thru which is probably inevitable but the rest of the pool pebbletec looks fine and when I brush it, I don't see any pebbles coming off. My main thing is LEAVES. Sounds like the S300 is what I want. BIg basket, carrier and ability to choose floor only. Also, what is the difference between the 300 and 300i? Thanks so much.
If leaves are you main enemy I would say S300 is a solid choice. Anything with floor only will be more efficient as when it's set to floor only it's not getting distracted with where the leaves aren't. I have never seen a huge issue with pebbletec. The brush isn't that strong to sheer it off.
S300 isn't as strong as anything with 3 motors but will get the job done as long as you run it enough. Usually 3-5 times a week compared to 2-3 on a stronger unit. Also run it when pool pump is off so leaves don't get suspended in circulation. 300i is discontinued for at least 5 years now. S400 replaced it in 2020. It's the same as s300 but more wifi options and a double layered basket. Nothing ground. Breaking. Your better off buying these new m550 for that price range or even m600. You'll be surprised the amount of stuff any dolphin will filter out over the Polaris. Fine dust you didn't even realize was there
Are Ultra Fine Filters available for the Nautilus CC Pro? If so, do you know the part number or have a link? Do they come as a whole basket replacement or just the screens? I did not see them on Dolphins website. Thank you!
9991467-ASSY make sure the listing you buy says that part number. I'm sure other parts will come up for that result when you google it. Also make sure its a genuine product by Maytronics.
Thank you for the prompt reply! I'm b/t the Nautilus CC Pro & the Supreme. I would plan on buying the UF filters for the pro so that jumps the price +$100. Is the extra motor+increased suction rate (supreme) worth the +$200-300 difference for the Supreme? I thought you said the basket (pro) was preferable to the cartridge (supreme)- how much so? The increased WiFi functions, while nice, are not overly appealing to me personally. ~18000g, 38' x 18' in ground pool. Thank you! @thedolphindoctor
@@mjrwoody3396 CC supreme is worth it for the power increases. Cartridges are a slightly better cleaning performance due to having 2 entrances for debris compared to 1 on the basket. dual drive motor units also dont need to run as much during the week since they are more efficient. also they clean a dirty pool faster. The value is there to make the jump. floor only mode also comes in clutch and the extra warranty. you just lose a SMALL amount of convenience with losing the more convenient basket cleaning.
This is a great video that helped me to buy one that is within my budget and needed performance. I just bought the Proteus DX4.....I'll update once I receive and utilize. Thank you
I have inquired from my local pool store about the Active30 but I just wanted your opinion on it for a 40 foot long fiberglass pool with a toe ledge all the way around it? Will it do a sufficient job climbing the walls and cleaning the waterline?
It should be able to get over the hump of the toe ledge. The motor being situated towards the front of that model keep it from falling backwards on those types of ledges, instead it usually falls towards the inner wall after the ledge. Just keep in mind if the robot can't fully fit on the ledge it might not get the best suction to vacuum the actual ledge.
Thank you so much! I’m in Cincinnati. Our local store doesn’t do service. If I call your store and order from you guys could I ship it to you for service? I’d love to purchase from you!
@@TeresaChapman-bw1fu yes pelican will do that for sure. They cover the shipping.
How is the dolphine app fidelity? There seems to be multiple complaints online about the app "hanging up/ lagging" when navagating between screens, have you experienced the same feedback?
based on your WIFI the manual drive mode lags by a second or 2 but once you can account for that its fine.
Great review, very helpful. One question on the ultra-fine filters. Do they put undo/additional strain on impeller motor reducing lifespan?
no particular strain. but the motor considers the filter full when the strain increases so when the thicker filters are in it tends to consider itself full quicker when cleaning a really dirty pool. you want to just make sure you use fine filters as much as possible when the pool is dirty and then when the pool is pretty much clean swap to the ultra fine filters. its always a trade off. the thicker filters are great for filtering but suction power goes down to support that. fine filters allow higher suction power but less filtration. Still, most of the time you will be using ultra fine filters
@@thedolphindoctor Thank you very much for the prompt and precise reply. Appreciate it.
Which one you recommend between m400 or m600 15’ by 30’. 6ft deeper end pool.
Either one but M600 will be easier to clean out, It will do a better job cleaning the waterline, has less parts overall, and has two important features that might seem like a "bell and whistle" feature. FLOOR ONLY and the PICK UP MODE. both these features come in handy. FLOOR ONLY to focus on the floor where the debris is. so the robot doesn't get distracted with the walls when your just trying to vacuum debris out. and PICK UP MODE so you don't pull on the cord to take the robot out of the pool. this will cause the robots cord to last longer so no possibly breaks happen at the detangler part of the cable from the pressure of pulling on it. M600s basket design will be a lot easier to clean out as well compared to the cartridges. M400 is still a slightly better value in terms of specs and bang for your buck but if you value convenience M600 is a better value at that point
@thedolphindoctor I have curved walls is there one that is best for cleaning curved walls that you recommend?
any would handle the curved walls. I would still say go at least from the S200 column or up though.
Thank you so much for this video. I'm a new pool owner and I have been so overwhelmed with figuring out which robot to buy. I only have a 12 x 24 salt water pool in Tampa. I want to make sure it cleans my waterline. Had no idea about the active brush. I don't have a cage and bump up against a conservation area (trees). I prefer to purchase at a brick and mortar. Which dolphin do you recommend?
depends on how bad the pool gets and how quickly. you can go S200 as it will do waterline but that unit might need to run more throughout the week since its not as strong as an M400 or M600. If you want a unit to run less but still clean just as good than M400 or M600. M600 if you really want the basket but also the power upgrades of M400. I leaves are an issue constantly a dual drive unit with higher suction might fair better (M400, M600) or run the weaker units more throughout to keep up
Thanks! Im gonna be calling your store and ordering one later today!
I have a M400. Sometimes has trouble getting to water line. Also what position do I put the handle and do I put the counter block on handle out? Need some advice. Thanks so much!!! Great video!
you want the handle diagonal across the body. is trouble climbing brush the walls manually one more time. have floats extended all the way out
Not sure which direction to take. Could you weigh in? Looking for a cordless cleaner for a 32,000 gallon kidney-shaped pool. Down to Aiper S1 Pro, Dolphin Liberty 400, or Polaris Freedom (or any other if you recommend something else). Any thoughts?
Liberty's will be getting a 2.5 hour run time soon. I would say liberty 300 in a few weeks when they start hitting shelves. Liberty 400 won't have 2.5 hour until next year
I have a vinyl liner pool and my local pool shop person was telling me the M600 is not a good idea for vinyl pools due to it's powerful suction could pull the liner off. It is only recommended for gunite. She was recommending the S line like the S400 instead. Is this true? I was set on the M600, but now I am concerned. What are your thoughts? Thanks
thats not true. if that were the case there would be warnings all over the place in regard to liner damage. The suction difference between S and M line is only 500 gallons per hour. that nothing. not enough to make a difference
When deciding between a cartridge filter or basket filter, what criteria should I consider other than size of debris I find typically in my pool?
convenience would be one as it'll probably take you 30 seconds to a minute to clean out a basket vs 2-4 minutes with two cartridges. basket design has less parts overall compared to a cartridge design and they are easier for you the customer to maintain for example track and brush replacements are easier on a basket design. however the cartridge's deisgn is a little bit more efficient getting leaves as there is two entrances for large debris vs one on the basket.
Thank you for the excellent comparisons and comments.
Considering the filtration and extra features of the S400/Active 40, is the additional $330 CDN (in my market) worth it over the S300/Active 30 in your opinion?
Would the filtration system of the S400 be all that different from the S300?
Thank you.
I would say if you are gonna use the different cleaning cycle options and times as well as the pick up mode the S400 would be worth it. But if you only plan on going out and hitting that power button manually most of the time than the S300 would be a better value. The pick up mode is nice on the S400 though as your not putting strain on the cable when taking the unit out of the pool. HOWEVER you can use the manual drive mode on the s300 via WIFI to essentially do the same thing. The filtration difference is nice but should not be a sole reason to upgrade.
Hello, i’ve watched your videos and am wondering what your thoughts are on the dolphin s150?
Hello. It's not a US cleaner but from what I understand about the Australian S150 is is has the same specs of the s200 but instead of separate filter options it has the "dual filtration" basket similar to what the s400 has here in the US. I'm not 100% sure though. If your in Australia I would reach out to Sydney pool robotics to get more accurate info as they are on a lot of forums I'm on and seem to be a good hearted company based on how they try to help people similar to me in the US.
I wish I would have found this video a week ago before my Sigma purchase. I even saw an M400 at my pool store and didn’t get it and ordered the Sigma. But, the Sigma clean is great! It took things out of my pool that I had no idea were there including a ton of dirt.
yeah the sigma can be very misleading.
Any idea why my cc plus stop moving. If I take it out from the water and give it a push. It will move for a little bit. Should I send in for a repair or just get a new one?
have you checked the impeller. check out dolphins dealer locater and see where the closest one that works on them is. See if they do free diagnostics or if its under warranty if they can fix it. the model has a 2.5 year warranty
@@thedolphindoctor impeller is running. just not the belts. it is out of warranty by a hair. I was going to send it in to dolphins but it will be at least $200 for whatever it is.. i guess now is time for a new one...
@@jefferytse did you ask if they can honor it if its really just by a hair they usually honor it if within a month of being out.
@@thedolphindoctor ok. I will ask. Do you think premier is my best bet? My pool isn’t big. I ground. About 20k gallon
I am deciding on M400 vs M600. I notice the M600 does not have the dual stabilizer the M400 has. Why is that? And does that make the M400 more effective at the water line? Thanks
The m600 is more effective at the waterline cleaning as it no longer needs the dual stabilizer due to having the power stream tech that the basket design has. This allows it to eject water out of the side vents of the unit (which m400 does not have) to traverse the waterline.
What are your thoughts on the new Maytronics Niya Sonic 50? Just available on Amazon currently….Thanks!
It is new. It is made by Maytronics on a lower price point similar to Aiper... Stores don't have them yet. Only Amazon I believe. Stores won't have them until 2025. I wouldn't view this as a "dolphin" hence the dramatic model name. They are made in China. Not Israel like the other dolphins. The "niya" will be a whole different sub brand of Maytronics who also makes "dolphin". Have not seen them in action. Im optimistically cautious..... I wouldnt view it as a dolphin or a dolphin alternative at this point. its more of an aiper alternative. completely different standards
Hi, thanks for the video. My pool is overflow, 6x12 meters. No leaves no debris in the pool. only problem is dirt in the bottom of the pool. Iam between M400 , M600 , M550 and M700 . In addition which filter is better for dirt.. fine filters or ultra fine filters?. Please suggest. Thanks :)
with dirt, try to see what fine filters will get. then go ultra fine. you don't want to overload the ultra fine filters with too much dirt. M550 and M700 are not available in US. but M550 seems like a good value.
@@thedolphindoctor Thanks a lot :)
Thanks for the video and explaining all the different models, it definitely got confusing and overwhelming! So we currently have an oval 15x27 semi inground pool and need to get a pool robot. We're considering the M600 or Active 60, can you tell me which you recommend and if either will work with (is recommended for) our pool? Thanks!
M600 or active 60 will be the same unit other than color and name however I Would go M600 as the blue over time will fade to a lighter blue. active 60 will yellow out over time. its purely cosmetic though
@@thedolphindoctor thanks for the response. And this will work for our aquasport semi-in ground pool (vinyl liner) - walls and waterline included?
@@RoseC-ec4et I would think so
Great video and glad I watched this (I watched last years as well)as u make it easy to navigate all the models so thank you! Just curious if you can say which store in NJ u work at? I’m about to pull the trigger on a unit and would like to personally say thanks if the store is close.
The website the chart is on and the location I work at is the Morris plains NJ location. The other locations are independently owned and do not have the same inventory or pricing unfortunately
I am having a new inground mountain lake pool being built 20x40 8ft deep end what vacdo you recommend without killing the bank
without killing the bank S200. But keep in mind units that don't kill the bank have a lower performance. Not as strong, need to run more throughout the week especially if pool is dirty etc.
Hi John thankyou for putting the comparison together verry interesting, i had a S200 which has failed (motor) 3 times last time out of warranty . i have purchased a M400 very happy with its performance, i have one issue in that it will typically run 0.5Hour cycle time, have you come across this before is there a solution
Thanks Stephen
@StephenArnold-x3v Hello Stephen. This particular issue is something I see when there is something stuck in the tracks. The most common culprit is the plastic packaging that comes around the front and back brushes. if they were not taken off before being put in the pool (happens more than you would think) its a good chance one of them was sucked up into the track system. the robot runs for 15-30 minutes until the motor notices its working way to hard and then stops. You can check this buy unscrewing the side plates (4 screws on each side) and verifying nothing is stuck in the track or behind the guide wheels. You can also check the impeller to make sure its not blocked as that could also be it. That is something you should be checking bi-monthly to avoid blocks anyway as mentioned in the manual. It could be a motor issue but in my experience 95% of the time its either blocked track or impeller. I cant tell you how many times people have the same issue, tell me the tracks are clean, it comes back here for repair and the tracks have the plastic packaging or a small pool toy, or stick stuck in them.
@@thedolphindoctor Thanks John for your advise i removed the side plates and impeller but found nothing stuck, replaced and it ran for 58min then stopped, restarted and it ran for 20min and stopped. i think i will return it for replacement. thanks regards Stephen
Thank you! My Triton PS I bought back in 2019 just started to make grinding noises and not move anywhere. Cannot find any replacement gears anywhere, time for a new one, bummer. Thanks for the reviews!
I have an 8ft tanning ledge, whats the best wireless robot pool cleaner?
the tanning ledge will be something you still want to brush manually as the unit will most likely not be full submerged to work properly. The best cordless at this point will be the Liberty 300 until the 400 hits shelves
@@thedolphindoctorthanks! Better than the Polaris Freedom Plus?
GREAT video 🎉 helped me make my decision. Will be calling to order the M400 ❤
glad it helped!
What’s the current pricing on an m400? Any rebates? Thanks
Current pricing is $1499. There is a manufacturer rebate on it for $100 until August 31st
Which robot would you recommend for a 27 foot round above ground pool?
E20 or S200
My pool supply place only has a s100 or e30 for above ground pool with water line capability. Which one is better?
E30. However pelican shops can definitely ship to you. Their link is in the description
Great video! Would you happen to know if the E10 is an appropriate vacuum for a 10,000 gallon round above ground Intex pool? Or would it be overkill?
it would be fine. it would only do the floor and lower walls
@@thedolphindoctor would it be okay to leave in the pool? (Only take out to empty the basket and when we are swimming)
@@jwalker3521I wouldn't recommend it. It won't last as long if you take it out
I notice the M400 and M600 do not have nanofilters as an option, they do have ultra-fine filters though. How significant do you think this is, or is it a marketing gimmick? In what scenario is having a nano filter a good thing? The Sigma does have a nano filter. I also read about one supposed customer having a Sigma get stuck on the drain and Maytronics took it in and added an active brush. Is this correct?
It's a marketing gimmick. I mention in the video nano filters specifically. Some sellers change the wording and make it seem like only the ones on their site have it..... Ultra fine filters (what dolphin calls it,) = what the misleading sellers call nano filters. Maytronics wouldn't take it. The seller would've had to do that.
Very helpful! Thank you for putting this together!
You're very welcome!
Are there certain models which are better for above ground pools with vinyl liners?
for above grounds I would say anything above an S200 / s300 would be a tad bit overkill for an above ground pool.
Dolphin explorer e30 and nautilus cc pro are exactly the same? I see different pricing even on your site.
pelican has the non wifi E30. there is a wifi version of it as well at the $1099 price point which is the same as the CC pro
Thank you so much for this!! Immediately subscribed 😊 I’ve been looking for the right robotic cleaner and you have the BEST video by far. Do all of these cleaners work for a kidney-shaped concrete pool (3 to 10 feet)? And do the cords get tangled often? I’m looking at the Aiper Scuba N1 but I’m concerned with its power and ability to clean a freeform pool
I would definitely stay corded at this point for cleaning performance and longevity. they will handle a freeform shape pool. the cord being tangles is easy to avoid if you unplug the cord from the power box when its done and taken out. otherwise the tension just gets worse and worse and causes the tangling. if you keep it neat you wont have a problem
Thanks so much! We’re going to go with Nautilus CC Pro based on your review, appreciate your help and the quick response!
@@tiffgreenapple awesome!
Really appreciate your very thorough video. I found it after 3 hours of online research and going to my local pool store. I suspected that Maytronics sells identical models with different names through distribution channels at slightly different prices and you confirmed it! Also see that my now broken Pentair Prowler 520 is made by Dolphin so seems like there is not much competition in the robot cleaner market ... all roads lead to Maytronics? Does the pool mapping across the various models really make a difference? With my existing Prowler it seemed to be pretty much random. Do you fix a lot of problems with the power supply? My has needed to be replaced twice in 4 years ... could it just be because it is exposed to rain during the May - Oct pool season?
I find that power supply's are my most common warrantied part. In an effort to lower that number I have suggested to customers to do a few things. 1. do not let it bake in the sun. keep it shaded, especially when running. 2. keep it out of the rain. although its water resistant if it really DOWN pours, water resistance might not cut it. I first suggested the keeping it out of sunlight thing last July and have seen a SIGNIFICANT decrease in power supply warranties. Also keep in mind low grade extension cords and even high grade ones have an effect on the power supply and might effect their longevity and that is why Dolphin will say not to use them. The sunlight tip works because the power supply in its own right is computer, it heats up when on. Adding 90 degree + days on top of that can not be good for it. Can it run in the sun YES. but is it better to run shaded YES.
Dolphin is the largest brand by far at this time. You can look at Polaris as I think they are the only legitimate company worth possibly moving too but dolphin still has them beat on most fronts; quality, warranty process, filtration, and simplicity of design being what comes to mind.
The dolphin does map the pool out using INFORMATION AND MEASURING. in the most simple way: it measures distances between walls and wall heights to map the pool every time it runs and will clean the pool using that info. It doesn't retain this info in-between cycles otherwise it would need to start in the same exact spot every time.
Going with a unit that has 2 drive motors compared to 1 will increase performance since it does more laps around the pool in the same time. More coverage. They also have a stronger vacuum motor in most cases. that is why the M400 is such a good value this year
My old Dolphin that used a bottom loading bag filter finally crapped out. I'm on an extreme budget. My most essential need is ultra fine filter that cleans the bottom of the pool. Do you have a recommendation?
depends on how extreme. you can get away with an E20 at $599 and put the ultra fine filter basket seperately for $80-100 and get away under $700. or you can go with an S200 at $1099 that comes with the filters and also the $100 rebate...... both units will clean the pool as long as you run them enough to keep up. they are more PREVENTATIVE and excel as keeping the pool clean if you run them consistently (3-5 days a week) both will still take numerous cycles to clean an already filthy pool.
@@thedolphindoctor Thanks for the advice. So the E20 and the other $499 models are all the same. I don't get why all pool robots don't come with at least the option to purchase ultra fine filters like Dolphin does. I had my pool filter pump and robot cleaner break at the same time this spring so my pool budge is stretched thin. I have solar panels so running it all the time is not a problem. I live near farms and river with a strong delta breeze in California. I need to get the ultra fines that can collect when its windy. I think both recommendations will do at least as good as my 20 year old Dolphin did. And it did well.
We have a 40 ft long pool. Was going to get the premium 20 but the website says “ideal pool length up to 33 ft”. In your video you say these models are good up to 50 ft pools.
Any advice on if a cleaner with a 50ft cable can clean a 40 ft pool?
Thanks
I do not have the premium line on this chart as its primarily only in Canada. you might be confusing it with the PREMIER which is on this chart and in the video. I would go off dolphins recommendation as the premium 20 will have a smaller basket and it would probably fill before being done. although the cord is 50 ft. you have to account for the depth of the pool as well! you might be able to pull it off but it would probably leave some room to be desired over an S200
Hi, I just bought a home with a med size above ground pool. I was recommended the Polaris by friends who have had it for several years and swear by it. After reading all the reviews, I don’t feel I want to move forward with that model. I was surprised to hear the negative reviews. I do know from listening to your videos that I want one with both fine and ultra fine filters, active brush, I don’t care if it’s cordless or not, waterline, side and floor cleaner, 3 motors if possible but will settle for 2, preferable rebate but want it ASAP, active brush, app would be nice, 24+ mo warranty, Caddy would be nice but not necessary, basket design preferred. I’m looking for convenience and super ease of use
M600 sounds like what you want but you could get away with S300 if you wanted to save $$$
Hi appreciate the great review and explaining things out in simply layman terms. Which one is these corded Dolphins is comparable to Polaris P965IQ? What's your thoughts on the Polaris P 965 IQ compared to a similar Dolphin?
closest in terms of specs would be either M400 or M600 but the design is pretty different from what polaris has going on with the big wheels. I find that polaris often has over complicated designs with more parts that become a pain to work on. They also lack the filtration quality that the Dolphins have. Dolphin is often a bit more $$$ but the quality of parts is also higher compared to what Polaris uses in my opinion
Thank you for taking the time to make this video.
My pleasure!
I own a 12-yr old Dolphin Supreme M4. It's a powerhouse and works great for my 32' long pool. I am wondering which one of the presently-manufactured models most resembles the Supreme M4? Mine has ultrafine filters, 2 gray brushes and one active brush in between them. I've done maintenance on this M4 myself and feel as though I know the machine inside and out--it's super easy to maintain. Is the M400 or the M500 most like my M4?
M400 is the new M4. M500 isnt in production since 2018. M600 replaced it
Hi, new subscriber here. Great content you provide! I have a question, I've had a pool in my old house and I just built a new pool in my new house. This one came with a side vacuum port which I have been using my MX6 Zodiac from before. Is there any benefit to something like a Dolphin, say the 800-1500 range of devices? The one thing that kind of annoys me now with my vac is the hoses all over my pool but I notice the Dolphin's still require the power cord in place when using. Do people just leave them in the water most of the time?Thanks!
the dolphins will filter more than just big leaves and dirt which the suction sides focus on. The dolphin will also SCRUB, and filter the water when using the ultra fine filters. amongst other benefits like wifi and not needing to run with the pool pump energy and many more.
People leave them in and people take them out. I always say the more its in the pool the more the chemicals will eat at it. I suggest watching the video I made about common mistakes as it covers all that stuff and its a lot to type out here lol ua-cam.com/video/ofG0QSFvPqg/v-deo.htmlsi=e7uFi0i4Ot0in9TT
Hey! Thanks for a very comprehensive and illuminating video!
I have a question. If I buy the S300 and connect it to the control unit of the S300i, will that enable these features from the S300i on the S300?
Backstory:
I have an S300i, which (according to service) has the drive motor broken)
I now only have the choice of buying an S300 (not i) which has less features than my old S300i!
For instance, S300 has no weekly schedule and max 2 hours vs S300i with weekly schedule and also 2.5 hours cleaning time!
My other option is M400 supreme! I am inclined to this, but It would be interesting if the S300 will be “unlocked by the contro unit of the S300i and benefit from its features .
Thank you!
The newer s300 is WIFI based so i dont believe the controls of the 300i will work on it since it was bluetooth based.
You can also look at the S400 as that is what replaced the S300i in the line up
@@thedolphindoctor The S300I was wifi enabled (as well as bluetooth enabled)! I have used all features for 3 years now:)
Basically connected to the cloud so I could start it over the internet as well!
The old S300 (not “i”) was the one that was only Bluetooth enabled!
So basically I have a fully working wifi enabled control unit from the S300i, with werkly scheduling and 1.5,2,2.5 hour cycle, and all combos of floor, walls and waterline cleaning, and the question is will this control unit work on the new S300 unit that also has wifi, but no weekly scheduling?
Here in Canada we have the Premium 40 and Premium 60. Would I be right to assume they compare to the S400 and M600?
from what I understand that is correct!
is it OK to leave your cleaner in the pool? If not, why do they have the 3 options for restart.
A common question often brought up by customers for sure! Here is my take: (be sure to read the 2nd paragraph as it adds some context!)
My viewpoint is that the scheduling is a double edged sword, although convenient its not the best for your cleaner as its in the pool most of the time. It also depends on how much you need to use the pool vacuum. Some pools only need it 1 or 2 times a week, some need more. So if your only using it 1 or 2 times there is really no need to use the scheduling feature in my opinion as the benefits of taking it out and potentially getting years more in life far outweigh the benefits of the scheduler.
This is common debate amongst any automatic pool vacuum owner. On one hand you have the
argument of “well it made for the pool it should be in the pool”. This is a common viewpoint some people have, especially if they are coming from a
suction side pool cleaner which was ALWAYS in the pool. This argument makes sense if you don’t account for anything else. The biggest Killer of
automatic pool cleaners is long exposure to chlorine (ESPECIALLY HIGH LEVELS OF CHLORINE). The longer its in it the longer it has time to eat at your
vacuum. It causes a tangling cord and it slowly dries out the o rings that keep the water out of the important spots like the motor and the cable
detangler. So, when you take into account these facts, the argument of “it is made to be in the pool it should be in the pool” falls apart. It might be made for water but its not designed to withstand chlorine all the time. I’ve seen cleaners that are only a year old come back looking like they are 10 years old and I’ve seen the opposite.
So, on the other hand, my suggestion is, take it out when not in use OR at the very least take it out when you shock the pool. So, for example, if
you shock the pool (or super chlorinate it if you have a salt generator) on a Sunday night then leave the pool vacuum out until Tuesday night. Giving that high chlorine level to come back down to normal levels. DOLPHIN suggest to only run their robots in chlorine levels lower than 4ppm.
Great video. Thanks for putting in the effort. I have owned the M400 for a few years now. The insulation has broke in a couple of places on the cord. I was thinking about replacing the unit, but now I think I will just replace the cord since this still seems to be a good unit on the market.
Glad it helped. if it has only been a few years definitely do cable replacement.
Does anyone know the difference between the standard clean and the ultra clean on the M600
They both seem very similar?
Both clean floor , wall and water line both work for up to 2.5 hours
Thanks
Msrk
Great video! Have you looked into the Premium 20 40 and 60 models?
Yes. They are primarily in CANADA however there are a few sources of them in US. The correlate to s200, s400, m600. I would encourage you to buy one of those instead since parts (like the colored shells and side plates) in the US might be harder to come by down the line compared to the main US lines. However you might not ever need to replace them of course.
@@thedolphindoctor Thanks! I'm located in Canada so I guess there shouldn't be a concern with parts here then?
I have a CC plus
It will move around and when it gets to a step and run along the side of it, it turns on its side and wont right itself
Any ideas,
Thanks
that unit is lopsided in terms of it's weight. I believe I mention it in the video as well. the single drive motor sits on the one side which makes it heavier on that side and causes this issue. so much to the point they added the wheel on the one side to help it off its side. ALSO the two floats on the cable SIGNIFICANTLY help this issue but with the steps usually the unit isn't fully submerged so the floats don't help in that situation. My suggestion is if its returnable, do so and swap to an S200. its a bit more but with the $100 rebate, the fact it can do waterline, basket design, and comes with both filter types more than make up for the price difference. If you cant return it you can try adjusting your water level to be a bit higher or lower so its either submerged more to help get off that step or have it lower so it cant get up onto that step in the first place. I wish I had a better answer but I do not. unfortunately its not a common issue but it still happens sometimes in certain pools
@@thedolphindoctor it's 4 years old and it sits on the bottom of the pool at the step so about 3 ft of water
Great review of these pool cleaners. This was very helpful. 5*
This was very helpful. Thanks!
Thank you!
Hi, thanks for this great video! I live in Italy and have a 12 meters pool. My local pool shop who sells and repairs dolphin cleaners recommended to stay away from all the "new design" models with filter basket below 1500$, because he says they break more often. He instead recommends the "older style" models with the dual filter cartridge on the top and the big swivel handle. However some of those models only have the active brushing through a third optional brush and he says it's not worth to have it because it doesn't add much to the cleaning power but breaks often. I'd love to hear your opinion on this! Thanks again! Angelo
I can see their point (sort of) but I feel like the breaking more is a result of being taken care of improperly (noticeably high chlorine exposure and being left in the pool way to much) that causes these issues. not the design. The older designs actually have more moving parts in them compared to the newer basket design.
Any thoughts about the Dolphin Wave 60?
It's a good cleaner. Commercial grade unit compared to residential units. Hence why it's not in the video or chart. Commercial grade units have brushless motors which are a higher quality motor compared to the residential. So you'll often see residential units have more "features" like wifi and still be the same price as the commerical grade unit with less features but keep in mind it's because of the different motor type inside. For a residential pool, the 60 is the only commercial unit worth considering. Others get out of price range fast
Can you help me find a recondition kit for a s300i? I think its time for new brushes and treads.
look for these parts online: front brush 99831221, back brush 6130006, 99831521 for the tracks.
Is the premium 60 the same as the Active 60
correct. Not usually available in the US however. only in some states. I would be concerned about shell replacement parts availability down the line for that line since its not widely available. Also not sure if it has a rebate
Hello from Upstate New York. Wife and I got our first inground pool last fall and are now in the market for a vacuum. Our pool is salt, 16x36, and is in large open space with no trees and will not have much foot traffic for the most part (just the wife and I). Do you think the Liberty 200 would do the job? I like the idea of going cordless and having to charge it before every use is not an issue. Thanks!
Or is the extra $200 for the ultra fine filters the way to go?
for an inground pool the liberty 200 wont perform at the same level a corded would at this point. the 1.5 hour cycle time is going to lead to the pool not being cleaned as much as a 2 or 2.5 hour cycle. The Liberty 400 which is eventually..... coming this year (keeps getting delayed) will be the full fledged in ground cordless from dolphin, having a 2.5 hour cycle time and water line cleaning. I would definitely stick with dolphin either way. Going corded is not bad at all. Cordless has its own downsides at this point that I think outweigh the cord. Liberty 400 will be the exception though!