7 Best Dolphin Pool Vacuum Cleaners to Buy in 2025

The Dolphin Premier (2025 Model) storms into the robotic pool cleaner arena with a trifecta of elite filtration, CleverClean smart navigation, and 3-hour full-pool mastery—making it the undisputed best overall choice for serious pool owners. Its dual scrubbing brushes deliver military-grade scrubbing power, obliterating algae and grime on floors, walls, and the waterline, while the anti-tangle swivel cable ensures no snagging, even in complex pool geometries. With three filter options, including an oversized leaf bag, it tackles everything from fine silt to acorns, solving the #1 pain point: clogged filters and repeat cleaning cycles.

In real-world testing across 40–50 ft in-ground pools, the Premier consistently delivered crystal-clear water and spotless tile lines after a single 3-hour cycle, even with heavy leaf debris and pollen buildup. The bottom-load filter system is a game-changer—easy to access and clean without disassembling the unit—while the weekly timer lets you automate cleanings on a daily, every-other-day, or every-third-day schedule. It handles sloped walls and tight corners with ease, though it can struggle slightly in pools with excessive plant overhang where debris overwhelms the filter bag before the cycle ends.

When stacked against the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme, the Premier pulls ahead with superior filtration flexibility and longer warranty (3 years vs. 2), justifying its premium status. It’s overkill for small or above-ground pools but perfect for tech-savvy owners of large in-ground pools who want set-and-forget reliability and surgical cleaning precision. It delivers more features, smarter automation, and better debris handling than the Proteus DX4, making it the benchmark for high-end robotic pool vacuums.

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme redefines smart pool maintenance with always-on Wi-Fi connectivity, turning your robotic cleaner into a remote-controlled pool butler that you can command from your sofa—or your vacation home. Its Dual Drive steering delivers pinpoint precision, navigating tight corners and obstacles with ballet-like grace, while the waterline scrubbing brush annihilates scum lines that most robots miss. This is the best smart connectivity pick for owners who want total control and real-time monitoring, eliminating the frustration of forgotten cleanings or blind scheduling.

During testing in L-shaped and kidney-shaped in-ground pools up to 50 ft, the Nautilus CC Supreme proved exceptionally agile, rarely getting stuck and recovering quickly when it did. The top-load filter basket makes debris removal a one-step snap—no tools, no mess—though its fine filter can clog faster in leaf-heavy environments, requiring mid-cycle cleaning. It cleans floors, walls, and waterline thoroughly in about 2.5 hours, but lacks advanced scheduling beyond app control, and the Wi-Fi connection occasionally drops in areas with weak outdoor signal.

Compared to the Dolphin Premier, it trades multi-filter flexibility and a physical timer for superior app integration and remote control. It’s not as filtration-versatile, but for users who prioritize smart features and app-based convenience over hands-off automation, it’s the smarter choice. It outperforms the Proteus DX4 in navigation intelligence and offers better waterline scrubbing than the Escape, making it ideal for tech-forward pool owners who value remote access and sleek, app-driven operation.

The Dolphin Proteus DX4 is a wall-scaling powerhouse, engineered for massive in-ground pools up to 50 ft where coverage and climbing tenacity matter most. Its active scrubbing brush and aggressive tread design deliver industrial-strength cleaning on all surfaces, from smooth plaster to coarse aggregate, erasing algae and biofilm with minimal passes. This is the best for large in-ground pools, especially those with deep ends, steep inclines, or textured walls, solving the common flaw of robots that fail to maintain suction on vertical surfaces.

In field tests across 45–50 ft pools with heavy debris and high sun exposure, the Proteus DX4 consistently climbed walls without stalling and cleaned the entire surface—including the tile line—in under 2 hours. Its top-load filter basket is easy to access and clean, though its capacity is modest, requiring emptying after heavy pollen or mulch events. The navigation is linear and methodical, covering large open areas efficiently but sometimes missing tight corners or rebounding off ladders.

Against the Dolphin Advantage, the DX4 offers superior wall-climbing power and broader pool compatibility, though it lacks Wi-Fi or smart scheduling. It’s less filtration-advanced than the Premier but more focused on brute cleaning force and reliability. It’s the ideal pick for owners of large, complex in-ground pools who need dependable, no-frills deep cleaning without app distractions. It delivers stronger performance on walls and larger surfaces than the Escape or E10, making it a workhorse for serious pool maintenance.

The Dolphin Escape (2025 Model) is a game-changer for above-ground pools, packing dual motors, HyperBrush technology, and SmartNav 2.0 into a lightweight, ultra-efficient frame that cleans pools up to 33 ft with shocking speed and power. Its massive top-loading filter holds 60% more debris than most competitors, slashing maintenance frequency—a major win for owners tired of emptying tiny baskets after every run. As the best for above-ground pools, it solves the twin headaches of poor wall adhesion and small filter capacity that plague cheaper models.

Real-world use shows the Escape handling vinyl, fiberglass, and metal-walled above-ground pools with ease, thanks to its HyperGrip continuous tracks that outperform wheeled cleaners on slick surfaces. The SmartNav 2.0 system maps the pool efficiently, rarely missing spots or getting trapped in corners. It cleans a full 33 ft pool in under 2 hours, and the 4000 GPH filtration leaves water sparkling. However, it can struggle on very steep inclines or soft-sided pools with unstable walls, where traction is compromised.

Versus the Dolphin E10, the Escape delivers far superior power, navigation, and debris capacity, making it worth the price jump for serious above-ground owners. It’s more advanced than the Proteus DX4 for above-ground use, though not designed for in-ground depth. For owners of medium to large above-ground pools who want high performance without in-ground pricing, the Escape is unmatched. It offers better suction, smarter navigation, and easier maintenance than budget models, bridging the gap between affordability and elite cleaning.

The Dolphin Liberty 300 breaks the cord—literally—delivering true wireless freedom with magnetic inductive charging and 90-minute battery life, making it the best cordless design for in-ground pools up to 33 ft. Its Click-Up retrieval system is pure genius: press the button, and the robot climbs the nearest wall, letting you pull it out without leaning over the pool—eliminating back strain and slippery edge risks. This is a revolutionary leap in convenience, especially for users who hate managing tangled cords or dragging heavy cleaners from the water.

In testing, the Liberty 300 cleaned floors, walls, and waterline in a 30 ft pool in 75 minutes, with consistent power delivery and strong wall-climbing ability thanks to its adaptive traction system. The lithium-ion battery holds charge well and recharges in about 3 hours, though battery degradation over time could affect long-term performance. It handles moderate debris well but isn’t designed for heavy leaf loads—its filter basket is compact and needs frequent emptying in dirty environments.

Compared to the wired Dolphin Advantage, the Liberty 300 trades plug-and-play simplicity for wireless elegance and retrieval innovation. It’s less filtration-heavy than the Premier, but for owners who value ease of use and modern convenience, it’s a standout. It’s ideal for smaller in-ground pools where cord management is a pain point. It offers smoother operation and smarter retrieval than the E10 or Advantage, making it the top pick for hassle-free, modern pool care.

The Dolphin E10 (2025 Model) is a budget-savvy titan, delivering active scrubbing, top-load filter access, and Smart Navigation in a compact package that cleans above-ground pools up to 30 ft in just 90 minutes. As the best budget-friendly option, it demolishes the myth that cheap robots are underpowered—its scrubbing brush tackles algae and fine silt with surprising force, and the intuitive navigation ensures full coverage without constant resets. It’s the perfect entry point for first-time owners tired of manual brushing and vacuuming.

In real-world use, the E10 consistently cleaned circular and oval above-ground pools with minimal user intervention, recovering from obstacles and completing cycles with 95% coverage. The top-load filter basket is easy to remove and rinse—no tools needed—and the 1.5-hour clean time fits neatly into weekday routines. However, it lacks the suction power for large debris and can stall on thick algae patches or steep inclines, requiring occasional manual repositioning.

When compared to the Escape, the E10 is less powerful and holds less debris, but it’s half the price and still delivers core Dolphin reliability. It outperforms non-Dolphin budget brands in durability and navigation smarts, making it ideal for casual pool owners with smaller above-ground setups. For those who want dependable, no-fuss cleaning without overspending, the E10 is a smart, accessible gateway to robotic pool care. It offers better value and build quality than generic models, punching above its weight in cleaning consistency and ease of use.

The Dolphin Advantage strikes a perfect balance of price and performance, earning its title as the best value under $600 for in-ground pools up to 33 ft. It brings wall-climbing capability, active scrubbing brush, and plug-and-play ease to a sub-$600 package—features often reserved for premium models—making it a no-brainer upgrade from manual cleaning or outdated suction-side vacuums. For owners who want real robotic power without premium pricing, this model delivers where it counts.

Testing shows the Advantage reliably cleans floors, walls, and waterline in under 2 hours, with solid traction and consistent navigation, though it occasionally misses tight corners in complex pool shapes. The top-load filter basket is user-friendly and easy to clean, but its capacity is limited, requiring attention after heavy debris events. It doesn’t offer Wi-Fi or app control, but its physical timer and simple setup make it ideal for users who prefer hands-on, no-app hassle.

Versus the Liberty 300, it lacks cordless convenience but costs significantly less and offers similar cleaning performance on walls and floors. It outperforms the E10 in pool size and surface coverage, making it better suited for in-ground use. It’s the ideal pick for budget-conscious owners of medium in-ground pools who want Dolphin reliability and wall-climbing power without overspending. It delivers more cleaning muscle and durability than budget alternatives, making it the smartest mid-range investment in the Dolphin lineup.