Best Dolphin Pool Cleaner 2026: Every Model Ranked & Compared

Last updated: November 4, 2026 — re-checked every Maytronics-sold pick against the Maytronics US store. The Nautilus CC Plus is now $829 ($849 with Wi-Fi), rated for 40 ft pools and floor and walls only, not the $749, 50 ft, waterline-scrubbing robot this guide described. Sigma and Premier list prices updated ($2,999 and $2,499), Liberty 300 is $1,349, and owner ratings from Maytronics' store added.

Last updated: October 15, 2026 — added the newly-reviewed Dolphin EON 100, a second cordless family (UltraRun battery, up to 1 week per charge, 50 ft pool rating) that this guide's cordless FAQ previously described as the Liberty series alone.

Last updated: October 10, 2026 — linked the Explorer E70 mention to its new full review, which found independent testing measures its suction closer to 4,500 GPH than Maytronics' claimed 5,000 GPH.

Last updated: October 9, 2026 — added the newly-reviewed Dolphin Explorer E50 (50 ft, full waterline coverage, $1,329 sale) and extended the Explorer suction-parity stat to include it — only the flagship E70 breaks the 4,000 GPH pattern.

Last updated: October 2, 2026 — corrected the "Best Value" pick: it's the Dolphin Proteus DX3 (~$629, no waterline, no weekly timer), not a "Proteus DX5" at ~$699 as previously listed — Maytronics' current DX5i ($1,369) is a different, pricier tier with waterline cleaning and Wi-Fi. Linked to the new Proteus family guide.

Last updated: September 19, 2026 — corrected the Dolphin E10 to floor-only (it does not climb walls) and added the Explorer-tier suction-parity stat (E10/E20/E30 all ~15 m³/hour), linked to the new full E10 review.

Quick Answer: The best Dolphin pool cleaner for most inground pools up to 40 ft in 2026 is the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus: $829, or $849 with Wi-Fi, on Maytronics’ US store, with two scrubbing brushes, a top-load basket and a weekly timer. It cleans the floor and walls only; waterline scrubbing starts with the $1,149 Nautilus CC Pro. For 50 ft pools and the waterline, the Dolphin Premier ($2,499 list) is the best-rated big-pool Dolphin on Maytronics’ store (3.9 out of 5 from 649 owner reviews), and the Dolphin Sigma ($2,999 list) adds gyroscope navigation and Wi-Fi. The Liberty 300 ($1,349) is the cordless pick, and the Dolphin E10 is the best Dolphin for above-ground pools at around $499. Every Dolphin runs on its own low-voltage power supply independent of your pump, so it cleans without adding load to your filter.

Updated for November 2026: what Maytronics charges today

We re-checked the Maytronics-sold models in this guide against the Maytronics US store on November 4, 2026. No sale prices were running that day, so these are Maytronics’ own prices, and the owner ratings are the star averages shown on each product page.

Three things changed enough to quote. First, the Nautilus CC Plus no longer matches how this guide described it: Maytronics’ spec sheet now rates it for 40 ft pools and lists waterline scrubbing as “No”, and it costs $829 ($849 with Wi-Fi) instead of the $749 Wi-Fi sale price we saw in July. It’s still our top pick for average pools, but if you want the waterline scrubbed you need the CC Pro ($1,149) or CC Supreme ($1,449). Second, at Maytronics’ list prices the Sigma ($2,999) now costs $500 more than the Premier ($2,499). Both are sold through Maytronics’ certified dealers, so street prices can be lower and vary from dealer to dealer. Third, the whole Nautilus CC family carries a 1-year US warranty, against 3 years on the Premier, Sigma and Liberty 400. Factor that into the value comparison, not just the sticker price. The Proteus DX3 and Explorer E10 aren’t listed on Maytronics’ own store, so their prices below come from our full reviews.

Dolphin, made by Maytronics, is the brand most pool pros reach for first — and the lineup is deep enough that picking the right one is genuinely confusing. We’ve compared the current Dolphin robotic cleaners for inground and above-ground pools against Maytronics’ own spec sheets, owner reviews and published tests. Below are our top picks for 2026, ranked by who each model is best for, so you can match a Dolphin to your pool and budget instead of overpaying for features you won’t use.

Our top picks at a glance

1. Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus — Best Overall

The Nautilus CC Plus is the Dolphin we recommend to the most people, and it’s the one most pool stores sell hardest. It climbs and scrubs the walls with two brushes and filters fine debris into a top-load basket you pop out and rinse in seconds. According to Maytronics, it’s rated for pools up to 40 ft and runs a two-hour cycle on a built-in weekly timer, so it can clean on its own schedule. Know what it doesn’t do: Maytronics’ current spec sheet lists waterline scrubbing as “No”, and the warranty is 1 year. It also has the best owner rating of any Nautilus on Maytronics’ store, at 4.0 out of 5 from 123 reviews, with 77% saying they’d recommend it. For a standard inground pool where a waterline brush once a week is acceptable, this is the smart-money pick; if you want the waterline done too, the Nautilus CC Pro ($1,149) is the cheapest Nautilus that does it. (Read our full Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus review for the complete spec breakdown, or see how it stacks up against other brands in our best robotic pool cleaner guide.)

2. Dolphin Sigma — Best Premium

If you want the most capable Dolphin and don’t mind paying for it, the Sigma is the flagship. Where cheaper Dolphins bump around in a back-and-forth pattern, the Sigma uses gyroscopic navigation to map your pool and clean in tidy, efficient rows. The MyDolphin Plus app adds Wi-Fi control: remote start, scheduling, and manual steering to spot-clean a dirty corner. Its extra-large multi-layer basket also holds more debris before you empty it. Two cautions: at Maytronics’ $2,999 list price it now costs $500 more than the Premier, and owners on Maytronics’ store rate it 3.6 out of 5 from 667 reviews, below the Premier’s 3.9. Dealer prices vary, so compare quotes before you pay list. It’s overkill for a small backyard pool, but for a large or premium pool where you want the most thorough, most automated clean Dolphin makes, the Sigma is it. For the full breakdown of its triple motors, gyroscope navigation and pricing, see our dedicated Dolphin Sigma review.

3. Dolphin Premier — Best Filtration & Large Pools

The Premier’s party trick is filtration flexibility, and it’s why we pick it for debris-heavy and large pools. It ships with multiple swappable filter media — an oversized leaf bag for heavy loads, plus fine and ultra-fine cartridges for pollen and silt — so you can match the robot to whatever your pool is dealing with that week instead of being stuck with one basket. Add dual scrubbing brushes, strong suction, and an anti-tangle swivel cable, and it handles big inground pools and leaf-heavy yards better than a single-filter robot. At $2,499 list it costs three times as much as the Nautilus CC Plus, but it’s now $500 below the Sigma, and its owner rating on Maytronics’ store (3.9 out of 5 from 649 reviews) is the best of Dolphin’s 50 ft flagships. If your pool sits under trees or you battle fine debris, the multi-media system earns its keep. Read our full Dolphin Premier review for verified specs and independent-tester scores, or see our best inground pool cleaner guide for more large-pool options. If your pool has a sun shelf or steps, that’s the Dolphin Quantum Pro’s job, not the base Dolphin Quantum — see our Dolphin Premier vs Dolphin Quantum comparison for the full breakdown of what the base model actually covers.

4. Dolphin Proteus DX3 — Best Value

The Proteus DX3 is the value sweet spot in the Dolphin range: it climbs walls, scrubs with an active brush, and uses Dolphin’s CleverClean scanning to cover the pool methodically — the same core experience as pricier models for about $629. You give up the weekly timer of the CC Plus and the waterline pass and app of the pricier Proteus DX4/DX5i, but the actual cleaning is solid for pools up to 33 ft, and the top-load filter basket is just as easy to rinse. For a buyer who wants a genuine wall-climbing Dolphin robot without crossing the $700 line, the DX3 is the one to put on the short list. If you need waterline coverage or a larger pool rating, our Dolphin Proteus explained guide breaks down the DX4 and DX5i too.

Also worth knowing: Maytronics also sells a Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme ($1,449 on Maytronics’ store on November 4, 2026, no sale running) that slots between the CC Plus and the Sigma: three motors, 4,500 GPH suction and waterline scrubbing, but still CleverClean scanning rather than the Sigma’s gyroscope mapping. Owners rate it 4.0 out of 5 from 262 reviews. Independent testers at Robotic Reviews and Poolbots both concluded it’s hard to justify when the Sigma sells for a similar street price, so compare dealer quotes for both; read our full Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme review before spending Supreme-tier money. If the base CC, CC Plus and CC Supreme names have you confused about which is which, our Dolphin Nautilus CC explained guide breaks down the whole family side by side.

5. Dolphin Liberty 300 — Best Cordless

The single biggest annoyance with robotic cleaners is the cable, and the Liberty 300 removes it. It’s Dolphin’s cordless, battery-powered robot: drop it in, let it run a 2.5-hour cycle across floor, walls, waterline, and sun ledge, and lift it out — no cord to untwist and no power supply to position at the water’s edge. It’s the Dolphin we’d point cord-haters and owners of awkwardly shaped pools toward, though its 33-ft pool-size ceiling, $1,349 price and 2-year warranty mean it’s a narrower fit than the corded lineup. Owners rate it 3.9 out of 5, but from only 26 reviews on Maytronics’ store. Read our full Dolphin Liberty 300 review for the complete spec breakdown, or see our best cordless robotic pool cleaner guide for how it compares against the cordless competition. Want to save $300? The entry-tier Dolphin Liberty 200 ($1,049) covers the same 33-ft pools, though Maytronics’ page for it contradicts itself on the waterline (headline: floor and walls; spec table: floor, walls, waterline and sun ledge), so confirm with the dealer before you count on it. For pools up to 50 ft, the Liberty 600 ($1,849) is the only cordless Liberty rated that large — or see how it stacks up against an even cheaper, floor-only rival in our Hayward AquaVac 250Li vs Dolphin Liberty 200 comparison.

6. Dolphin E10 — Best for Above-Ground Pools

Not everyone needs a 50-foot wall-climber, and for above-ground pools the E10 is the right-sized, right-priced Dolphin. Maytronics rates it for above-ground pools up to about 30 ft, and it keeps things simple: drop it in, press start, and it cleans the floor only in a roughly 1.5-hour cycle — it has no weekly timer and doesn’t climb walls at all, but above-ground pools rarely need that. As the most affordable real Dolphin robot, it’s the easiest way into the brand for above-ground owners. See our full Dolphin Explorer E10 review for the complete breakdown, or the best above-ground pool cleaner guide for more options in this category. Maytronics also sells a same-tier, same-coverage floor-only robot called the Dolphin Escape ($799 direct, about $669 on sale) — nearly identical specs to the E10, but $100-$170 more even after a discount, so the E10 is the better value unless the Escape’s larger filter basket specifically matters to you.

Also worth knowing: for in-ground pools, Maytronics sells an even cheaper wall-climber than the CC Plus — the Dolphin Explorer E20 (about $668, rated up to 33 ft) — though it skips waterline scrubbing and fine-particle filtration to hit that price. Read our full Dolphin Explorer E20 review to see if the trade-offs make sense for a smaller pool. If your pool is bigger than 33 ft but you don’t want to pay CC Plus money, Maytronics’ newer Dolphin Explorer E30 (from ~$999, rated up to 40 ft) adds full waterline coverage the E20 lacks — see our full Dolphin Explorer E30 review. For pools pushing the full 50 ft, Maytronics’ Dolphin Explorer E50 ($1,329 sale, SKU 99996281-XP) keeps that same floor-walls-waterline coverage and adds a longer 60 ft cable — see our full Dolphin Explorer E50 review.

Also worth knowing: Maytronics sells a separate, confusingly named Dolphin Advantage family alongside everything above — a base Advantage (about $599, 33-ft pools, floor and walls only), an Advantage ULTRA (about $899, 50-ft pools, full floor-walls-waterline coverage), and an Advantage PRO ($999, identical hardware to the ULTRA plus Wi-Fi). Our Dolphin Advantage explained guide breaks down why the pricier-sounding “ULTRA” actually costs less than the “PRO” — the $100 gap buys app control alone, nothing else.

By the numbers

• Runs independent of your pump. Per the U.S. Department of Energy, the pool pump is among the largest energy users in a home with a pool. Every Dolphin runs on its own low-voltage power supply independent of the pump, so it filters debris into its own basket and cleans without adding to your pump-and-filter energy load.
• Rated coverage. According to Maytronics’ November 2026 spec sheets, the Nautilus CC is rated for pools up to 33 ft, the CC Plus for 40 ft, and the CC Pro, CC Supreme, Premier and Sigma for 50 ft, while the entry E10 is built for above-ground pools up to about 30 ft. Pool size, not just price, should guide your pick.
• Suction doesn’t scale with price in the Explorer line. Maytronics’ own spec sheets list the same roughly 15 m³/hour (4,000 GPH) suction rate for the entry E10, the mid-tier E20, the E30, and even the 50-ft-rated E50 — moving up the Explorer tiers buys more coverage, cable length and features, not a stronger motor. Only the $2,099 flagship Explorer E70 finally breaks the pattern at a claimed 5,000 GPH — though our own E70 review found independent Poolbots testing measures it closer to 4,500 GPH.
• Pennies per cycle. Maytronics estimates a typical Dolphin cleaning cycle costs only a few cents of electricity, because the robot draws low-voltage DC power rather than running your high-draw pump for the clean.
• Set-and-forget scheduling. Per Maytronics, the Nautilus CC Plus runs a roughly 2-hour standard cleaning cycle and offers a weekly timer that re-cleans the pool automatically every 1, 2, or 3 days — so once it’s programmed you can leave the robot to maintain the pool hands-off. The Dolphin Cayman is the other timer-equipped corded Dolphin worth knowing: it pairs the same every-1-2-or-3-days schedule with a 2-year warranty and an above-ground rating, but it costs $1,079-$1,129 and Maytronics lists its waterline scrubbing as “No.” If you’re cross-shopping cordless brands instead, our Aiper vs Beatbot comparison weighs the two leading cordless robots on price and features.

How to choose a Dolphin pool cleaner

• Match the model to your pool size. Above-ground or small pools are well served by the E10; standard inground pools up to 40 ft by the Nautilus CC Plus or Proteus DX3; pools up to 50 ft by the CC Pro, CC Supreme, Premier or Sigma.
• Decide how much filtration flexibility you need. Leaf-heavy yards benefit from the Premier’s swappable multi-media filters; pollen and fine silt are handled by fine cartridges; a basic top-load basket (CC Plus, DX3) is plenty for most. See our best pool cleaner filter guide for replacement cartridge prices and micron ratings across the whole Dolphin line, and our Dolphin pool cleaner parts guide for brushes, tracks, power supplies, and — critically — how close a Liberty battery replacement now runs to the price of a new unit.
• Consider a genuine refurbished unit to save 13-25%. Maytronics sells certified refurbished Dolphins directly through its own Outlet store, backed by a 12-month warranty. That matches the 1-year warranty on a new Nautilus CC-family robot, but it’s shorter than the 2 to 3 years on new Liberty, Premier and Sigma models. See our Dolphin pool cleaner refurbished guide for verified refurbished pricing across the current lineup and how much you actually save versus buying new.
• App and navigation are premium features. Only the higher-end Dolphins (e.g., Sigma) add WiFi control and gyroscopic mapping. They clean more efficiently but cost more — skip them if you just want a clean pool.
• Cordless vs. corded. A cord is the most common complaint; the Liberty 300 removes it, at a higher price per capability. The newer Dolphin EON 100 is a second cordless option, rated for larger 50 ft pools with a battery Maytronics claims lasts up to a week per charge. The step-up Dolphin EON 120d swaps the EON 100’s basic fine-filter kit for a backwash DebrisLock filter, though independent testing found that filter a real chore to clean. Most owners are happy with a corded model and a swivel cable.
• Dolphin vs. other brands and types. Want to compare Dolphin against Polaris, Beatbot, and Aiper, or against suction and pressure cleaners? Read our Dolphin vs. Polaris comparison, our Beatbot vs Dolphin comparison on cordless premium vs corded value, and our best automatic pool cleaner guide. Cross-shopping the cordless leader? Our best Aiper pool cleaner guide ranks every Aiper model, and our Aiper vs Dolphin and WYBOT vs Dolphin comparisons put Dolphin head-to-head with the two leading cordless brands. To weigh the robotic specialist against Hayward’s filterless robots and suction cleaners, see our Dolphin vs Hayward comparison.

The bottom line

For most inground pools up to 40 ft, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is the best Dolphin pool cleaner in 2026: it climbs and scrubs the walls, filters into an easy top-load basket and runs on a weekly timer for $829 ($849 with Wi-Fi), though it leaves the waterline to you. Want the flagship? The Dolphin Sigma adds mapping and Wi-Fi, but at $2,999 list it now costs $500 more than the better-rated Premier. Debris-heavy or large pools should look at the Dolphin Premier for its swappable filters, value buyers at the Proteus DX3, cord-haters at the cordless Liberty 300, and above-ground owners at the Dolphin E10. Whichever you choose, you’re getting a robot that cleans independently of your pump — and you can compare these picks against the wider field in our best robotic pool cleaner guide. Already own one and it’s not climbing walls, won’t move, or the full-filter light won’t clear? Our Dolphin pool cleaner troubleshooting guide covers symptom-by-symptom fixes before you assume it needs a repair.