Quick Answer: For 2026, choose Dolphin if you want a dedicated robotic-cleaner specialist with a model for every budget — the Nautilus CC ($599) and Nautilus CC Plus ($899) climb walls, clean the waterline, and use CleverClean scanning with easy top-load cartridge filters, and the E10 (~$499) is purpose-built for above-ground pools. Choose Hayward if you want the lowest-maintenance robotic experience — the AquaVac 650 uses patented SpinTech filterless technology (18 hydrocyclones, no cartridge or bag to rinse) — or a suction-side Poolvergnuegen cleaner that runs off your existing pump. In short, Dolphin leads on robotic range and value; Hayward leads on filterless convenience and suction-side options.
Dolphin and Hayward are two of the biggest names in automatic pool cleaning, but they play different games. Dolphin (a Maytronics brand) is a pure robotic specialist with the widest range of residential robots on the market; Hayward spans filterless robotics and suction-side cleaners, giving you more cleaner types under one brand. Picking between them is really about how hands-off you want to be — and how much you want to spend on filters over time.
Dolphin vs Hayward at a glance
| Dolphin (Maytronics) | Hayward | |
|---|---|---|
| Known for | Robotic-only specialist, huge range | Filterless robotics + suction-side value |
| Flagship robot | Nautilus CC Plus (~$899) | AquaVac 650 (SpinTech filterless) |
| Signature tech | CleverClean scanning & active brushes | SpinTech — 18 hydrocyclones, no cartridge |
| Filter system | Top-load cartridge basket (rinse & reuse) | Filterless canister (AquaVac 650) / cartridge (TigerShark) |
| Entry robot price | Lower — Nautilus CC ~$599, E10 ~$499 | Higher — TigerShark ~$1,429 |
| Suction-side option | No (robotic only) | Yes — Poolvergnuegen 2- & 4-wheel |
| Wall + waterline | Yes (Nautilus CC Plus, Premier, Sigma) | Yes (AquaVac 650, TigerShark) |
| Above-ground pick | Dolphin E10 (~$499) | Poolvergnuegen suction cleaner |
| Best for | Best robotic value & range | Low-maintenance filterless & above-ground value |
By the numbers
- Filterless vs cartridge maintenance: Hayward’s AquaVac 650 uses patented SpinTech technology with 18 hydrocyclones to keep suction strong with no cartridge or bag, plus six variable-speed rollers with adaptive traction for wall-to-wall cleaning, per Hayward. Dolphin robots instead use a top-load cartridge basket that lifts straight out of the top for rinsing — cheap to replace but a recurring consumable. That’s the core maintenance trade-off between the two brands.
- Robotic pricing: Dolphin generally undercuts Hayward on robots — the Nautilus CC runs about $599, the Nautilus CC Plus about $899, and the above-ground E10 about $499, per retailer listings, while Hayward’s TigerShark is about $1,429 and the QC about $1,489. Dolphin is the value leader in residential robotics.
- Cleaning cycles: Hayward’s TigerShark robots run a standard 4-hour full-clean cycle, and the QC adds a 90-minute Quick Clean option, per Hayward. Dolphin’s Nautilus CC Plus runs about a 2-hour cycle with a weekly timer that self-schedules cleanings, per Maytronics — so both let you set it and forget it.
- Running cost: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, pool pumps are among the largest electricity users in a typical home. Every Dolphin robot and Hayward’s AquaVac 650 run on a low-voltage transformer independent of your main pump, while Hayward’s Poolvergnuegen suction cleaners tap your existing pump — so a robot from either brand avoids running the big pump just to clean.
- Coverage: Dolphin’s CleverClean software scans pool size and maps an efficient path rather than bouncing randomly, per Maytronics, while Hayward’s AquaVac 650 uses smart steering and adaptive traction for full wall-to-wall coverage — both aim to cover the whole pool in one cycle instead of missing spots.
Dolphin: the robotic value & range pick
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus
- CleverClean scanning maps the pool for efficient, methodical coverage.
- Climbs walls and scrubs the waterline with dual active brushes.
- Top-load cartridge filter basket lifts straight out for a quick rinse.
- Weekly timer self-schedules cleanings; tangle-free swivel cable.
Dolphin’s strength is doing one thing — robotic cleaning — across the widest range of price points. The Nautilus CC Plus is the brand’s most popular all-rounder: it climbs walls, cleans the waterline, and uses CleverClean scanning to cover the whole pool, with a top-load cartridge basket that’s genuinely easy to empty. Below it, the Nautilus CC ($599) is the floor-and-wall value pick, the E10 ($499) is built for above-ground pools, and models like the Premier and Sigma add larger filters, gyroscope navigation, and app control. Because every Dolphin runs on its own transformer, none of them touch your pool pump. For the full lineup, see our best Dolphin pool cleaner guide, and our best robotic pool cleaner guide ranks Dolphin against the whole category.
Hayward: the filterless-robotic & suction-side pick
Hayward AquaVac 650
- Patented SpinTech filterless system — 18 hydrocyclones keep suction strong with no cartridge or bag to rinse.
- TouchFree debris canister empties with a quick-release button, no messy handling.
- Six variable-speed rollers with adaptive traction climb walls and clean any surface.
- Wi-Fi control for scheduling and cycle selection from your phone.
Hayward’s edge is choice: a filterless flagship robot plus suction-side cleaners for buyers who don’t want a robot at all. The AquaVac 650’s SpinTech technology skips the cartridge entirely — 18 hydrocyclones maintain suction while a TouchFree canister empties without touching debris — so there’s no filter media to buy or rinse. Its TigerShark robots are prized for reliable, microprocessor-driven cleaning with a fast 90-minute Quick Clean on the QC. And for above-ground or softer-sided pools, Hayward’s Poolvergnuegen suction cleaners (2- and 4-wheel) run off your existing pump at a lower price than any robot. See our best Hayward pool cleaner guide for the full range, and our best above-ground pool cleaner guide if you have an above-ground pool.
Which should you buy?
- Choose Dolphin if: you want the best robotic value and the widest choice of models — the Nautilus CC (
$599) and Nautilus CC Plus ($899) are proven all-rounders, and the E10 (~$499) is purpose-built for above-ground pools. It’s the pick for owners who want a self-contained robot without paying a premium, and who don’t mind rinsing a cartridge basket. - Choose Hayward if: you want the lowest-maintenance robotic experience — the AquaVac 650’s SpinTech means no cartridge to buy or rinse — or you’d rather skip a robot entirely and use an affordable suction-side Poolvergnuegen that runs off your existing pump. It’s ideal for hands-off owners and above-ground/fiberglass pools.
- Either way: both are trusted, long-established brands with big service networks. Decide by how hands-off you want to be: Dolphin gives you the most robotic options at the best prices; Hayward gives you a filterless robot with the fewest consumables plus a cheaper suction-side path.
Still weighing your options? Our best robotic pool cleaner guide ranks the whole category, our Dolphin vs Polaris comparison covers Dolphin against the pressure-side legend, and our Polaris vs Hayward comparison rounds out the big-three brand matchups.
The bottom line
For 2026, Dolphin wins on robotic range and value — no other brand offers this many capable robots from about $499 to $899, and the Nautilus CC Plus is one of the most reliable, widely reviewed cleaners you can buy. Hayward wins on filterless convenience and cleaner-type choice — the AquaVac 650’s SpinTech system means no cartridge to maintain, and its Poolvergnuegen suction cleaners give you a cheaper, robot-free option for above-ground pools. Decide by your priorities: best-value robotics with a simple cartridge (Dolphin) versus zero-consumable filterless cleaning and suction-side flexibility (Hayward).