When you’re in the market for the highest rated robotic pool cleaner, it’s normal to gravitate toward either Aquabot or Dolphin. Both offer similar features and benefits, and they’re both high-quality in terms of how they function. But when it comes down to it, do you choose Aquabot or Dolphin pool cleaner?
To help you choose, we broke down both of these popular robotic pool cleaners, addressing all their features, benefits, and any reservations you should consider before making a decision.
Which Pool is the Aquabot and Dolphin Suited For?
Both the Aquabot and Dolphin cleaners are designed for use with inground pools. They each feature a 60ft cable which is best suited for pools around 50ft in length.
Contents
Quick Comparison
If you’re in a rush as you compare inground robotic pool cleaners, we put together some quick differences about the Aquabot and Dolphin so that you may decide right now what’s best for you.
| Pool cleaners: | Aquabot ABREIQ Breeze IQ Automatic In-Ground Robotic Brush Pool | Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner |
| Cleaning cycle: | Aquabot features two different cleaning cycles (1.5 hours and 2 hours) | Dolphin cleaner only has a single 2-hour standard cleaning time. |
| Cleaning schedule: | You can’t set a schedule up with the Aquabot | Dolphin offers a weekly schedule to play with using three different settings |
| Technology: | Aquabot uses AquaSmart | Dolphin has CleverClean mobility |
| Weight: | 30lbs | 20lbs |
| Price: | ||
Aquabot vs Dolphin: Which is Better?
Aquabot ABREIQ Breeze IQ Automatic In-Ground Robotic Brush Pool
- 2 top-access EZ Clean filter baskets
- Pump system filters down to 2 microns (nominal)
- Swivel cord technology
- AquaSmart navigation system
- All-terrain PVC scrubbing brushes
- 2 cleaning cycles: 1.5 hours and 2 hours
- Scrubs inclines, waterlines, and walls
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
The Breeze IQ from Aquabot is a wall-climbing robotic cleaner that features an energy-saving construction so you may use it frequently without the worry of increasing your bill. This is a versatile cleaner that addresses your pool floor, walls, and waterline.
It boasts a user-friendly design with a focus on convenience considering the tangle-free, 60ft swivel cable that can reduce the hassle of pool maintenance. You can set it to scrub your pool in either 1.5 hours or the typical 2-hour cycle.
Further ease-of-use is seen in the fact that you don’t need to use any other hoses or vacuums for the cleaner to function as it’s a self-containing pool cleaner with its built-in drive, pump, and filtration system. Concerning the filtration, Aquabot is known to filter out the finer particles that many other cleaners miss.
Benefits
- With the Aquabot Breeze IQ, you have a machine that scales walls with no difficulties. Using the right adjustments, it can also manage the waterline rather well too.
- The anti-swivel design aids the cleaner in navigating in circles around the pool without getting caught up in the cord.
- In general, the Breeze IQ is easy to both setup and use. You may notice signs of a clean pool in little time as the powerful filter and pump system can manage both fine particles and larger debris like leaves. This might help it lower how much algae and bacteria fester in your pool.
- Also, the PVC scrubbing brushes this uses further enhances how well it scrubs the pool.
- The unit itself is also simple to clean out once it’s done, which might help prolong its life.
Reservations
- If there are any concerns about the Breeze IQ, it’s that there are times where it may not cover all or most of the pool area.
- There may be issues surrounding the filters at times. The screen may show it as full when, in reality, it still has some time to go before it fills up.
- Also, the filters appear rather fragile compared to the rest of the robust design of the pool cleaner.
What Consumers are Saying
To address Aqua clean pool cleaner reviews, many consumers appreciate the overall performance of the Breeze IQ. They enjoy how the brushes don’t leave streaks behind as it tackles almost every surface of a pool.
However, you may have to run the Breeze IQ a few times before you notice just how well it scrubs and sucks up debris.
There are also warnings about how it climbs. Typically, the unit scales walls well. There are times though that it may only reach halfway before it descends and has to start over again. At the end of the day, it will still scrub your entire wall and waterline.
They appreciate how the anti-swivel joint lets the robot move in various patterns around the pool without tangling up and forcing you to go in and fix it. Also, as the filters can feel fragile, it may help to take more caution when cleaning them and replacing them.
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner
- Large top-load twin cartridge filter
- Filters fine and ultra-fine debris
- Anti-tangle swivel cable
- CleverClean mobility system
- Dual scrubbing brushes
- 3-setting weekly scheduler: daily, every other day, or every 3rd day
- Scrubs pool floors and walls
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
Review
The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is among affordable robotic pool cleaners when compared to higher-end products. It cleans your pool using a 2-hour system through the use of dual scrubbing brushes and top-quality filtration.
You can set the Nautilus CC Plus up to clean on a weekly schedule, and this is yet another product with an independent cleaning system. It doesn’t rely on any outside equipment like additional hoses, which is why it acts as an energy-saver.
It features a tangle-free 60ft long cable so it may navigate the pool easier. For filtration, this robotic cleaner utilizes large twin cartridges to lock in debris of various sizes. This has wall-climbing capabilities so that it can properly scrub most of your pool with ease.
Benefits
- The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is a top-rated pool cleaner that’s known to firmly hold onto your pool floors and walls. This is thanks to the dual scrub brushes that are designed with great traction so they won’t slip around.
- As it navigates well, it offers good pool coverage for walls and floors. The suction appears strong enough to manage various debris to provide a thorough cleaning.
- This unit is quick to set up, and as you’re provided with a weekly scheduler system, you can program it to clean as often or as little as your pool requires using three different settings.
- As simple as it is to install, the Nautilus CC Plus seems just as easy to use. It features a lightweight design so that you may lift it in with no caddy needed.
- The removable large filter cartridges are straightforward to clean as well as they are to replace when they’re used up.
Reservations
- One thing to look out for with the Nautilus CC Plus is that it lacks a detailed instruction manual. Because of that, you’ll have to mainly learn how to use it on your own or research the product more elsewhere.
- Even though it can cover the majority of your pool, it seems to navigate everything randomly.
- Also, although it’s normally light in weight and simple to put inside the pool, once it’s filled with water, it becomes difficult to remove from the pool.
What Consumers are Saying
There are numerous consumers that praise how well the Nautilus CC Plus functions as a cleaner. It has strong enough suction to leave your clean visibly clear and debris-free. It does cover inground pools well, but users note that it can struggle or completely stop around stairs. The unit may work better on a couple of smaller steps though.
Another factor consumers noted is that there’s a chance for the cord to tangle up, but the swivel connector keeps it on-track so that any tangling won’t cut into the cleaning process. The Nautilus CC Plus also has a robust build so it feels as though it will last through many uses.
Even if it’s lightweight, once you drop it in the water, the unit fills up fast. On one hand, this can get too heavy to lift out to drain water. On the other hand, this does sink to the pool bottom fast so it starts cleaning quicker.
Bottom Line
Both the Aquabot and the Dolphin have their benefits and reservations in terms of how well they clean your inground pool and how easy they are for you to set up and use. They function in generally the same manner using different navigation technology and filtration systems.
Both units are low-profile and they’re relatively simple to handle despite the Aquabot weighing more. The controls are clear-cut with or without instructions so you can set either unit up with ease and get your pool clean in little time.
Insights and Takeaways
Trying to find the most reliable robotic pool cleaner is no easy task, but both the Aquabot and Dolphin have surpassed expectations from various pool owners. The pair emphasizes user-friendliness so that you don’t have to focus much on the actual cleaning process. Instead, once you set either unit up, just place them in the pool and watch them go.
Both do well at removing fine and large particles from pools to reduce the stress on your pool’s filtration system, and they save you time and save your energy bill in the long haul.
If you have to decide, consider the specifics on what each cleaner manages to do. The Aquabot, for instance, does well on various areas of the pool from the surface to the waterline. Meanwhile, the Dolphin is best with just the floor and walls.
The Dolphin also allows for a timer, but the Aquabot has two different cleaning cycles to use. In the end, consider each feature to tell what the most ideal robotic pool cleaner is for your pool maintenance needs.
