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By Brian Williamson | Written on April 26th, 2024
The Nautilus CC Supreme is one of the most expensive pool robots I have ever tested.
The Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme is the top robot in Maytronics’ Dolphin Nautilus lineup. At over $1500, it is a big investment in your pool and it cleans great. But, be careful – select dealers charge restocking fees of up to 50%. A large price to pay if the robot doesn’t work for your pool. Today, we’ll dive into our in-depth review and see how it compares to other top Dolphin robots to see if it's worth it.
Similar to the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus, which we reviewed a few days ago, the dreaded restocking fee looms over the Nautilus CC Supreme and is something you should be aware of before buying the Nautilus CC Supreme. It was hidden, but after digging into the return policies of multiple sellers and reviews, it was a common pain point for a lot of other buyers. While we didn’t have any direct issues after testing for two weeks, it appears rather common – so just be wary of this within the Nautilus lineup. Select Dolphin product lines don’t allow restocking fees, such as the Dolphin ProLine and Dolphin Max-Series, so make sure to look into those as well.
Now that we got that out of the way, let’s dive into our review and see what it was like to use the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme.
Right out of the box, everything is included that you’ll need. Here is what’s included in the box with the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme:
The setup is easy. Simply plug it in and connect to it via the myDolphin Plus app. Through Wi-Fi, your robot can communicate with you through your cell phone. I had no problem connecting to it and the app is significantly better than other brands I have tested.
After using the previous myDolphin app, the upgraded myDolphin “Plus” app is a notable improvement in user experience and interface. However, I don’t like the removal of the onboard timer like you get in the 2024 Dolphin Premier.
On the Premier, it has an onboard timer that you can switch between every day, every other day, and every three days. So does the Nautilus CC Supreme, however, every time you want to reset it for the week you’ll have to pull out your phone and connect. Super simple, right?
However, you’re paying a lot more for this feature. The biggest difference in the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme is the addition of an app, but does it justify the large price difference over similar models? I’m not sure.
My biggest qualm with the Nautilus CC Supreme is its value. To put it simply, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme is expensive. Let’s compare it to some other top Dolphin pool robots:
My biggest complaint with the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme is the price tag. The performance is solid and on par with other premium Dolphin robots, but there are so many alternatives that you’ll want to consider before buying the Nautilus CC Supreme. So let’s dive into how it performed in my testing.
The Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme cleans your whole pool. From the floor to the wall, the CC Supreme is quite impressive. I watched as it scaled the walls and reached the waterline. Thanks to its handle, it can move horizontally along the waterline as it scrubs away.
I had some issues with it moving too quickly on the waterline. If you have any problems, you can adjust the handle to allow it to move slower or faster along the waterline. When compared to my review on the Dolphin Nautilus CC Pro, it is nice that Maytronics gave it the ability to be adjusted.
The vacuuming power of the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme is top-of-the-line and the same as other top Dolphin robots. In my testing in our 40ft gunite swimming pool, it did a great job sucking up all the loose debris and leaves. It even vacuumed up some acorns!
I expected a little more power within the Nautilus CC Supreme, especially compared to the ProLine robots, but it was the same. So don’t expect it to be improved over other models.
Once this debris gets vacuumed up in your pool, it gets sent to the dual top-loading filters. They’re rather large, but not as large as the XXL MaxBin that the Dolphin Quantum utilizes. However, it performs just as well.
The standard mesh filters are great for maximizing the flow rate. While the included ultrafine filters are better for smaller debris or cloudy pool water.
The app is super easy to set up and use. In my testing, it was a pain at times as I would get a weak signal to the unit even when I was in my house or standing right next to it. Because it communicates to your phone via your home Wi-Fi, I discovered it doesn’t matter how close you stand to the robot if your Wi-Fi Signal is weak.
So if you have a weaker Wi-Fi signal or are worried about connecting, I recommend a robot with an onboard weekly timer. This allows you to do the same scheduling right from the power supply – rather than from the myDolphin Plus app.
But overall, the Nautilus CC Supreme offers more functionality than the previous Nautilus CC Plus Wi-Fi and Nautilus CC Pro. It has the remote control, advanced weekly scheduler, and cleaning history – which is something you’ll find only on premium Wi-Fi models such as the Sigma, Explorer E50, and Explorer E70.
When you're shopping for a robotic pool cleaner, pay close attention to the Restocking Fees. This is a hidden cost that a lot of Authorized Dealers hide. With the Nautilus CC Supreme being so expensive, you may end up paying 20-50% if the cleaner isn’t right for your pool. Imagine having to pay up to $500+ if you decide the cleaner isn't right for your pool.
These fees made us raise a few questions. Why so much just to return a product? Are they trying to make sure they don’t get returned? Does it show they're less confident in this particular model? As in our review of the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus, this seems to apply to all of Dolphin's Nautilus lineup.
Compare it to the Dolphin ProLine. It's pretty much the opposite. Known for its waterline-cleaning ability and filtration performance, Dolphin ProLine sellers aren’t allowed to charge a restocking fee. That’s right. There are no restocking fees on the ProLine. It's a clear signal that they trust their product and care about keeping customers happy. Removing that fee makes it easier for people to decide to buy and feel comfortable with their investment.
The Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme impressed us with its cleaning ability, but it’s overpriced. The CC Supreme is expensive. You don’t get a lot of value in the Nautilus CC Supreme when compared to the Dolphin Sigma ($1379) and Dolphin Premier ($1279), which both come with the same 3-year warranty.
On the performance side, there isn’t much to improve. Much like my reviews on the Dolphin Sigma and Dolphin Premier, it is a high-performing robot that is at the top of the Dolphin lineup.
A few features are missing from the app that I would have liked to see, such as a Temperature Sensor and pickup mode. This is only available in the top-end Dolphin Explorer E70. It isn’t a necessity, but I would expect it to have every app capability given the $1500 price point.
We don’t think so. While it is a solid cleaner, the advantages just don’t justify the expensive price tag. It is nearly identical to the Dolphin ProLine’s Dolphin Sigma. With a noticeable price difference, there is no justification for why the CC Supreme is noticeably more.
When it boils down to better alternatives, the Dolphin Quantum and Dolphin Premier both stand out. At a reduced price point, you get professional-level cleaning ability at a significant discount.
Like always, let's dive into some alternative robots. Whether you want an upgrade or budget alternative, here are some of the favorite robotic pool cleaners that have the upper hand in value or performance.
The best way to save? Buy the Dolphin ProLine’s Dolphin Sigma. This 2024 model is nearly identical to the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme. With includes NanoFiltration, a 3-year warranty, and even utilizes three commercial-grade motors and a gyroscope. It was rated the most advanced Dolphin pool cleaner of 2024 for a reason.
Read my full review of the Dolphin Sigma →
The Dolphin Premier was rated the best robotic pool cleaner of the year by USA Today. With Multi-Media, NanoFiltration, commercial-grade motors, a 3-year warranty, and the only Dolphin pool robot with a leaf bag, the Dolphin Premier delivers a clean like no other at an unbeatable value.
It’s by far my favorite Dolphin pool robot of the year. For the money, you can’t get a better pool cleaner.
Read about my review of the Dolphin Premier →
The best upgrade to the Nautilus CC Supreme is the Dolphin Explorer E70. With the larger dual-layer top-loading bin, the Dolphin Explorer E70 is easier to clean and an increased performance thanks to the dual-layer basket.
With more features within the myDolphin Plus app, the Dolphin Explorer E70 introduces pickup mode, a temperature sensor, and even an included caddy. It’s a noticeable upgrade and well worth it over the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme.
