Robotic pool cleaner comparison

Aquabot Elite vs Dolphin W20

A side-by-side comparison of pool fit, cleaning coverage, filtration, controls and the better Pool Express option.

By Brian Williamson, Pool Express product specialist
Updated November 9, 2026

Choose by pool type

Residential and commercial pools need different robots

Aquabot Elite and Dolphin W20 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Clear UV for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 60 for commercial use.

Buy Clear UV Buy Dolphin Wave 60 Compare every robot

Aquabot

Aquabot Elite

Inground pools that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.

Listed price $1,299

View better alternatives

Wave

Dolphin W20

Commercial pools that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.

Listed price $1,999

View better alternatives

Right robot for each job

Choose residential and commercial cleaners separately

Residential pick

Clear UV

Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.

$1,999

Buy Clear UV

Commercial pick

Dolphin Wave 60

Commercial pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.

$1,699

Buy Dolphin Wave 60

Buying guidance

Aquabot Elite or Dolphin W20: our take

Aquabot Elite and Dolphin W20 can be compared on specifications, but they are designed for different jobs. Start with residential versus commercial use, then use the details below to understand the tradeoffs.

Pool fit and cleaning reach

Aquabot Elite is intended for inground pools, while Dolphin W20 is intended for commercial pools. Each cleans floor, walls, and waterline, so coverage alone does not separate them. Aquabot Elite lists 3 active brushes and Intelligent navigation. Dolphin W20 lists Commercial-grade motors.

Filtration and debris

Aquabot Elite has documented included filtration—Standard filter—while the other model's included media is not fully published.

Controls and day-to-day ownership

Aquabot Elite provides a weekly timer; Dolphin W20 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification. Both use continuous corded power.

Price, warranty and the decision

Aquabot Elite is listed at $1,299 and Dolphin W20 at $1,999; Aquabot Elite is $700 less. Each lists a 3-year manufacturer warranty. These robots are built for different jobs, so pool type and facility capacity decide the comparison before individual features do. For a residential pool, the Pool Express pick is Clear UV. Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris. For a commercial facility, the Pool Express pick is Dolphin Wave 60. Commercial pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.

Feature check: what each robot actually has

A green check means the feature is documented as included. A red X means it is documented as absent. A dash means the source does not make the feature clear.

Feature	Aquabot Elite	Dolphin W20
Cleans the pool floor	Yes	Yes
Climbs and cleans walls	Yes	Yes
Scrubs the waterline	Yes	Yes
Fine-debris filter included	No	No
Large-debris filter	No	No
Automatic scheduling	Yes	Not listed
Smartphone app	Not listed	Not listed
Anti-tangle swivel	Yes	Not listed
3-year warranty	Yes	Yes
No recharging between cycles	Yes	Yes
Built-in UV-C water treatment	No	No

Unknown is not treated as “no.” Specifications come from the product pages, current catalog records and manufacturer material collected for this site.

Where Aquabot Elite stands out

Aquabot Elite is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $1,299 starting price.

Is listed $700 lower
Standard filters

Where Dolphin W20 stands out

Dolphin W20 is the better fit for commercial pools that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.

Commercial-grade motors