Robotic pool cleaner comparison

Aquabot X2 vs Dolphin Active 40

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

Better alternative

A stronger Pool Express option

Aquabot X2 and Dolphin Active 40 are compared feature by feature below. For a stronger Pool Express option, consider Clear S. Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.

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Aquabot

Aquabot X2

Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor cleaning.

Listed price $497

View better alternatives

Active

Dolphin Active 40

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

Listed price $1,799

View better alternatives

A better alternative

What we recommend instead

Pool Express pick

Clear S

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

$1,749

Buy Clear S

Buying guidance

Aquabot X2 or Dolphin Active 40: our take

Aquabot X2 and Dolphin Active 40 are compared on pool fit, cleaning reach, debris handling, controls and ownership details. The recommendation is based on the job the robot must do—not a simple feature count.

Pool fit and cleaning reach

Aquabot X2 is intended for inground and above-ground pools, while Dolphin Active 40 is intended for inground pools. Aquabot X2 is rated for pools up to 40 ft; Dolphin Active 40 is rated up to 50 ft. Aquabot X2 cleans floor; Dolphin Active 40 cleans floor, walls, and waterline. Aquabot X2 lists 1 active brush. Dolphin Active 40 lists 1 active brush and CleverClean navigation.

Filtration and debris

Dolphin Active 40 has documented included filtration—Basket and UltraFilter—while the other model's included media is not fully published. Dolphin Active 40 has the clearer documented edge for fine silt, pollen and sand. Dolphin Active 40 has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.

Controls and day-to-day ownership

Aquabot X2 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification; Dolphin Active 40 provides a weekly timer and smartphone control.

Price, warranty and the decision

Aquabot X2 is listed at $497 and Dolphin Active 40 at $1,799; Aquabot X2 is $1,302 less. Each lists a 2-year manufacturer warranty. Aquabot X2 and Dolphin Active 40 each have a specific fit, but neither is the Pool Express pick for this job. Our better alternative is Clear S. Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.

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 X2	Dolphin Active 40
Cleans the pool floor	Yes	Yes
Climbs and cleans walls	No	YesEdge
Scrubs the waterline	No	YesEdge
Fine-debris filter included	No	YesEdge
Large-debris filter	No	YesEdge
Automatic scheduling	Not listed	Yes
Smartphone app	Not listed	Yes
Anti-tangle swivel	Not listed	Yes
3-year warranty	No	No
No recharging between cycles	Not listed	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 X2 stands out

Aquabot X2 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $497 starting price.

Is listed $1,302 lower
Cleans the pool floor

Where Dolphin Active 40 stands out

Dolphin Active 40 is the better fit for pools up to 50 ft.

Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
Includes filtration for sand, pollen and other fine debris
Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
Has documented smartphone control