Robotic pool cleaner comparison

Aquabot X2 vs Dolphin Wave 100

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 X2 and Dolphin Wave 100 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Escape for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 100 for commercial use.

Buy Dolphin Escape Buy Dolphin Wave 100 Compare every robot

Aquabot

Aquabot X2

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

Listed price $497

View better alternatives

Wave

Dolphin Wave 100

Commercial pools up to 88 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.

Current price $4,699

Buy Dolphin Wave 100

Right robot for each job

Choose residential and commercial cleaners separately

Residential pick

Dolphin Escape

Inground and above-ground pools up to 30 ft that need floor cleaning.

$669

Buy Dolphin Escape

Commercial pick

Dolphin Wave 100

Commercial pools up to 88 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.

$4,699

Buy Dolphin Wave 100

Buying guidance

Aquabot X2 or Dolphin Wave 100: our take

Aquabot X2 and Dolphin Wave 100 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 X2 is intended for inground and above-ground pools, while Dolphin Wave 100 is intended for commercial pools. Aquabot X2 is rated for pools up to 40 ft; Dolphin Wave 100 is rated up to 88 ft. Aquabot X2 cleans floor; Dolphin Wave 100 cleans floor, walls, and waterline. Aquabot X2 lists 1 active brush. Dolphin Wave 100 lists Gyroscope navigation and Commercial-grade motors.

Filtration and debris

Dolphin Wave 100 has documented included filtration—Standard filter—while the other model's included media is not fully published.

Controls and day-to-day ownership

Both models provide no fully published timer, app or remote specification.

Price, warranty and the decision

Aquabot X2 is listed at $497 and Dolphin Wave 100 at $4,699; Aquabot X2 is $4,202 less. Each lists a 2-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 Dolphin Escape. Inground and above-ground pools up to 30 ft that need floor cleaning. For a commercial facility, the Pool Express pick is Dolphin Wave 100. Commercial pools up to 88 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 X2	Dolphin Wave 100
Cleans the pool floor	Yes	Yes
Climbs and cleans walls	No	YesEdge
Scrubs the waterline	No	YesEdge
Fine-debris filter included	No	No
Large-debris filter	No	No
Automatic scheduling	Not listed	Not listed
Smartphone app	Not listed	Not listed
Anti-tangle swivel	Not listed	Not listed
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 $4,202 lower
Cleans the pool floor

Where Dolphin Wave 100 stands out

Dolphin Wave 100 is the better fit for pools up to 88 ft.

Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
Is rated for pools up to 88 ft