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Robotic pool cleaner comparison

Clear S vs Dolphin Wave 300 XL

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

Clear S Dolphin Wave 300 XL
Choose by pool type

Residential and commercial pools need different robots

Clear S and Dolphin Wave 300 XL serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Clear S for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 100 for commercial use.

CLEAR

Clear S

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

Current price $1,749MSRP $2,749 Save $1,000
Right robot for each job

Choose residential and commercial cleaners separately

Residential 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

Clear S or Dolphin Wave 300 XL: our take

Clear S and Dolphin Wave 300 XL 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

Clear S is intended for inground pools, while Dolphin Wave 300 XL is intended for commercial pools. Clear S is rated for pools up to 50 ft; Dolphin Wave 300 XL is rated up to 165 ft. Clear S cleans floor, walls, and waterline; Dolphin Wave 300 XL cleans floor. Clear S lists 2 active brushes, Intelligent navigation (C9 microprocessor), and Quad (2 pump + 2 drive) motors. Dolphin Wave 300 XL lists 6 active brushes.

Filtration and debris

Clear S includes UltraFilter; Dolphin Wave 300 XL includes Basket. That gives Clear S the clearer documented edge for fine silt, pollen and sand. Dolphin Wave 300 XL has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.

Controls and day-to-day ownership

Clear S provides a weekly timer, smartphone control, and included remote control; Dolphin Wave 300 XL provides one-touch starts and included remote control. Clear S uses a 59 ft corded cable with an anti-tangle swivel, while Dolphin Wave 300 XL uses a 165 ft corded cable with an anti-tangle swivel. Clear S is listed at 27.6 lb versus 58.4 lb for Dolphin Wave 300 XL; that 30.799999999999997 lb difference matters when lifting the robot from the pool.

Price, warranty and the decision

Clear S is listed at $1,749 and Dolphin Wave 300 XL at $15,499; Clear S is $13,750 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 S. 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 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 Clear S Dolphin Wave 300 XL
Cleans the pool floor Yes Yes
Climbs and cleans walls YesEdge No
Scrubs the waterline YesEdge No
Fine-debris filter included YesEdge No
Large-debris filter No YesEdge
Automatic scheduling YesEdge No
Smartphone app Yes Not listed
Anti-tangle swivel Yes Yes
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 Clear S stands out

Clear S is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $1,749 starting price.

  • Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
  • Includes filtration for sand, pollen and other fine debris
  • Can start on a weekly schedule without a manual launch before every cycle
  • Has documented smartphone control

Where Dolphin Wave 300 XL stands out

Dolphin Wave 300 XL is the better fit for pools up to 165 ft.

  • Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
  • Uses 6 active brushes instead of 2
  • Is rated for pools up to 165 ft

Clear S vs Dolphin Wave 300 XL specifications

Use pool fit first. Price and app control do not make up for a robot that cannot cover the length or surfaces you need cleaned.

Specification Clear S Dolphin Wave 300 XL
Best fit Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris. Commercial pools up to 165 ft in daily use that need high-capacity floor cleaning.
Starting price $1,749 $15,499
Pool type Inground Inground
Maximum pool length Up to 50 ft Up to 165 ft
Cleaning coverage Floor, Walls, Waterline Floor
Power Corded Corded
Filtration UltraFilter Basket
Scheduling Weekly schedule + app One-touch start
App and remote App + included remote Not listed
Cable 59 ft with anti-tangle swivel 165 ft with anti-tangle swivel
Robot weight 27.6 lb 58.4 lb
Warranty 3 years 3 years
Final call

Choose for the pool you operate

Clear S and Dolphin Wave 300 XL serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Clear S for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 100 for commercial use.

Keep comparing without rebuilding the same specification table yourself.