Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Active 10 and Dolphin Wave 80 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Escape for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 80 for commercial use.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 80
Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
Choose residential and commercial cleaners separately
Dolphin Escape
Inground and above-ground pools up to 30 ft that need floor cleaning.
$669
Buy Dolphin Escape
Dolphin Wave 80
Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
$1,999
Buy Dolphin Wave 80Dolphin Active 10 or Dolphin Wave 80: our take
Dolphin Active 10 and Dolphin Wave 80 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
Dolphin Active 10 is intended for above-ground pools, while Dolphin Wave 80 is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin Active 10 is rated for pools up to 30 ft; Dolphin Wave 80 is rated up to 68 ft. Dolphin Active 10 cleans floor; Dolphin Wave 80 cleans floor, walls, and waterline. Dolphin Active 10 lists 1 active brush. Dolphin Wave 80 lists CleverClean navigation and Commercial-grade motors.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Active 10 has documented included filtration—Basket—while the other model's included media is not fully published. Dolphin Active 10 also has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Active 10 provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls; Dolphin Wave 80 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification. Dolphin Active 10 uses a 40 ft corded cable, while Dolphin Wave 80 uses continuous corded power.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Active 10 is listed at $649 and Dolphin Wave 80 at $1,999; Dolphin Active 10 is $1,350 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 80. Commercial pools up to 68 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 | Dolphin Active 10 | Dolphin Wave 80 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | YesEdge | No |
| Automatic scheduling | No | Not listed |
| Smartphone app | No | Not listed |
| Anti-tangle swivel | Not listed | Not listed |
| 3-year warranty | No | No |
| 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 Dolphin Active 10 stands out
Dolphin Active 10 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $649 starting price.
- Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
- Is listed $1,350 lower
Where Dolphin Wave 80 stands out
Dolphin Wave 80 is the better fit for pools up to 68 ft.
- Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
- Is rated for pools up to 68 ft
Dolphin Active 10 vs Dolphin Wave 80 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 | Dolphin Active 10 | Dolphin Wave 80 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Above-ground pools up to 30 ft that need floor cleaning. | Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning. |
| Starting price | $649 | $1,999 |
| Pool type | Above-ground | Commercial |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 30 ft | Up to 68 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor | Floor, Walls, Waterline |
| Power | Corded | Corded |
| Filtration | Basket | Not listed |
| Scheduling | One-touch start | Not listed |
| App and remote | Power-supply controls | Not listed |
| Cable | 40 ft | Not listed |
| Robot weight | 14 lb | Not listed |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Active 10 and Dolphin Wave 80 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Escape for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 80 for commercial use.
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