Help me choose
A stronger Pool Express option
Dolphin Active 15 and Niya Sonar Ray are compared feature by feature below. For a stronger Pool Express option, consider Dolphin Cayman. Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall cleaning.
Active
Dolphin Active 15
Inground and above-ground pools up to 33 ft that need floor and wall cleaning, with fine debris.
Niya Sonar
Niya Sonar Ray
Flat-bottomed above-ground and small inground pools up to 26 ft that need the floor cleaned without a cord.
What we recommend instead
Dolphin Cayman
Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall cleaning.
$1,079
Buy Dolphin CaymanDolphin Active 15 or Niya Sonar Ray: our take
Dolphin Active 15 and Niya Sonar Ray 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
Both robots are intended for inground and above-ground pools. Dolphin Active 15 is rated for pools up to 33 ft; Niya Sonar Ray is rated up to 26 ft. Dolphin Active 15 cleans floor and walls; Niya Sonar Ray cleans floor. Dolphin Active 15 lists 1 active brush. Niya Sonar Ray lists Sonar navigation.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Active 15 includes Basket and UltraFilter; Niya Sonar Ray includes Basket. That gives Dolphin Active 15 the clearer documented edge for fine silt, pollen and sand.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Active 15 provides a weekly timer and power-supply controls; Niya Sonar Ray provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls. Dolphin Active 15 uses a 40 ft corded cable, while Niya Sonar Ray uses cordless battery power. Dolphin Active 15 is listed at 14 lb versus 7.1 lb for Niya Sonar Ray; that 6.9 lb difference matters when lifting the robot from the pool.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Active 15 is listed at $849 and Niya Sonar Ray at $199; Niya Sonar Ray is $650 less. Dolphin Active 15 lists a 2-year warranty compared with 1 years for Niya Sonar Ray. Dolphin Active 15 and Niya Sonar Ray each have a specific fit, but neither is the Pool Express pick for this job. Our better alternative is Dolphin Cayman. Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall 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 15 | Niya Sonar Ray |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans the pool floor | Yes | Yes |
| Climbs and cleans walls | YesEdge | No |
| Scrubs the waterline | No | No |
| Fine-debris filter included | YesEdge | No |
| Large-debris filter | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic scheduling | YesEdge | No |
| Smartphone app | No | No |
| Anti-tangle swivel | Not listed | Not listed |
| 3-year warranty | No | No |
| No recharging between cycles | YesEdge | No |
| 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 15 stands out
Dolphin Active 15 is the better fit for pools up to 33 ft.
- Adds wall climbing and scrubbing
- Includes filtration for sand, pollen and other fine debris
- Can start on a weekly schedule without a manual launch before every cycle
- Carries a 2-year warranty instead of 1 years
Where Niya Sonar Ray stands out
Niya Sonar Ray is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $199 starting price.
- Is listed $650 lower
- Weighs 7.1 lb versus 14 lb
Dolphin Active 15 vs Niya Sonar Ray 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 15 | Niya Sonar Ray |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground and above-ground pools up to 33 ft that need floor and wall cleaning, with fine debris. | Flat-bottomed above-ground and small inground pools up to 26 ft that need the floor cleaned without a cord. |
| Starting price | $849 | $199 |
| Pool type | Inground, Above-ground | Inground, Above-ground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 33 ft | Up to 26 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls | Floor |
| Power | Corded | Cordless |
| Filtration | Basket, UltraFilter | Basket |
| Scheduling | Weekly schedule | One-touch start |
| App and remote | Power-supply controls | Power-supply controls |
| Cable | 40 ft | Cordless |
| Robot weight | 14 lb | 7.1 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 years |
Consider the stronger Pool Express option
Dolphin Active 15 and Niya Sonar Ray are compared feature by feature below. For a stronger Pool Express option, consider Dolphin Cayman. Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall cleaning.
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