Robotic pool cleaner comparison

Dolphin Active 2000 vs Dolphin S300

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

Dolphin Active 2000 and Dolphin S300 are compared feature by feature below. For a stronger Pool Express option, consider Dolphin Quantum. Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.

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Active

Dolphin Active 2000

Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft with steps or a sun ledge that need full-coverage cleaning on a schedule.

Listed price $1,199

View better alternatives

S-Line

Dolphin S300

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

Listed price $1,499

View better alternatives

A better alternative

What we recommend instead

Pool Express pick

Dolphin Quantum

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

$1,649

Buy Dolphin Quantum

Buying guidance

Dolphin Active 2000 or Dolphin S300: our take

Dolphin Active 2000 and Dolphin S300 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

Dolphin Active 2000 is intended for inground and above-ground pools, while Dolphin S300 is intended for inground pools. Dolphin Active 2000 is rated for pools up to 40 ft; Dolphin S300 is rated up to 50 ft. Each cleans floor, walls, and waterline, so coverage alone does not separate them. Dolphin Active 2000's documented cleaning system includes 2 active brushes and CleverClean navigation.

Filtration and debris

Both models include Basket and UltraFilter. Both have documented fine-debris media, so basket capacity and ease of cleaning matter more than fine-particle capability.

Controls and day-to-day ownership

Both models provide a weekly timer and smartphone control. Dolphin Active 2000 uses continuous corded power, while Dolphin S300 uses a 60 ft corded cable with an anti-tangle swivel.

Price, warranty and the decision

Dolphin Active 2000 is listed at $1,199 and Dolphin S300 at $1,499; Dolphin Active 2000 is $300 less. Each lists a 2-year manufacturer warranty. Dolphin Active 2000 and Dolphin S300 each have a specific fit, but neither is the Pool Express pick for this job. Our better alternative is Dolphin Quantum. 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	Dolphin Active 2000	Dolphin S300
Cleans the pool floor	Yes	Yes
Climbs and cleans walls	Yes	Yes
Scrubs the waterline	Yes	Yes
Fine-debris filter included	Yes	Yes
Large-debris filter	Yes	Yes
Automatic scheduling	Yes	Yes
Smartphone app	Yes	Yes
Anti-tangle swivel	Yes	Yes
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 2000 stands out

Dolphin Active 2000 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $1,199 starting price.

Is listed $300 lower
Cleans floor, walls, waterline, steps and sun ledges

Where Dolphin S300 stands out

Dolphin S300 is the better fit for pools up to 50 ft.

Is rated for pools up to 50 ft
Cleans floor, walls and waterline

Dolphin Active 2000 vs Dolphin S300 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 2000	Dolphin S300
Best fit	Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft with steps or a sun ledge that need full-coverage cleaning on a schedule.	Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
Starting price	$1,199	$1,499
Pool type	Inground, Above-ground	Inground
Maximum pool length	Up to 40 ft	Up to 50 ft
Cleaning coverage	Floor, Walls, Waterline	Floor, Walls, Waterline
Power	Corded	Corded
Filtration	Basket, UltraFilter	Basket, UltraFilter
Scheduling	Weekly schedule + app	Weekly schedule + app
App and remote	App control	App control
Cable	Not listed	60 ft with anti-tangle swivel
Robot weight	17.9 lb	Not listed
Warranty	2 years	2 years

Final call

Consider the stronger Pool Express option