Robotic pool cleaner comparison

Dolphin Active 30 vs Dolphin S100

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 30 and Dolphin S100 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 30

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

Listed price $1,499

View better alternatives

S-Line

Dolphin S100

Inground and above-ground pools up to 33 ft that need floor and wall cleaning, with fine debris.

Listed price $849

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 30 or Dolphin S100: our take

Dolphin Active 30 and Dolphin S100 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 30 is intended for inground pools, while Dolphin S100 is intended for inground and above-ground pools. Dolphin Active 30 is rated for pools up to 50 ft; Dolphin S100 is rated up to 33 ft. Dolphin Active 30 cleans floor, walls, and waterline; Dolphin S100 cleans floor and walls. Dolphin Active 30 lists 1 active brush and CleverClean navigation. Dolphin S100 lists 1 active brush.

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

Dolphin Active 30 provides a weekly timer, smartphone control, and included remote control; Dolphin S100 provides a weekly timer and power-supply controls. Dolphin Active 30 uses a 60 ft corded cable with an anti-tangle swivel, while Dolphin S100 uses a 50 ft corded cable.

Price, warranty and the decision

Dolphin Active 30 is listed at $1,499 and Dolphin S100 at $849; Dolphin S100 is $650 less. Each lists a 2-year manufacturer warranty. Dolphin Active 30 and Dolphin S100 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 30	Dolphin S100
Cleans the pool floor	Yes	Yes
Climbs and cleans walls	Yes	Yes
Scrubs the waterline	YesEdge	No
Fine-debris filter included	Yes	Yes
Large-debris filter	Yes	Yes
Automatic scheduling	Yes	Yes
Smartphone app	YesEdge	No
Anti-tangle swivel	Yes	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 30 stands out

Dolphin Active 30 is the better fit for pools up to 50 ft.

Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
Adds smartphone control
Is rated for pools up to 50 ft

Where Dolphin S100 stands out

Dolphin S100 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $849 starting price.

Is listed $650 lower
Cleans floor and walls

Dolphin Active 30 vs Dolphin S100 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 30	Dolphin S100
Best fit	Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.	Inground and above-ground pools up to 33 ft that need floor and wall cleaning, with fine debris.
Starting price	$1,499	$849
Pool type	Inground	Inground, Above-ground
Maximum pool length	Up to 50 ft	Up to 33 ft
Cleaning coverage	Floor, Walls, Waterline	Floor, Walls
Power	Corded	Corded
Filtration	Basket, UltraFilter	Basket, UltraFilter
Scheduling	Weekly schedule + app	Weekly schedule
App and remote	App + included remote	Power-supply controls
Cable	60 ft with anti-tangle swivel	50 ft
Robot weight	Not listed	14 lb
Warranty	2 years	2 years

Final call

Consider the stronger Pool Express option