Help me choose
A stronger Pool Express option
Dolphin Active 40 and Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up 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.
Active
Dolphin Active 40
Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
Nautilus
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up
Inground and above-ground pools up to 30 ft that need floor and wall cleaning, with heavy leaves.
What we recommend instead
Dolphin Quantum
Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
$1,649
Buy Dolphin QuantumDolphin Active 40 or Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up: our take
Dolphin Active 40 and Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up 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 40 is intended for inground pools, while Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is intended for inground and above-ground pools. Dolphin Active 40 is rated for pools up to 50 ft; Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is rated up to 30 ft. Dolphin Active 40 cleans floor, walls, and waterline; Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up cleans floor and walls. Dolphin Active 40 lists 1 active brush and CleverClean navigation. Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up lists 1 active brush.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Active 40 includes Basket and UltraFilter; Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up includes Oversized leaf bag. That gives Dolphin Active 40 the clearer documented edge for fine silt, pollen and sand.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Active 40 provides a weekly timer and smartphone control; Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls. Dolphin Active 40 uses a 60 ft corded cable with an anti-tangle swivel, while Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up uses a 40 ft corded cable.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Active 40 is listed at $1,799 and Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up at $499; Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is $1,300 less. Each lists a 2-year manufacturer warranty. Dolphin Active 40 and Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up 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 40 | Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans the pool floor | Yes | Yes |
| Climbs and cleans walls | Yes | Yes |
| Scrubs the waterline | YesEdge | No |
| Fine-debris filter included | YesEdge | No |
| Large-debris filter | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic scheduling | YesEdge | No |
| 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 40 stands out
Dolphin Active 40 is the better fit for pools up to 50 ft.
- 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
- Adds smartphone control
Where Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up stands out
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $499 starting price.
- Includes an oversized leaf bag for bulky seasonal debris
- Is listed $1,300 lower
Dolphin Active 40 vs Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up 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 40 | Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up |
|---|---|---|
| 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 30 ft that need floor and wall cleaning, with heavy leaves. |
| Starting price | $1,799 | $499 |
| Pool type | Inground | Inground, Above-ground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 50 ft | Up to 30 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls, Waterline | Floor, Walls |
| Power | Corded | Corded |
| Filtration | Basket, UltraFilter | Oversized leaf bag |
| Scheduling | Weekly schedule + app | One-touch start |
| App and remote | App control | Power-supply controls |
| Cable | 60 ft with anti-tangle swivel | 40 ft |
| Robot weight | Not listed | 18 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Consider the stronger Pool Express option
Dolphin Active 40 and Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up 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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