Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Active Solo and Dolphin Wave 80 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Cayman for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 80 for commercial use.
Active
Dolphin Active Solo
Inground and above-ground pools up to 33 ft that need floor and wall cleaning at the lowest Active-series price.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 80
Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
Choose residential and commercial cleaners separately
Dolphin Cayman
Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall cleaning.
$1,079
Buy Dolphin Cayman
Dolphin Wave 80
Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
$1,999
Buy Dolphin Wave 80Dolphin Active Solo or Dolphin Wave 80: our take
Dolphin Active Solo 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 Solo is intended for inground and above-ground pools, while Dolphin Wave 80 is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin Active Solo is rated for pools up to 33 ft; Dolphin Wave 80 is rated up to 68 ft. Dolphin Active Solo cleans floor and walls; Dolphin Wave 80 cleans floor, walls, and waterline. Dolphin Active Solo lists 1 active brush and CleverClean navigation. Dolphin Wave 80 lists CleverClean navigation and Commercial-grade motors.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Active Solo has documented included filtration—Basket—while the other model's included media is not fully published. Dolphin Active Solo also has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Active Solo provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls; Dolphin Wave 80 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification. Both use continuous corded power.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Active Solo is listed at $599 and Dolphin Wave 80 at $1,999; Dolphin Active Solo is $1,400 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 Cayman. Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall 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 Solo | Dolphin Wave 80 |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans the pool floor | Yes | Yes |
| Climbs and cleans walls | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | No | 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 Solo stands out
Dolphin Active Solo is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $599 starting price.
- Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
- Is listed $1,400 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 Solo 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 Solo | Dolphin Wave 80 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground and above-ground pools up to 33 ft that need floor and wall cleaning at the lowest Active-series price. | Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning. |
| Starting price | $599 | $1,999 |
| Pool type | Inground, Above-ground | Commercial |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 33 ft | Up to 68 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls | 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 | Not listed | Not listed |
| Robot weight | 14.6 lb | Not listed |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Active Solo and Dolphin Wave 80 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Cayman for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 80 for commercial use.
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