Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Cayman and Dolphin Wave 300 XL serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Cayman for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 100 for commercial use.
Max-Series
Dolphin Cayman
Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall cleaning.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 300 XL
Commercial pools up to 165 ft in daily use that need high-capacity floor 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 100
Commercial pools up to 88 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
$4,699
Buy Dolphin Wave 100Dolphin Cayman or Dolphin Wave 300 XL: our take
Dolphin Cayman and Dolphin Wave 300 XL 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 Cayman is intended for inground and above-ground pools, while Dolphin Wave 300 XL is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin Cayman is rated for pools up to 40 ft; Dolphin Wave 300 XL is rated up to 165 ft. Dolphin Cayman cleans floor and walls; Dolphin Wave 300 XL cleans floor. Dolphin Cayman lists 1 active brush, SmartNav 2.0 navigation, and Dual 24-volt DC motors. Dolphin Wave 300 XL lists 6 active brushes.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Cayman includes MaxBin; Dolphin Wave 300 XL includes Basket.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Cayman provides a weekly timer and power-supply controls; Dolphin Wave 300 XL provides one-touch starts and included remote control. Dolphin Cayman uses a 50 ft corded cable, while Dolphin Wave 300 XL uses a 165 ft corded cable with an anti-tangle swivel. Dolphin Cayman is listed at 14.6 lb versus 58.4 lb for Dolphin Wave 300 XL; that 43.8 lb difference matters when lifting the robot from the pool.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Cayman is listed at $1,079 and Dolphin Wave 300 XL at $15,499; Dolphin Cayman is $14,420 less. Dolphin Cayman lists a 2-year warranty compared with 3 years for Dolphin Wave 300 XL. 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 100. Commercial pools up to 88 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 Cayman | Dolphin Wave 300 XL |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans the pool floor | Yes | Yes |
| Climbs and cleans walls | YesEdge | No |
| Scrubs the waterline | No | No |
| Fine-debris filter included | No | No |
| Large-debris filter | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic scheduling | YesEdge | No |
| Smartphone app | No | Not listed |
| Anti-tangle swivel | No | YesEdge |
| 3-year warranty | No | YesEdge |
| 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 Cayman stands out
Dolphin Cayman is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $1,079 starting price.
- Adds wall climbing and scrubbing
- Can start on a weekly schedule without a manual launch before every cycle
- Is listed $14,420 lower
- Weighs 14.6 lb versus 58.4 lb
Where Dolphin Wave 300 XL stands out
Dolphin Wave 300 XL is the better fit for pools up to 165 ft.
- Uses 6 active brushes instead of 1
- Uses an anti-tangle swivel cable
- Carries a 3-year warranty instead of 2 years
- Is rated for pools up to 165 ft
Dolphin Cayman vs Dolphin Wave 300 XL 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 Cayman | Dolphin Wave 300 XL |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground and above-ground pools up to 40 ft that need floor and wall cleaning. | Commercial pools up to 165 ft in daily use that need high-capacity floor cleaning. |
| Starting price | $1,079 | $15,499 |
| Pool type | Inground, Above-ground | Inground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 40 ft | Up to 165 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls | Floor |
| Power | Corded | Corded |
| Filtration | MaxBin | Basket |
| Scheduling | Weekly schedule | One-touch start |
| App and remote | Power-supply controls | Not listed |
| Cable | 50 ft | 165 ft with anti-tangle swivel |
| Robot weight | 14.6 lb | 58.4 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 3 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Cayman and Dolphin Wave 300 XL serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Cayman for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 100 for commercial use.
More robotic pool cleaner comparisons
Keep comparing without rebuilding the same specification table yourself.
Clear UV vs Clear S
Pool Express pick: Clear UV
Dolphin Quantum vs Clear S
Pool Express pick: Dolphin Quantum
Dolphin Premier vs Dolphin Sigma
Pool Express pick: Dolphin Premier
Dolphin Premier vs Dolphin Quantum
Pool Express pick: Dolphin Quantum
Dolphin Sigma vs Dolphin Quantum
Pool Express pick: Dolphin Quantum
Dolphin Cayman vs Dolphin Escape
Pool Express pick: Dolphin Cayman