Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Explorer E25 and Dolphin Wave 120 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Quantum for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 100 for commercial use.
Explorer
Dolphin Explorer E25
Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor and wall cleaning.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 120
Commercial pools up to 121 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
Choose residential and commercial cleaners separately
Dolphin Quantum
Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
$1,649
Buy Dolphin Quantum
Dolphin Wave 100
Commercial pools up to 88 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
$4,699
Buy Dolphin Wave 100Dolphin Explorer E25 or Dolphin Wave 120: our take
Dolphin Explorer E25 and Dolphin Wave 120 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 Explorer E25 is intended for inground pools, while Dolphin Wave 120 is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin Explorer E25 is rated for pools up to 50 ft; Dolphin Wave 120 is rated up to 121 ft. Dolphin Explorer E25 cleans floor and walls; Dolphin Wave 120 cleans floor, walls, and waterline. Dolphin Wave 120's documented cleaning system includes Commercial-grade motors.
Filtration and debris
The available manufacturer records do not fully identify the filter media supplied with either robot, so filtration should be confirmed before ordering.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Explorer E25 provides smartphone control; Dolphin Wave 120 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Explorer E25 is listed at $899 and Dolphin Wave 120 at $7,899; Dolphin Explorer E25 is $7,000 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 Quantum. Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris. 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 Explorer E25 | Dolphin Wave 120 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | No |
| Automatic scheduling | Not listed | Not listed |
| Smartphone app | Yes | Not listed |
| Anti-tangle swivel | Not listed | Not listed |
| 3-year warranty | No | No |
| No recharging between cycles | Not listed | 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 Explorer E25 stands out
Dolphin Explorer E25 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $899 starting price.
- Has documented smartphone control
- Is listed $7,000 lower
Where Dolphin Wave 120 stands out
Dolphin Wave 120 is the better fit for pools up to 121 ft.
- Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
- Is rated for pools up to 121 ft
Dolphin Explorer E25 vs Dolphin Wave 120 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 Explorer E25 | Dolphin Wave 120 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor and wall cleaning. | Commercial pools up to 121 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning. |
| Starting price | $899 | $7,899 |
| Pool type | Inground | Commercial |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 50 ft | Up to 121 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls | Floor, Walls, Waterline |
| Power | Not listed | Corded |
| Filtration | Not listed | Not listed |
| Scheduling | Not listed | Not listed |
| App and remote | App control | Not listed |
| Cable | Not listed | Not listed |
| Robot weight | Not listed | Not listed |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Explorer E25 and Dolphin Wave 120 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Quantum 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