Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Explorer E25 and Dolphin Wave 300 XL 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 300 XL
Commercial pools up to 165 ft in daily use that need high-capacity floor 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 300 XL: our take
Dolphin Explorer E25 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 Explorer E25 is intended for inground pools, while Dolphin Wave 300 XL is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin Explorer E25 is rated for pools up to 50 ft; Dolphin Wave 300 XL is rated up to 165 ft. Dolphin Explorer E25 cleans floor and walls; Dolphin Wave 300 XL cleans floor. Dolphin Wave 300 XL's documented cleaning system includes 6 active brushes.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Wave 300 XL has documented included filtration—Basket—while the other model's included media is not fully published. Dolphin Wave 300 XL has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Explorer E25 provides smartphone control; Dolphin Wave 300 XL provides one-touch starts and included remote control.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Explorer E25 is listed at $899 and Dolphin Wave 300 XL at $15,499; Dolphin Explorer E25 is $14,600 less. Dolphin Explorer E25 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 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 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 | No | YesEdge |
| Automatic scheduling | Not listed | No |
| Smartphone app | Yes | Not listed |
| Anti-tangle swivel | Not listed | Yes |
| 3-year warranty | No | YesEdge |
| 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.
- Adds wall climbing and scrubbing
- Has documented smartphone control
- Is listed $14,600 lower
Where Dolphin Wave 300 XL stands out
Dolphin Wave 300 XL is the better fit for pools up to 165 ft.
- Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
- Carries a 3-year warranty instead of 2 years
- Is rated for pools up to 165 ft
Dolphin Explorer E25 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 Explorer E25 | Dolphin Wave 300 XL |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor and wall cleaning. | Commercial pools up to 165 ft in daily use that need high-capacity floor cleaning. |
| Starting price | $899 | $15,499 |
| Pool type | Inground | Inground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 50 ft | Up to 165 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls | Floor |
| Power | Not listed | Corded |
| Filtration | Not listed | Basket |
| Scheduling | Not listed | One-touch start |
| App and remote | App control | Not listed |
| Cable | Not listed | 165 ft with anti-tangle swivel |
| Robot weight | Not listed | 58.4 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 3 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Explorer E25 and Dolphin Wave 300 XL 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.
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