Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Explorer E40 and Dolphin Wave 140 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.
Explorer
Dolphin Explorer E40
Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor cleaning.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 140
Commercial pools up to 127 ft in daily use that need floor cleaning with high capacity.
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 Explorer E40 or Dolphin Wave 140: our take
Dolphin Explorer E40 and Dolphin Wave 140 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 E40 is intended for inground pools, while Dolphin Wave 140 is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin Explorer E40 is rated for pools up to 50 ft; Dolphin Wave 140 is rated up to 127 ft. Each cleans floor, so coverage alone does not separate them. Dolphin Wave 140's documented cleaning system includes 6 active brushes.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Wave 140 has documented included filtration—Basket—while the other model's included media is not fully published. Dolphin Wave 140 has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Explorer E40 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification; Dolphin Wave 140 provides one-touch starts and included remote control.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Explorer E40 is listed at $1,599 and Dolphin Wave 140 at $8,499; Dolphin Explorer E40 is $6,900 less. Each lists a 3-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 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 E40 | Dolphin Wave 140 |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans the pool floor | Yes | Yes |
| Climbs and cleans walls | No | No |
| Scrubs the waterline | No | No |
| Fine-debris filter included | No | No |
| Large-debris filter | No | YesEdge |
| Automatic scheduling | Not listed | No |
| Smartphone app | Not listed | Not listed |
| Anti-tangle swivel | Not listed | No |
| 3-year warranty | Yes | Yes |
| 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 E40 stands out
Dolphin Explorer E40 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $1,599 starting price.
- Is listed $6,900 lower
- Cleans the pool floor
Where Dolphin Wave 140 stands out
Dolphin Wave 140 is the better fit for pools up to 127 ft.
- Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
- Is rated for pools up to 127 ft
Dolphin Explorer E40 vs Dolphin Wave 140 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 E40 | Dolphin Wave 140 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor cleaning. | Commercial pools up to 127 ft in daily use that need floor cleaning with high capacity. |
| Starting price | $1,599 | $8,499 |
| Pool type | Inground | Inground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 50 ft | Up to 127 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor | Floor |
| Power | Not listed | Corded |
| Filtration | Not listed | Basket |
| Scheduling | Not listed | One-touch start |
| App and remote | Not listed | Not listed |
| Cable | Not listed | 140 ft |
| Robot weight | Not listed | 55.1 lb |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Explorer E40 and Dolphin Wave 140 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.
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