Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin M400 and Dolphin Wave 80 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Quantum for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 80 for commercial use.
M-Line
Dolphin M400
Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 80
Commercial pools up to 68 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 80
Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
$1,999
Buy Dolphin Wave 80Dolphin M400 or Dolphin Wave 80: our take
Dolphin M400 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 M400 is intended for inground pools, while Dolphin Wave 80 is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin M400 is rated for pools up to 50 ft; Dolphin Wave 80 is rated up to 68 ft. Each cleans floor, walls, and waterline, so coverage alone does not separate them. Dolphin Wave 80's documented cleaning system includes CleverClean navigation and Commercial-grade motors.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin M400 has documented included filtration—Standard filter and UltraFilter—while the other model's included media is not fully published. That gives Dolphin M400 the clearer documented edge for fine silt, pollen and sand.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin M400 provides smartphone control; Dolphin Wave 80 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification. Dolphin M400 uses a 60 ft corded cable with an anti-tangle swivel, while Dolphin Wave 80 uses continuous corded power.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin M400 is listed at $1,599 and Dolphin Wave 80 at $1,999; Dolphin M400 is $400 less. Dolphin M400 lists a 3-year warranty compared with 2 years for Dolphin Wave 80. 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 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 M400 | Dolphin Wave 80 |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans the pool floor | Yes | Yes |
| Climbs and cleans walls | Yes | Yes |
| Scrubs the waterline | Yes | Yes |
| Fine-debris filter included | YesEdge | No |
| Large-debris filter | No | No |
| Automatic scheduling | Not listed | Not listed |
| Smartphone app | Yes | Not listed |
| Anti-tangle swivel | Yes | Not listed |
| 3-year warranty | YesEdge | 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 M400 stands out
Dolphin M400 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $1,599 starting price.
- Includes filtration for sand, pollen and other fine debris
- Has documented smartphone control
- Carries a 3-year warranty instead of 2 years
- Is listed $400 lower
Where Dolphin Wave 80 stands out
Dolphin Wave 80 is the better fit for pools up to 68 ft.
- Is rated for pools up to 68 ft
- Corded, plug-in power supply
Dolphin M400 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 M400 | Dolphin Wave 80 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris. | Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning. |
| Starting price | $1,599 | $1,999 |
| Pool type | Inground | Commercial |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 50 ft | Up to 68 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls, Waterline | Floor, Walls, Waterline |
| Power | Corded | Corded |
| Filtration | Standard filter, UltraFilter | Not listed |
| Scheduling | Not listed | Not listed |
| App and remote | App control | Not listed |
| Cable | 60 ft with anti-tangle swivel | Not listed |
| Robot weight | Not listed | Not listed |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin M400 and Dolphin Wave 80 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Quantum for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 80 for commercial use.
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