Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Nautilus AG and Dolphin Wave 80 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Escape for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 80 for commercial use.
Nautilus
Dolphin Nautilus AG
Above-ground and small inground pools up to 30 ft that need the floor vacuumed.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 80
Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
Choose residential and commercial cleaners separately
Dolphin Escape
Inground and above-ground pools up to 30 ft that need floor cleaning.
$669
Buy Dolphin Escape
Dolphin Wave 80
Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
$1,999
Buy Dolphin Wave 80Dolphin Nautilus AG or Dolphin Wave 80: our take
Dolphin Nautilus AG 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 Nautilus AG is intended for above-ground pools, while Dolphin Wave 80 is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin Nautilus AG is rated for pools up to 30 ft; Dolphin Wave 80 is rated up to 68 ft. Dolphin Nautilus AG cleans floor; Dolphin Wave 80 cleans floor, walls, and waterline. Dolphin Nautilus AG lists 1 active brush and CleverClean navigation. Dolphin Wave 80 lists CleverClean navigation and Commercial-grade motors.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Nautilus AG has documented included filtration—Basket—while the other model's included media is not fully published. Dolphin Nautilus AG also has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Nautilus AG provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls; Dolphin Wave 80 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification. Both use continuous corded power.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Nautilus AG is listed at $568 and Dolphin Wave 80 at $1,999; Dolphin Nautilus AG is $1,431 less. Dolphin Nautilus AG lists a 1-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 Escape. Inground and above-ground pools up to 30 ft that need floor cleaning. 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 Nautilus AG | Dolphin Wave 80 |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans the pool floor | Yes | Yes |
| Climbs and cleans walls | No | YesEdge |
| Scrubs the waterline | No | YesEdge |
| Fine-debris filter included | No | No |
| Large-debris filter | YesEdge | No |
| Automatic scheduling | No | Not listed |
| Smartphone app | No | Not listed |
| Anti-tangle swivel | No | Not listed |
| 3-year warranty | No | 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 Nautilus AG stands out
Dolphin Nautilus AG is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $568 starting price.
- Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
- Is listed $1,431 lower
Where Dolphin Wave 80 stands out
Dolphin Wave 80 is the better fit for pools up to 68 ft.
- Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
- Carries a 2-year warranty instead of 1 years
- Is rated for pools up to 68 ft
Dolphin Nautilus AG 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 Nautilus AG | Dolphin Wave 80 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Above-ground and small inground pools up to 30 ft that need the floor vacuumed. | Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning. |
| Starting price | $568 | $1,999 |
| Pool type | Above-ground | Commercial |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 30 ft | Up to 68 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor | Floor, Walls, Waterline |
| Power | Corded | Corded |
| Filtration | Basket | Not listed |
| Scheduling | One-touch start | Not listed |
| App and remote | Power-supply controls | Not listed |
| Cable | Not listed | Not listed |
| Robot weight | 14.6 lb | Not listed |
| Warranty | 1 years | 2 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Nautilus AG and Dolphin Wave 80 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Escape for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 80 for commercial use.
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