Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up and Dolphin Wave 100 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.
Nautilus
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up
Inground and above-ground pools up to 30 ft that need floor and wall cleaning, with heavy leaves.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 100
Commercial pools up to 88 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
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 Nautilus Pool Up or Dolphin Wave 100: our take
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up and Dolphin Wave 100 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 Pool Up is intended for inground and above-ground pools, while Dolphin Wave 100 is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is rated for pools up to 30 ft; Dolphin Wave 100 is rated up to 88 ft. Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up cleans floor and walls; Dolphin Wave 100 cleans floor, walls, and waterline. Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up lists 1 active brush. Dolphin Wave 100 lists Gyroscope navigation and Commercial-grade motors.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up includes Oversized leaf bag; Dolphin Wave 100 includes Standard filter. Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up also has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls; Dolphin Wave 100 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification. Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up uses a 40 ft corded cable, while Dolphin Wave 100 uses a 100 ft corded cable.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is listed at $499 and Dolphin Wave 100 at $4,699; Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is $4,200 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 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 Nautilus Pool Up | Dolphin Wave 100 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | YesEdge | No |
| Automatic scheduling | No | Not listed |
| Smartphone app | No | Not listed |
| Anti-tangle swivel | Not listed | 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 Pool Up stands out
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $499 starting price.
- Includes an oversized leaf bag for bulky seasonal debris
- Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
- Is listed $4,200 lower
Where Dolphin Wave 100 stands out
Dolphin Wave 100 is the better fit for pools up to 88 ft.
- Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
- Is rated for pools up to 88 ft
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up vs Dolphin Wave 100 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 Pool Up | Dolphin Wave 100 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground and above-ground pools up to 30 ft that need floor and wall cleaning, with heavy leaves. | Commercial pools up to 88 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning. |
| Starting price | $499 | $4,699 |
| Pool type | Inground, Above-ground | Commercial |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 30 ft | Up to 88 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls | Floor, Walls, Waterline |
| Power | Corded | Corded |
| Filtration | Oversized leaf bag | Standard filter |
| Scheduling | One-touch start | Not listed |
| App and remote | Power-supply controls | Not listed |
| Cable | 40 ft | 100 ft |
| Robot weight | 18 lb | Not listed |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up and Dolphin Wave 100 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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