Help me choose
A stronger Pool Express option
Dolphin Premium 30 and Niya Sonar Ray are compared feature by feature below. For a stronger Pool Express option, consider Dolphin Quantum. Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
Premium
Dolphin Premium 30
Inground and above-ground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning on a weekly timer.
Niya Sonar
Niya Sonar Ray
Flat-bottomed above-ground and small inground pools up to 26 ft that need the floor cleaned without a cord.
What we recommend instead
Dolphin Quantum
Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
$1,649
Buy Dolphin QuantumDolphin Premium 30 or Niya Sonar Ray: our take
Dolphin Premium 30 and Niya Sonar Ray are compared on pool fit, cleaning reach, debris handling, controls and ownership details. The recommendation is based on the job the robot must do—not a simple feature count.
Pool fit and cleaning reach
Both robots are intended for inground and above-ground pools. Dolphin Premium 30 is rated for pools up to 50 ft; Niya Sonar Ray is rated up to 26 ft. Dolphin Premium 30 cleans floor, walls, and waterline; Niya Sonar Ray cleans floor. Dolphin Premium 30 lists 2 active brushes and CleverClean navigation. Niya Sonar Ray lists Sonar navigation.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Premium 30 includes Basket and UltraFilter; Niya Sonar Ray includes Basket. That gives Dolphin Premium 30 the clearer documented edge for fine silt, pollen and sand.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Premium 30 provides a weekly timer and power-supply controls; Niya Sonar Ray provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls. Dolphin Premium 30 uses continuous corded power, while Niya Sonar Ray uses cordless battery power. Dolphin Premium 30 is listed at 18.4 lb versus 7.1 lb for Niya Sonar Ray; that 11.299999999999999 lb difference matters when lifting the robot from the pool.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Premium 30 is listed at $1,279 and Niya Sonar Ray at $199; Niya Sonar Ray is $1,080 less. Dolphin Premium 30 lists a 2-year warranty compared with 1 years for Niya Sonar Ray. Dolphin Premium 30 and Niya Sonar Ray each have a specific fit, but neither is the Pool Express pick for this job. Our better alternative is Dolphin Quantum. Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
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 Premium 30 | Niya Sonar Ray |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans the pool floor | Yes | Yes |
| Climbs and cleans walls | YesEdge | No |
| Scrubs the waterline | YesEdge | No |
| Fine-debris filter included | YesEdge | No |
| Large-debris filter | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic scheduling | YesEdge | No |
| Smartphone app | No | No |
| Anti-tangle swivel | Yes | Not listed |
| 3-year warranty | No | No |
| No recharging between cycles | YesEdge | No |
| 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 Premium 30 stands out
Dolphin Premium 30 is the better fit for pools up to 50 ft.
- Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
- Includes filtration for sand, pollen and other fine debris
- Can start on a weekly schedule without a manual launch before every cycle
- Carries a 2-year warranty instead of 1 years
Where Niya Sonar Ray stands out
Niya Sonar Ray is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $199 starting price.
- Is listed $1,080 lower
- Weighs 7.1 lb versus 18.4 lb
Dolphin Premium 30 vs Niya Sonar Ray 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 Premium 30 | Niya Sonar Ray |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground and above-ground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning on a weekly timer. | Flat-bottomed above-ground and small inground pools up to 26 ft that need the floor cleaned without a cord. |
| Starting price | $1,279 | $199 |
| Pool type | Inground, Above-ground | Inground, Above-ground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 50 ft | Up to 26 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls, Waterline | Floor |
| Power | Corded | Cordless |
| Filtration | Basket, UltraFilter | Basket |
| Scheduling | Weekly schedule | One-touch start |
| App and remote | Power-supply controls | Power-supply controls |
| Cable | Not listed | Cordless |
| Robot weight | 18.4 lb | 7.1 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 years |
Consider the stronger Pool Express option
Dolphin Premium 30 and Niya Sonar Ray are compared feature by feature below. For a stronger Pool Express option, consider Dolphin Quantum. Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
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