Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin S50 and Dolphin Wave 90i serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Escape for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 90i for commercial use.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 90i
Commercial pools up to 65 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 90i
Commercial pools up to 65 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
$2,399
Buy Dolphin Wave 90iDolphin S50 or Dolphin Wave 90i: our take
Dolphin S50 and Dolphin Wave 90i 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 S50 is intended for above-ground pools, while Dolphin Wave 90i is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin S50 is rated for pools up to 30 ft; Dolphin Wave 90i is rated up to 65 ft. Dolphin S50 cleans floor; Dolphin Wave 90i cleans floor, walls, and waterline. Dolphin S50 lists 1 active brush. Dolphin Wave 90i lists Commercial-grade motors.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin S50 has documented included filtration—Basket—while the other model's included media is not fully published. Dolphin S50 also has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin S50 provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls; Dolphin Wave 90i provides smartphone control. Dolphin S50 uses a 40 ft corded cable, while Dolphin Wave 90i uses continuous corded power.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin S50 is listed at $649 and Dolphin Wave 90i at $2,399; Dolphin S50 is $1,750 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 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 90i. Commercial pools up to 65 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 S50 | Dolphin Wave 90i |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | YesEdge |
| 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 S50 stands out
Dolphin S50 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $649 starting price.
- Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
- Is listed $1,750 lower
Where Dolphin Wave 90i stands out
Dolphin Wave 90i is the better fit for pools up to 65 ft.
- Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
- Adds smartphone control
- Is rated for pools up to 65 ft
Dolphin S50 vs Dolphin Wave 90i 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 S50 | Dolphin Wave 90i |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Above-ground pools up to 30 ft that need floor cleaning. | Commercial pools up to 65 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning. |
| Starting price | $649 | $2,399 |
| Pool type | Above-ground | Commercial |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 30 ft | Up to 65 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 | App control |
| Cable | 40 ft | Not listed |
| Robot weight | 14 lb | Not listed |
| Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin S50 and Dolphin Wave 90i serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Escape for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 90i for commercial use.
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