Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin T3000 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.
T-Line
Dolphin T3000
Inground and above-ground pools up to 50 ft with steps or a sun ledge that need full-coverage cleaning with scheduling and modes.
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 T3000 or Dolphin Wave 80: our take
Dolphin T3000 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 T3000 is intended for inground and above-ground pools, while Dolphin Wave 80 is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin T3000 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 T3000 lists 2 active brushes and CleverClean navigation. Dolphin Wave 80 lists CleverClean navigation and Commercial-grade motors.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin T3000 has documented included filtration—Basket and UltraFilter—while the other model's included media is not fully published. That gives Dolphin T3000 the clearer documented edge for fine silt, pollen and sand. Dolphin T3000 also has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin T3000 provides a weekly timer and smartphone control; Dolphin Wave 80 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification. Both use continuous corded power.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin T3000 is listed at $1,449 and Dolphin Wave 80 at $1,999; Dolphin T3000 is $550 less. Dolphin T3000 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 T3000 | 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 | YesEdge | No |
| Automatic scheduling | Yes | 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 T3000 stands out
Dolphin T3000 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $1,449 starting price.
- Includes filtration for sand, pollen and other fine debris
- Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
- Has documented smartphone control
- Carries a 3-year warranty instead of 2 years
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
- Cleans floor, walls and waterline
Dolphin T3000 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 T3000 | Dolphin Wave 80 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground and above-ground pools up to 50 ft with steps or a sun ledge that need full-coverage cleaning with scheduling and modes. | Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning. |
| Starting price | $1,449 | $1,999 |
| Pool type | Inground, Above-ground | Commercial |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 50 ft | Up to 68 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls, Waterline | Floor, Walls, Waterline |
| Power | Corded | Corded |
| Filtration | Basket, UltraFilter | Not listed |
| Scheduling | Weekly schedule + app | Not listed |
| App and remote | App control | Not listed |
| Cable | Not listed | Not listed |
| Robot weight | 17.9 lb | Not listed |
| Warranty | 3 years | 2 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin T3000 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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