Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin T55i and Dolphin Wave 300 XL serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Quantum for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 100 for commercial use.
T-Line
Dolphin T55i
Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 300 XL
Commercial pools up to 165 ft in daily use that need high-capacity floor 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 100
Commercial pools up to 88 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
$4,699
Buy Dolphin Wave 100Dolphin T55i or Dolphin Wave 300 XL: our take
Dolphin T55i and Dolphin Wave 300 XL 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 T55i is intended for inground pools, while Dolphin Wave 300 XL is intended for commercial pools. Dolphin T55i is rated for pools up to 50 ft; Dolphin Wave 300 XL is rated up to 165 ft. Dolphin T55i cleans floor, walls, and waterline; Dolphin Wave 300 XL cleans floor. Dolphin Wave 300 XL's documented cleaning system includes 6 active brushes.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin T55i includes Basket and UltraFilter; Dolphin Wave 300 XL includes Basket. That gives Dolphin T55i the clearer documented edge for fine silt, pollen and sand.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin T55i provides a weekly timer, smartphone control, and included remote control; Dolphin Wave 300 XL provides one-touch starts and included remote control. Dolphin T55i uses a 60 ft corded cable with an anti-tangle swivel, while Dolphin Wave 300 XL uses a 165 ft corded cable with an anti-tangle swivel.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin T55i is listed at $1,699 and Dolphin Wave 300 XL at $15,499; Dolphin T55i is $13,800 less. Dolphin T55i lists a 2-year warranty compared with 3 years for Dolphin Wave 300 XL. 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 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 T55i | Dolphin Wave 300 XL |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | Not listed |
| Anti-tangle swivel | Yes | Yes |
| 3-year warranty | No | YesEdge |
| 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 T55i stands out
Dolphin T55i is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $1,699 starting price.
- 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
- Has documented smartphone control
Where Dolphin Wave 300 XL stands out
Dolphin Wave 300 XL is the better fit for pools up to 165 ft.
- Carries a 3-year warranty instead of 2 years
- Is rated for pools up to 165 ft
Dolphin T55i vs Dolphin Wave 300 XL 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 T55i | Dolphin Wave 300 XL |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris. | Commercial pools up to 165 ft in daily use that need high-capacity floor cleaning. |
| Starting price | $1,699 | $15,499 |
| Pool type | Inground | Inground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 50 ft | Up to 165 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls, Waterline | Floor |
| Power | Corded | Corded |
| Filtration | Basket, UltraFilter | Basket |
| Scheduling | Weekly schedule + app | One-touch start |
| App and remote | App + included remote | Not listed |
| Cable | 60 ft with anti-tangle swivel | 165 ft with anti-tangle swivel |
| Robot weight | Not listed | 58.4 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 3 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin T55i and Dolphin Wave 300 XL serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Quantum for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 100 for commercial use.
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