Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Wave 100 and Niya Sonar 20 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Escape for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 100 for commercial use.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 100
Commercial pools up to 88 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
Niya Sonar
Niya Sonar 20
Above-ground pools up to 26 ft that need the floor cleaned without a cord.
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 100
Commercial pools up to 88 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
$4,699
Buy Dolphin Wave 100Dolphin Wave 100 or Niya Sonar 20: our take
Dolphin Wave 100 and Niya Sonar 20 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 Wave 100 is intended for commercial pools, while Niya Sonar 20 is intended for above-ground pools. Dolphin Wave 100 is rated for pools up to 88 ft; Niya Sonar 20 is rated up to 26 ft. Dolphin Wave 100 cleans floor, walls, and waterline; Niya Sonar 20 cleans floor. Dolphin Wave 100 lists Gyroscope navigation and Commercial-grade motors. Niya Sonar 20 lists Sonar navigation and Dual drive motors.
Filtration and debris
Dolphin Wave 100 includes Standard filter; Niya Sonar 20 includes Basket. Niya Sonar 20 has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Wave 100 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification; Niya Sonar 20 provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls. Dolphin Wave 100 uses a 100 ft corded cable, while Niya Sonar 20 uses cordless battery power.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Wave 100 is listed at $4,699 and Niya Sonar 20 at $199; Niya Sonar 20 is $4,500 less. Dolphin Wave 100 lists a 2-year warranty compared with 1 years for Niya Sonar 20. 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 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 Wave 100 | Niya Sonar 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans the pool floor | Yes | Yes |
| Climbs and cleans walls | YesEdge | No |
| Scrubs the waterline | YesEdge | No |
| Fine-debris filter included | No | No |
| Large-debris filter | No | YesEdge |
| Automatic scheduling | Not listed | No |
| Smartphone app | Not listed | No |
| Anti-tangle swivel | Not listed | 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 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
- Adds gyroscope-assisted navigation
- Carries a 2-year warranty instead of 1 years
- Is rated for pools up to 88 ft
Where Niya Sonar 20 stands out
Niya Sonar 20 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $199 starting price.
- Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
- Is listed $4,500 lower
Dolphin Wave 100 vs Niya Sonar 20 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 Wave 100 | Niya Sonar 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Commercial pools up to 88 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning. | Above-ground pools up to 26 ft that need the floor cleaned without a cord. |
| Starting price | $4,699 | $199 |
| Pool type | Commercial | Above-ground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 88 ft | Up to 26 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls, Waterline | Floor |
| Power | Corded | Cordless |
| Filtration | Standard filter | Basket |
| Scheduling | Not listed | One-touch start |
| App and remote | Not listed | Power-supply controls |
| Cable | 100 ft | Cordless |
| Robot weight | Not listed | 10 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Wave 100 and Niya Sonar 20 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Escape for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 100 for commercial use.
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