Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Wave 80 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 80 for commercial use.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 80
Commercial pools up to 68 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 80
Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
$1,999
Buy Dolphin Wave 80Dolphin Wave 80 or Niya Sonar 20: our take
Dolphin Wave 80 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 80 is intended for commercial pools, while Niya Sonar 20 is intended for above-ground pools. Dolphin Wave 80 is rated for pools up to 68 ft; Niya Sonar 20 is rated up to 26 ft. Dolphin Wave 80 cleans floor, walls, and waterline; Niya Sonar 20 cleans floor. Dolphin Wave 80 lists CleverClean navigation and Commercial-grade motors. Niya Sonar 20 lists Sonar navigation and Dual drive motors.
Filtration and debris
Niya Sonar 20 has documented included filtration—Basket—while the other model's included media is not fully published. Niya Sonar 20 has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Wave 80 provides no fully published timer, app or remote specification; Niya Sonar 20 provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls. Dolphin Wave 80 uses continuous corded power, while Niya Sonar 20 uses cordless battery power.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Wave 80 is listed at $1,999 and Niya Sonar 20 at $199; Niya Sonar 20 is $1,800 less. Dolphin Wave 80 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 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 Wave 80 | 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 80 stands out
Dolphin Wave 80 is the better fit for pools up to 68 ft.
- Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
- Carries a 2-year warranty instead of 1 years
- Is rated for pools up to 68 ft
- Runs from continuous plug-in power without a recharge between cycles
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 $1,800 lower
Dolphin Wave 80 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 80 | Niya Sonar 20 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Commercial pools up to 68 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 | $1,999 | $199 |
| Pool type | Commercial | Above-ground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 68 ft | Up to 26 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls, Waterline | Floor |
| Power | Corded | Cordless |
| Filtration | Not listed | Basket |
| Scheduling | Not listed | One-touch start |
| App and remote | Not listed | Power-supply controls |
| Cable | Not listed | Cordless |
| Robot weight | Not listed | 10 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Wave 80 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 80 for commercial use.
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