Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Wave 80 and Niya Sonar 30 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Clear S 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 30
Inground and above-ground pools up to 33 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning without a cord.
Choose residential and commercial cleaners separately
Clear S
Inground pools up to 50 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning, with fine debris.
$1,749
Buy Clear S
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 30: our take
Dolphin Wave 80 and Niya Sonar 30 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 30 is intended for inground and above-ground pools. Dolphin Wave 80 is rated for pools up to 68 ft; Niya Sonar 30 is rated up to 33 ft. Each cleans floor, walls, and waterline, so coverage alone does not separate them. Dolphin Wave 80 lists CleverClean navigation and Commercial-grade motors. Niya Sonar 30 lists 2 active brushes, Sonar navigation, and Three brushless motors.
Filtration and debris
Niya Sonar 30 has documented included filtration—Basket—while the other model's included media is not fully published. Niya Sonar 30 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 30 provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls. Dolphin Wave 80 uses continuous corded power, while Niya Sonar 30 uses cordless battery power.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Wave 80 is listed at $1,999 and Niya Sonar 30 at $379; Niya Sonar 30 is $1,620 less. Dolphin Wave 80 lists a 2-year warranty compared with 1 years for Niya Sonar 30. 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 Clear S. 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 Wave 80 | Niya Sonar 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Cleans the pool floor | Yes | Yes |
| Climbs and cleans walls | Yes | Yes |
| Scrubs the waterline | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
- 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 30 stands out
Niya Sonar 30 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $379 starting price.
- Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
- Is listed $1,620 lower
Dolphin Wave 80 vs Niya Sonar 30 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 30 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Commercial pools up to 68 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning. | Inground and above-ground pools up to 33 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning without a cord. |
| Starting price | $1,999 | $379 |
| Pool type | Commercial | Inground, Above-ground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 68 ft | Up to 33 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls, Waterline | Floor, Walls, Waterline |
| 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 | 19.2 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Wave 80 and Niya Sonar 30 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Clear S for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 80 for commercial use.
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