Help me choose
Residential and commercial pools need different robots
Dolphin Wave 90i and Niya Sonar 10 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Escape for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 90i for commercial use.
Wave
Dolphin Wave 90i
Commercial pools up to 65 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
Niya Sonar
Niya Sonar 10
Above-ground pools up to 20 ft that need the floor vacuumed 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 90i
Commercial pools up to 65 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning.
$2,399
Buy Dolphin Wave 90iDolphin Wave 90i or Niya Sonar 10: our take
Dolphin Wave 90i and Niya Sonar 10 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 90i is intended for commercial pools, while Niya Sonar 10 is intended for inground and above-ground pools. Dolphin Wave 90i is rated for pools up to 65 ft; Niya Sonar 10 is rated up to 20 ft. Dolphin Wave 90i cleans floor, walls, and waterline; Niya Sonar 10 cleans floor. Dolphin Wave 90i lists Commercial-grade motors. Niya Sonar 10 lists Dual drive motors.
Filtration and debris
Niya Sonar 10 has documented included filtration—Basket—while the other model's included media is not fully published. Niya Sonar 10 has the better documented path for bulky leaves and larger debris.
Controls and day-to-day ownership
Dolphin Wave 90i provides smartphone control; Niya Sonar 10 provides one-touch starts and power-supply controls. Dolphin Wave 90i uses continuous corded power, while Niya Sonar 10 uses cordless battery power.
Price, warranty and the decision
Dolphin Wave 90i is listed at $2,399 and Niya Sonar 10 at $149; Niya Sonar 10 is $2,250 less. Dolphin Wave 90i lists a 2-year warranty compared with 1 years for Niya Sonar 10. 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 90i. Commercial pools up to 65 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 90i | Niya Sonar 10 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | YesEdge | 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 90i stands out
Dolphin Wave 90i is the better fit for pools up to 65 ft.
- Cleans the floor, walls and waterline instead of stopping below the tile line
- Adds smartphone control
- Carries a 2-year warranty instead of 1 years
- Is rated for pools up to 65 ft
Where Niya Sonar 10 stands out
Niya Sonar 10 is the better fit for shoppers prioritizing the lower $149 starting price.
- Includes a large-debris bin or bag for leaves
- Is listed $2,250 lower
Dolphin Wave 90i vs Niya Sonar 10 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 90i | Niya Sonar 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Commercial pools up to 65 ft that need floor, wall and waterline cleaning. | Above-ground pools up to 20 ft that need the floor vacuumed without a cord. |
| Starting price | $2,399 | $149 |
| Pool type | Commercial | Inground, Above-ground |
| Maximum pool length | Up to 65 ft | Up to 20 ft |
| Cleaning coverage | Floor, Walls, Waterline | Floor |
| Power | Corded | Cordless |
| Filtration | Not listed | Basket |
| Scheduling | Not listed | One-touch start |
| App and remote | App control | Power-supply controls |
| Cable | Not listed | Cordless |
| Robot weight | Not listed | 7.1 lb |
| Warranty | 2 years | 1 years |
Choose for the pool you operate
Dolphin Wave 90i and Niya Sonar 10 serve different kinds of pools, so there is no honest one-size-fits-all winner. Choose Dolphin Escape for residential use. Choose Dolphin Wave 90i for commercial use.
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