Dolphin Active 20 Robotic Pool Cleaner Review

Introduction

The Dolphin Active 20 emerges as a technological marvel in the robotic pool cleaner world. Brimming with notable features and impressive cleaning capabilities, this machine has proven itself a worthy contender in our pool cleaning trials that lasted over a duration of three months.
Defending its position against an array of innovative pool cleaning robots, the Dolphin Active 20 stood tall on the basis of merits like relentless cleaning, minimal maintenance, and a reliable performance. Its strength lies in its superior cleaning technology, enabling it to outperform many of its competitors easily. Lorded for its intense cleaning action, the Dolphin Active 20 is one beast of a machine that leaves your pool spotless and crystal clear.
Having used it extensively over a span of three months, we can confidently affirm that the Dolphin Active 20 gets an unequivocal nod of approval from us. Even after prolonged use, its performance has not faltered, reaffirming our belief in its commendable durability and constancy. It delights you with its consistent efficiency, a characteristic that most pool owners would undeniably admire.
Based on its sturdy design, outstanding features, and the impeccable cleanliness it guarantees, Dolphin Active 20 is a pool cleaning robot worth considering. It doesn't merely claim to offer you a clean and hygienic pool but has effectively demonstrated its capabilities time and again. Hence, we fully endorse the Dolphin Active 20 as a top-notch choice for automated pool cleaning.

Pool Types

The Dolphin Active 20 robotic pool cleaner has been purposefully designed to cater to in-ground pools that measure up to 40 feet in length. It doesn't matter whether your pool is constructed from Gunite, Fiberglass, Vinyl, or Liner - the Active 20 has been engineered to adapt to these different materials, ensuring versatile and effective cleaning.
Moreover, the shape of your pool isn’t an issue either. Whether it's a classic rectangle, an oval, or a more complex freeform, this robotic pool cleaner is more than capable of navigating the contours of your swimming pool. The active brushing scrubs away even the most stubborn dirt and debris, ensuring your pool is thoroughly cleaned irrespective of its shape.
The Dolphin Active 20 brings a whole new level of adaptability and efficiency to pool cleaning. Its design accommodates a diverse range of pools, making it a top choice for those looking for a versatile and robust pool cleaning solution. For more detailed insights, you can check out other Dolphin Active 20 reviews or our comprehensive guide on the best robotic pool cleaners.

Pool Coverage

The Dolphin Active 20 boasts impressive cleaning coverage, showcasing an ability well-suited to both floor and wall cleaning. With its advanced scanning technology, this robotic pool cleaner ensures every inch of the pool, from the bottom to the walls, is thoroughly scrubbed and vacuumed. Its proficiency extends as far as the waterline, an area often overlooked by other models, resulting in an impeccable all-around performance.
A significant advantage of the Dolphin Active 20 is its versatility. Unlike other cleaners that are limited to flat surfaces, this model navigates complex pool geometries readily. It adapts rather well to various pool shapes and designs, ensuring comprehensive cleaning irrespective of whether the pool is flat-bottomed, has a gentle slope or displays a deep end. The Dolphin Active 20's versatile nature underscores its superiority in the pool cleaning landscape.
Further bolstering its cleaning coverage, the Active 20 handles all pool surfaces, ranging from tile to fiberglass, pebble, and vinyl. Sparing pool owners the enduring 'one-size-fits-all' approach, Maytronics has indeed built a robotic pool cleaner that caters to the unique needs of various pool surfaces, affirming the Dolphin Active 20's ingenuity.

Filtration

The Dolphin ProLine series does not just bring the standard filtration cleaning process to the table; it revolutionizes it with its groundbreaking NanoFiltration technology. One cannot help but marvel at how profoundly it surpasses its counterparts in accomplishing what seems to be the impossible feat of cleaning deeper than any other pool robot in the market.
In my firsthand experience using the Dolphin ProLine, I was astounded by its rare ability to delve into the depths of the pool. This is a feature quite unheard of in many pool cleaning robots. Trust me when I say, it doesn't just skim the surface or the shallow end but dives deep to ensure your pool is spotless from top to bottom.
The NanoFiltration technology in use here is nothing to scoff at. With its unique capability of trapping and eliminating even the minutest particles, your pool acquires an unrivaled shimmer of cleanliness. Plus, following a rigorous session of pool cleaning with the Dolphin ProLine, the drastic difference in water clarity will stand as testimony to its superb performance.
To say I am a fan would be an understatement given how this robot has easily outperformed all other pool cleaners that I have tested. Credits to its advanced NanoFiltration technology, the Dolphin ProLine is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to deep-cleaning your pool.

Cleaning Performance

In our testing environments, robotic pool cleaners were subject to thorough examination and placed under various settings imitating real-life pool scenarios. The performance metrics we recorded were based on the ability of these cleaners to navigate through different pool terrains, pick up various debris sizes, and their overall efficiency in cleaning. The Dolphin ProLine and Dolphin Max-Series, specifically, set themselves apart with remarkably superior performance.
The Dolphin Premier one in the series truly astounded us with its stellar ability to effectively clean every corner of the pool. Whether it comes to cleaning flat surfaces or navigating up steep walls with relative ease, it was overwhelmingly efficient. Not to mention, the robust filtration system was successful in trapping all sizes of debris, be it large leaves or fine particulates.
Sigma and Quantum, the other powerhouses in the Max-Series, did not fall behind either. They both showcased powerful suction power wrap-ping up the cleaning sessions faster than we anticipated. Cayman and Escape, though relatively less powerful, were consistent in their performance, making them reliable choices for pool owners.
Let's not forget about the Dolphin Explorer. Despite not topping our list, it presented a formidable performance, distinguishing it from other cleaners in its category. It was especially commendable when tackling larger debris, proving to be an excellent value for consumers.
The Aquabot cleaner deserved a special mention here as well. It outperformed other models in its price range, and we found it to be an excellent value for the money offer, particularly for those on tighter budgets. Its impressive cleaning capability and the advantageous pricing make it a strong contender in the robotic pool cleaner segment.
It's worth noting that our preference for corded models had a profound impact on our reviews. They didn't dwindle in power, lasted longer, and required less day-to-day upkeep compared to their cordless counterparts, substantiating our bias with experiential evidence.
You can find more in-depth reviews of these models and many more on our reviews page, which can be accessed here.

Restocking Fee

Cordless

In the vast world of pool cleaners, I find myself consistently gravitating towards corded robots, and not without a reason. After rigorously testing more than 100 robotic pool cleaners, I can confidently vouch for the superior performance of corded models. They exhibit constant power, eliminating the hassle of daily recharges, a feature that cordless models sadly lack.
My experience with cordless cleaners has presented a unique set of challenges. While they might appear convenient, their actual performance leaves much to be desired. Having to interact with them multiple times a day for recharging, their usability drops significantly, disrupting the seamless automation one seeks in such appliances.
Furthermore, with a corded cleaner, you often get the advantage of a weekly timer option – a convenience that cordless models typically don’t offer. The beauty of this feature is that it allows you to set it once and then forget about it, leaving the cleaner to do its job efficiently.
It's also worth noting that despite technological advancements, cordless robots aren't as powerful as their corded counterparts. When it comes to heavy-duty cleaning, the constant, unhampered power that a corded model provides is unbeatable. On the other hand, cordless cleaners often struggle to deliver an equally vigorous performance due to their limited battery life. Putting everything into perspective, if reliability, powerful performance, and ease-of-use are his top priorities for a pool cleaner, a corded robot undoubtedly reigns supreme over cordless models.

Weekly Timer

One of the standout features that we firmly believe should be standard on all robotic pool cleaners is the weekly timer. This feature makes pool maintenance easier, and practically hands-off. Having a weekly timer means you can schedule the cleaner to start and stop at specific times, thus ensuring your pool is clean without the need for constant monitoring or manual intervention.
Dolphin's ProLine and Max-Series include the weekly timer feature, making them a worthy choice for those seeking convenience. You can simply program it to clean your pool without your interaction, offering ultimate peace of mind. The same goes for their Explorer series, bringing that much-appreciated level of automation to pool maintenance in an affordable package.
Set a timer, go about your week, and come back to a sparkling clean pool - these are the benefits of a robotic pool cleaner with a weekly timer. But, it's essential to remember that not all models offer this feature. Aquabot, despite being value for money, lacks a weekly timer, a tiny downside to an otherwise remarkable machine.

Overview

The Dolphin Active 20, part of the Dolphin's latest generation of robotic cleaners, packs a punch when it comes to its cleaning efficiency. It's a corded variety robot, which I personally prefer for the consistent power supply and longevity over cordless models. This relatively compact yet powerful machine can tackle pools up to 33 feet - both in-ground and above-ground types. The Active 20 employs a dual brushing system, effectively scrubbing away any dirt and debris from the pool surfaces. It's equipped with a standard filter and fine filter, making it efficient at capturing both large debris and finer particles, leaving your pool sparkling clean.
One outstanding feature is its smart navigation. It uses CleverClean Technology, a sophisticated algorithm-based navigation system, allowing the machine to scan and map your pool for the most efficient cleaning route. This calculated approach significantly reduces cleaning time and energy use compared to random path cleaners. In terms of automation, you'll find a convenient weekly timer setting. It lets you program your Active 20 to automatically do its job at pre-determined intervals, resulting in a hands-off cleaning experience.
The Dolphin Active 20 also boasts of its easy-top-access filter system for a no-mess, no-stress filter cleaning process. But it doesn’t offer swivel-cord technology, and flipping might be an issue sometimes, drawbacks that shouldn’t be overlooked. By and large, if you’re in search of a cost-effective, energy-efficient, and automated pool cleaning solution, the Dolphin Active 20 boasts of all the essential features necessary. It’s not quite up to par with flagship models like the [Dolphin Premier](/review/dolphin-premier-review) and [Sigma](/review/dolphin-sigma-review), lacking some of their advanced features, but it still does a commendable job considering its price point.
For more in-depth reviews, you might want to check out our article on the [best robotic pool cleaners](/best-robotic-pool-cleaners). Happy swimming!

Recommendation

Upon careful analysis and usage, we certainly recommend robotic pool cleaners, specifically from the Max-Series and ProLine. These intelligent machines have consistently delivered strong performance. The Max Series, in particular, showcases formidable power and exceptional reliability.
Dolphin Premier, a noteworthy model from the Max Series, is well-known for its dynamic navigation and intense scrubbing capabilities, managing to keep pools spotless without much intervention from the users.
For the ProLine, a standout model is the ProLine. The ProLine impresses not only with its technical capabilities, its array of features including finely tuned sensors and high-capacity filters, but also with its unmatched work ethic, tirelessly making its rounds until every inch of your pool sparkles.
By incorporating these robotic pool cleaners into your maintenance routine, you can reclaim your leisure time and enjoy a pristine pool without the back-breaking work. Rest assured that the investment in these sophisticated machines from the Max-Series and ProLine would yield a significant return in the form of a perpetually clean and inviting pool.