Introduction
Introducing the Dolphin Explorer E50, a proud member of the respected Dolphin Explorer lineup. Built for efficiency and performance, this robotic pool cleaner caught our attention with its balanced blend of utility and sophistication. After a lengthy three-month testing period, we have a comprehensive understanding of its performance and reliability.
Right out of the box, the Dolphin Explorer E50 impresses with its sleek design and solid build quality. More importantly, it’s the hidden features such as innovative scanning and mapping technology, robust brushing system, superior filtering abilities, and an easy to use interface that make the E50 stand out from its competitors. One can't help but respect the thoughtfulness that went into creating this device.
Our hands-on experience with the Dolphin Explorer E50 revealed it to be a solid performer. While it isn't perfect, and certainly this being a mid-range offering one wouldn’t expect it to be. But where it matters most — keeping your pool clean and hygienic — the E50 shines. Whether it was clinging dirt or floating debris, it tackled all with confidence, ensuring a sparkling-clean pool every time.
While considering its effectiveness and value for money, the Dolphin Explorer E50 is worth its weight in gold. It is indeed a decent choice for anyone desiring pool cleaning automation. Although, if flawless performance and no-compromise cleaning are what you're aiming for, you might want to consider some of the other premium options, such as the Quantum or Sigma from Dolphin's flagship Max-Series line.
Pool Types
The Dolphin Explorer E50 is designed with versatility in mind and is specifically engineered for in-ground pools up to 50 feet in length. This powerful robotic pool cleaner is able to navigate through different pool materials without hassle, be it Gunite, Fiberglass, or Vinyl liner types.
Shaped for efficiency, the Dolphin Explorer E50 can handle any form your pool takes; whether it's a conventional rectangle, an elongated oval, or even a custom free-form design. Its programming and movement patterns ensure complete coverage in any pool shape, resulting in a comprehensive clean every single time.
It’s important to realize the importance of this adaptability. By making sure it can fit your unique pool type and cope with different surfaces, the Dolphin Explorer E50 ensures that every pool owner can benefit, regardless of their pool's design or material. Don’t overlook this feature; it's a crucial quality of a top-tier robotic pool cleaner.
Pool Coverage
The Dolphin Explorer E50 is designed to provide comprehensive cleaning coverage for the entirety of the pool. It targets not just the pool floor, but also the walls and waterline, providing a complete clean every time it embarks on its operation. With its powerful suction and scrubbing brushes, it can effectively remove the toughest of dirt and debris.
Even though some robotic pool cleaners are best suited for flat pools, the Explorer E50 begs to differ. This multi-faceted machine can increase its range and clean any pool type, regardless of its shape. Aimed at convenience and efficiency, it adjusts to curves and irregularities in the pool surface, ensuring every nook and cranny gets thoroughly cleaned.
What sets the Explorer E50 apart is its automated features for the optimized cleaning path. Therefore, you can be assured that not a single spot in your pool will be left untouched, whether it is the floor, curved walls, or the waterline. Further adding to its attractiveness is the device's ability to navigate around obstacles without any assistance, all thanks to its advanced algorithms.
Filtration
The filtering abilities of the ProLine series of robotic pool cleaners are indeed worth mentioning. These robots feature NanoFiltration technology, a game changer in the world of pool cleaning. This feature enables the cleaner to trap the tiniest of particles, as small as 2 microns!
In my personal usage, I've found it to deliver an extraordinarily thorough clean. There is a noticeable difference in the cleanliness of my pool after using this pool cleaner. With the NanoFiltration technology, it seems to leave no stone unturned, cleaning the pool at a microscopic level.
Experience with other pool cleaning robots pales in comparison to the ProLine series. No other robot cleaner has achieved the same deep cleaning ability. Every dip in the pool after a ProLine clean, you can feel the difference, a testament to its cutting-edge technology.
The NanoFiltration attribute is exclusive to the ProLine series and elevates it to unrivaled levels of pool cleaning performance. With each filter cycle, the water in your pool becomes clearer and healthier, enhancing your swimming experience every time you dive in.
Cleaning Performance
In our rigorous testing, the robotic pool cleaners truly displayed stellar performances with quite a few impressive standouts. We were particularly awe struck by the cleaning capabilities of the new Dolphin ProLine and Dolphin Max-Series, which includes the Dolphin Premier, Sigma, Quantum, Cayman, and Escape.
Having our bias for corded cleaners set aside, we were particularly taken in by the robust power they packed. We set them to work in multiple pool scenarios with different debris load to gauge their true potential. They really stepped up to the challenge, effortlessly cleaning pools to a sparkling finish.
The Dolphin Premier particularly caught our eyes with its advanced programming and versatile functionality. Having deployed it in a pool rich with debris, it didn't miss a spot and even handled large debris with ease. Not only did it perform exceptionally in terms of mass debris cleanup, but also showcased a brilliant understanding of the pool's layout using its inbuilt smart scanning technology.
Even the little sibling in the Max-series, the Dolphin Escape, was not far behind. It presented a fantastic bargain with its commendable run time and powerful motor. We employed it in a medium-sized pool, and it did its job without any interference.
However, we can't overlook the Dolphin Explorer which displayed admirable performance as well. Just not as much as its other siblings which were simply a notch higher. Nevertheless, it surpasses many of its competitors in the same price range and would be a good pick for your swimming pools. Its lightweight build and good grip on walls were especially noticeable.
Read our detailed review on Dolphin Explorer here.
You may want to look at Aquabot too. It came across as a remarkably valuable player in its price tier. It did phenomenally well in a pool with small to medium particles. Read our detailed review on Aquabot here and you will find why it is worth every penny.
Finally, in scenarios where these cleaners were set to the weekly timer option, they demonstrated unmitigated commitment and proved why corded cleaners are worth our bias. Having them run through the week, maintaining the pool with scheduled cleanups meant a whole lot of time and manual labor saved for us.
It only proves that these robots will not let you down in their everyday routine. Their performance only further etched our preference for corded cleaners.
Now, if you are considering getting a robotic pool cleaner, our best robotic pool cleaners guide can lead you to make the best choice.
Restocking Fee
Cordless
One of the main reasons we favor corded robotic pool cleaners over cordless models is their constant power supply. That’s right, guess which robot never takes a break from doing an impeccable cleaning job? Corded robots, of course. With corded robots, you're assured of a constant vigorous scrub down of your pool surfaces. There's no need to disrupt the cleaning cycle to recharge, saving you time and energy that would be otherwise spent checking on the robot every so often.
Bear with us, we’ll tell you why. After tediously testing more than 100 robotic pool cleaners, we always circled back to corded machines due to their superior, non-negotiable performance.
Now, let’s discuss some of the downfalls of cordless robots. One major hiccup they present, is their limited battery life. Yes, your cordless robot will pat itself on the back after a few hours of swimming around picking up debris and then announce, "I'm tired, I NEED a recharge!" Now couple that with the fact that you may need to interact with them me several times a day to keep them running optimally.
Worse still is dealing with a cordless robot that doesn’t have a timer option. You miss out on the ultimate automation luxury – being able to set your robot to clean your pool on specific days of the week at specified times. Consequently, you have to manhandle the cleaner into the pool and out again daily. Not an enjoyable task especially on those chilly mornings.
With these reasons in mind, it's easy to see why we almost always reach for corded robotic pool cleaners. From our trials, they deliver premium results and equal parts convenience that make pool maintenance far from a daunting task.
Weekly Timer
In today's market, a weekly timer is a staple feature that should not be missing from any robotic pool cleaner. It provides automation that simplifies pool maintenance by pre-scheduling clean-ups.
If your robotic pool cleaner doesn't have a weekly timer, you're missing out on a level of convenience that is a game-changer in the world of pool cleaning. With a weekly timer, you set your cleaning schedule once, and your robot takes care of the rest.
I believe that the absence of a weekly timer in any robotic pool cleaner is a significant drawback. This feature allows your machine to operate hands-free, providing you with a gleaming pool every week without constant manual programming.
Reviewing various brands, I can confidently attest that robotic pool cleaners offering a weekly timer function like the Dolphin ProLine and Dolphin Max-Series are a notable advantage. The ease it brings to pool maintenance is undeniably substantial and shouldn't be overlooked when choosing your robotic pool cleaner.
Overview
The Dolphin Explorer E50, although not my top preference, is still a highly competent robotic pool cleaner. While it may not match the prowess of the Dolphin ProLine or Max-Series, it proves to be a good investment for any pool owner. Scoring an impressive 96 on my robot score scale, the Explorer E50 impresses with its advanced pool scanning and cleaning capabilities.
The cleaner finds a balance between power and energy efficiency. While it does lack factors like a weekly timer option that some of my favourite cleaners have, its corded nature makes it a sturdy, reliable choice for anyone looking to automate their pool cleaning process. You might need to tinker with it a bit more, but the results will still be satisfying.
For more detailed reviews on robotic pool cleaners, do take the time to visit our exhaustive reports on cleaners like the Dolphin Premier or the Dolphin Sigma. You might find a cleaner that's just perfect for your pool.
In conclusion, while the Dolphin Explorer E50 may not top my list of favourites, it stands well on its own, making it a solid choice for many pool owners. It strikes a harmonious balance between performance, longevity, and value. It's a well-thought-out cleaning robot that does an excellent job at what it's made for - keeping your pool pristinely clean.
Recommendation
Absolutely, as a specialized pool cleaner reviewer, I have the experience to confidently recommend Max-Series and ProLine robots for in-depth household and commercial cleaning tasks. The uniqueness of these robotic pool cleaners is unquestionably evident in their ability to offer time-saving, efficient, and exceptional cleaning results, that is synonymous with the Dolphin brand.
The Dolphin Max Series, for example, boasts impressive technology like CleverClean, which intelligently navigates your pool for a comprehensive clean every time. With remarkable reliability and thorough cleaning results, it’s a pick you can never go wrong with. Things only get better with their easy-to-use settings and energy-saving operability. You can consider checking out the details of our review for Dolphin Max-Series here.
On the other hand, the Dolphin ProLine exhibits superior functionality in terms of wall-climbing, advanced weekly scheduling, and tangle-free operation. Marrying mind-boggling technology with convenience, this series has gained a solid reputation among users. For a more detailed view of the ProLine series, you might want to read our dedicated review here.
To sum up, the Max-Series and ProLine robots deliver the performance that transcends the usual expectations pool owners have of robotic pool cleaners. Notably, most of their models don't just clean; they perfect your pool condition with a precision that’s rarely matched by other brands. Therefore, I surely recommend these lines for anyone who wants to keep their pool pristine.
Reviewed by Robert Knight
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