Dolphin explorer robotic pool cleaners have been at the forefront of servicing residential pools for the past three decades. And as giants in the world’s residential swimming pools and pool industry, they’re only getting more robust with more inventive robotic pool cleaner designs.
The Dolphin Explorer line-up is impressive, with various robotic pool cleaners for different sizes and budgets.
There are 4 Dolphin Explorer robots built for in-ground swimming pools, and that’s quite a lot of options for most pool owners. So, how do you know which Dolphin Explorer is best for you? Well, that’s what this piece is about.
This article reviews the similarities and critical differences between the Dolphin Explorer E20, E30, E50, and E70 and generally see how they compare. Let’s get right to it …
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Top picks
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The quick answer
First, the best Explorer robot for you will largely depend on the size of your pool and the convenience you want from a robotic pool cleaner.
For instance, if you have a small inground pool 33 ft long or below, then the Explorer E20 is just what you need. But if your pool is longer than 33 ft, then any of the other three robots will be more suitable.
I mentioned convenience because the Explorer E30, E50, and E70 all have the same essential functions and only differ in their extra functionality. For instance, they all are built to clean and maintain in-ground swimming pools up to 50 ft long.
But the E30 only has the essential functions you’d expect from any good pool robot. At the same time, the E50 and D70 come with extra bells-and-whistles like Pick-me mode, full filter indicator, and cycle selector that allows for multiple cleaning times.
Since the E50 and E70 are almost the same (there isn’t much difference between the two) but the E70 has a higher price tag (about $300 more expensive than the E50), I’d pick the Explorer E50 as the best value in the Explorer robotic pool cleaner range.
Dolphin Explorer range overview
Dolphin Explorer E20
The Dolphin Explorer E20 is an easy-to-use and efficient robotic pool cleaner. It’s designed to clean small in-ground pools automatically, and with its scrubbing capabilities and superior coverage, you can relax and enjoy your pool without worrying about cleaning.
The Explorer E20 uses a high-speed scrubber, strong suction, and a large filter basket to remove debris and dirt particles from your pool. Its powerful motor can circulate up to 4000 gallons of pool water per hour, and it takes only 2 hours to clean your pool thoroughly.
And with its programmable cleaning modes and weekly timer, you can schedule cleaning sessions and forget about manual cleaning.
Read more in our Dolphin E20 review
- Very efficient and easy to use
- Climbs and cleans pool walls
- Durable scrubbing brush
- It has an automation mode and a weekly timer
- It comes with a 2-year warranty
- The power cable gets tangled
- No waterline scrubbing
- Pool caddy is sold separately
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Dolphin Explorer E30
Efficiency is critical in pool cleaning, and the Dolphin Explorer E30 robotic pool vacuum cleaner is designed to deliver just that. The Explorer E30 is an advanced model capable of cleaning in-ground pools up to 50 feet in length in just 2 hours, and it even comes with a 2-year warranty for your peace of mind.
This pool cleaning unit is designed to tackle all dirt and debris with a powerful motor, strong suction, active scrubbing system, excellent filtration, and a 60 ft long anti-tangle swivel power cord.
With an intuitive control panel, you can easily program the robot to clean your pool daily, every other day, or every third day, ensuring that your pool stays clean and sparkling throughout the season.
Read more in our Dolphin E30 review
- Very efficient and easy to use
- Cleans pool floors, walls & waterline
- It has an automation mode and a weekly timer
- It comes with a 2-year warranty
- No remote control
- Pool caddy is sold separately
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Dolphin Explorer E50
The Dolphin Explorer E50 is a high-performance robotic pool cleaner designed to maintain large in-ground pools of up to 50 feet effortlessly. The E50 is powered by a robust motor that delivers impressive suction force, enabling exceptional cleaning performance.
It has powerful scrubbing brushes that thoroughly clean pool surfaces, and its advanced filtration system efficiently captures debris, leaving the pool water crystal clear.
With an intelligent design and exceptional cleaning capabilities, the Dolphin Explorer E50 is the perfect companion for keeping your sizeable in-ground pool spotless and inviting. And a 60-ft swivel power cord allows for convenient coverage of the entire pool area.
Read more in our Dolphin E50 review
- Cleans pool floors, walls & waterline
- Very efficient and easy to use
- Traps both large and small debris
- It comes with a 2-year warranty
- Doesn’t clean pool steps
- App control is not smooth
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Dolphin Explorer E70
The Dolphin Explorer E70 Robotic Pool Cleaner is designed to effortlessly clean and maintain large in-ground pools of up to 60 feet in length. Equipped with advanced features, this pool cleaning robot ensures exceptional cleaning performance.
With a powerful motor, scrubbing brushes, and suction force, the Dolphin Explorer E70 effectively cleans your pool, circulating approximately 5000 gallons of water per hour.
Its powerful filtration system efficiently captures dirt, debris, and leaves, crystalising your pool water. The long power cord provides ample reach, allowing the robot to navigate every corner of your pool easily.
The Dolphin Explorer E70 delivers outstanding performance, reliability, and convenience, giving you more time to relax and enjoy your pool.
Read more in our Dolphin E70 review
- Cleans pool floor, walls & waterline
- Easy to use, no set-up required
- Traps both large and small debris
- It comes with a 3-year warranty
- App control is not smooth
- Waterline cleaning is inconsistent
Last update on 2024-04-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Side-by-side comparison
Pool type
The first thing you’ll notice with these robots is that they are designed to clean in-ground pools of various shapes and sizes. The first robot in the line, Dolphin E20, is built for smaller pools and will only clean in-ground pools with a max length of 33 feet, while the other three robots (Dolphin E30, E50, and E70) are all built for large in-ground pools of up to 50 feet.
Top access filter basket
A top-access filter basket is one feature in all Dolphin pool robots. Like most other Dolphin pool robots, the Explorer series all have an easy access fine filter basket that can capture a range of debris in the pool. The fine filter basket can catch large floating debris, small sticks, twigs, small stones, bugs, and leaves.
Efficient pool mapping
If there’s one thing all Dolphin pool robots have in common, it’s the ability to map and navigate pools efficiently.
These 4 Dolphin Explorer robots all have the technology for precise pool navigation. They can navigate pools efficiently and avoid objects while cleaning.
With the help of this navigational software, the robots can quickly complete their tasks without poorly wandering around and taking foolish turns. They cut to the chase and get the job done.
Schedule cleanings
The ability to schedule and control your pool cleaning is a convenience that comes with any of the robots in the Explorer series. With any of these pool robots, you can create a weekly pool cleaning schedule using three settings – every day, every other day, or every 3rd day.
Key differences
Waterline/tile-line cleaning
The waterline cleaning feature allows a robotic pool cleaner to climb up and clean the waterline of a pool. These robots (E30, E50, and E70) will firmly stick to the waterline, scrubbing away dirt and grime from the waterline of your pool. This efficient cleaning feature ensures that your pool’s vertical surfaces, including tile lines, are optimally cleaned.
However, the Dolphin Explorer E20 robotic pool cleaner doesn’t have waterline cleaning, although it climbs and cleans walls.
Winner: Explorer E50
Pick-up mode
After each cleaning cycle, the Pick Me feature makes removing your Dolphin pool robot from your pool very easy. This feature conveniently brings the robot to the pool’s edge, allowing quick access. So, you can grab the handle and gently pull the robot out of the water. However, this Pickup mode is only present in the Explorer E50 and E70.
Winners: Explorer E50 & E70
Anti-tangle swivel
The anti-tangle swivel technology ensures a robot pool vacuum can clean your pool without the long power cord getting tangled.
The innovative design of the Dolphin anti-tangle swivel allows its robots to move freely 360 degrees around your pool without ever knotting the cord. And the robots can fully explore and clean your pool without getting stuck.
This is an essential feature because the 4 Dolphin Explorer robots have long, power supply cords. However, the E20’s 50-foot-long cable doesn’t have anti-tangling swivel technology, so you may have to straighten it out after each cleaning manually. This can be a hassle, but it’s a minor inconvenience compared to the benefits of having a sparkling-clean pool.
Winner: Explorer E50
Suction rating
Most Dolphin robotic pool cleaners have a strong suction to filter the pool water at the rate of 4000 GPH, including the Explorer E20, E30, and E50. But the Explorer E70 has an industry-leading suction rate of 4500 gallons per hour. This extra powerful, suction rate ensures that grime and debris on the pool’s floor and bottom are constantly flushed out, preventing buildup.
Winner: Explorer E70
Full filter indicator
Cleaning out the filters of your robotic pool cleaners is very important, but sometimes you’d like to know exactly when the filters are full and need to be cleaned. This is where the full filter indicator comes in; it’s a small light indicator that comes on when the filters of your robot are full and need cleaning. This extra convenient feature is only present in the Explorer E50 and Explorer E70.
Winners: Explorer E50 & E70
Wi-Fi and smart control
Some Dolphin pool robots can be conveniently controlled from the MyDolphin App Plus mobile app. With this smart app, you can manage and direct your Dolphin from the palm of your hand. The feature is available in the Explorer E30, E50, and E70. Only the E20 lacks this feature.
Winners: Explorer E30, E50 & E70
Warranties
Dolphins provide pool owners with worry-free pool maintenance and unmatched longevity. These products often come with reasonable warranties, and the Explorer range is no different.
The first 3 Explorer robots (E20, E30, and E50) all come with a 2-year warranty, while the Explorer E70 comes with a 3-year warranty and a caddy.
Winner: Explorer E70
Best performance
Overall functionality
It’s common for robotic pool cleaners to struggle a bit in the pool, and each of these robots has one weakness or two. However, the Explorer E50 stands out as an impressive pool cleaner.
It doesn’t get stuck on drain covers and will efficiently remove dirt and debris from these surfaces, leaving them spotless.
The E70 is excellent too, but it costs significantly more than the E50 (above $300 difference in price) and doesn’t differ much.
Winner: Explorer E50
Pool cleaning
The Dolphin Explorer robots are great at cleaning pools with ultra-fine filters; they all have similar strengths and almost the same performance for cleaning pool floors. But when it comes to general pool cleaning (including walls and waterline), I’ll place the E50 above the rest.
Picking the E50 as the best in pool cleaning is a personal choice and doesn’t mean that the other 3 Explorer robots are not great. They all get the job done efficiently, but for me, the E50 has all the extra features you need in a premium pool robot; it has almost everything the E70 has and comes at a better price. It is a better bargain for me.
Winner: Explorer E50
Wall climbing
It’s difficult to say which robot is the best at wall climbing because all 4 Explorer robots can climb pool walls and are all really good at it. Even the Explorer E20 (the least advanced robot in the series) will comfortably climb and clean pool walls. So, the robots are equally matched in this category.
Winner: Draw
Waterline cleaning
This is another tricky one, as it’s similar to wall climbing. But the Explorer E20 doesn’t clean the pool waterline.
The top 3 Explorer robots (E30, E50, and E70) are built to clean up the waterline of in-ground pools, but honestly, they all deliver different levels of cleaning mode. I was most impressed by the performance of the Explorer E50 in this regard, so that’s the winner for me.
Winner: Explorer E50
Ease of use
Dolphin robotic pool cleaners are generally very easy to use, and you don’t need fancy connections or complicated installation. For these robots, it’s as easy as plug-and-play. All you have to do is plug it in, push the start button, and it’s off to work!
Best of all, you don’t need to remember to turn the robot on whenever you want to clean your pool. You can schedule automated cleanings every day, every other day, or every third day because each has a programmable weekly timer. It’s a hassle-free cleaning solution, meaning you can relax while your pool is routinely cleaned without worry or fuss.
Winner: Draw
Reliability
Dolphin products are known for their unmatched performance, durability, and cost savings, and the Explorer series is no exception. These robotic pool cleaners are very energy efficient, and compared to traditional pressure and suction cleaners, they are extremely energy efficient and can save you hundreds of dollars per year in energy costs.
And as for reliability during operation, this Dolphin robot is designed to provide a consistent and efficient cleaning cycle.
Winner: Draw
Extra purchases and ongoing costs
The Dolphin Explorer series all come as complete robots, so you don’t need to bother about purchasing any other parts or accessories. You can unpack any one of them and use it straight away.
However, you can buy a pool caddy separately if you like its convenience. Although a caddy is included with the E70, the others don’t come with caddies.
The major ongoing costs for these robotic pool cleaners will include the occasional purchase of replacement parts such as scrubbing brushes, rubber tracks, or filter baskets; it’s nothing major and doesn’t cost much.
FAQ section
Can these Dolphins be used in an above-ground pool?
These Dolphin robots are strictly for in-ground pools, similar to the Dolphin Sigma. If you want a Dolphin robotic pool cleaner for above-ground pools, check out the Dolphin E10 or the Escape. Read more on those here: Dolphin Escape vs E10.
Can you use the Explorer pool robots with saltwater pools?
Yes, you can use them for saltwater pools.
Can the Explorer robots clean vinyl pools?
Yes, they work great with a vinyl-lined in-ground pool, including climbing the walls.
Do these pool robots work well with rectangular pools?
Yes, they do. The Explorer robotic pool cleaners work in swimming pools of any shape, whether rectangular, round, free, or kidney-shaped.
What is the difference between E50 and E70?
The main differences between the Dolphin Explorer E50 and the E70 are their size, suction power, drive system, full bin indicator, accessories, and warranty. The E70 is slightly bigger than the E50 and has a higher suction rating of 5000 GPH than the E50’s 4000 GPH.
Also, the E70 comes with a Dual Drive system, while the E50 features a single-drive motor. And for the warranty, the E70 comes with a more extended warranty of 3 years compared to the two years of the E50.
Another difference is that the E70 has a full bin indicator with five different levels for varying levels of debris, while the E50 has a standard full bin indicator. The accessories that come with each model may also differ.
You can also check out other great Dolphin Pool robots as alternatives. Dolphin Premier and Dolphin Proteus DX4 are especially great alternatives as they have functions similar to the Explorer E50 and E70.
Final thoughts
The choice of the best Dolphin Explorer robotic pool cleaner depends on the pool size and desired convenience. The Explorer E20 is ideal for small in-ground pools up to 33 ft long, while the E30, E50, and E70 are suitable for bigger pools.
The E30 offers essential functions, while the E50 and E70 have additional features like Pick-me mode and cycle selector.
Although the E70 is pricier than the E50, there isn’t much difference between them. Therefore, the Explorer E50 is easily the best value option in the Dolphin Explorer robotic pool cleaner range.
