Dolphin Nautilus Robotic Inground Pool Cleaner Review

The Dolphin Nautilus is a robotic pool cleaner designed for scrubbing and vacuuming the floor, walls and waterline of most inground pools. However, there is more than one Nautilus model on the market. In light of that, here is my review of these Dolphin Nautilus robotic pool cleaners.

Dolphin Nautilus Robotic Pool Cleaner

Dolphin Nautilus Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner
The original Dolphin Nautilus robotic pool cleaner.

The Dolphin Nautilus robotic pool cleaner does not need a booster pump or the swimming pool pump. It has its own internal pump motor. It does not have filter bags, but instead uses a cartridge filter that is easy to clean.

The Dolphin Nautilus has a 60-foot floating power cable with a swivel device that keeps the cable from twisting and coiling. Its power supply plugs into a GFCI outlet. It seems to be a very popular robotic cleaner at a good price.

The Dolphin Nautilus robotic pool cleaner does not have filter bags. It has a filter cartridge with four screens that trap the dirt. It is quick to remove, rinse and replace. There are two types of screens available: one type for everyday use and one type for heavy use. The normal screen works better for finer dirt, while the heavy-duty screen works best for bigger dirt and debris.

The Nautilus might be somewhat heavy to remove when its filters are dirty and full of water. It has handgrips on the sides for getting a hold and lifting it out of the pool. Do not use the cord to pull it out of the pool. Use the handgrips!

A very small amount of dirt might leak out of the filters as you lift the pool cleaner out of the water, but it is not the end of the world. Remove and rinse the filters with a garden hose before replacing them. It takes only a few minutes to do this.

Key Features

  • 24-volt dual-drive motor for more powerful scrubbing action.
  • 30-volt power supply with integrated circuitry for low energy consumption.
  • It cleans most pool surfaces.
  • Pool shapes: kidney, L-shape, oval, round or rectangle.
  • It does not need a connection to the pool pump filter system or a booster pump.
  • Made for inground pools that do not exceed 50 feet in length.
  • Scrubs the pool floor and vacuums the walls up to the waterline.
  • It uses cartridge filters to trap the dirt and debris.
  • Its brush system scrubs the pool surface to inhibit the growth of algae and bacteria.
  • Patented swivel-cable prevents the electric cable from tangling into knots.
  • The length of the power cable is 60 feet (18 meters).

Dolphin Nautilus: FAQ

What accessories are included?

The Nautilus pool cleaner body, normal cartridge filter, heavy-duty cartridge filter, 60-foot cable with cable swivel and power supply are included. The power supply requires a GFCI electrical wall outlet near the pool.

Does the Nautilus have its own caddy?

No, it does not come with its own caddy. If you want a similar Dolphin robotic pool cleaner that comes with a caddy included, then take a look at our review of the Dolphin Triton with caddy.

Why is it not climbing the pool walls?

The Dolphin Nautilus is designed to clean the pool walls. However, if the pool floor and walls come together at a sharp right angle instead of a gentle curved angle, then the pool cleaner might not make it onto the wall. A dirty filter might also prevent it from getting up the sides.

Does it clean the waterline?

Sometimes it cleans right up to the waterline with its nose in the air before it goes back down to the bottom. Other times it does not reach so high up the walls.

Does it get stuck on raised drain covers?

No, it does not seem to have a problem with raised drains located on the bottom of the pool.

Can it clean a vinyl-lined inground pool?

Yes, it can clean vinyl pool surfaces. Remember to inspect the vinyl liner before you put the pool cleaner into the pool. The liner should be in good condition. The floor should be level, with no rocks or roots underneath the floor of the vinyl liner.

How do you clean the filters?

Turn off the pool cleaner, remove it from the water, turn it upside down, open the filter locking mechanisms, remove the filter cartridge, remove the filters and clean it with water from a garden hose or tap and put it all back together again.

How do you remove it from the pool?

You switch it off and then use the power cord to gently pull it towards you. Once it is close to the surface, reach down and grab it with both hands at the handgrips on each side and lift it out. It might be a bit heavy because of the water and debris. You might even turn it on its head before you take it out of the water to prevent the loss of dirt from the filters.

Dolphin Nautilus vs. CC Plus Model

The Nautilus CC Plus is not only an updated version, but it is also slightly bigger and has extra large filter cartridges. The biggest difference between these two pool cleaners might be the filter access point. The Nautilus has bottom access filters, while the CC Plus model has top access filters.

Twin Cartridge Filter
Nautilus CC Plus has top loading cartridge filters.

Another difference is the cleaning coverage. The Nautilus CC Plus has pool scanning technology. It uses software to adapt its cleaning route to the specific size and shape of the swimming pool. This leads to better coverage of the pool floor and walls.

The Nautilus Plus also has a handle that might make it easier to reach, grab and remove from the swimming pool. The older Nautilus does not have a handle: it has two grips to the left and right side of the pool cleaner body.

There is a price difference between the older and the newer Nautilus models. Furthermore, the original Nautilus model might no longer be available. Therefore, paying extra money for the Nautilus CC Plus robotic pool cleaner is probably worth it.

Verdict

The power cord is 60 feet long, so it has enough cable to clean a 50-foot pool size. It has a unique cable swivel that helps to keep the cable free from twisting around itself. The power supply automatically shuts off the pool cleaner after about 3 hours of cleaning.

The Dolphin Nautilus pool cleaner can climb the walls to remove dirt. It can also reach the waterline before it goes back down again. You might have to sweep hard-to-reach places yourself. This robotic pool cleaner does not clean sharp corners or right angles.

The advantages of the Dolphin Nautilus might include the following benefits:

  • It is very quiet while cleaning the pool.
  • Its filters are easy to remove, clean and replace.
  • It climbs up the walls and even reaches the water line.
  • It has its own internal pump system and filter and does not need the pool pump and filter to work.

Here is a list of its possible disadvantages:

  • It cannot clean sharp pool angles.
  • The pool cleaner can be a little heavy to remove from the pool.
  • It does not have a caddy for moving it around on wheels outside the pool.
  • Big leaves might get stuck in the vacuum intakes and prevent the pool cleaner from working.

In the short run, the Dolphin Nautilus robotic pool cleaner might be a little pricey, but it cleans the pool without using the pool pump filter system. The pool robot is easy to use and quick to clean. Instead of paying someone to clean your pool, get the Nautilus and save yourself some money in the long term (shop now on Amazon).

Dolphin Nautilus CC Robotic Pool Cleaner

Dolphin Nautilus CC Automatic Robotic Pool Cleaner
The Nautilus CC is recommended for a 33-foot pool size.

The Maytronics company seems to enjoy flooding the market with new, or rebranded, residential robotic pool cleaner models for online as well as offline shops.

For example, the Dolphin Nautilus CC was introduced to the online marketplace in 2017. It looks different from the other Nautilus pool cleaners, so that’s a good thing. Otherwise, it would become very confusing, since they are all part of the Nautilus series of robotic pool cleaners.

Here is a list of the most important features that the Nautilus CC robotic pool cleaner offers to pool owners:

  • It weighs up to 50% less than the other Nautilus pool cleaners.
  • Large top loading filter basket instead of filter cartridges.
  • Single scrubbing brush in front of cleaner spins and removes dirt.
  • Cleans pool floor and climbs walls.
  • Power supply has a weekly schedule function.
  • 50-foot power cable: cleans pool up to 33 feet in length.
  • Uses anti-tangling cleaning patterns instead of a no-tangle swivel.

Verdict

The Nautilus CC seems to be a good pool robot, just like the other Nautilus pool cleaners. However, they should not have removed the no-tangle swivel from the cable. The anti-tangling software pattern does not seem to prevent the cable from tangling. Sometimes a simple mechanical solution is better than the more complicated software solution.

Be that as it may, the Nautilus CC is cheaper, more compact and weighs less when compared to the other models (check price on Amazon).

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Cleaner

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Cleaner
The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is best for a swimming pool up to 50 feet in length.

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is an internet-only model that is available from online e-commerce stores. You will not find it in brick-and-mortar retail stores.

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is a robotic pool cleaner for inground swimming pools up to 50 feet. It may clean both fiberglass and vinyl pool surfaces.

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus has a 60-foot tangle-free cable, but a caddy is not included. It has neither remote control nor smartphone capabilities.

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus has a top load, dual-layer filtration system. One layer catches the big dirt such as leaves. The other layer catches the finer dirt particles. Its top loading filters are easier to remove and clean than the bottom loading filters of the old Nautilus model.

The power supply unit has a standard 2-hour cleaning time and a weekly scheduler, yet it does not offer other more advanced programming features. You cannot change the cycle time or set a start time delay.

In summary, the Nautilus CC Plus provides adequate automatic cleaning power for an inground pool in spite of getting stuck on pool steps. It is a nice robotic pool cleaner when it works, but it can be naughty when it gets stuck or breaks after a few months. Regardless, this model is a best-selling robotic pool cleaner with lots of reviews.

Is the power supply waterproof?

No, it is not waterproof. Therefore, do not leave the power supply where it will stand in water or fall into the pool. It is water-resistant, but do not leave it out in the rain. The power supply should remain dry to prevent possible problems.

The power supply is plugged into an outdoor household 120V outlet. Do not plug it into an extension cord.

Is a caddy included?

No, this internet-only model is not shipped with its own caddy. Nevertheless, the caddy is not an essential component because it is only used for transporting the pool cleaner to the pool and back into storage.

Is it possible to use both filter types simultaneously?

This action is not recommended because it might reduce cleaning performance or interfere with the robot’s balance. It is better to first use the rough filters for getting rid of debris before changing to the finer filters to remove the finest dirt.

Will it work in an above-ground pool?

It might, but it is not designed for an above-ground swimming pool. You have to experiment with this at your own risk. The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is designed for inground pools only.

Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus vs. Other Models

All these different variations on the basic Nautilus product name can be somewhat confusing.

The original Dolphin Nautilus with the barrel-shaped housing might not be available anymore, so you should probably consider getting one of the newer models. The old Nautilus pool cleaner has bottom-loading filter cartridges and a longer 3-hour cleaning cycle. Conversely, the Nautilus CC Plus has top load cartridge filters, a 2-hour cycle and a weekly scheduler.

There is also the Nautilus CC which has a newer lightweight design. Yet, it does not have a swivel cable and can only clean smaller inground swimming pool sizes up to 33 feet in length. It uses a top-loading filter basket with fine filtration. It has a 2-hour cleaning cycle and a weekly schedule function.

The Dolphin Triton PS Plus cleans the floor, walls and waterline of an inground pool up to 50 feet in size. It has an anti-tangle cable, dual scrubbing brushes and a top load, extra large filter basket. The Triton PS Plus has both a quick 1-hour and a standard 2-hour cleaning time, in addition to the weekly schedule function. It offers Wi-Fi connectivity and smartphone capabilities.

Verdict

The Nautilus CC Plus is easier to clean when compared to the old Nautilus. It has top load cartridge filters which are easy to remove and clean. The filters do a good job with trapping most of the debris or dirt. The pool robot cleans the floor and climbs the walls, even though it does not clean the stairs.

The power cord of the power supply is short, but the pool robot has a long cord. A few owners have had problems with the power supply dying after a few months. Remember, the power supply is not waterproof, so keep it dry and take it inside if it is going to rain.

The Nautilus CC Plus is probably one of the best robotic pool cleaners on the market, even though some owners feel frustrated and disappointed by the lack of customer support from the Maytronics company. Moreover, it would be nice if a caddy was included. Nevertheless, it is worth looking at if you need an inground pool robot (purchase on Amazon).

Nautilus CC Supreme: Chief Among The Dolphin Pool Robots?

Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme Robotic Pool Cleaner with Wi-Fi
Nautilus CC Supreme has Wi-Fi and smartphone capabilities.

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme is a more recent model, but it is already getting high ratings from pool owners. These people took the plunge and bought it, even though it was quite expensive for an automatic pool cleaner. In light of that, this Dolphin pool robot should offer all the bells and whistles.

The Nautilus CC Supreme has three active scrubbing brushes instead of the usual two brushes found on other Nautilus pool cleaners. These brushes keep the floor, walls and waterline clean.

It seems like the Supreme pool robot has three cleaning cycles to choose from: Quick, Standard and Enhanced. The quick cycle lasts only 1.5 hours and focuses on cleaning the pool floor. The standard cycle tells the robot to clean floor, wall and waterline for 2.5 hours, while the enhanced cycle is 3.5 hours long.

The Nautilus CC Supreme does not bother with Bluetooth anymore. Instead, it now has Wi-Fi connectivity. You can download the MyDolphin Plus Mobile App on your smartphone and set up the connection. If the connection is successful, then you can use the app to turn the pool robot on or off, choose the cleaning cycle, set the weekly scheduler, use delay start, check if the filter is full, and do remote steering. Do I hear bells ringing and someone whistling in wonder?

To summarize, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme is a high-priced inground robotic pool cleaner, but it has three scrubbing brushes, three cleaning cycles, customizable schedules, extra large cartridge filters and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Does this robot keep an inground pool spotless?

The Nautilus CC Supreme scrubs the bottom, walls and waterline of the swimming pool with its three brushes. It picks up and traps debris, dirt and sand in its extra large cartridge filters. It keeps a pool very clean. Of course, you will have to do the chore of cleaning out the filter baskets regularly to get rid of the debris. At least all this debris does not end up inside the pool pump filter.

Are the cartridge filters easy to clean?

Yes, the cartridge filters are easy to remove and clean when compared to filter bags. The process of cleaning the cartridge filters is probably the most annoying part of owning a robotic pool cleaner, but in reality, it is not a problem when you consider all the other benefits.

Does the smartphone app work?

It works as long as you can set up the connection between the pool robot, Wi-Fi system and your smartphone. It might only work with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connections. Overall, the app works fine.

Pool robot can be controlled with smartphone app

Nautilus CC Supreme vs. CC Plus

How does the Supreme compare to the Plus model?

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus does not clean the waterline, does not have extra large filter cartridges and does not have a center brush. It has a 2-hour cleaning cycle and a weekly schedule function on the power supply. However, it has neither Bluetooth nor Wi-Fi. Thus, the CC Plus model is not capable of connecting to your smartphone.

As noted, the Nautilus CC Supreme has three brushes instead of two like most other Dolphin pool robots. It offers Wi-Fi connectivity instead of Bluetooth. The app on the smartphone (if the Wi-Fi set up was a success) offers scheduling, remote control and multiple cleaning cycles.

If you think those advanced features are worth the higher price, then buy it. Otherwise, try the more affordable Nautilus CC Plus.

Dynamic dual scrubbing and center high speed scrubber

Nautilus CC Supreme vs. Oasis Z5i

It might be interesting to compare the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme to another Dolphin inground robotic pool cleaner to see how they stack up.

The Nautilus CC Supreme and the Oasis Z5i can both clean pool sizes up to 50 feet. They both have anti-tangle cables, powerful suction motors and extra large twin cartridge filters. They can also clean the waterline of an inground swimming pool.

The difference between these two Dolphin pool robots might only be found in the details. For example, the Supreme has three cleaning times while the Z5i has one standard cleaning cycle. They both have dynamic dual scrubbing brushes, but the Supreme has an additional high speed scrubber in the center.

The remote control connections are also different because the Supreme uses Wi-Fi and the Z5i uses Bluetooth. They both have smartphone capabilities, yet the Z5i only has on/off control and remote steering. The Supreme has a scheduler, cycle selector and delay start in addition to remote steering.

Both these Dolphin robotic pool cleaners are on the expensive side of 1000 dollars. However, the Nautilus CC Supreme is the superior pool robot.

Verdict

The Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme seemed to appear out of nowhere. I tried to find it on the Maytronics website under the residential pool cleaning robots, but it was not yet listed. I did find the internet-only Nautilus CC Plus model.

However, while updating this review, I finally found it listed under the internet-only residential robotic pool cleaners, in the premium class! Maytronics seem to believe that the Nautilus CC Supreme is both a premium robotic pool cleaner and a bestseller.

The few customers who have bought it are generally impressed by its suction power and Wi-Fi remote control connectivity. They believe that the pool robot is easy to use and quick to clean.

To conclude this review, the Nautilus CC Supreme does appear to be the chief of the Nautilus robotic pool cleaners. None ranks higher due to its complete set of features and connectivity. After all, none of the other Nautilus pool robots cost as much as the Supreme (buy on Amazon).