Looking for a way to make pool cleaning less of a problem? The Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is here to take care of scrubbing the floor and walls of both small above-ground and in-ground pools for you. Let’s dive into what this affordable robotic pool cleaner is all about and whether it could be a good match for your pool cleaning needs.
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up: A Quick Summary
The Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is a robotic pool cleaner that is suitable for both small above-ground and in-ground pools and is designed to scrub the floor and walls effectively with its brushes. This robot operates automatically and can clean your pool in just two hours. Let’s discuss its main features.
Automatic cleaning: the Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is designed to clean your pool floors and walls without needing much input from you. Just plug it in, drop it in the pool, and press the power button to start a cleaning cycle.
Wall climbing capabilities: although it’s generally good at climbing pool walls, it might struggle with beveled above-ground pool liners that have a slight slope underneath. It may also get stuck on center drains in some cases.
Filtration system: this pool robot still uses a bottom-loading filter bag, which is less common than the top-loading filter basket found in many modern robotic pool cleaners. This system can be more of a hassle to clean and maintain for some users.
Smart navigation: it claims to have smart navigation with intelligent mapping for complete pool coverage. However, some users find that it often gets stuck on the same path and doesn’t provide a very efficient cleaning pattern.
If you’re on a tight budget and don’t mind the filter bag system, the Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up could be a suitable option for small pools. Just keep in mind that it may not be the most advanced or efficient choice for cleaning the waterline or large, complex pool shapes. Click here for current price on Amazon (paid link).
Does the Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up actually climb pool walls?
For the most part, yes, the Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up is quite the little wall-scaler. But, if your swimming pool has weird wall shapes, then it might have some trouble reaching those heights. Generally, it does a solid job of cleaning walls. It’s not the best at it, but it’s not the worst either.
What’s up with the Nautilus Pool Up’s filtration system?
The Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up uses a bottom-access filter bag system, which is a bit like the grandpa of pool cleaner technology. Nowadays, most robotic pool cleaners have top-loading filter baskets that are easier to deal with. But if you’re okay with the extra effort, it gets the job done. It’s like choosing between a bag or basket for laundry: some folks prefer the ease of a basket, but others don’t mind the bag.
Is it smarter than your average robotic pool cleaner?
The manufacturer says it’s got smart navigation with clever mapping skills. However, some users have found it sometimes gets stuck in a repetitive pattern. It might repeat the same path and miss some spots, which isn’t ideal if you’re expecting a state-of-the-art robotic pool cleaner that learns your pool layout. For the price, I guess you shouldn’t expect too many brains in this bot.
Is there a fancy timer I can set on the power supply unit?
Nope, the Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up keeps it old school with a simple plug-and-play setup. There’s one button to press, and off it goes for two hours of cleaning bliss (or pool hell). No need to mess around with timers or complex settings. It’s like the ‘set it and forget it’ of robotic pool cleaners.
How does it stack up against its Dolphin cousins?
When it comes to above-ground pools, the Dolphin E10 is a close competitor. It’s got a top-loading filter basket and is designed for pools around 30 feet. If you’re looking for something similar in price, the E10 (read my review) might be a better choice because of that filter basket.
If you’re willing to spend a bit more, the Dolphin Escape is another alternative. It has a large top-access filter basket and works for above-ground pools up to 33 feet in length. You may read my Dolphin Escape review to learn more about this model.
For in-ground pools, you might want to check out the Dolphin Proteus DX3. It’s got a filter basket too, and it’s made for pools up to 33 feet in length. But just like the Nautilus Pool Up, it won’t tackle the waterline. Then again, if you prefer filter baskets to bags, the Proteus DX3 (read review) might be a more modern choice.
But, if you’re on a tighter budget and don’t mind the filter bag, the Nautilus Pool Up is a less expensive option. It’s like getting a basic model that still does a decent job.
Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up: Thumbs-Up Or Thumbs-Down?
On balance, people give the Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up a thumbs-up. It’s straightforward to use, with just one button to rule them all. And even though it might not be the best at climbing walls, it’s pretty sturdy. The filter bag is not too difficult to swap out, and it does a decent job keeping the pool clean. But, if you want something that’s going to clean your pool’s waterline, you might need to look elsewhere, such as the Dolphin Sigma (reviewed here).
To sum up, some folks say the Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up leaves their pool sparkling clean, while others think it could be smarter about how it cleans. If you’re okay with a budget-friendly robot that uses an older design, and you don’t mind the filter bag, then the Dolphin Nautilus Pool Up could be a budget-friendly choice for a small swimming pool (check price on Amazon – paid link).