This pool robot is a lifesaver. If you're like me and hate manually vacuuming, brushing, and cleaning your pool, the Dolphin Premier could be the robot for you. The Premier is a top-tier cleaner thanks to its dual scrubbing brushes, programmable weekly timer, dual stabilizer, waterline cleaning, and my personal favorite: Multi-Media filtration. It is one of our highest rated robotic pool cleaners, making it one of the best robotic pool cleaners for 2024.
A feature set is one thing, but performance is another entirely. The Dolphin Premier is apart of the 2024 ProLine, which I can say exceeded my every expectation. I ran the Premier through two tests to see its pool coverage and filtration ability, and then I took a look at its feature set and warranty to see how it compares to other robots. I rated the Premier on a scale of 1-5 in each of these categories, so let’s dive in.
Starting with pool coverage, I plugged in the Premier, dropped it in the water, and it took off. No programming or assembly required! Unlike pressure-side and suction-side cleaners, the Dolphin Premier does not require a booster pump. You simply plug the power supply into an outlet and connect the unit. It took less than 3 minutes and my robot was up and running!
The Premier covered my whole pool in an efficient pattern and didn’t miss a spot. Maytronics claims the Premier as the “Waterline King”, and I would 100% agree. I was quite impressed as it transitioned from the floor to the waterline with absolutely no effort. This is what really sets the Premier apart compared to other robotic pool cleaners. Thanks to its tracks and handle, which Dolphin calls its Dual Stabilizer, the Premier can effectively defy gravity while cleaning your wall and waterline.
In fact, it made it look so easy, I had to ask myself why can’t more robots do this? Without waterline cleaning, a lot of robotic pool cleaners fail to live up to their price tag by requiring you to do the extra work of manually scrubbing the side of your pool. In conclusion, the Premier scores a 5/5 in the pool coverage category as it reaches every part of your pool efficiently, even the part other cleaners miss: the waterline.
Secondly, the Dolphin Premier's filtration ability. While most Dolphin pool cleaners come with one filter option, I was excited to see the Premier include three filter options, which is a very unique feature called Multi-Media.
What is Multi-Media? It's the Dolphin Premier's filtration system which comprises of 3 included filter options (and a 4th optional) which can be swapped in just seconds: the Oversized Leaf Bag, Nanofilters, and standard filters.
Sounds fancy, right? Well, it is. The Dolphin Premier is the only robot with Multi-Media.
After testing over 20+ Dolphin pool robots, there is nothing quite like it. It's why I have the Premier rated so high. The Premier is just so easy to use and customize based on your pool's needs. After a storm, swap in the leaf bag. Had a bunch of sand fly in the pool? Swap to the NanoFilters.
The Leaf Bag is a Dolphin Premier Exclusive. Found in no other Dolphin pool robot, the Leaf Bag is a large reason you should consider the Dolphin Premier. If you have a lot of leaves, this cleaner is for you. The Premier excels as the bag holds a ton of leaves.
Easy to remove and clean, the leaf bag doesn't just capture leaves though - as it can grab acorns, twigs, bugs, and even rocks. I tested the oversized leaf bag by throwing a whole bunch of leaves in the pool. It did not disappoint. Just look at how many leaves the Premier can hold in the filter.
With the ability to filter out particles that other Dolphin robots miss, the NanoFilters are a must-have for any pool robot. Don't get a robot without them, as the difference in the cleaning performance is outstanding. With the ability to capture microscopic particles such as dirt, sand, algae, and even oil, the NanoFilters on the Dolphin Premier are the best filters I have ever tested.
Found on Dolphin ProLine and Dolphin Max-Series robots, these filters are the key to healthy pool water. After a few cycles, the transparency of my pool's water increased significantly. All while grabbing larger objects like rocks and leaves in my pool as well. Whether you get the Premier or another cleaner, we highly recommend the use of a robot with NanoFiltration.
These filters are included with nearly every Dolphin pool robot. These mesh filters are great if you want to prioritize a high flow rate, but they were often missing the smaller debris that the NanoFilters captured. While we liked using them, we found the NanoFilters and Oversized Leaf Bag were superior.
These filters are great for maximizing the flow rate of your robot, but they don't have a ton of utility compared to the superior filtration of NanoFilters and a Leaf Bag. It would have been nice to have just included an extra set of NanoFilters instead, but they are still handy to have.
While not included, there is a fourth optional disposable debris bag. Rather than the thicker resuable oversized leaf bags, these bags are thinner and can simply be tossed out once you're done. Which is a nice touch if you don't want to be constantly cleaning the filters out, but we preferred to use the resusable oversized leaf bag instead.
Of course, with three filter options, and a fourth disposable debris bag option, the Premier gets a 5/5 in filtration ability as well. No other cleaner can clean anything you throw at it, so if you want a cleaner that will leave you nothing to do, then the Premier is the way to go.
The Premier's features are quite unique. One of the only robots with real-time filter tracking, Media-Alert tells you when it is time to clean. Combine with the longer 3 year warranty and the Weekly Timer, the Dolphin Premier has an extraordinary feature set.
The first feature I would like to look at is the Premier’s powerful DC motors. These motors cut energy consumption by almost 90%, when compared to suction or pressure side cleaners, while still offering more power in addition to cleaning ability. This extra power goes to enhance the scrubbing and climbing power behind the Premier, but also its flow rate, as the Premier can move around 4500 Gallons Per Hour, which is around the flow rate of the average pool pump.
What this means is that you get even cleaner water, not just cleaner pool surfaces. So these motors, while something you may not hear much about, are actually a key piece of the Premier’s efficiency and power, as they save you money and make sure your water is better filtered.
The Premier comes with a programmable power supply which gives you the option to schedule it to clean your pool daily, every other day, or every three days with a click of a button. There’s no need to walk outside and start the robot when you want it to clean, simply select your schedule once a week, and it will run automatically each day. This is a must if you want a hands-off pool cleaner.
Another easy to miss feature is Media-Alert. It is a Full Filter Indicator which lets you know when it is time to clean. We all forget to clean the filters of our robot from time to time, but Media Alert makes sure your robot is always on track for a clean pool, so you never have to wonder if it is time to clean the Premier.
The D9 microprocessor is the brain behind the Dolphin Premier's intelligent cleaning capabilities. Unlike basic robotic cleaners that move in random patterns, this advanced chip maps your pool's exact dimensions and obstacles during its first few runs. It then creates optimized cleaning paths that ensure complete coverage while avoiding getting stuck on drains or stairs. The D9's smart navigation system adapts to different pool shapes and sizes, learning the most efficient routes to clean your specific pool layout, which results in more thorough cleaning and less energy waste.
The HyperGrip continuous tracks represent a significant upgrade from standard wheels found on cheaper pool cleaners. These heavy-duty rubber tracks provide superior grip on all pool surfaces, from smooth fiberglass to textured pebble finishes. The continuous track design allows the Premier to climb walls and navigate steep slopes without slipping, while also maintaining constant contact with the pool surface for better scrubbing action. This enhanced traction system means the cleaner spends less time recovering from slips and more time actually cleaning your pool.
The Dual Stabilizer system keeps the Premier steady as it cleans, using two points of contact to maintain balance and prevent tipping. This innovative design allows the cleaner to make tight turns without losing its cleaning position, even when transitioning from floor to wall. By stabilizing the unit during operation, it ensures consistent brush contact and improves the cleaner's ability to scrub away stubborn algae and biofilm, particularly in corners and along the waterline where debris tends to accumulate.
At the heart of the Premier's cleaning power are its commercial-grade DC motors, engineered for both performance and efficiency. These dual 24-volt motors consume up to 87% less energy than traditional AC-powered cleaners, while delivering superior suction and brush rotation power. Operating at just 180 watts, they provide professional-grade cleaning capability while keeping operating costs as low as 5 cents per hour. The motors' advanced design also ensures quieter operation and longer service life compared to residential-grade motors found in lesser models.
If you would like an even easier user experience though, it may be worth looking into the Premier’s optional remote control that lets manually steer the robot for quick spot cleans.
I will say that this remote is very handy, and it’s a rare option on today’s robotic pool cleaners, but one I definitely like the addition of.
Outside of features there is one other key money-saving piece of the Premier: its warranty. The Premier comes with a three-year warranty, that’s one year more than your average pool robot. An industry leading warranty like the Premier’s shows great faith in how tough this cleaner is and helps me trust that the Premier will be around for many pool seasons to come.
The Premier has every feature you come to expect from a top-tier robotic pool cleaner, and an excellent warranty, but it would be nice to see more connectivity options. For that reason, I am giving the Premier a 4.7/5 in Features and Warranty.
Overall, the Premier is fantastic. But that doesn't mean it is perfect - but it is pretty close. So where could the Dolphin Premier improve?
Well, my first thought goes to Maytronics adding the myDolphin Plus app on it. The Premier's ProLine counterpart, the Dolphin Sigma, has this app and I loved it. With a super user-friendly interface and a "connect anywhere" design, you can control it from anywhere - thanks to the the Sigma connecting to your Wi-Fi.
But on the flip side, it doesn't add a lot of extra functionality that you need. While it allows you to manually control it from the app, adds some insights to your cleanings, and lets you customize the weekly timer further, is it worth the additional few hundred dollars? Probably not.
Will Dolphin ever add an app? Maybe. The combination of a smartphone app, Multi-Media, and commercial-motors would take the Premier to another level. But for now, we will have to settle for just the latter two.
Let me tell you about the Dolphin Premier robotic pool cleaner - it's honestly impressed me with its performance and features. After comparing it with other pool cleaners, I can see why it's considered a premium choice. Let's dive into what makes it special.
The Premier comes with two commercial-grade motors that really set it apart. Here's what's cool about them:
What I love is that you can just set it and forget it - it'll run for 2 hours daily without you lifting a finger.
This is where the Premier really shines. Unlike other Dolphins that lock you into one filter type, the Premier gives you three options:
No other Dolphin cleaner gives you this much flexibility.
Yes, it's pricier than some other models, but here's why it's worth considering:
Compare this to the cheaper Nautilus CC Plus, which doesn't give you:
If you're using an old pressure-side or suction-side cleaner with a booster pump, you're probably using way more energy than you need to. The Premier uses 90% less energy - that's a huge difference in your utility bills.
Here's something practical: The Premier works independently with its DC motors. You don't need to buy or maintain a separate booster pump, which means:
If you're tech-savvy, you might want to check out the Dolphin Sigma. It's got some neat features like:
But here's the thing - while the Sigma has these cool tech features, it costs more. If you care more about cleaning power and filtration options than smartphone control, the Premier is still your best bet.
Getting your new Dolphin Premier up and running is straightforward, but there are some key steps to follow for optimal performance. I'll walk you through everything you need to know about setting up your robotic pool cleaner, from unboxing to first use.
When you first unbox your Dolphin Premier, you'll find everything neatly packaged and ready to go. Start by removing all protective materials and laying out the components. The main unit comes pre-assembled, so there's no complex assembly required. You'll simply need to attach the filter media of your choice - whether that's the standard cartridge filters, the oversized leaf bag, or the ultra-fine NanoFilters. The oversized leaf bag comes pre-installed and inside the robot.
The Dolphin Premier wheel (known as the climbing ring) may appear to be crushed. But don't worry! This is a sponge. If it is deformed, it will puff up in the water. This is super common among Dolphin pool cleaners. So don't worry if it happens to your pool cleaner.
The power supply unit is a crucial component of your Premier. Place it at least 12 feet away from the pool's edge and ensure it has adequate ventilation. This distance is important for safety and optimal performance. The unit should be elevated slightly off the ground to prevent water damage, and ideally positioned in a shaded area to protect it from direct sunlight and rain.
You can also place it on a Dolphin Universal Caddy. This caddy will also help transport and protect it.
The 60ft cable uses an anti-tangle swivel and is designed to prevent tangling, allowigng maximum coverage of your pool. Unwind the cable completely and lay it out straight in the sun for a few hours if possible - this helps remove any kinks from packaging. When connecting to the power supply, ensure the connector clicks firmly into place. Only plug the power supply into a GFCI-protected outlet for safety.
One of the Premier's best features is its programmable timer. To set this up:
Before placing your Premier in the pool:
The Premier comes with multiple cleaning modes. For initial cleaning:
To keep your Premier performing at its best:
If you encounter any issues during setup:
Your Dolphin Premier should now be ready for its first cleaning cycle. Remember, the first few cycles might take longer as the cleaner learns your pool's layout. After that, you'll enjoy consistently clean results with minimal intervention needed.
Always remember:
By following these setup instructions carefully, you'll ensure your Dolphin Premier provides years of reliable service and maintains your pool's cleanliness with minimal effort on your part.
Let me share what the pool community thinks about the Premier - because honestly, it's not just me singing its praises. USA Today named the Dolphin Premier the best robotic pool cleaner of the year, which really backs up what pool owners have been saying all along.
The Premier has earned an impressive reputation in the industry. Beyond the #1 rating from USA Today, it consistently tops the rankings on major pool equipment review sites. Professional pool maintenance companies frequently recommend it to their clients, which speaks volumes about its reliability and performance.
After talking to numerous Premier owners and reviewing their feedback, several key themes emerge about what makes this cleaner special.
The consistent cleaning results are what impress owners most. They particularly praise its ability to climb walls effectively and provide thorough floor coverage. Many users report that the Premier tackles debris collection better than any other cleaner they've used, leaving their pools spotless with minimal effort.
One of the biggest advantages owners mention is the dramatic reduction in manual pool maintenance. Gone are the days of spending hours checking and adjusting pool cleaners. The reliable automatic scheduling means you can truly "set it and forget it," and many users report they rarely need to manually brush their pools anymore.
Users consistently praise the Premier's convenience - it truly delivers on the promise of automated pool care. The cleaning power exceeds expectations, especially when dealing with tough debris. Many owners are impressed by its durability, noting that it continues to perform well year after year. The superior filtration options make it versatile enough to handle any cleaning challenge.
In the interest of complete honesty, some users do mention a few drawbacks. The initial cost is higher than budget models, though most feel the quality justifies the price. Some owners wish the cord management system was more refined. And while the filter system is excellent, it does require regular maintenance to maintain peak performance.
When it comes to value over time, users consistently report that the Premier pays for itself. They see noticeable reductions in their energy bills thanks to its efficient operation. Many report using fewer chemicals since their pools stay cleaner. The need for professional service calls drops significantly, and the robust construction means it lasts longer than cheaper alternatives.
Speaking with local pool service companies reveals why they often recommend the Premier to their clients. They find themselves making fewer maintenance visits to pools equipped with this cleaner. Their clients report fewer issues overall, and the Premier's ability to handle various types of debris makes it reliable in different pool environments. When warranty service is needed, they report that Dolphin's support is responsive and helpful.
The overwhelming consensus among users is that the Premier delivers on its promises. While it represents a significant initial investment, the combination of performance, reliability, and energy efficiency makes it a smart choice for serious pool owners.
Remember, these aren't just marketing claims - these are real experiences from people who use the Premier day in and day out. When so many users and professionals agree on a product's quality, it's usually a pretty good sign you're looking at something special.
In conclusion, the Dolphin Premier scores a 9.8 overall. Placing it at the top of our robotic pool cleaner testing so far. The Premier is a super-efficient robot and is most definitely worth its price tag.
In fact, it is an amazing value, especially when you factor in its three-year warranty. With Multi-Media Filtration, its full pool coverage from floors to the waterline, powerful DC Motors, easy to use power supply, and a host of other features, there is no reason why the Premier shouldn’t be at the top of your pool cleaner list.
Check back soon with the Pool Pad team, as we will be constantly letting you in on the best products and methods to keep your pool clean and healthy!
If you want a true automatic, hands-off pool cleaner, the Dolphin Premier is the pool vacuum for you.
