Dolphin Nautilus vs Nautilus Plus – Which is Best?

Last Updated on June 25th, 2019 by AHREditor

Let’s face it, when summertime hits, the last thing we want to do is spend time maintaining and cleaning a pool. Of course, by setting aside a little money and doing some research, you can find a solution to wasting hours in the pool and not enjoying it.

Dolphin, for example, offers two such options with its Nautilus and Nautilus Plus robot pool cleaners. These robot pool cleaners will have your entire pool sparkling. Whether it’s the walls, floor, or waterline, these units offered by Dolphin take care of all your pool cleaning needs. These lightweight devices are easy to use and simple to understand. Although they do trend toward the upper end of the price scale, the Dolphin Nautilus and Nautilus Plus are functional, durable, and worth the cost.

If you’re in the market for a reliable and solid pool cleaner, check out what the Dolphin Nautilus and the Nautilus Plus have to offer.

Primary Differences

While these two pool cleaners have a lot in common, there are a few subtle differences that you should be aware of before you make your decision regarding which one to buy. Here are a few things to consider:

• Performance – Both robot pool cleaners offer similar filtration systems and scrubbing technologies, however, the Nautilus Plus has a longer power cord. This means it can get to areas of a bigger pool than its counterpart. Additionally, the Plus has a more advanced tangle-free option along with larger filters, so when it comes to performance, the Nautilus Plus is the way to go.
• Design – Although the Nautilus is a little bigger than the Nautilus Plus (which seems backward since it’s the Plus), it also offers larger filters and a longer clean-time. The longer cord on the Nautilus Plus and finer mesh filters mean the Plus also has the ability to clean larger pools.
• Durability – These two robot cleaners have essentially the same frame, which means there are only a few differences when it comes to durability. However, the Nautilus Plus does stand up to the test of time a bit better than the Nautilus.
• Price – Sure, these two robot pool cleaners have a lot in common, but the Nautilus Plus does come with a few additional features. As a result, it just makes sense that it would be a little more expensive.

Dolphin Nautilus

When you choose the Dolphin Nautilus robot pool cleaner, you’re getting a device that cleans your pool thoroughly. It will address all parts of your pool, including the floor, walls, and waterlines. The Nautilus also features a best-in-class built-in navigation technology which ensures that your entire pool is sparkling.

No matter what size, shape, or type of pool you own, the Dolphin Nautilus will get the job done. The cleaner will run for 180 minutes, then shut down automatically so you don’t have to worry about extra energy costs. Plus, the filter is straightforward and easy to clean.

You’ll get an anti-tangling system, which means you don’t have to worry about the cable getting twisted and jumbled as the device cleans your pool. Plus, the Dolphin Nautilus has a cord that extends out to 50 feet, which is long enough to cover most pools.

Dolphin’s robot pool cleaners use the latest and most reliable navigation technology to scan and clean your pool. Its Clever Clean system allows the robot to determine the best route to take as it goes about its cycle. That means regardless of the shape of your swimming pool, this robot pool cleaner will get the job done.

Features

The Dolphin Nautilus has no shortage of features available, which means you know you’re getting your money’s worth out of this high-quality robot pool cleaner. Here are some of the features available on this robot pool cleaner which you might find useful.

Reliable Build and Design

Even though this robot pool cleaner is a little heavier than others available on the market, it’s robust and durable, which means you won’t need to replace it a few years down the road. Checkin in at 30 pounds, the Nautilus sports a black finish with a high-capacity filter, which you’ll notice thanks to its blue coloring.

The Nautilus uses four gears, which ensure that your pool is getting the attention it deserves. You’ll find that the 50-foot anti-tangle cable is connected through the top of the device, which keeps it from getting in the way during a cleaning cycle. Its water-proof and dirt repelling surface means you’re getting a pool cleaner that will work over the long haul.

Organized and Easy to Use

Instructions on how to use the Dolphin Nautilus are comprehensive and straightforward. Basically, all you have to do is turn on the unit and it will begin to make its way around your pool, scanning for contaminants.

Additionally, the Dolphin Nautilus will save you both time and energy as it gives you the option of a weekly timer. Just set it for the day and time you want it to run. For maximum efficiency, you might consider setting it to run for two hours, instead of the three-hour default.

Energy and Noise Efficient

After using the Dolphin Nautilus for a few cleanings, you’ll notice that it uses less energy than other pool cleaners on the market. Thanks to integrated weekly time functionality and its Clever Clean Technology, the Nautilus is a very efficient robot pool cleaner.

The Nautilus is also a quiet device. That means it’s not going to interrupt your conversations or disturb your neighbors as it goes about cleaning your pool. It can run any time of the night or day without causing disruptions to those around you.

Scanning Capabilities

Nowadays, you’re hard-pressed to find an automatic pool cleaner that doesn’t use some type of scanning technology. Doing so makes the robot more efficient, which helps save you money. The Dolphin Nautilus is among the best when it comes to scanning capabilities.

Its intelligent cleaning feature studies the size and shape of your pool, scanning to determine the best path forward for the most effective and efficient clean. That means it will scrub, vacuum, and filter your entire pool in just a few short hours. This means its spending less time cleaning, which saves you money on your pool cleaning bill.

Easy to Maintain

Not only is the Dolphin Nautilus easy to use, but it’s also easy to maintain. For example, cleaning out the filter cartridges is simple and straightforward. Installing and cleaning the screens that gather the dirt and debris in your water takes no time at all.

Additionally, the Nautilus includes a one-year warranty, which begins on the date of purchase. The warranty includes replacement parts, spare parts, and labor.

Pros and Cons

The Dolphin Nautilus robot pool cleaner is a great option if you’re looking for an automated way to keep your pool looking good. However, it does have a few drawbacks. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of the Dolphin Nautilus:

Pros

• Efficient and thorough cleaning capability
• Quiet operation compared to other robot cleaners
• Saves on time and energy
• Easy to use
• High-quality navigation technology built-in
• Includes a one-year warranty

Cons

• Have trouble with large debris like twigs and leaves
• Has a difficult time cleaning angles and corners

Dolphin Nautilus Plus

The Dolphin Nautilus Plus has a lot in common with the Dolphin Nautilus. This high-quality robot pool cleaner consistently ranks near the top of the list for pool cleaners and is currently the best selling Dolphin option on the market.

Like the Dolphin Nautilus, the Plus is designed for scrubbing the walls, floors, and waterlines of your pool. It includes a 60-foot anti-tangle swivel cable, so you don’t have to worry about the unit getting wound around its own cord.

This robot pool cleaner will clean pools of all shapes, sizes, and types. No matter what kind of pool you have in your back yard, chances are good that the Dolphin Nautilus Plus can get it clean. However, if you have a larger pool, this is the robot pool cleaner for you. Its longer cable means it will reach areas where the Nautilus won’t.

Features

The Nautilus Plus checks in at a svelte 19 pounds, dropping eleven pounds from its counterpart. That means you’ll have an easier time getting it out of the pool when it finishes its cleaning cycle. This robot pool cleaner has other features as well. Read on to find out more about what this device has to offer.

Anti-tangle Swivel Cable

Like most of the robot pool cleaners in the Dolphin lineup, the Nautilus Plus comes with an anti-tangle swivel cord which moves around and rotates as the unit moves throughout your pool. Many automated pool cleaners that don’t have this capability may wind up getting stuck. Plus, the swivel has a buoy which prevents the cord from getting in the robot’s way as it cleans.

Here, the Nautilus Plus sets itself apart from the Nautilus. You’ll get an additional 10 feet of cable, so if you have a larger pool, the Nautilus Plus is the way to go.

Lightweight

As we mentioned, the Nautilus Plus only weight 19 pounds. Comparatively, other robot pool cleaners on the market can weight up to 40 pounds! If you own an average-sized pool, the Nautilus Plus will have no problem getting it cleaned. Plus, you’ll save your back since you won’t have to strain to pull it out every time the filters need emptying.

Avoids Obstacles

Instead of randomly moving around the pool, the Nautilus Plus learns the location of ladders, drains, and other obstacles so it can avoid them while it cleans. This technology, which Dolphin refers to as “CleverClean” means your Nautilus Plus will clean in a fast, efficient manner that many other robot pool cleaners on the market can’t match.

Climbing the Walls

The lighter, easier to manage Nautilus Plus performs just as well as the Nautilus when it comes to climbing and cleaning the walls of your pool. That means you don’t have to worry about cleaning the waterline since the Nautilus Plus will get it done for you. Many robot pool cleaners don’t offer this type of functionality.

Top Exit Filtration

A lot of robot pool cleaners expel water from the rear as they clean. This type of design is flawed since some units just kick out nearby leaves and dirt and swirl them around. They don’t actually get the water clean. Rear exit filtration keeps debris from being sucked up and gathered into the cleaner. The Nautilus Plus, however, uses a top exit filtration system. This forces dirt and other contaminants up from the bottom where it exits through a vent located on top of the device.

Nautilus Plus Challenges

The Nautilus Plus is a fantastic robot pool cleaner and is going to get the job done for the vast majority of the pools out there. For instance, if you’ve been using a traditional vacuum to clean your pool, you’ll notice a marked improvement. Automated pool cleaners are much easier to use, don’t require near as much energy, and are much more efficient than older systems.

However, that doesn’t mean that the Nautilus Plus doesn’t have aware where it could improve. There are a few areas we would like to see addressed in the next iteration of the Nautilus robot pool cleaner.

Incompatible with MyDolphin Mobile App

The MyDolphine smartphone app is relatively new, but that shouldn’t excuse Dolphin from not including compatibility with the Nautilus Plus. The app lets you set up a scheduled cleaning or even control your pool cleaner like you would a remote control car. It’s unfortunate that the Dolphin Nautilus Plus is not compatible with it.

Traditional Pools Only

If you have a saltwater pool, forget about using the Nautilus Plus. This robot pool cleaner is only meant for use with a traditional chlorine-filled pool. If you use it to clean your saltwater pool, your warranty is automatically void.

Trouble with Steps

The Dolphin Nautilus Plus does a fantastic job cleaning the floors and walls of your pool, however, steps present the robot with problems. Since they don’t curve away from the floor of the pool, the Nautilus Plus often ignores them and continues on its cleaning cycle.

Pros and Cons

Here are a few of the drawbacks and benefits you’ll experience with the Dolphin Nautilus Plus:

Pros

• Siphons dirt and debris from your pool effectively. When the device is in the pool, it does its job well.
• Is quiet when in operation. Some robot cleaners are loud and make a lot of noise. The Nautilus Plus doesn’t.
• Performance is in-line with other more expensive robot cleaners on the market.
• Easy to set up, use, and maintain. No installation required.
• Comes with a 60-foot anti-tangle swivel cable, so you don’t have to worry about jumbled cords.
• Lightweight and easy to clean
• Top exit filtration system

Cons

• Doesn’t do very well with picking up large debris like twigs and leaves

Comparison Chart

Here’s a quick look at how the Dolphin Nautilus and Nautilus Plus compare with one another:

Final Thoughts

Both the Dolphin Nautilus and the Nautilus Plus are excellent options when it comes to robot pool cleaners. Both offer the Clever Clean functionality, which scans your pool before cleaning to determine the best path to use. This means you’re getting an efficient and thorough clean no matter which robot pool cleaner you choose.

Both do an excellent job of getting the floors and walls of your pool sparkling clean. Plus, they both have excellent filtration systems that separate debris from your water to keep your pool looking good. For top of the line robot pool cleaners, both are affordable and won’t put a huge dent in your wallet.

What separates these two robot pool cleaners from one another is the size of the pool which they can clean. The Nautilus Plus comes with features that make it more appealing if you have a larger pool. Its tangle-free swivel cable is longer than the one that comes with the Nautilus and it offers filters that can handle bigger debris.

If you have a bigger pool, then you definitely want to go with the Nautilus Plus. Outside of that, it really boils down to how much you want to pay to have a little more functionality. The difference between the two is negligible, considering the overall costs of buying and maintaining the two pool cleaners.

Go with the Nautilus Plus if you aren’t worried about money and want a robot pool cleaner that doesn’t require as much attention. However, if you just want a pool cleaner that gest the job done, the Nautilus is an excellent choice. You won’t get some of the fancy bells and whistles available with other robot pool cleaners, but it will leave your pool looking good.