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The Dolphin Nautilus Plus is a field-tested cleaner that comes with the most important advanced features and the reliable cleaning ability we’ve come to expect from the Dolphin brand.
It also comes with an efficient intelligent pool navigation, dual scrubbing brushes and excellent wall-climbing ability.
With a simple plug-and-play setup and one-button operation, this is a no-fuss, no-muss vacuum for your pool.
The dual-filtration system captures every bit of debris as its DC motor propels the unit smoothly across the pool floor and up the walls.
If you are looking for a pool cleaner that is reliable season after season, then you can’t go wrong with the Nautilus Plus.
NOTE: If this is not the robotic pool cleaner you’re looking for, then check out my robot pool cleaner reviews and buying guide for other recommendations.
Cleaning Ability
The Dolphin Nautilus is one of Dolphin’s most proven units.
After 6 years in production and multiple upgrades, most verified owners remain happy with their Dolphin – and for good reason. It cleans floors very well, climbs walls and is very energy-efficient.
Of course, it’s not perfect – it doesn’t clean stairs as well as some others and it might shut down before the filters are completely full – but this thing just keeps on going and cleaning, day after day.
One of the reasons the Nautilus cleans so well is that it does not depend on random movements to clean the pool. Instead, it uses CleverClean pool-mapping and navigation Technology to ensure a thorough cleaning while saving time and energy.
When you place it in the water, it scans the size and shape of your pool and then calculates the optimal cleaning path.
Then, using the map, the Nautilus cleans your the entire pool in just 2 hours without leaving any spot untouched.
CleverClean technology also allows the Nautilus Plus to clean pools of different shapes just as quickly and efficiently.
This robot pool cleaner is fitted with tracks instead of wheels. This gives it a better grip on the pool surface and eliminates energy-wasting slippage. It also helps the Nautilus climb walls without flipping over backward – and it doesn’t get stuck on drains.
As it crisscrosses the pool floor and walls, two brushes get to work scrubbing debris and algae. They spin super-fast ensuring that even the most stubborn dirt comes off the walls and floor.
All those bits and particles are then suctioned through the filter along with leaves and bits of sand that were floating in the water and hiding in the corners.
There are two filters; one for the fine debris like sand and algae and another for the larger bits like small rocks and leaves.
This ensures that the pool cleaner leaves nothing behind.
The filter cartridges are also very easy to remove from the top for emptying and cleaning.
The only place this unit might struggle is when cleaning your stairs. Sometimes, for some pool owners the Nautilus flips over or refuses to climb.
Features We Like
1. Lightweight Design
The Dolphin Nautilus Plus weighs just 19 lbs. It may require a bit of elbow grease to lift out of the water, but it’s light enough for most people to handle with ease.
It also comes with a sturdy handle for lifting it in and out of the pool and for moving it from storage and back.
But if you find this heavy, you can also buy a caddy separately.
2. Swivel Cable
A 360-degree swivel keeps the cable from twisting on itself or around the robot as it cleans.
3. CleverClean Scanning Technology
I’ve already mentioned this above. This is a similar technology to the SmartNav system used in newer Dolphin pool robots such as the Dolphin Escape.
Instead of randomly wandering around the pool hoping to cover all of it, it scans the pool before cleaning to learn its shape and size. Then, it chooses the most efficient cleaning path.
This not only ensures that it covers every inch, it saves energy by reducing cleaning time.
4. Dual Scrubbing Brushes
Fast-spinning brushes scrub the pool’s surface, targeting stubborn dirt and algae that most other pool robots tend to miss.
The brushes can reach deep into corners to clean any hidden dirt.
5. Dual Filtration
As I mentioned, the Nautilus Plus comes with two filter cartridges.
One is a loose mesh which is perfect for filtering leaves and other large debris.
The other one is ultra-fine and is designed to capture smaller bits like sand and algae.
The cartridges are large and can be easily accessed without having to turn the robot over.
Pros
• Cleans pool floor and walls thoroughly & reliably
• Lightweight design
• Large top-access dual filters
• Swivel cable
• Easy setup and operation
Cons
• Doesn’t always clean stairs well
Specs
• Dry weight: 19 lbs
• Cycle time: 2.5 hrs
• 60 ft swivel cable
• For above-ground and in-ground pools up to 50 ft in length
• 3 yr warranty (triple the industry average)
Conclusion
Compared with other robotic pool cleaners, the Dolphin Nautilus Plus is a worthwhile investment if you really value reliability, durability and simplicity – and you want to spend less time and money cleaning your pool.
The Dolphin Nautilus is a proven cleaner that will keep your pool cleaner and healthier, leaving you and your family more time to enjoy it.
