Dolphin Active 40 versus Dolphin Premier®

Compare the Dolphin Active 40 to the Dolphin Premier

Both the Dolphin Premier and Dolphin Active 40 are designed to clean your pool's floor, walls, and waterline. Breaking down their filters, the Dolphin Premier® includes 3 filter options (with a 4th optional). The Dolphin Active 40 includes only one filter option, the Standard Cartridge Filter, but won't include the Oversized Leaf Bag or the NanoFilter Filter. The Dolphin Premier has a 50% longer warranty compared to the Active 40. The Premier has a 3-year best-in-class warranty, while the Dolphin Active 40 has a 2 year warranty.

Ultimate Pool Coverage of the pool floor, walls, and waterline

Filter Options

What’s even better than having 2 sets of filtration options? How about 3 or 4. There’s only one Dolphin pool cleaner with this feature. Multi-Media is a Dolphin Premier exclusive feature. Premier includes Fine, NanoFilters, and a Leaf Bag. In addition, you can get disposable filter bags so you can just toss ‘em in the trash when you’re done. You can even subscribe to a service to ship these monthly.

Premier's Multi-Media® Technology - 3 Filter Options Included

Robotic pool cleaners with multiple filter media let you customize your pool’s cleaning job based on its needs that day. Use an NanoFilter filter to capture smaller particles, use a standard cartridge for a regular clean, use the oversized leaf bag after a storm, and perhaps disposable for the really dirty jobs.

The Active 40 comes with one filter option, while the Premier® has Multi-Media®, which offers four different filter media options. This gives you the ability to customize your cleaning based on your pool's needs. If you need to pick up leaves, you can use the oversized leaf bag or disposable leaf bag. If you need to clean up regular debris, you can use the fine filter cartridge. Finally, if you need to pick up fine dust and other micro particles, you can use the NanoFilter cartridge.

The Dolphin Premier includes:

• Oversized Leaf Bag
• Standard Cartridge Filter Set
• NanoFilter™ Cartridge Set
• Optional Disposable Debris Bag (sold separately)

The Dolphin Active 40 includes:

• Standard Cartridge Filter

Unlock Your Robot’s Full Potential

There are two types of filters available on modern robotic pool cleaners. The first generation robots will have a filter consisting of a large pore plastic mesh. The second generation type is the NanoFilter™ cartridge, which is a high-efficiency particulate filter. The large pore mesh filter is the more basic type and is found on many discount pool cleaners, while the Nanofilter is the more advanced option. Under a microscope, you can see the Nanofilter’s individual fibers intersecting to create a tight mesh. This webbed structure is able to sieve even the smallest of micron particles. Additionally, the filter’s deep pleats provide a larger surface area, meaning more waterborne particles can be trapped while having relatively low resistance to waterflow.

NanoFilter™ vs Standard Filter

The NanoFilter™ also has the benefit of being able to absorb oil, which is beneficial for keeping sunscreen and scum lines from forming on the pool’s surface. Overall, the pleated Nanofilter is more efficient than the plastic mesh filter at capturing all types of microscopic waterborne particles, including pollen, algae, bacteria, pet dander, and other debris. Not only does this improve the amount of contaminants that are removed from the water, but it also leads to a higher level of clarity and sparkle in the pool. The Nanofilter serves as an important booster to the pool’s main filter, and for this reason, it is the preferred choice for many pool owners.

The NanoFilters™ capture more dirt, sand, and even oil out of your pool than the standard filter cartridges, making a NanoFilter™ a must-have for any pool robot. Without it, these particles will be left inside of your pool and can lead to poor water chemistry.

Ease of Use

Both robots have a similar setup process and weigh about the same. To set up either one, simply plug the power supply into an outdoor outlet, plug the unit into the power supply, drop the unit into the water, and press start. Both robots have a weekly timer with options for daily, every other day, and every three-day cycles.

Oversized Leaf Bag, a Dolphin Premier Exclusive

Cleaning Performance

In terms of cleaning performance, the Dolphin Premier® is capable of cleaning pool floors, walls, and waterline (also called the scum line), which is the most vulnerable part of the pool to dirt, grime, and algae buildup. This is especially important for robotic pool cleaners because if the bot doesn't clean the scum line, you'll still need to manually brush the pool afterwards. The Dolphin Active 40 also covers your entire pool, including the pool floor, walls, and waterline.

Full Filter Indicator

A Full Filter Indicator will let you know when the filter bag is full and needs to be cleaned, as well as when it is partially blocked and needs to be cleared out. This full filter indicator is on the Dolphin Premier and Dolphin Active 40 to help you know when it is time to clean.

Anti-Tangle Swivel

Both models come with an anti-tangle swivel to minimize cord tangling. This helps both robots clean with power and precision in your swimming pool. The Patented Tangle Free Swivel from Maytronics allows the robot to rotate 360 degrees without your cord getting tangled.

Warranty

The Premier® offers a longer warranty: 36 months (3 years) compared to the Active 40' 24 month warranty (2 years).

Which is the better pool robot?

Overall, the Dolphin Premier offers more customizable filter options, an Oversized Leaf Bag, and a 50% longer warranty when compared to the Dolphin Active 40.