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By Brian Williamson | Written on April 8th, 2024
The Dolphin E10 is the entry-level Dolphin pool robot. A part of the Explorer line, it provides a simplified, yet solid, cleaning performance for above-ground pools. There isn’t a lot to not like about the E10. It’s an affordable, reliable cleaner. But it’s missing a few things you find on the upgraded models. In my in-depth review, I’ll cover all you need to know before buying the Dolphin E10.
I’ve tested 60+ robotic pool cleaners. After using nearly every Dolphin model, I have been quite impressed. In the search for the best robotic pool cleaner, the Dolphin E10 came up. One of the more popular Dolphin models, let’s see how it performs and if it’s the right cleaner for your swimming pool.
The Dolphin E10 comes with everything you need to get started. Here is what was in the box:
What I love about robotic pool cleaners vs pressure-side and suction-side cleaners is the setup. Robotic pool cleaners require no assembly and are plug-and-play. So you won’t need to wire an additional booster pump. Just find a standard outlet and you’re good to go!
The Dolphin E10 is designed for above-ground pools only. With a track system like the rest of the Dolphin lineup, it is a level above other cleaners that only use wheels. Rather than just being pushed by a motor like battery-operated pool robots such as Aiper’s Seagull SE, the E10 motors move the tracks and filter water with two different motors. It’s by far worth the extra money.
The Dolphin E10 did a fantastic job in our pool. Solid and reliable, it cleaned our above-ground pool for two weeks. Capable of vacuuming leaves, acorns, and even little pebbles, the E10 was a huge improvement over the other brands’ top above-ground cleaners.
The only little quirk was turning. Because it only has one brush, it would pop a wheelie as the tracks spun in opposite directions. It looked a little funky, but it got the job done!
The E10 only cleans the floor. But, it cleans it well. With the active scrubbing brush, the E10 attacks anything in your above-ground pool. It went to work in my pool, picking up leaves and larger debris without any issues. If you’ve never used a robotic pool cleaner, it’s impressive – especially if you have had to deal with manually vacuuming your pool before.
Only cleaning the floor is common across above-ground pool cleaners, but you may want wall climbing like found on the Dolphin Cayman which is rated for both above-ground and inground pools. As we covered in our in-depth Cayman review, this can help keep the walls from growing algae as it scrubs the walls for you – rather than having to pull out the pool brush. It’s not the only benefit either. It also adds Nanofilter capability, a weekly timer, and more.
The top-loading filter basket is super easy to use. Compared to other above-ground pool cleaners which you need to disassemble the robot to get to the filter, the basket on the E10 is easily removed from the top. A latch pulls open, and the filter handle pops right up for removal.
In under 2 minutes, I had the E10 clean. Simply dump the vacuumed debris and rinse. It’s that easy.
My only disappointment with the E10’s filtration system is the lack of NanoFilters. Other cleaners in this range, such as the Cayman and Escape, have NanoFilter panels – which are even free at select Authorized Dolphin Dealers such as Pool Express.
These filters unlock a deeper clean that can capture small particles that cloud your pool water. The result? A cleaner swimming pool. In a lot of my testing over the last few months, these filters have outperformed. Time after time, they were able to vacuum and filter gunk out of the pool that other robots would miss.
The power supply is just a simple on / off button. When you hit it, the E10 starts a 1.5-hour cleaning cycle. It’ll automatically turn off, but without the weekly timer, you cannot set the Dolphin E10 to run daily without manually turning it on.
In my opinion, I wouldn’t settle for a cleaner that doesn’t have a weekly timer. After testing so many cleaners, the timer is essential for a cleaner to be an automatic robotic pool cleaner.
However, the struggle is finding a cleaner with it. The Explorer E20 used to include a timer, but not anymore. In my review of the Explorer E20, I discussed how disappointed I was that Dolphin removed the timer. You’d want to look into the Dolphin Cayman, Dolphin Quantum, or Dolphin Explorer E30 Wi-Fi if you want the ability to automate your pool cleanings.
Can you get by without a timer? Of course. It wouldn’t be difficult to start as needed, especially if you have an above-ground pool. But don’t get caught up thinking you could just use an external 3rd party timer, because it doesn’t work. Due to the limitations of the power supply setup, Maytronics claims you cannot use an external timer. I tested it, and an external timer can’t start the E10 automatically. So if this is a feature you want, make sure to look into it before you buy!
As I covered, I was frustrated with the lack of a timer and Nanofilters. Beyond that, it’s a solid cleaner for its price tag. While wall climbing would be beneficial, it isn’t a feature found on a lot of above-ground robots, so I won’t dock points.
The cleaning coverage is solid, just like the rest of the Dolphin Explorer and other Dolphin robotic pool cleaners. It doesn’t stand out of the lineup, but it’s a solid entry-level cleaner.
At the current price of $499, it’s hard to compete with the Dolphin E10 if you’re on a strict budget. It’s a solid cleaner without all the bells and whistles - but its missing a lot.
Do I recommend a cleaner with a programmable timer and Nanofilters over the E10? Yes.
The quality of life and user-friendliness of these two features are well worth the extra investment that you’ll find on the Dolphin Cayman. With an increased cleaning ability, it’s still a solid cleaner that won’t be overkill on an above-ground pool.
If you’re not set on the E10 or haven’t made your choice for your above-ground pool, here are some options to consider. Read more in-depth reviews or shop these cleaners at Pool Express.
The Dolphin Cayman is an upgrade in every way to the Dolphin E10. With wall climbing, a programmable weekly timer, and NanoFilter panel options, the Cayman makes cleaning your above-ground pool simple.
It’s a part of Dolphin’s new Max-Series. With the MaxBin, HyperBrushes, and more, this new lineup makes pool cleaning easy.
Read the full Dolphin Cayman Review →
The Dolphin Explorer E20 is the next step up from the Dolphin E10 as it adds wall climbing to the mix. I wouldn’t recommend it over the Cayman, as it doesn’t have the weekly timer nor optional Nanofiltration, but it still is a solid upgrade.
Read our full Dolphin Explorer E20 Review →
Rated the Best Above-Ground Pool Robot, the Dolphin Escape utilizes HyperBrush, MaxBin, and optional NanoFilters to clean your pool. With floor coverage, the Dolphin Escape is the perfect above-ground pool companion
