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By Brian Williamson | Written on April 8th, 2024
The 2024 model of the Dolphin Explorer E20 has taken a disappointing turn, stripping away what many pool owners like me considered to be its most important feature: its Weekly Timer.
Without the weekly timer, pool owners can no longer just set and forget. The decision to remove this feature is not just a step back; it's a leap into obsolescence, forcing users to manually start the robot for every cleaning cycle.
In a stark contrast to its counterparts, the Dolphin Cayman which not only kept its weekly timer but also introduced an optional NanoFilter upgrade, the Explorer E20 now has a distinct disadvantage.
In my quest to find the best robotic pool cleaner, I’ve embarked on a journey of putting 50+ robotic pool cleaners in our test pools. I have tested nearly every pool robot from all the top brands including Aquabot, Polaris, Aiper, and Dolphin. With nearly every single Dolphin pool robot tested, we'll see how the Explorer E20 stacks up against the best Dolphin pool robots. In search of the best value and performance pool robots, here is my firsthand experience with the Dolphin Explorer E20.
The Dolphin Explorer E20 includes everything that you’ll need to get started. Here is what you’ll find in the box:
Setting up the Dolphin Explorer E20 is simple. Like other pool robots I reviewed, the Dolphin Explorer E20 requires no assembly or setup. Without a booster pump, everything is powered directly from the onboard motors of the Explorer E20.
To get started, you just toss the robot in the water, plug it in, and hit the power button. It’s truly plug-and-play.
The Dolphin Explorer E20 went straight to work when I turned it on. Vacuuming larger debris and leaves at the bottom of my pool. With a rotating scrubbing brush, it actively dislodges debris efficiently.
The Explorer E20 has floor and wall coverage. As the Explorer E20 approached the walls, it would scale up the 90-degree angle and start climbing up the walls of my pool.
In comparison to the Dolphin E10, which in my Dolphin E10 review I noted the limitations of only cleaning the pool floor, the wall climbing ability is quite impressive. The robot seems to defy gravity as it sticks to the wall scrubbing.
This is a feature standard in most robots in its class as robots such as the Dolphin Cayman, Dolphin Nautilus CC, and Dolphin S100, all of which also have wall-climbing abilities.
One of my favorite parts of the Explorer E20 is that it utilizes the top-loading filter basket. Cleaning the filter is straightforward. You just open the top, grab the filter, dump the debris, and rinse. Rather than taking apart the whole unit, like several Aiper models, it is a noticeable improvement.
My only complaint is the filter panels themselves. The basket utilizes several mesh panels on all four sides. They are great for larger debris like leaves and twigs, but they don’t clean as well as Dolphin’s NanoFilters.
Available in ProLine and Max-Series models, these filters increase water clarity and capture debris the standard filter misses. In our Dolphin Escape Review and Dolphin Cayman Review, which both include NanoFilters free with purchase at Pool Express, the performance was significantly improved over standard filters.
For the 2024 Dolphin Explorer E20, takes a major step back in user convenience and automation. It no longer includes the weekly timer functionality. In previous models, it did include it, but not anymore.
Without an app or weekly timer, you must restart the Dolphin Explorer E20 every time you want to clean. In comparison to the Dolphin Cayman, which I covered in my in-depth Cayman review, the contrast in user experience could not be any different.
With the Dolphin Cayman, you simply set the desired frequency that you want it to run at. From daily to every three days, the Cayman will automatically start and clean your pool at the desired frequency. At the end of the week, simply clean the filter.
In contrast to the Dolphin Explorer E20, I had to manually restart the robot daily. Had I forgotten to start the robot, it simply wouldn’t have cleaned my pool.
The lack of a weekly timer means the Dolphin Explorer E20 effectively strips the “automatic” from the automatic robotic pool cleaner. This change is significant, transforming what is a standout feature into a noticeable absence.
A big advantage of the Dolphin Explorer E20 is how lightweight it is. At only 14lbs, it is lightweight just like some of the other Dolphin models I tested that were similar. With some battery-operated cordless pool robots, they can be a pain to get out of the pool. Not the Explorer E20.
Retrieving the robot is easy. I simply tugged it gently towards the water's surface using its cord. Then, by grasping its built-in handle, I easily lifted it out of the pool.
Impressively, its quick water release system ensures that water effortlessly drains from the bottom, all while securely containing the debris in its filter basket. This was a significantly easier process than that required for other brands I've tested, which often required juggling a pool pole and robot simultaneously.
Weekly Timer and NanoFiltration.
When compared to similarly priced robots, such as the Dolphin Cayman, it lacks these crucial features that you’ll want as a pool owner.
The luxury of automating pool maintenance represents a significant upgrade and is a convenience that justifies the investment for many pool owners. The appeal of the robot automatically starting its cleaning cycle offers a huge benefit that the Explorer E20 is missing.
As we covered earlier in the review, NanoFiltration is an indispensable feature for modern robotic pool cleaners. Unfortunately, the Explorer E20 does not have these second-generation filters.
Without NanoFilters, the Dolphin Explorer E20 cannot capture and vacuum the microscopic particles in your pool. In short, the E20 falls short of offering the highest level of filtration and water clarity that you may find in other Dolphin robotic pool cleaners.
Nothing stands out about Dolphin Explorer E20. It is not an automatic robotic pool cleaner, but rather just a pool cleaner. The Explorer E20 is a simple online model that has now been stripped of some of its best features. It cleans well, but the lack of the weekly timer and no NanoFiltration sets it back, especially when other models similarly priced have them.
It's very hard for me to recommend the E20. After I have tested so many cleaners, the lack of a timer really hurts its case. The Dolphin Explorer lineup is solid, but usually they lack a few features that you'll find on other models. The Explorer E20 cleans great, but you can tell Maytronics cut some features in an attempt to save money.
In conclusion, the Dolphin Explorer E20 is not worth it. It is a solid pool cleaner, but you'll want the a weekly timer and NanoFilters that are missing in this cleaner. There are a few other Dolphin robots that have extra features you’ll want that allow full pool cleaning automation in the same price range.
There are quite a few alternatives if you’re not set on the Dolphin Explorer E20. Let’s cover some of the top alternatives that improve upon the E20.
The Dolphin Cayman, a part of the Dolphin Max-Series, offers a unique blend of MaxBin, optional NanoFiltration, and a Weekly Timer. Improving upon the Dolphin Explorer E20, it is an all-in-one automatic pool cleaning solution that does everything the Dolphin Explorer E20 can and more.
Read our review of the Dolphin Cayman →
If you want something more powerful than the Explorer E20, the Dolphin Quantum is it. The Dolphin Quantum utilizes waterline cleaning, NanoFilters, the larger XXL MaxBin, a weekly timer, and the longer 60ft cord with an anti-tangle swivel.
Apart from the ProLine and Max-Series, the Quantum is a little more of an upfront investment. But in our review, it delivered one of the best cleaning performances we have seen out of a robotic pool cleaner.
