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By Brian Williamson | Written on May 7th, 2024
Maytronics’ top-shelf, the Dolphin M600 robotic pool cleaner has a lot going for it. It’s one of Dolphin’s most expensive robotic pool vacuum cleaners but includes a host of features like waterline cleaning, dual layer filter basket, smartphone app, and more. But do the features justify its hefty price tag?
At nearly $2,000, we wanted to put the Dolphin M600 to the test and see how it compares to the rest of Dolphin’s lineup. With a few similar models such as the Dolphin Explorer E70, which we reviewed a few weeks ago, it can be confusing.
With a big price tag, is it worth it? Or are you better off saving and going with one of Dolphin’s new ProLine series that includes NanoFilters, Commercial-Grade Motors, and the same 3-year warranty? Let’s find out.
To start, let’s go over what is in the box when you buy the Dolphin M600. Nothing stood out, as it is nearly identical across all Dolphin models, but here is what you can expect to be in the box:
If you’ve never owned a robotic pool cleaner before, the setup is super simple. You don’t need a booster pump and don’t need to assemble it. The Dolphin M600 robotic pool cleaner is ready right out of the box. Just unpack, plug it into a standard outlet, and the M600 is ready to connect.
The M600 utilizes Wi-Fi, rather than the onboard timer. Just download the myDolphin Plus app, and follow the instructions. I had it connected in less than 2 minutes and it walked me through everything!
From there, the M600 is now connected to your Wi-Fi – meaning you can simply connect and control your cleaner from everywhere. While this is great, I didn’t find myself using it much outside of the house – but it was a feature I enjoyed seeing.
The app itself has a great interface. It’s easy to read and set up compared to some other brands I have tested. From there, you can schedule your robot to clean when you want, control it, and even connect it to Siri.
The Pickup Mode is a unique feature that you only get in a few robots like the Dolphin M600 and Dolphin Explorer E70. This mode has the robot climb to the pool wall and stay there so you can grab it out of the water. The robot is very heavy and hard to lift out of the water – so I see why they added it.
The scrubbing brushes on the M600 are quite impressive. With front and rear brushes, they scrub your pool with a ton of power. With a flow rate of 4500 gallons per hour, it is on par with the Dolphin Sigma and Dolphin Premier. I would have liked to see some improvement here, especially to justify the cost.
However, just like other Dolphin pool cleaners I have tested, the Dolphin M600 is still a top-performing vacuum. With its powerful motors, it can vacuum up leaves, sand, and twigs in your pool.
Unlike pressure-side and suction-side cleaners, it actively cleans and scrubs rather than wandering around the pool. With CleverClean navigation, the M600 maps your pool out to find the best routes.
If you have followed my other reviews, you know how important pool coverage is. Some robotic pool cleaners just clean the pool floor. Not the Dolphin M600 though. It cleans your entire pool, from the floor to the waterline, which is a huge benefit.
The waterline is often the dirtiest part of your pool. The M600 climbs up the side of your pool and stays at the top scrubbing horizontally, ensuring a clean pool. While this feature is present in nearly all the top Dolphin robots, from the ProLine to the Nautilus lineup, it is something I would consider a must-have for an inground pool.
The top-loading dual-layer filter basket is great. It does a great job picking up small and large particles in the pool. I found it did a fantastic job on leaves. Filled nearly to the brim, the M600 did not disappoint in my testing.
While it does utilize the dual-layer filter basket, it does not include Dolphin’s new NanoFilters. While this isn’t the end of the world since it has the dual-layer filter basket, it is something I would have liked to see.
The M600 does not include the temperature sensor you’ll find in the Dolphin Explorer E70. While the Dolphin M600 looks nearly identical, it won’t have this feature as it is reserved for the E70 it seems. So, it is disappointing to pay so much for it to be missing this feature.
Besides that, the M600 has nearly everything you’ll need. But obviously, it comes at a hefty price tag that I am not sure is worth it.
You can only find the Dolphin M600 in-store at an Authorized Dolphin Dealer. Be wary of anyone selling it online, as it may void your warranty if not purchased by an Authorized Dolphin Dealer.
However, you can find the upgraded Dolphin Explorer E70 online. This robot includes the temperature sensor that is missing in the M600. It also has the advantage of being able to be shipped directly to your door and includes a 3-year warranty.
The Dolphin M600 is a fantastic cleaner and performs like a champ, but you’ll find that some other robots are a lot better value with the same flow rate, same 3-year warranty, and more filters for significantly less money. The biggest advantage of the M600 is the Pickup mode and top-loading basket, however, I would not say it justifies the higher price tag.
There are a lot of great alternatives to the Dolphin M600 if you want to save money and find the same great performance. Or if you want to upgrade to the top Dolphin Explorer E70 as well, the choice is yours.
The top Dolphin robotic pool cleaner, the Dolphin Sigma is the most advanced Dolphin ever made. With a gyroscope, three commercial-grade motors, quad brushes, and more, the Dolphin Sigma stands out with the myDolphin Plus app. The Sigma even includes NanoFilters for upgraded cleaning performance.
Read my review of the Dolphin Sigma →
The more filters the better. The Dolphin Premier takes a step forward by adding Multi-Media, Media-Alert, commercial-grade motors, a 3-year warranty, and more. With NanoFilters, an oversized Leaf Bag, and standard filters, the Premier comes with more filters than any other pool robot. Rated the best robotic pool cleaner by USA Today, the Dolphin Premier is the top robotic pool cleaner.
Read our Dolphin Premier Review →
The Dolphin Quantum is a great budget choice. While it doesn’t have the smartphone app or the 3-year warranty, the Quantum does include the XXL MaxBin, NanoFilters, Weekly Timer, and more. It’s one of the best values in all Dolphin robotic pool cleaners.
Read my review of the Dolphin Quantum →
The top Dolphin Explorer robot, the Dolphin Explorer E70 sits at the top of the Dolphin lineup. With the added temperature sensor, included caddy, and more, the Dolphin Explorer E70 is a great alternative to the Dolphin M600.
