-
0
Shopping Cart
All orders qualify for risk-free 30 day trial & complimentary US shipping!
-- No items so far --
Total:
0
Support
Need help? Our Pool Experts are here to help.
All orders qualify for risk-free 30 day trial & complimentary US shipping!
-- No items so far --
Total:
0
Need help? Our Pool Experts are here to help.
By Brian Williamson | Written on April 9th, 2024
Gone are the days of set-it-and-forget-it convenience that pool owners everywhere relied on. With the absence of the weekly timer setting in the 2024 model of the Dolphin Nautilus CC, I was disappointed that Dolphin removed this feature. That's right, there is no longer a weekly timer on the Nautilus CC.
This decision from Dolphin places the Nautilus CC at a major disadvantage when compared to similar robots like the Dolphin Cayman. The Dolphin Cayman, which not only retained its weekly timer, introduced the optional NanoFilter upgrade to its MaxBin. This change highlighted the Nautilus CC’s shortcomings in both functionality and innovation.
A part of the Dolphin Nautilus lineup, the Nautilus CC is the entry-level cleaner. It works on all pools up to 33ft long. We evaluated the robot in a variety of pools. From an Intex above-ground pool to an inground gunite pool, it performed great – but there are a few notable missing features that you’ll want.
In our in-depth review, we put the Dolphin Nautilus CC to the test. With over 50+ robots tested in my search for the best robotic pool cleaner of 2024, we’ll see how the Dolphin Nautilus CC performs compared to other robotic pool cleaners. Is it still worth it or are there better options for a robotic pool cleaner?
First, we’ll dive into what is included in the box with the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus.
The Dolphin Nautilus CC’s setup is easy, especially compared to pressure-side and suction-side pool cleaners. The Dolphin Nautilus CC is preassembled and ready to be used right away.
To get started, simply toss the robot in the power, connect the cord to the power supply, and hit the power button. It’s super easy.
There is no weekly timer or app included in the Nautilus CC. It has a simple one button to start its 2-hour cleaning cycle.
Built for pools of all shapes and sizes, the Dolphin Nautilus CC is perfect for smaller inground or above-ground swimming pools. Improving upon units that strictly stick to the pool floor, like the Dolphin E10 and Dolphin Escape, cleans the pool floor and walls.
We tested the Nautilus CC in two pools: an inground 30ft gunite pool and inground 20ft vinyl pool. However, the Nautilus CC is also works in above-ground pools. It's a solid cleaner for pools up to 33ft in length.
The ability to “defy gravity” as it crawled up the side of the pool scrubbing away was quite impressive. The rotating scrubbing brush helped vacuum up leaves and twigs that fell into the pool.
Lower-priced units, such as those offered by Aiper’s cordless models, only vacuum or have a static brush. Not the Dolphin Nautilus CC. This is where the Dolphin brand excels. With a rotating scrubbing brush, it ensures the robot cleans and scrubs your pool’s surface – rather than just vacuuming it. The result? A cleaner pool.
This is a feature standard in most robots in its class as robots such as the Dolphin Cayman, Dolphin Explorer E20, and Dolphin S100, all of which also have wall climbing abilities and a rotating scrubbing brush. It isn’t anything too groundbreaking within the Dolphin brand, but it's something not included in other brands.
The top-loading filter of the Nautilus CC is easy to clean and use. Cleaning is as simple as lifting the top, grabbing the basket, and rinsing. A lot of models from other brands, like Aiper’s cordless pool robots, make you disassemble the robot to clean it, which can be a pain point.
The basket only utilizes the standard mesh filters. In our test pool, it did a great job with the larger leaves and debris. However, it did miss some sand and dirt we had sitting at the bottom of the pool.
If you want to clear sand, dirt, silt, and smaller debris, I recommend a robot with NanoFilters. Robots, such as the Dolphin Escape and Dolphin Cayman, currently include free NanoFilters with purchases that can be swapped into their MaxBin.
NanoFilters are innovative Gen-2 filters and are only found on the most advanced Dolphin pool robots. They clean deeper than the standard filters. As I covered in the robotic pool cleaner guide, these are a must-have for any pool owner. In all my testing, I've loved the results as they help keep the pool crystal clear.
The MaxBin is 50% larger than Gen-1 filter cartridges, like those found in the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus. So, it is quite an improvement. Combine with NanoFilters and you have the ultimate pool filter. But sadly the Nautilus CC does not have this option.
The power supply is a noticeable change over the previous generation of Dolphin Nautilus CC. In the previous Dolphin Nautilus CC model, it included a timer. Not anymore.
We were shocked when we noticed Dolphin swapped the weekly timer for a simple one-button power supply. This is the same power supply they use in the lower priced models such as the Dolphin E10 and Dolphin Escape, which are primarily above-ground cleaners. To say we were disappointed is an understatement.
Its older brother, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus, also got changed. As we covered in the Nautilus CC Plus review, it lost the onboard weekly timer for the one-button power supply with the app.
However, this switch was puzzling to us. As you can now use the app to schedule, you don’t get any extra options or functionality as you do in the premium models such as the Dolphin Sigma. So the only difference is you start the timer by pulling out your phone, rather than the convenience of starting it directly on the power supply.
However, Maytronics did not give the app or weekly timer to the Dolphin Nautilus CC. We were left to manually start the Dolphin Nautilus CC ourselves, rather than enjoying the automation of a weekly timer found in other models like the Dolphin Cayman.
We were shocked to find in reviews online that sellers of the Dolphin Nautilus CC may charge a restocking fee of up to 20-50% whether you use the robot or not. And we don’t think that is right.
Here at Pool Express, we do things differently. Every robotic pool cleaner includes a 30-day risk-free trial. Browse our large selection of Dolphin pool robots and try any robot in your pool for 30 days. Not the right fit? Simply return or exchange without any hidden fee.
Let’s talk about where the Dolphin Nautilus CC could improve: Weekly Timer and NanoFiltration
The lack of the weekly timer is where the Dolphin Nautilus CC lost me. Without the ability to automate cleanings, I could not get over having to manually start the robot every single day. I wanted to love this robot, but it simply seemed like a toned-down version of the Dolphin Cayman.
Secondly, NanoFilters. The Dolphin Nautilus CC does not have nanofilters for its filter basket. It only includes the standard mesh filters, which did a good job at the leaves and larger debris but failed at capturing smaller dirt and algae in my pool. The newer Max-Series and ProLine have this filter, but the Nautilus CC hasn’t got this upgrade yet.
Lastly, I want to add the Dolphin Nautilus CC does not have an anti-tangle swivel or waterline cleaning ability. If you have a smaller inground or above-ground pool, this is not something you’ll need. But if you have a larger pool, it is worth looking into.
There are a lot of alternative robots that are simply better values. The lack of a weekly timer and NanoFilters compared to models in a similar budget, really set the Dolphin Nautilus CC back.
It is a solid cleaner, but there are better options out there.
To improve upon the Dolphin Nautilus CC, you’ll want two things: NanoFilters and the Weekly Timer. Here are some robots that have both:
The easiest upgrade is the Dolphin Cayman, which is a part of the Dolphin Max-Series. It does everything with the Nautilus CC and adds several needed features. In the same class as the Nautilus CC, the 2024 Cayman improves upon the Nautilus CC with the addition of a weekly timer and optional NanoFilter panels.
Simply set the weekly timer and forget about it. As we covered in our Dolphin Cayman review, you only have to clean the Cayman at the end of the week. Add the NanoFilter panels and the Dolphin Cayman becomes an all-in-one cleaning solution.
Read about my review of the Dolphin Cayman →
Combining the best between the ProLine and Max-Series, the Dolphin Quantum offers an upgraded performance. With the addition of waterline cleaning, a longer 60ft cord with anti-tangle swivel, and a larger XXL MaxBin, the Quantum is the perfect pool cleaning solution.
Read about my review of the Dolphin Quantum →
If you want the best of the best, the Dolphin Premier is it. Rated the best robotic pool cleaner by USA Today, the Premier stands out as one of the top robotic pool cleaners of the year.
With Multi-Media, the Premier includes NanoFilters, and Standard Filters, and is the only Dolphin that has a Leaf Bag. With waterline cleaning ability, Media Alert real-time filter tracking, a weekly timer, and a 3-year warranty, the Dolphin Premier utilizes commercial-grade motors from the ProLine.
