During warm summer months, having an inground pool in your backyard is a treat. While pools offer hours of entertainment and quality time with friends and family, they are also notoriously difficult to clean and maintain.
No one wants to spend the entire time cleaning a pool and not leaving themselves with enough time to enjoy it. With that said, you also don’t want to neglect your pool, as it can become a huge hazard when left unattended.
Automatic pool cleaners provide the best of both worlds. They allow you to enjoy a sparkling pool all summer long, without having to spend hours physically scrubbing pool walls or removing debris from the water.
Dolphin is a leading name in the world of robotic pool cleaners, and their many models all seem to increase in design and efficiency.
Taking a closer look at the Dolphin Nautilus, Dolphin Nautilus CC, and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus will provide insight into whether or not newer, more expensive versions are truly worth the money.
Cleaning Ability
Before purchasing a robotic pool cleaner, you want to ensure that it can take on the entirety of your pool. The Dolphin Nautilus uses dual scrubbing brushes to take on dirt, debris, and other particles that can contaminate your pool floor, cove and walls. This model is designed to take on pools up to 50-feet in length and in just 3-hours results in a crystal-clear pool.
The Dolphin Nautilus CC features impressive brushes that work at twice the speed. A large front brush combined with durable tracks ensures that stuck-on debris is easily swept away and removed from your pool’s many surfaces. It also takes 3-hours to clean your pool completely, however, this model is ideal for pools 35 – 40 feet in length.
The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus features the same impressive active brushes found within the Dolphin Nautilus CC, and successfully rids your pool’s walls, floors and other surfaces of unwanted dirt, algae, leaves, and other particles.
Impressive friction is what causes this thorough clean. It can clean pools up to 50-feet in length in just 2.5 hours, and for this reason, it is more impressive than the other two models. When it comes to cleaning power, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is our top pick.
Dolphin Nautilus Video
Additional Features
There are certain additional features that also set these models apart from each other. The Dolphin Nautilus CC and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus both include an automatic timer function for added user convenience. Users can easily program two-hour cleaning cycles to run at several intervals throughout the week automatically. This means you can ensure you always have a clean pool on the weekends or when you return home from work.
The filter on these models is also slightly different. All of these models include a large capacity filter bag. However, the Dolphin Nautilus CC and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus also include the presence of a fine filter, which captures smaller particles that are floating in your water.
In addition, both of these models feature a hinged top, which provides you with quick and easy access to the cleaning filters. This makes cleaning them a breeze and ensures your pool cleaner can always work to the best of its abilities.
Once again, the Dolphin Nautilus CC and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus shine in this category and prove to be our top picks. The presence of a fine filter paired with an easy-to-access filtration system gives them a definite edge. In addition, the convenient timer is every pool owner’s dream and makes keeping your pool clean easier than ever.
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User-Friendly Features
The design of these automatic pool cleaners lives up to the Dolphin brand’s impressive standards.
Other pool cleaners drift through the water in random patterns, which usually results in parts of your pool not being thoroughly cleaned. All three of these models, however, feature Dolphin’s revolutionary Smart Navigation to scan your pool floor.
With that said, the Dolphin Nautilus CC and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus also include CleverClean Technology, which is a software system that determines what is the most efficient path for your pool cleaner to take while in use.
Other, outdated pool cleaners also have cords that can easily tangle when not supervised, which can ultimately hinder cleaning cycles. All of these Dolphin pool cleaners feature a patented swivel cable that ensures it can spin and rotate in every direction without the risk of tangling or kinking in the process.
Not to mention, all of these devices run independently of your pool’s pump or filter. This keeps energy costs lower than competitor’s models and ensures your energy bill will be lower in comparison.
Additional features like a 1-button operation and plug and play installation are also present within all of these models, making it hard to decide which is the superior unit. The Dolphin Nautilus, Dolphin Nautilus CC, and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus all feature intelligent, intuitive features that ensures every inch of your pool is completely cleaned.
The CleverClean Technology on the Dolphin Nautilus CC and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus once again gives them a slight edge over the less advanced Dolphin Nautilus.
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Video
Design & Portability
The design of these models also is worth mentioning. The Dolphin Nautilus has the most rudimentary design and is the heaviest of all three models, weighing in at 34.5 pounds. The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is the next heaviest at 19 pounds but features a more contemporary design and includes a built-in carrying handle for advanced portability.
The Dolphin Nautilus CC features a new sleek body style as well as a function that dispels all the interior water so that it is easier to carry when not in use. This model weighs just 14 pounds overall.
While the look of these cleaning tools is perhaps not the most important feature, the weight and overall portability are certain factors that should be considered. Of the three models, the Dolphin Nautilus CC is our pick in this category. It is the lightest, most portable, and still maintains an attractive modern look.
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Single Reviews
Nautilus | Nautilus CC | Nautilus CC Plus | Nautilus CC Supreme | Sigma | Premier | E10 | Advantage Ultra | C3 Commercial | Quantum | Cayman | Triton PS Plus | Oasis Z5i | Proteus DX3 | Escape
Differences Between the Dolphin Nautilus, Nautilus CC and Nautilus CC Plus
| Dolphin | Nautilus | Nautilus CC | Nautilus CC Plus |
| Pool Size | Up to 50 Ft | Up to 33 Ft | Up to 50 Ft |
| Pool Type | In-Ground | In-Ground | In-Ground |
| Cleaning Cycle | 3 Hours | 2 Hours | 2 Hours |
| Tangle-free Swivel | No | No | Yes |
| Cable Length | 60 Ft | 50 Ft | 60 Ft |
| Weight | 13 lbs | 13.8 lbs | 19 lbs |
| Dimensions | 22 x 18 x 13 in | 16 x 16 x 9 in | 16 x 10 x 16 in |
| Filtration | Fine and Large Debris | Fine | Fine, Ultra Fine |
| Filter | Basket, Top-load | Basket, Top-load | Cartridge, Top-load |
| Cleaning Coverage | Floor, Walls, Waterline | Floor and Walls | Floor and Walls |
| Brushes | 1 Brush | 1 Brush | 2 Brushes |
| Remote Control | No | No | No |
| Bluetooth / Wi-Fi | No | No | No |
| App | No | No | No |
| Weekly Timer | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Cycle Selector | No | No | No |
| Delay Mode | No | No | No |
| Full Bag Indicator | No | No | No |
| Automation Mode | Yes | Yes | No |
| Release/First Seen | Jan, 2014 | Jan, 2017 | Apr, 2015 |
Conclusion
All of these models have incredible features that are hallmarks of the Dolphin brand. With that said, the Dolphin Nautilus CC and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus clearly have the edge over the less impressive Dolphin Nautilus.
Because the Dolphin Nautilus CC has a lower price point but includes many of the same features as the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus, it is our overall pick. Its mid-range price, lightweight design, and ability to tackle even small particles and set-in debris makes the Dolphin Nautilus CC the best choice for consumers.
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Last Update: 2024-04-23 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
