# Dolphin vs Beatbot: corded reliability or cordless convenience

Dolphin vs Beatbot is mostly a choice between corded and cordless. Dolphin's corded robots run on a weekly timer with no battery to wear out, while Beatbot's cordless robots skip the cable and add surface skimming but need charging and lifting after each run.

Updated Oct 15, 2026. HTML version: https://robotsforthat.com/guides/dolphin-vs-beatbot/

## Short answer

Buy a corded Dolphin if you have an in-ground pool and want a robot that runs itself on a weekly timer: the Premier ($2,499 list) is the reviewer favorite and the Cayman ($1,129) is the budget option. Buy a Beatbot if you hate cables and want floor, wall, waterline and surface cleaning in one robot: the Sora 70 ($1,199) is the value pick and the AquaSense 2 ($799) scores highest in our ranking. Beatbot gives 3 years of warranty on most models; Dolphin gives 3 years on the Premier and Sigma but only 1 to 2 years on its cheaper robots.

| Robot | Power | Price (Oct 15, 2026) | Cleans | Warranty | Our score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dolphin Sigma | Corded, weekly timer, app | $2,999 | Floor, walls, waterline | 3 years | Not scored |
| Dolphin Premier | Corded, weekly timer, no app | $2,499 | Floor, walls, waterline | 3 years | 6.8/10 |
| Dolphin Cayman | Corded, weekly timer | $1,129 | Floor and walls (no waterline listed) | 2 years | Not scored |
| Dolphin Nautilus EON 120d | Cordless, app | $1,199 | Floor, walls, waterline, steps, 8 in ledges | 1 year | Not scored |
| Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra | Cordless, app | $2,549 | Floor, walls, waterline, surface, clarifier | 3 years full replacement | Not scored |
| Beatbot Sora 70 | Cordless, app | $1,199 | Floor, walls, waterline, surface, 8 in platforms | 3 years | 8.0/10 |
| Beatbot AquaSense 2 | Cordless, app | $799 | Floor, walls, waterline | 3 years full replacement | 8.8/10 |
| Beatbot Sora 10 | Cordless, app | $699 | Floor, walls, waterline, 12 in platforms | 2 years | Not scored |

## Corded vs cordless: the real difference

Dolphin, made by Maytronics, built its name on corded robots. A floating cable runs from a power supply by the pool, so the robot never runs out of charge. Every corded Dolphin in our list has a weekly timer: you drop it in and it cleans on schedule. The cost is a cable that can tangle and a power supply that sits on the deck.

Every current Beatbot is cordless. You charge it out of the pool, drop it in, and lift it out when it is done. Beatbot's charge times run about 3.5 to 4.5 hours. The upside is no cable, plus surface skimming on the Sora 70 and AquaSense 2 Ultra, which Dolphin's corded models do not do.

The Pool Nerd, an affiliate site that prefers corded robots, says it does not recommend any cordless model over a corded one, citing battery fade during a run, battery wear over years and the daily charge and retrieve routine. Beatbot's own comparison blog argues the opposite, pointing to tangle free operation and surface cleaning. Both have a commercial interest, so weigh the facts rather than the conclusions.

## The two lineups

Dolphin's corded range in our list runs from the Cayman ($1,129, pools up to 40 ft, 2 year warranty) to the Premier ($2,499, up to 50 ft, multi layer filters, 3 years) and the Sigma ($2,999, adds the MyDolphin Plus app, 3 years). Its cordless entry is the Nautilus EON 120d ($1,199), which reaches sun ledges as shallow as 8 inches and uses a DebrisLock ultra fine filter. Maytronics lists only a 1 year warranty on that model's page.

Beatbot's range runs from the Sora 10 ($699, 2 year warranty) to the AquaSense 2 ($799), the Sora 70 ($1,199) and the AquaSense 2 Ultra ($2,549). The Ultra adds surface skimming, water clarification, a 13,400 mAh battery and a two layer 150 µm and 250 µm filter. Beatbot calls its 3 year cover on the Ultra a full replacement warranty with free pickup and delivery.

Note that Dolphin's Maytronics list prices are high and dealers often sell below them. The Pool Nerd quotes about $1,500 for the Premier, well under the $2,499 Maytronics list price in our profile.

## Filtration

Filtration is where Dolphin has the edge. The Premier takes a bottom load filter bag or cartridges with a fine filter kit, and the Sigma ships with fine and ultra fine filters. The Pool Nerd called Dolphin's NanoFilters the best filtration it has tested from any brand.

Beatbot uses mesh baskets. The Sora 10, Sora 70 and AquaSense 2 use 150 µm baskets, and The Smart Home Hookup noted the Sora 10's basket will not trap algae or fine silt. Beatbot sells optional ultra fine baskets for the Sora models at $59.99 each, rated for about 40 cycles.

## What reviewers found

In a direct comparison, The Pool Nerd picked the Dolphin Premier over the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra. It found the Premier's suction strong from start to finish and its filters better, while the Ultra's suction seemed to fade late in a cycle, it sometimes left fine silt, and debris drifted out of its basket when lifted. It also noted the Ultra weighs about 30 lbs dry against about 20 for the Premier.

Other reviewers liked the Ultra more. Android Authority gave it an Editor's Choice for pulling more debris than other robots, and Reviewed found it did an excellent job on the floor and walls but could not clean a shallow Baja shelf. Reviewed called the Sora 70 an excellent value that cleaned the floor, walls, steps and Baja shelf, though it missed some leaves and seed pods and lost its app connection underwater.

Bob Vila gave the Dolphin Premier 9/10 after testing it in a Miami pool and the Beatbot AquaSense 2 4.5/5 after three months in a leafy Florida pool. PCWorld found the Dolphin EON 120d's filter trapped all debris types but was a pain to empty, and the robot sometimes flipped onto its back.

## Running costs

Corded Dolphins have no battery to replace, but their brushes wear. Maytronics says to replace climbing brushes every 12 to 18 months, which our profiles price at about $100 to $125 over 3 years for the Sigma and Premier and about $40 for the Cayman. Bob Vila measured the Premier's power use at about 5 cents per hour.

Beatbot robots have few required parts costs listed. The optional items are the Sora ultra fine baskets and the Ultra's AquaRefine clarifier at $59.99 per two bottle kit. The long term cost to watch is the battery, which The Pool Nerd warns will degrade over time.

## Who should buy which

- In-ground pool, want it fully automatic: corded Dolphin Premier, or the Sigma if you want app control.

- Small in-ground or above-ground pool on a budget with no cable worries: Dolphin Cayman, if your pool is under 40 ft.

- Want a cordless robot that also skims the surface: Beatbot Sora 70.

- Want the cheapest well reviewed cordless robot: Beatbot AquaSense 2.

- Fine sand or silt is your main problem: a corded Dolphin with fine filters, or the cordless EON 120d.

- Skip cordless if lifting a 22 to 30 lb robot after every run is a problem.

## Questions people ask

### Is Dolphin better than Beatbot?

For automatic, set and forget cleaning of in-ground pools, reviewers such as The Pool Nerd favor corded Dolphins. Beatbot is better if you want no cable and surface skimming. In our ranking, the Beatbot AquaSense 2 (8.8) and Sora 70 (8.0) score above the Dolphin Premier (6.8), partly because they cost less.

### Does Dolphin make cordless robots?

Yes. The Nautilus EON 120d is cordless, costs $1,199 at Maytronics and cleans sun ledges as shallow as 8 inches. Maytronics lists a 1 year warranty on it.

### Does Beatbot make corded robots?

No. All Beatbot models in our list are cordless and charge out of the pool.

### What warranty do Dolphin and Beatbot give?

Dolphin gives 3 years on the Premier and Sigma, 2 years on the Cayman and 1 year on the Nautilus EON 120d listing. Beatbot gives 3 years on the AquaSense 2, AquaSense 2 Ultra and Sora 70, and 2 years on the Sora 10.

### Which is better for leaves?

Bob Vila found the corded Dolphin Premier handled leaf litter well. Reviewed found the Beatbot Sora 70 missed some leaves and seed pods under a ficus tree.

## Sources

1. [The Pool Nerd: Dolphin Premier vs Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra](https://www.thepoolnerd.com/dolphin-premier-vs-beatbot-aquasense-2-ultra)
2. [The Pool Nerd: Best cordless robotic pool cleaners](https://www.thepoolnerd.com/best-cordless-robotic-pool-cleaners)
3. [Reviewed: Beatbot Sora 70 review](https://www.reviewed.com/home-outdoors/content/beatbot-sora-70-robot-pool-cleaner-review)
4. [Beatbot: AquaSense 2 Ultra product page](https://beatbot.com/products/aquasense-2-ultra)
5. [Beatbot: Beatbot vs Dolphin blog](https://beatbot.com/blogs/robotic-pool-cleaner/beatbot-vs-dolphin-pool-cleaner-which-is-better)
6. [Maytronics: Dolphin Nautilus EON 120d](https://www.maytronics.com/en-us/robotic-pool-cleaners/dolphin-residential-pool-cleaners/cordless/dolphin-nautilus-eon-120d/99994411-PC.html)