Dolphin Escape vs Ecovacs Ultramarine P1
Researched by Riley Hart · prices checked Nov 12, 2026
As of Nov 12, 2026, the Dolphin Escape has no store price on file and the Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 costs $500. The Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 scores higher in our ranking (8.2 vs 8.1 out of 10). Pick the Dolphin Escape for above-ground pools up to about 30 ft. Pick the Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 for budget pools with sand or pollen. The Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 wins 1 of 1 points we can measure.
- Cleans
- Floor only
- Power
- Corded
- Runtime
- 90 min cycle
- Max pool
- Up to 30 ft long
Simple corded floor cleaner for above-ground and small pools
Full Dolphin Escape review, pros and cons →- Cleans
- Floor and walls
- Power
- Cordless
- Runtime
- Up to 3 h in Eco mode
- Max pool
- Floors up to 180 m2
Budget cordless pool robot with a 3 micron inner filter
Full Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 review, pros and cons →Side by side
| Dolphin Escape | Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | n/a | $500 |
| 3 year cost | n/a | $500 |
| Our score | 8.1/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Rank in Pool | #6 | #5 |
| Status | on sale | on sale |
| Warranty | 2 years (per The Pool Nerd; not confirmed on a Maytronics page) | n/a |
| Pool types | Above-ground pools, plus smaller in-ground pools (The Pool Nerd); gunite, plaster, vinyl and fiberglass floors (Bob Vila) | Fiberglass to pebble surfaces and various shapes (Ecovacs) |
| Cleans | Floor only; no waterline scrubbing and limited wall climbing (The Pool Nerd, Bob Vila) | Floor and walls with four roller brushes, plus platforms and slopes (Ecovacs); The Hook Up measured 99% floor, 81% walls and 38% stairs and bench, with waterline reach over 3 in; Digital Reviews found it does not clean steps |
| Power | Corded, 180 W with dual DC motors (The Pool Nerd); 40 ft cable with no swivel (Bob Vila, The Pool Nerd) | Cordless, 4,600 mAh lithium ion battery, 4,800 GPH suction (Ecovacs) |
| Runtime | 90 min cycle (Bob Vila) | Up to 3 h in Eco mode (Ecovacs); The Hook Up measured 2 h 9 min |
| Charge time | None needed, corded | Not published by Ecovacs; EFTM measured 3 h 40 min from 5% to full |
| Filter | Top load MaxBin basket; up to 4,000 gph suction (The Pool Nerd) | Dual layer, 180 micron outer and 3 micron inner (Ecovacs); The Hook Up found the bin very small |
| Max pool size | Up to 30 ft long (Bob Vila); The Pool Nerd says up to 33 ft in its roundup but advises against pools over about 30 ft | Floors up to 180 m2, about 1,937 sq ft (Ecovacs) |
| App | No app or weekly timer; one button start (The Pool Nerd, Bob Vila) | Ecovacs app with one time or recurring schedules, 3 modes and 3 power levels; Bluetooth drops underwater (Ecovacs, EFTM) |
| Weight | 14 lb (Bob Vila) | Around 10 kg, about 22 lb (Digital Reviews) |
| Warranty | 2 years (The Pool Nerd roundup) | Not stated on the Ecovacs US product page |
| Navigation | n/a | SmartNavi with IMU sensor, up to 99% floor coverage claimed, crosses 5.5 cm obstacles (Ecovacs) |
| Best for | above-ground pools up to about 30 ft | budget pools with sand or pollen |
| Skip if | you need wall and waterline cleaning | your pool fills with leaves |
Specs are maker claims unless a reviewer is named. Prices from the stores we link, checked daily.
What reviewers found
Dolphin Escape
- Bob Vila (9.5/10): Tested in a 24 ft above-ground pool. Setup took under 5 minutes and a 90 minute cycle gave a thorough clean. It is heavy to lift when full of water, can stop mid pool at cycle end, and the control box must come inside when it rains. Source
- The Pool Nerd: Pool Nerd Approved and named best above-ground and best entry level pick. The floor of an 8 x 20 ft test pool was much cleaner after about 30 minutes; it draws about 180 W. No timer, app, swivel or waterline scrubbing. The site earns affiliate commissions. Source
Ecovacs Ultramarine P1
- The Hook Up: Ran 2 h 9 min and covered 99% of the floor, 81% of walls and 38% of stairs and bench. Reached the coping at the waterline, captured silt well with the floss filter and leaked zero particles, but has a small bin and climbed the 8 in shelf enough to raise concern it could climb out. Named budget pick for sand, silt and pollen. Source
- EFTM (87%): Cleaned the test pool spotless in about 90 minutes and climbed walls and a two tier step. Charging from 5% to full took 3 h 40 min. Flipped upside down once after a wall climb. Source
Questions buyers ask
Which is better, the Dolphin Escape or the Ecovacs Ultramarine P1?
The Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 scores higher in our ranking (8.2 vs 8.1 out of 10). Pick the Dolphin Escape for above-ground pools up to about 30 ft. Pick the Ecovacs Ultramarine P1 for budget pools with sand or pollen.
What is the difference between the Escape and the Ultramarine P1?
Pool types: Above-ground pools, plus smaller in-ground pools (The Pool Nerd); gunite, plaster, vinyl… on the Escape, Fiberglass to pebble surfaces and various shapes (Ecovacs) on the Ultramarine P1. Cleans: Floor only; no waterline scrubbing and limited wall climbing (The Pool Nerd, Bob Vila) on the Escape, Floor and walls with four roller brushes, plus platforms and slopes (Ecovacs); The Hook… on the Ultramarine P1. Power: Corded, 180 W with dual DC motors (The Pool Nerd); 40 ft cable with no swivel (Bob Vila… on the Escape, Cordless, 4,600 mAh lithium ion battery, 4,800 GPH suction (Ecovacs) on the Ultramarine P1.
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