Dolphin Active 10 Vs E10: The Ultimate Showdown
Last month, my trusty old pool cleaner finally gave up after years of loyal service, leaving me researching replacements. After comparing numerous robotic pool cleaners, I narrowed my options to two popular Dolphin models: the Active 10 and the E10. I tested both extensively in my above ground pool, and I’m excited to share my findings.
Dolphin E10 vs Active 10: Quick Comparison
| Feature | Dolphin E10 | Dolphin Active 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | More budget-friendly | Premium price point |
| Cleaning Cycle | 2 hours | 1.5 hours |
| Wall Climbing | Basic wall climbing | Enhanced wall climbing with waterline cleaning |
| Weekly Timer | No | Yes (3 options) |
| Anti-Tangle Swivel | No | Yes |
| Best For | Smaller above ground pools | Larger pools with more features |
Pool Cleaner Performance: Floor and Walls
Both the Dolphin E10 and Active 10 excel at their primary job, cleaning your pool floor and walls. They efficiently remove debris and scrub away algae, leaving your pool spotless.
The Active 10 navigates more intelligently, rarely missing spots and paying special attention to the dirtiest part of any pool, where the floor meets the walls. Its enhanced brushes attack stubborn dirt with remarkable efficiency.
The E10, while still thorough, occasionally needs a second pass to catch everything. For regular maintenance where there isn’t heavy debris, the E10 performs admirably on both the floor and walls.
Wall Climbing Capabilities
The Dolphin Active 10 excels at wall climbing, confidently scaling the sides of your pool and cleaning the waterline—that troublesome area where oils and sunscreen accumulate. It handles the transition from floor to wall smoothly, where many pool robots struggle.
The Dolphin E10 does climb walls but doesn’t consistently reach the waterline. In my pool, it managed to climb about 80% of the way up. It still cleans walls effectively, just not with the same waterline coverage as the Active 10.
Dolphin E10: Budget-Friendly Excellence
The E10 has become one of Dolphin’s best sellers for good reason. Designed for above ground pools up to 30 feet, it works effectively on vinyl, fiberglass, and tile surfaces.
Its active brushing system rotates at twice the speed of the robot itself, scrubbing away algae and bacteria. What makes the E10 particularly appealing is its simplicity—plug it in, drop it in your pool, and two hours later, you’ve got a clean pool with minimal effort.
The E10’s filters efficiently capture debris and prevent it from escaping back into your pool. The top-loading filter basket makes maintenance straightforward—simply open the top, remove the basket, rinse with a hose, and you’re done.
Dolphin Active 10: Premium Features
The Active 10 offers enhanced features that justify its higher price. The most notable upgrade is the weekly timer, allowing you to set a cleaning schedule so your pool robot works automatically every day, every other day, or every third day.
Another significant advantage is its anti-tangle swivel cord. If you’ve used robotic pool cleaners before, you know cord tangling can be frustrating. The Active 10’s swivel feature allows free movement without the cord becoming a knotted mess—something noticeably absent on the E10.
The Active 10 also uses a more advanced scanning system that maps your pool for optimal cleaning coverage. It seems to “learn” your pool’s shape, resulting in more efficient cleaning patterns that ensure comprehensive coverage.
Cleaning Coverage Comparison
Both cleaners use Dolphin’s navigation technology, but with subtle differences in how they cover your pool.
In small to medium above ground pools, the difference in cleaning coverage might be negligible. However, for larger ground pool size or pools with unique features, the Active 10’s superior navigation becomes more valuable.
Both robots are energy-efficient compared to older pool cleaners or pressure-side cleaners that require a booster pump. They operate on low voltage and cost roughly 5 cents per hour to run.
My Experience: Which One Would I Choose?
After testing both robots extensively, I’ve had the chance to see how they perform in various conditions and pool types.
The Dolphin Active 10 certainly impressed me with its weekly timer, superior wall climbing capabilities, and that anti-tangle swivel cord that prevents frustrating tangles. For larger pools with lots of features, it handles the job admirably.
While each cleaner is effective in its own right, my personal choice would be the Dolphin E10. Despite lacking some features found in the Active 10, its efficient performance combined with its more budget-friendly price tag makes it an incredibly appealing choice for most pool owners. It delivers exceptional value and still manages to keep pools remarkably clean with minimal effort required.
The E10 strikes that perfect balance between affordability and performance that I believe will satisfy the vast majority of above ground pool owners. Unless you absolutely need the timer feature or have a particularly challenging pool setup, the E10 provides everything most people need at a more accessible price point.
Final Verdict: Dolphin Active 10 vs E10
Both these Dolphin robots represent excellent options in the world of pool cleaners, but they target slightly different users:
Choose the Dolphin E10 if:
- You’re on a tighter budget
- You have a smaller above ground pool
- Your pool doesn’t accumulate heavy debris
- You don’t mind occasionally missing waterline cleaning
Choose the Dolphin Active 10 if:
- You want set-it-and-forget-it convenience with the weekly timer
- Your pool has challenging waterline debris
- You have a larger above ground pool
- You want the most thorough cleaning coverage possible
- Cord tangling has been an issue with previous cleaners
Whichever model you choose, both will dramatically reduce your pool maintenance time and keep your water sparkling clean. The E10 offers tremendous value for those on a budget, while the Active 10 provides premium features for those willing to invest a bit more for additional convenience.
If you want to purchase these pool robots, you can find:
- The Dolphin Active 10 on the official Maytronics website
- The Dolphin E10 on Amazon with options for quick delivery
After my experience with both, I can confidently say that Dolphin continues to lead the pack when it comes to robotic pool cleaners. For most pool owners, I believe the E10 provides the ideal balance of performance and value, making it my top recommendation unless you specifically need the advanced features of the Active 10.
Happy swimming!
P.S. For those who want to explore more about these two models, you can check their detailed specifications on the Maytronics website. To purchase the Dolphin E10, you can find it on Amazon with options for free 1-2 day delivery.