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2026 Head-to-Head Comparison

Dolphin Active 10 vs Dolphin Premier®

Compare price, filtration, pool coverage, features & warranty — and see why pool owners upgrade to the Dolphin Premier.

Dolphin Active 10 Robotic Pool Cleaner

Dolphin Active 10

For above-ground pools up to 30 ft.

In-store exclusive

Best Overall
Dolphin ProLine

Dolphin Premier®

4.9 out of 5, (2,279 reviews)

The #1 selling premium robot, and the only Dolphin with Multi-Media™ and a leaf bag.

$1949 $2499 Save $550

Explore Premier

The verdict

Is the Dolphin Active 10 or the Dolphin Premier better?

Rated the Best Pool Robot of 2026 by USA Today, the Dolphin Premier is in a class of its own. Only the Premier includes Multi-Media™ filtration, NanoFilters™, and an oversized leaf bag, plus full waterline and tile-line cleaning the Active 10 can't match, and a patented anti-tangle swivel. The Premier is also backed by a 3-year warranty — 50% longer than the Dolphin Active 10's 2-year warranty.

By comparison, the Dolphin Active 10

Plug'n'Play. Just plug it in, drop into the pool, for a hassle free clean.

See the specifications side by side

Only on the Dolphin Premier

Multi-Media Filtration - Multiple filter options for an optimal clean pool. The Premier comes standard with three filter options: bottom-load fine cartridge filters, ultra-fine cartridge filters, and an oversized fine filter bag. Plus an optional disposable debris bag.

See the full Dolphin Premier breakdown

Honest breakdown

Pros & Cons

Dolphin Active 10 Highlights

  • Energy Efficient Motors

Where the Active 10 Falls Short

  • No waterline or tile-line cleaning — only cleans the pool floor.
  • No Multi-Media™ filtration and no included oversized leaf bag.
  • No NanoFilters™ for capturing fine dust, algae and pollen.
  • No Media-Alert® full-filter indicator.
  • Shorter 2-year warranty vs Premier's 3 years.
  • Possible restocking fee and no 30-day in-pool trial.
  • No Weekly Timer - Can't schedule Cleanings

Tech specs

Dolphin Active 10 vs Dolphin Premier Specifications

Feature Dolphin Active 10 Dolphin Premier®
PriceSee retailers$1949
Part Number99996151-USF99996339-SPL
Waterline Cleaning
Multi-Media™
Filters Included13
FiltrationTop AccessOversized Leaf Bag, Ultra-fine Cartridges, Standard Cartridges, & Optional Disposable Debris bag
Cleaning CoverageFloorFloor, Walls, Waterline
Cleaning Cycle1.5 hours3 hours
Scrubbing Brushes12
Cable Length40 ft55 ft
Anti-Tangle Swivel
Pool TypesAbove GroundIn Ground
Max Pool Size30 ft50 ft
Surface TypesGunite, Fiberglass, Vinyl, LinerConcrete, Plaster, Gunite, Pebble, Tile, Vinyl Liner, Fiberglass
Media-Alert®
Weekly Timer
ProLine™ Motors
Restocking FeeNoNo
Warranty2 Years3 Years

Why Premier wins

3 Reasons Pool Owners Choose the Premier

The Dolphin Premier is the only Maytronics robot built around Multi-Media™ filtration.

Dolphin Premier Oversized Leaf Bag

The Only Dolphin With a Leaf Bag

If you fight leaves and heavy debris, the Premier's oversized leaf bag plus 4,500 GPH commercial-grade motors keep your pool clear all season.

See the Premier
Dolphin Premier Waterline Cleaning

Powerful Waterline Cleaning

Dual stabilizers hold the Premier steady against the wall to scrub the waterline and tile-line — where scum and oils build up most.

Read owner reviews

See it clean

Dolphin Premier Video

Dolphin Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner Video

All New Dolphin Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner · 6:05

In-depth analysis

Dolphin Active 10 vs Premier: Full Review

Compare the Dolphin Active 10 to the Dolphin Premier

Both are designed to effectively clean your pool's floor, but only the Dolphin Premier cleans your pool walls and waterline. The Dolphin Active 10 will miss the walls and stay entirely on the pool floor. Breaking down their filters, the Dolphin Premier® includes 3 filter options (with a 4th optional). The Dolphin Active 10 includes only one filter option, the Standard Cartridge Filter, but won't include the Oversized Leaf Bag or the NanoFilter Filter. The Dolphin Premier has a 50% longer warranty compared to the Active 10. The Premier has a 3-year best-in-class warranty, while the Dolphin Active 10 has a 2 year warranty.

Dolphin Premier Waterline
Ultimate Pool Coverage of the pool floor, walls, and waterline

Filter Options

What’s even better than having 2 sets of filtration options? How about 3 or 4. There’s only one Dolphin pool cleaner with this feature. Multi-Media is a Dolphin Premier exclusive feature. Premier includes Fine, NanoFilters, and a Leaf Bag. In addition, you can get disposable filter bags so you can just toss ‘em in the trash when you’re done. You can even subscribe to a service to ship these monthly.

Dolphin Premier Multi-Media®
Premier's Multi-Media® Technology - 3 Filter Options Included

Robotic pool cleaners with multiple filter media let you customize your pool’s cleaning job based on its needs that day. Use an NanoFilter filter to capture smaller particles, use a standard cartridge for a regular clean, use the oversized leaf bag after a storm, and perhaps disposable for the really dirty jobs.

The Active 10 comes with one filter option, while the Premier® has Multi-Media®, which offers four different filter media options. This gives you the ability to customize your cleaning based on your pool's needs. If you need to pick up leaves, you can use the oversized leaf bag or disposable leaf bag. If you need to clean up regular debris, you can use the fine filter cartridge. Finally, if you need to pick up fine dust and other micro particles, you can use the NanoFilter cartridge.

The Dolphin Premier includes:

  • Oversized Leaf Bag
  • Standard Cartridge Filter Set
  • NanoFilter™ Cartridge Set
  • Optional Disposable Debris Bag (sold separately)

The Dolphin Active 10 includes:

  • Standard Cartridge Filter

Unlock Your Robot’s Full Potential

There are two types of filters available on modern robotic pool cleaners. The first generation robots will have a filter consisting of a large pore plastic mesh. The second generation type is the NanoFilter™ cartridge, which is a high-efficiency particulate filter. The large pore mesh filter is the more basic type and is found on many discount pool cleaners, while the Nanofilter is the more advanced option. Under a microscope, you can see the Nanofilter’s individual fibers intersecting to create a tight mesh. This webbed structure is able to sieve even the smallest of micron particles. Additionally, the filter’s deep pleats provide a larger surface area, meaning more waterborne particles can be trapped while having relatively low resistance to waterflow.

Dolphin Premier Multi-Media®
NanoFilter™ vs Standard Filter

The NanoFilter™ also has the benefit of being able to absorb oil, which is beneficial for keeping sunscreen and scum lines from forming on the pool’s surface. Overall, the pleated Nanofilter is more efficient than the plastic mesh filter at capturing all types of microscopic waterborne particles, including pollen, algae, bacteria, pet dander, and other debris. Not only does this improve the amount of contaminants that are removed from the water, but it also leads to a higher level of clarity and sparkle in the pool. The Nanofilter serves as an important booster to the pool’s main filter, and for this reason, it is the preferred choice for many pool owners.

The NanoFilters™ capture more dirt, sand, and even oil out of your pool than the standard filter cartridges, making a NanoFilter™ a must-have for any pool robot. Without it, these particles will be left inside of your pool and can lead to poor water chemistry.

Ease of Use

Both robots have a similar setup process and weigh about the same. To set up either one, simply plug the power supply into an outdoor outlet, plug the unit into the power supply, drop the unit into the water, and press start. But, only the Dolphin Premier has a Programmable Timer, which allows you to schedule the Premier to automatically run daily, every other day, or every three days. This programmable timer isn't available on the Dolphin Active 10.

Dolphin Premier Oversized Leaf Bag
Oversized Leaf Bag, a Dolphin Premier Exclusive

Cleaning Performance

In terms of cleaning performance, the Dolphin Premier® is capable of cleaning pool floors, walls, and waterline (also called the scum line), which is the most vulnerable part of the pool to dirt, grime, and algae buildup. This is especially important for robotic pool cleaners because if the bot doesn't clean the scum line, you'll still need to manually brush the pool afterwards. The Dolphin Active 10 only covers the pool floor, missing the walls and waterline entirely. While it will clean your pool floor, expect it to be unable to clean your pool walls and waterline.

Media-Alert®

The Premier® has an extra feature to improve user experience, a full filter bag indicator. This indicator will let you know when the filter bag is full and needs to be cleaned, as well as when it is partially blocked and needs to be cleared out. This indicator is not present on the Active 10.

Anti-Tangle Swivel

Only the Dolphin Premier includes an anti-tangle swivel, which helps minimize cord tangling. The Patented Tangle Free Swivel from Maytronics allows the robot to rotate 360 degrees without your cord getting tangled. Without it, the Active 10's cord can get tangled and caught up in your pool.

Warranty

The Premier® offers a longer warranty: 36 months (3 years) compared to the Active 10' 24 month warranty (2 years).

Which is the better pool robot?

Overall, the Dolphin Premier offers more customizable filter options, an Oversized Leaf Bag, better pool coverage with waterline cleaning, an anti-tangle swivel, and a 50% longer warranty when compared to the Dolphin Active 10.

Dolphin Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner

The flagship Dolphin

Dolphin Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner

$2499$1949Save $550

The only Dolphin with Multi-Media™. The Dolphin Premier stands out with ProLine™ commercial motors, powerful scrubbing brushes, NanoFilters™, and a full 3 year warranty. Try it in your own pool for 30 days.

Explore Premier
  • Free 1-3 Day FedEx Shipping
  • 3 Year Warranty Included
  • 30 Day Trial & No Restocking Fees
  • Price Match Guarantee

Need help? Speak to a Dolphin Specialist →

Authorized Dolphin dealers

Where to Buy

Buy the Dolphin Premier direct for live pricing, free 1-3 day FedEx shipping, a 30-day in-pool trial, and full factory warranty support.

The Dolphin Premier is also available at

With thousands of Dolphin robots in stock, Poolbots carries the full Dolphin lineup.

ProLine™ Authorized Dealer

Carrying all the top Dolphin lineups, PoolRobots paves the way in the pool industry.

ProLine™ Authorized Dealer

An Authorized Dolphin Dealer offering the Premier with full warranty support.

ProLine™ Authorized Dealer

Buy the Dolphin Active 10

The Dolphin Active 10 is an in-store exclusive and is not available online.

Shop Online Models

Save more on a certified Dolphin

Find your perfect match

Explore the Dolphin Max-Series™ & ProLine™

Every robot below ships free, includes a 30-day in-pool trial, and never charges a restocking fee. Compare the full premium lineup and pick the Dolphin that fits your pool.

Dolphin Max-Series The Max-Series™

Max-Series

Dolphin Quantum

$1799 $1599 Save $200

Our largest filter ever, dual HyperBrushes, and full waterline cleaning.

Learn More
Max-Series

Dolphin Cayman

$1299 $1049 Save $250

Premium wall-climbing performance and MaxBin™ filtration at an unbeatable value.

Learn More

Dolphin ProLine The ProLine™

ProLine

Dolphin Premier

$2499 $1949 Save $550

The only Dolphin with Multi-Media™ filtration and an oversized leaf bag.

Learn More
ProLine

Dolphin Sigma

$2999 $2349 Save $650

The most advanced Dolphin ever — gyroscope navigation, Wi-Fi, and quad brushes.

Learn More
ProLine

Dolphin Quantum

$1799 $1599 Save $200

Commercial-grade motors with the largest top-loading NanoFilter™ MaxBin™.

Learn More

Keep comparing

More Dolphin Premier Comparisons

NEXT STEPS

Try Premier in Your Pool for 30 days

Every pool deserves an intelligent robot.
Take Premier home and try in your own pool for 30 days.

Dolphin Premier®$1949 · 30-day trial