Dolphin (Maytronics)
Dolphin Premier
Best for leaves & mixed debris
The corded Dolphin for messy pools: interchangeable filter media — including an oversized leaf bag — make it the debris-handling specialist.
Robotic Pool Cleaners
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus review
Best overall for most in-ground pools
8.7/10Editorial score · Updated 2026-07-03
The default recommendation for in-ground pools up to 33 feet: reliable floor-and-wall cleaning, easy top-load filters, and Maytronics' service network behind it.
Quick verdict
The safest first robotic cleaner for a typical in-ground pool. You give up waterline scrubbing and smart mapping, and in exchange you get proven reliability at a mid-range price.
Good fit if you want
- First-time robot buyers
- Rectangular in-ground pools up to ~33 ft
- Owners who want easy filter cleaning
Skip it if you need
- Pools with a heavy waterline scum ring
- Very large or freeform pools
- Buyers who want app control
The full picture
The Nautilus CC Plus has been one of the best-selling robotic cleaners in the U.S. for years, and the reasons show up consistently in owner feedback: it climbs walls dependably, its top-load filter baskets are genuinely easy to rinse, and Maytronics' dealer and parts network makes repairs realistic rather than theoretical. It does not scrub the waterline and its navigation is methodical rather than mapped, so it can take the full cycle to reach every corner. As a corded unit it never needs charging, but you'll want to untwist the cable occasionally. For most rectangular in-ground pools, it hits the value sweet spot.
Performance breakdown
Cleaning performance8.5 · Very Good
Value for money9.0 · Excellent
Ease of use9.2 · Excellent
Durability outlook8.5 · Very Good
Features7.5 · Good
Owner sentiment8.8 · Very Good
Research-based editorial judgments from specs, warranty terms, and verified owner feedback — not lab measurements. How we score
Pros and cons
What works
- Consistent, proven floor and wall cleaning
- Top-load filters are easy to remove and rinse
- Runs off its own plug — no booster pump or hose
- Weekly scheduler (clean every day, every 2 days, or every 3 days)
- Large parts and service network
What doesn't
- No waterline scrubbing
- Cable can twist in freeform pools despite anti-tangle swivel
- No app or smart mapping
- Random-pattern navigation is slower than mapped competitors
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus at a glance
- Cleaning coverage
- Floor + walls
- Pool type
- In-ground
- Max pool size (ft)
- 33
- Cable length (ft)
- 60
- Cordless
- No
- Wall climbing
- Yes
- Waterline cleaning
- No
- Filtration
- Top-load fine cartridge filters
- App control
- No
- Weekly timer
- Yes
Source: Compiled from Maytronics product documentation, the published owner's manual, warranty terms, and aggregated verified-owner feedback across major retailers.
This is a research-based review — our analysis draws on manufacturer specifications, manuals, warranty terms, and verified owner feedback rather than our own hands-on testing, and we note where a detail couldn't be confirmed. How we review
Frequently asked questions
Does the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus clean the waterline?
No. It cleans the floor and climbs walls, but it is not designed to scrub the waterline. If a scum ring is your main problem, look at waterline-rated models like the Beatbot AquaSense 2 or Polaris VRX iQ+.
Can it be used in an above-ground pool?
Maytronics markets the Nautilus CC Plus for in-ground pools. For above-ground pools, the Dolphin E10 is the brand's purpose-built option.
Where to buy
Closest alternatives
Dolphin (Maytronics)
Dolphin Liberty 600
Best cordless from a proven brand
The cordless Dolphin: floor, wall, and waterline cleaning with Maytronics reliability and no floating cable.