Beatbot vs Dolphin, by Pool Type: The Ratings as Published
These two brands answer the "will it work in MY pool" question in opposite ways. Dolphin (Maytronics) publishes explicit per-model pool-type ratings and warranties; Beatbot publishes capability lists and one blanket FAQ sentence. This page lays both out exactly as the manufacturers state them — specs and prices read from beatbot.com and maytronics.com on 2026-08-10; sale prices are promotional and move often.
The short version, by pool type
| Your pool | Dolphin’s published answer | Beatbot’s published answer |
|---|---|---|
| Above-ground, hard-wall | Maytronics' US above-ground page lists four: Nautilus Pool Up ($549), Nautilus AG ($568, 1-year warranty), Explorer E50 ($1,329, rated "In ground and Above Ground") and the cordless LIBERTY 400 ($1,429, 3-year warranty). The Dolphin E10 is a separate model that is NOT on that above-ground page — and it is not part of the Explorer line, so searching for "Explorer E10" lands you on the E50 instead | No dedicated above-ground model. Official FAQ: robots "handle any pool type, including both in-ground and above-ground"; Sora 10 ($449), AquaSense 2 Ultra, and AquaSense X pages each state "above-ground & in-ground" |
| In-ground, standard | The whole ladder: E20 (refurb-only now), E50, Premier ($2,499, 3-yr warranty), Sigma ($2,999, 3-yr) | The whole line; AquaSense 2 ($799 sale, 2026-08-10) covers floor/walls/waterline to ~3,230 sq ft |
| In-ground with heavy surface debris (trees, wind) | No surface skimming on any requested model — Dolphin’s ladder cleans floor/walls/waterline | The differentiator: AquaSense 2 Pro/Ultra and Sora 70 add water-SURFACE cleaning (Pro: "5-in-1" incl. up to 11 h surface runtime; Ultra $2,199 sale) |
| Large pools (45-50 ft) | E50/Premier/Sigma all rated to 50 ft max length | AquaSense 2 Pro / P300 Pro class rated to ~3,875 sq ft bottom area |
| Soft-sided / Intex | Not found on the requested models’ pages as read 2026-08-10 — Maytronics may address it elsewhere; we did not locate a statement | Addressed directly: Beatbot says a framed vinyl above-ground pool gives a climbing robot the firm wall it needs, but a very soft-sided or inflatable-top pool "may not offer that grip", and calls Easy Set pools "a poor match for automated cleaning" |
What each brand’s fine print actually says
Dolphin states ratings; Beatbot states capabilities. Maytronics prints "In Ground" or "Above Ground" on every product page, plus cycle times and warranties that run from 1 to 3 years depending on the model — worth checking per model rather than assuming, because the Nautilus AG recommended above carries a 1-year warranty while the Premier and Sigma carry 3. Beatbot’s above-ground coverage rests on a FAQ sentence ("designed to handle any pool type") plus per-model spec lines on three pages — official manufacturer language, but boilerplate rather than a dedicated above-ground design. If a printed rating matters to you (warranty conversations, HOA paperwork), Dolphin gives you one; Beatbot mostly gives you a capability list.
Corded versus cordless is a real fork — but not a brand-level one. Dolphin’s requested ladder is corded (continuous runtime, no battery aging, a cable to manage); Beatbot is cordless (no cable, finite cycles, battery as the wear item). Neither approach is "better" — they fail differently, and your pool’s shape and outlet situation usually decides.
Model-name hygiene, both directions. beatbot.com’s catalog (2026-08-10) lists AquaSense X / 2 Ultra / 2 Pro / 2, Sora 70/30/10, and "Retail Edition" A100/A100 Pro/P300-series — a site search for "A200" returns nothing, whatever third-party listings imply. On the Dolphin side, the E20 now exists only as a $499 refurb and the E10 is a store exclusive that goes in and out of availability — verify a model is actually purchasable at the manufacturer or an authorized dealer before planning around it.
Prices as displayed 2026-08-10
Beatbot: Sora 10 $449 (list $699), Sora 30 $689, AquaSense 2 $799 (list $1,298), Sora 70 $1,099, AquaSense 2 Pro $1,899, AquaSense 2 Ultra $2,199 (list $3,150), AquaSense X $3,825. Dolphin at maytronics.com: E20 refurb $499, E50 $1,329 (list $1,629), Premier $2,499, Sigma $2,999; Nautilus AG $568. Promotional prices change weekly — treat these as the shape of the ladder, not today’s number.
Sources
All ratings, quotes, capabilities, and prices from beatbot.com and maytronics.com product pages accessed 2026-08-10 (Premier/Sigma/E20 specs from maytronics.com-served search result pages; canonical URLs vary). The Beatbot figures above were re-checked against beatbot.com on 2026-08-14 and still match exactly. The Dolphin prices were last read 2026-08-10 and have not been re-confirmed since; Maytronics’ US site (maytronics.com/en-us/) was confirmed live on 2026-08-14 but its residential listing does not show per-model prices without opening each product. Treat every Dolphin figure here as accurate to 2026-08-10 and confirm current pricing with the manufacturer or an authorized dealer before buying. This page carries no affiliate links as of publication. Part of the pool fill-water and fitment section.