We have tested both the Aiper Scuba X1 Pro and the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus in real pools, measured their suction at the intake, and lived with the filtration and daily routine each one requires. This comparison brings those results together so you can see the real-world trade-offs without relying on the numbers printed on either box.
This is also a corded-versus-cordless decision: one prioritizes continuous power and scheduling, while the other removes the cable but adds charging.
The short answer: Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus takes the head-to-head edge. It offers steady 1.5 PSI corded power and easy-to-reach top-loading cartridges. Aiper Scuba X1 Pro only makes sense for Aiper buyers who need its specific added sensors rather than the strongest value. Because neither robot is in our top recommendation tier, we also suggest cross-shopping the Dolphin Quantum Pro (1.9 PSI) before you buy.
Quick Answer
Between these two, pick the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus for buyers who value a familiar, simple Dolphin platform and find it on sale. It is the more complete option across the measurements and ownership factors we tested.
Consider the Aiper Scuba X1 Pro only if you specifically prioritize Aiper buyers who need its specific added sensors rather than the strongest value — and compare both against our recommended Dolphin Quantum Pro (1.9 PSI) before checking out.
Our calls in the full reviews are Not recommended for the Aiper Scuba X1 Pro and Decent, but there are better buys for the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus. Those calls matter here: PSI is the first round, not the entire verdict.
Suction Power: 1 PSI vs 1.5 PSI
On our hydro manometer, the Aiper Scuba X1 Pro measured 1 PSI and the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus measured 1.5 PSI. That gives the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus a 0.5 PSI advantage, or about 50% more intake pressure than the lower reading.
We measure pressure directly at the intake with the same gauge and pool setup. That is different from manufacturer flow-rate claims in gallons per hour: GPH describes water movement, while PSI shows how hard the intake pulls on debris. Cordless results are recorded at full charge. Our complete pool-robot suction test explains the method and shows where both robots sit on the full board.
The number needs context. It is well built, straightforward to operate, and covers the expected pool surfaces. It offers steady 1.5 PSI corded power and easy-to-reach top-loading cartridges. The stronger gauge result gets this round, though intake pressure alone cannot make up for a filter that lets fine debris escape or a routine that makes you handle the robot every day.
Filtration and Debris Handling
The Aiper Scuba X1 Pro uses mesh basket for routine debris. The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus uses top-loading mesh cartridges without a nanofilter upgrade path.
We give the filtration edge to the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus. Our comparison favors fine-particle capture, usable debris capacity, easy cleaning, and whether the better filter is included rather than sold as an upgrade.
For leaves, capacity and intake design matter. For pollen, silt, and the haze that dulls otherwise clear water, the filter media matters more. A basic mesh screen can look clean after a run while still passing the smallest material back into the pool.
Automation and Daily Work
The Aiper Scuba X1 Pro is cordless. App setup with underwater control gated behind a separate communications accessory. The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is corded. Limited app controls; no full scheduling or steering suite.
That power difference changes the ownership routine. The corded robot can keep full power through the cycle and run from a schedule when its controls support one. The cordless robot removes the floating cable, but it must come out of the water to recharge. For frequent cleaning, that usually means deploying and retrieving it every day.
The automation round goes to the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus.
Coverage and Pool Fit
For the Aiper Scuba X1 Pro, our review found floor, walls, and waterline in cordless cycles. The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is built for floor and walls in standard inground pools.
The Aiper Scuba X1 Pro wins the coverage round on the breadth of surfaces and pool situations it can handle.
This is where the runner-up can still be the smarter fit for specific pools. A compact pool does not benefit from paying for reach it cannot use, while a pool with a sun shelf, long waterline, or heavy leaf load can expose the limits of a simpler machine quickly.
Value: Performance for the Money and Time
Our value take on the Aiper Scuba X1 Pro: The middle trim costs more than the base model but tested lower on suction. For the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus: Reliable, but newer Dolphins offer better automation or filtration for similar money.
The value edge goes to the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus.
Value is not the same thing as the lowest checkout price. We count cleaning power, filtration, how many surfaces the robot covers, and how often you have to retrieve or charge it. A cheaper robot that leaves you vacuuming behind it is not a bargain, and an expensive robot only earns its price when its extra capability solves a real problem in your pool.
Recommended Upgrade to Cross-Shop: Dolphin Quantum Pro
Neither model in this comparison sits in our top recommendation tier. Before buying, compare them against the Dolphin Quantum Pro (1.9 PSI): Closest connected mid-tier pick: steps up from 1.0–1.5 PSI to 1.9 PSI, includes pleated NanoFilters in an oversized XXL MaxBin, cleans sun shelves and steps, and keeps real-time app control underwater. See our direct matchups for Aiper Scuba X1 Pro vs Dolphin Quantum Pro and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus vs Dolphin Quantum Pro.
Which One Should You Buy?
- Head-to-head pick — Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus: Best here for buyers who value a familiar, simple Dolphin platform and find it on sale. It offers steady 1.5 PSI corded power and easy-to-reach top-loading cartridges.
- When Aiper Scuba X1 Pro fits: Only for Aiper buyers who need its specific added sensors rather than the strongest value. It is well built, straightforward to operate, and covers the expected pool surfaces.
- Know the main drawback: Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus — The mesh-only filters, limited app, and lack of waterline cleaning make it feel dated. Aiper Scuba X1 Pro — At 1.0 PSI, it is the weakest X1 in our data and still requires hours of daily recharging.
Final Verdict
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus takes this head-to-head. Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus wins this head-to-head. It offers steady 1.5 PSI corded power and easy-to-reach top-loading cartridges. Aiper Scuba X1 Pro remains the better fit for Aiper buyers who need its specific added sensors rather than the strongest value, while the Dolphin Quantum Pro is our top-rated step-up near this class.
Read the complete Aiper Scuba X1 Pro review and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus review for every test photo, setup detail, and long-form ownership note. You can also return to all pool-robot comparisons to see any other matchup from the 19 cleaners in our test set.
