We have tested both the Aiper Scuba X1 and the Dolphin Nautilus CC 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 takes the head-to-head edge. It removes daily charging from the equation and covers the core floor-and-wall job. Aiper Scuba X1 only makes sense for buyers committed to the X1 design who want the lowest entry price. Because neither robot is in our top recommendation tier, we also suggest cross-shopping the Dolphin Cayman (1.5 PSI) before you buy.
Quick Answer
Between these two, pick the Dolphin Nautilus CC for strict budgets and light debris where basic floor and wall cleaning is enough. It is the more complete option across the measurements and ownership factors we tested.
Consider the Aiper Scuba X1 only if you specifically prioritize buyers committed to the X1 design who want the lowest entry price — and compare both against our recommended Dolphin Cayman (1.5 PSI) before checking out.
Our calls in the full reviews are Not recommended for the Aiper Scuba X1 and Decent, but there are better buys for the Dolphin Nautilus CC. Those calls matter here: PSI is the first round, not the entire verdict.
Suction Power: 1.2 PSI vs 0.8 PSI
On our hydro manometer, the Aiper Scuba X1 measured 1.2 PSI and the Dolphin Nautilus CC measured 0.8 PSI. That gives the Aiper Scuba X1 a 0.4 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 easy to set up, looks polished, and beats the X1 Pro on canonical measured suction. It removes daily charging from the equation and covers the core floor-and-wall job. 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 uses basic mesh basket. The Dolphin Nautilus CC uses basic mesh basket with no nanofilter option.
Filtration is effectively even in our scoring. The better choice depends on the debris in your pool and which basket or cartridge design you prefer to rinse.
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 is cordless. Simple app setup, but the connection drops underwater and charging is daily. The Dolphin Nautilus CC is corded. Simple corded start button without a weekly timer.
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.
Coverage and Pool Fit
For the Aiper Scuba X1, our review found floor, walls, and waterline in cordless cycles. The Dolphin Nautilus CC is built for floor and wall cleaning for standard pools.
The Aiper Scuba X1 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: The least costly X1, though stronger corded cleaners remain the better use of the budget. For the Dolphin Nautilus CC: A basic entry point, but stronger and smarter options cost only a little more.
The value edge goes to the Dolphin Nautilus CC.
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 Cayman
Neither model in this comparison sits in our top recommendation tier. Before buying, compare them against the Dolphin Cayman (1.5 PSI): Closest recommended pick in the ~$1,000 tier: holds a steady 1.5 PSI from start to finish with no battery fade, supports pleated NanoFilters, and runs on a weekly timer instead of daily charging. See our direct matchups for Aiper Scuba X1 vs Dolphin Cayman and Dolphin Nautilus CC vs Dolphin Cayman.
Which One Should You Buy?
- Head-to-head pick — Dolphin Nautilus CC: Best here for strict budgets and light debris where basic floor and wall cleaning is enough. It removes daily charging from the equation and covers the core floor-and-wall job.
- When Aiper Scuba X1 fits: Only for buyers committed to the X1 design who want the lowest entry price. It is easy to set up, looks polished, and beats the X1 Pro on canonical measured suction.
- Know the main drawback: Dolphin Nautilus CC — Its 0.8 PSI reading, basic mesh, and missing timer put it at the bottom of the corded field. Aiper Scuba X1 — Its 1.2 PSI, basic filter, underwater app disconnect, and recharge routine limit the value.
Final Verdict
Dolphin Nautilus CC takes this head-to-head. Dolphin Nautilus CC wins this head-to-head. It removes daily charging from the equation and covers the core floor-and-wall job. Aiper Scuba X1 remains the better fit for buyers committed to the X1 design who want the lowest entry price, while the Dolphin Cayman is our top-rated step-up near this class.
Read the complete Aiper Scuba X1 review and Dolphin Nautilus CC 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.
