This is the Dolphin Explorer E70, and it is one of the top models from Dolphin. It’s a corded robotic pool cleaner with a 60ft cord, smartphone app, and quad scrubbing brushes. But at $2,000, what if I told you another Dolphin cleaner a nearly 40% wider suction path, 25% more suction power, NanoFilters, same 3 year warranty, and built on Dolphin’s commercial platform, all for hundreds of dollars less?
I put it all to the test—backed by real-world data and manometer readings. So before you click that buy button, stick around. This in-depth review covers everything you need to know.
Hey, I’m Ryan with Actually Used, where we put the products to the test. We don’t sit behind a screen and rave about how good a product is. We do real tests and research. From testing with a manometer, a device that measures suction power at the intake of the robot, to deep diving into the filtration system, we want you to know what you’re getting before you buy and if it is worth it. And let’s just say I have some thoughts on the Dolphin E70.
On one hand, it provides a solid performance. Especially compared to cordless brands I’ve tested, like Aiper and Beatbot. But at $2,000, there is definitely better value out there. And you may be thinking that you get a lot of extra features for the money, but surprisingly you don’t.
And before we dive in further to the performance, that is my biggest complaint. The price tag.
There are two other cleaners I had in mind that are a better buy. The Dolphin Premier. And the Dolphin Sigma.
Why I’d Skip the Dolphin Explorer E70 and Grab a Sigma or Premier Instead
I’ve spent a while testing between these three robots, and here’s the bottom line: the Explorer E70 is good, but the Sigma and Premier do more for less. When you line up the specs—and what really matters day-to-day—the math just doesn’t favor the E70.
Performance
So for over $2,000, you’d expect standout performance from the Dolphin Explorer E70, right? Especially when it’s being marketed as one of the top-tier models in the Dolphin lineup. But after putting it through real-world tests, the results were—honestly—a little underwhelming.
On paper, the E70, Sigma, and Premier are all rated at 4,500 gallons per hour. That sounds impressive. But that spec doesn’t tell the full story.
For example, much of that flow rate can come from the water jets used for propulsion—not actual suction at the intake ports where debris is collected. And that’s what really matters. If your cleaner can’t generate strong suction at the source, it won’t pull in heavier debris, it’ll just swirl it around.
That’s why I tested each robot using a manometer—a tool that measures suction pressure directly at the intake. It’s the only way to get objective, apples-to-apples numbers. Here’s what I recorded:
- Dolphin Explorer E70: Around 1.7 PSI
- Dolphin Sigma: Around 2.0 PSI
- Dolphin Premier: Around 2.2 PSI
These numbers say a lot. The E70 came in noticeably weaker than both the Sigma and the Premier. That’s a 25% difference in suction power between the E70 and Premier!
The Premier, in particular, felt like a suction beast. It also benefits from its oversized leaf bag or NanoFilter option, so it’s not just collecting more—it’s doing a better job filtering what it collects.
The E70, for all its modern features—Wi-Fi control, temperature sensors, bundled caddy—falls behind in the one area that matters most: cleaning performance. And if you’re paying top dollar, that shouldn’t be the trade-off. Features are nice. But suction is non-negotiable.
The ProLine Advantage—Missing on the E70
Sigma and Premier sit inside Maytronics’ ProLine family, meaning they borrow hardware from the commercial Wave series. That includes:
- Commercial-grade motors (4500 GPH+ flow) for stronger vacuum and longer life.
- NanoFilters™ Gen-2 media that trap the talcum-fine stuff ordinary cartridges blow straight through.
They both clean the pool well, but I found the dual basket on the E70 a bit of a hassle to rinse out. Honestly, I ended up preferring the NanoFilters and cartridge setup—it’s easier to deal with and keeps the water looking better, faster. I’ll talk more about the filters in a little bit though.
Where It Cleans: Full Pool Coverage That Gets the Job Done
One thing the Dolphin Explorer E70 absolutely nails is coverage. It’s designed to clean the floor, walls, and waterline, and it does a solid job across all three. Unlike some robots that struggle to climb or only handle flat surfaces, the E70 grips the pool walls confidently and scrubs all the way up to the waterline with consistent passes.
During testing, it handled everything from fine dust to larger debris like leaves and acorns without issue. The dual-layer basket does a good job of separating out the gunk, and even though it’s not as advanced as the NanoFilter system, it still picks up a surprising amount of debris in a single cycle.
Whether you’ve got a vinyl, fiberglass, or gunite pool, the E70 adapts well and moves with purpose. It doesn’t wander aimlessly—it follows a smart cleaning pattern that ensures full coverage, and it rarely misses a spot.
If your main concern is reliable, full-surface cleaning and solid debris pickup, the E70 definitely delivers on that front.
Filtration Flexibility: One Size Doesn’t Fit All
Before we even talk about how wide the cleaning path is, it’s worth looking at what happens after the debris gets sucked in—because not all filters are created equal.
The Dolphin Premier gives you full control with its Multi-Media system. You can pop in NanoFilter panels for fine dust and algae, switch to a massive leaf bag in the fall, or even use disposable debris bags for quick cleanup. It’s basically the Swiss Army knife of filtration.
The Sigma takes a slightly simpler approach but still delivers—it includes both NanoFilter and standard filter baskets, so whether you’re dealing with pollen or fine silt, you’ve got the right tool for the job.
The E70? You get one dual-layer basket, and that’s it. No upgrades. No swapping. It works, but you’re stuck with what’s in the box—no way to optimize for different seasons or pool conditions.
And that leads us right into the next issue: the cleaning path.
Cleaning Path: Size Matters More Than You Think
The E70’s intake is only 6.5 inches wide, while the Premier is 9 inches and the Sigma stretches to 9.5 inches. That might not sound like much, but it’s a 40% difference in width—and that means a lot fewer passes to clean the same area.
Wider cleaning paths don’t just clean faster—they clean better. They scoop up more with every pass, grab larger debris without kicking it aside, and reduce the time and energy it takes to fully clean the pool.
In our tests, the Sigma and Premier finished the job faster and left fewer missed spots behind. So, between the limited filtration options and the narrow cleaning path, the E70 ends up feeling less flexible and less efficient, all while still costing more.
App Experience: Better Than Most, But Not a Game-Changer
The Explorer E70 uses the MyDolphin Plus app, and to be fair—it’s better than what you’ll get from most cordless robots like Aiper or Beatbot. For starters, it actually stays connected underwater, which those others notoriously struggle with. You can start and stop cleanings, schedule weekly runs, choose a cleaning mode, and even check some basic data—all from your phone.
That said, it’s the same app used by the Sigma, and the only real extra you get with the E70 is a temperature sensor. Nice to have, sure, but not exactly a must-have feature.
There’s no live mapping or location tracking, so you’re still kind of flying blind when it comes to what the robot has actually cleaned. Still, it’s more functional than most app-controlled robots out there—and miles ahead of the Bluetooth-based setups that disconnect constantly.
I just can’t help but wish it had some more features to really justify the price over the Sigma and other Wi-Fi- models.
All Covered: 3-Year Warranty
Here’s one place where they’re all equal—the warranty. The E70, Sigma, and Premier all come with a full 3-year warranty, which is the best you’ll find in the consumer pool robot market. That gives you some peace of mind, especially when you’re dropping over a thousand dollars on a cleaner.
But when you look at what you’re getting for the price—especially with the filter flexibility, cleaning power, and real-world performance—the E70 starts to feel a bit overpriced next to the Sigma and Premier.
Is the Dolphin Explorer E70 Worth It?
Honestly? Not really. The E70 looks good on paper with its bundled caddy, Wi-Fi, and sleek design—but once you get past the surface, it feels like a mid-tier robot dressed up to hit a higher price point. The filtration is decent, the cleaning path is narrow, and while the app works well, it’s not exclusive to this model. For the price, there are simply better-performing options that are cheaper.
Better Alternatives
If you want top-tier performance and full tech features, go with the Dolphin Sigma. It offers Wi-Fi, NanoFilters, triple motors, and a wider cleaning path—all built on Dolphin’s ProLine platform—for hundreds less.
If your pool deals with heavy debris like leaves or acorns, the Dolphin Premier is your best bet. Its Multi-Media filtration gives you unmatched flexibility, and it’s a workhorse when it comes to raw suction and power.
Both give you the same 3-year warranty, superior cleaning, and better long-term value than the E70.
And lastly, if you want a robot that is even less, go with the Dolphin Quantum. It has the same larger, oversized filter basket at around half the cost. It’s the entry level ProLine robot and cleans like a pro.
Final Thoughts
The Dolphin Explorer E70 isn’t a bad robot—but at this price, “not bad” isn’t good enough. With You’re paying extra for a bundled caddy and a temperature sensor. If you’re investing in a pool robot to make life easier, you’re better off with a model that offers more power, better filtration, and proven results.
The Premier and Sigma both deliver that—and they do it for less.
So moral of the story?
If you like the Dolphin Explorer E70, buy the Dolphin Sigma or Dolphin Premier. It’s a way better value and isn’t missing anything that the E70 has that you need.
That’s all for this review, thanks for watching!
