Ever run your pool robot, pull it out, and think “okay, the pool looks… fine”? Yeah, me too. For years, I thought that slight haze or dusty film at the bottom was just part of owning a pool. Turns out, it’s not. It’s your pool filter letting you down. But instead of replacing your pool filter, what if you could improve it with just a set of filters in your pool robot? Well, now you can.
Hey guys, I’m Ryan with ActuallyUsed. I’ve tested all of the filters on robotic pool cleaners from cheap mesh screens to the top-of-the-line MultiMedia on the Dolphin Premier, and today we’re talking about NanoFilters—the filtration upgrade that changed how I think about robotic pool cleaners and their filters. Let’s break down what they are, how they stack up against standard filters and other brands, and whether they’re actually worth it.
What Are NanoFilters?
If you’ve ever looked inside a real pool cartridge filter, NanoFilters look like a mini version of that—just shrunk down to fit inside a robot.
NanoFilters are deeply pleated cartridge filters made specifically for robotic pool cleaners. Instead of the flat mesh screens most robots use, these things are made of micro-pore polyester fabric folded into deep pleats. Closeup, you can see the ridges and pores of the filter – allowing them to capture dirt and microscopic particles other filters miss.
That pleated design gives you three to five times more surface area than standard flat panels—which means way more debris gets trapped without choking off water flow.
Here’s the easiest way to think about it: a standard mesh filter is like a spaghetti strainer. A NanoFilter is like a coffee filter. One catches the big chunks. The other catches everything—including the stuff you can’t even see.
Most robot filters have pores that nearly everything but big leaves and debris can slip through. NanoFilters? They trap particles down to the micron level. That’s roughly 30 times smaller than a human hair. We’re talking pollen, algae spores, fine silt—the stuff that makes your water look “almost clean” instead of actually clean.
NanoFilters vs. Dolphin Standard Filters
Let’s start with Dolphin’s own lineup, because even within the same brand, there’s a huge difference.
Standard Dolphin Mesh Filters typically filter down to the single digit micron level. They grab leaves, bugs, and visible debris just fine. But here’s the thing—you can literally see through these filters when you hold them up to the light. That tells you everything. Fine dust, pollen, silt, algae spores? They’re slipping right through and cycling back into your pool.
NanoFilters are exclusive to ProLine and Max-Series models. They are reserved for the top-of-the-line Dolphin cleaners. They’re pleated and dense—way more like an actual cartridge pool filter than a screen. When I ran them side-by-side in my testing, the difference was obvious after just one cycle. Water went from cloudy to crystal clear. That slight cloudiness I’d gotten used to? Gone.
And here’s something I didn’t expect: with NanoFilters, the water coming out of the robot is actually cleaner. With mesh filters, you’ll often see a cloudy jet stream spurting out as the robot moves—it’s stirring up fine dust that passes right through and resettles later. With NanoFilters, that dust actually gets captured. The robot isn’t just pushing dirt around in circles anymore.
And if you want both filters? Don’t worry, every robot that has NanoFilters also has the Standard Filters.
So when should you use standard filters? You should use the standard filters when you want to maximize flow rate only. If you have a bunch of leaves in your pool, the mesh filter may be best at first – then once a majority of the leaves get captured, swap to the NanoFilters for daily use. But don’t worry, NanoFilters can also take care of leaves.
NanoFilters vs. Other Brand Filters
Now let’s talk about how NanoFilters compare to Polaris, Aiper, Beatbot, and the other brands. Spoiler: the difference is obvious once you see them side by side.
Polaris
Their robotic cleaners typically come with filter canisters or filter baskets with mesh. If you want finer, Polaris sells an “ultra-fine” canister upgrade that is an almost cotton-like material that helps capture smaller stuff. Sounds decent, right? Well, it didn’t perform as well as the NanoFilters in our tests. I ran a Polaris with the standard canister for a while—it was great for leaves, but my pool’s dust and dead algae kept sneaking through. Side by side, you can see the difference between their ultrafine filter and NanoFilters. Even with their “ultra-fine” filter, the gap between NanoFilters is still obvious.
Beatbot
The AquaSense robots use a dual-layer setup. That handles hair, insects, and some sand. But anything finer may slip through. Side by side to NanoFilters, you can see the difference. Similar to the Polaris, it is more of a cotton-like material than a pleated fabric. If you’ve got a Beatbot and wonder why the water still looks hazy after it runs, there’s your answer.
Bottom line: NanoFilters capture debris 10–50 times smaller than what typical robotic cleaner filters can handle. In your pool, that means no more fine dust on your pool floor, no more dirt, and no more sand. Your pool water looks crystal clear and polished.
Which Robots Have NanoFilters?
Here’s the catch: NanoFilters are exclusive to Dolphin’s ProLine and Max-Series robots. You can’t retrofit them into a Polaris, Beatbot, Aiper, or older Dolphin. If you want this technology, you need one of these:
Dolphin Premier (ProLine) – Included: The Premier was the first robot to debut NanoFiltration. It comes with their Multi-Media system—two NanoFilter cartridges, two standard cartridges, and a massive leaf bag all in the box. Swap between them depending on the season. Leaf bag for fall, NanoFilters for pollen season. It’s like having three robots in one. This is my #1 recommendation for a pool robot – and if you haven’t already, check out my full Premier review.
Dolphin Sigma (ProLine) – Included: The Sigma is Dolphin’s flagship—triple motors, smartphone app, gyroscope navigation, the works. Dual NanoFilter cartridges come standard. If you want all the bells and whistles plus top-tier filtration, this is your robot.
Dolphin Quantum (Max-Series/ProLine) – Included: The Quantum has the largest filter capacity of any Dolphin—over 400 square inches with that XXL MaxBin. Both NanoFilter and standard filter panels come in the box. Great for pools with heavy debris that also want fine filtration. It is the largest filter by capacity and is super easy to clean. It’s a great value with a solid performance to price ratio.
Dolphin Cayman (Max-Series) – Optional Upgrade: The Cayman is Dolphin’s best-value robot. It ships with standard filters, but you can add NanoFilter panels for about $99. A lot of retailers bundle them free with purchase—definitely worth asking about.
Dolphin Escape (Max-Series) – Optional Upgrade: The Escape is the affordable option for above-ground and smaller inground pools. Same deal as the Cayman—standard filters out of the box, but NanoFilter panels are available as an upgrade. If you have an above-ground pool, this is the robot for you.
Why You Need NanoFilters
So what does this mean for you in the real world? A few things:
Crystal-Clear Water: I’m talking that crystal clear sparkle you usually only see in hotel pools. After switching to NanoFilters, my pool had that polished look I didn’t even know I was missing.
No More Pollen Haze: During pollen season, my pool used to get this yellowish tinge that my old cleaner couldn’t touch. With NanoFilters, all that pollen ends up in the cartridges as a yellow film—not floating in my water. No more super-dosing clarifier or running the pump 24/7 trying to clear it out.
Less Manual Cleanup: Remember vacuuming to waste after shock treatments? Manually cleaning fine sediment the robot missed? With NanoFilters, one robot pass keeps the pool clean. The robot is basically a portable secondary filter that grabs everything your main filter would otherwise have to deal with.
Suction Stays Strong: You’d think finer filtration would slow the robot down, but the high-end Dolphins are built for this. The Sigma pushes over 4,500 gallons per hour even with NanoFilters installed. In my testing, I didn’t notice any drop in speed or wall-climbing ability. The pleated design gives water plenty of pathways, so flow stays strong until the filter is really packed.
The Trade-Offs
Nothing’s perfect, so let’s keep it real:
Corded Robots Only: Ultra-fine filtration needs serious, consistent suction. Battery-powered robots can’t push water through 2-micron pores without killing the battery or sacrificing performance. That’s why NanoFilters only come on corded Dolphins. If you’re dead-set on cordless, you’re out of luck here.
You Have to Rinse Them: Because NanoFilters catch so much fine stuff, they’ll clog faster than coarse mesh if you neglect them. Plan on rinsing after a week of cleaning—takes about 2-3 minutes with a hose. Don’t be lazy about it. A packed filter kills suction, and nobody wants that.
Higher Cost: NanoFilter robots are the premium models. The upgrade kit for Cayman or Escape runs about $99 if you buy it separately, though many dealers throw it in free. It’s an investment, but if water clarity matters to you, it pays off fast.
Final Thoughts
So are NanoFilters worth it? After using them—absolutely yes, if you care about having the cleanest water possible without doing a bunch of extra work yourself.
NanoFilters transformed my pool maintenance from “it’s clean… but” to “it’s actually clean.” The improvement isn’t just marketing—it’s something you can see and feel. No more fine grit on the pool floor. No more cloudiness in the deep end. Just clear, polished water that makes you want to jump in.
If you’re shopping for a new robot, definitely look at the models with NanoFilter technology. Once you see the difference, there’s no going back. Trust me—I tried swapping back to a regular filter once just to test it, and I immediately missed the NanoFilters when fine particles started accumulating again.
That’s all for this one—I’m Ryan from ActuallyUsed. Thanks for reading, and I’ll catch you on the next one!
