EON 120d
2 independent reviewsRead the findings →Maytronics' top cordless EON pool robot, with a closed basket that traps sand and fine grit. It suits pools that collect lots of fine dirt. Its basket can be a real pain to empty, though.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Feedback
What reviewers found
There are two finished hands-on tests. PCWorld and Maison et Domotique agree the DebrisLock basket traps fine dirt very well and the clicker makes it easy to get the robot out. Emptying is where they part: PCWorld called cleanup a nightmare, with leaves wedged in the grilles, while Maison et Domotique found a quick rinse was enough. PCWorld also saw missed corners, a unit that twice failed to start and frequent tip-overs. Maison et Domotique reported none of those problems.
PCWorld, hands-on · Maison et Domotique, hands-on
Floor, wall and waterline
Reviewers rate it highlyPCWorld saw nearly all its test leaves collected from floor, walls and waterline on the longest cycle, and Maison et Domotique found a storm-dirtied pool clean after two cycles, with good work on walls and waterline.
Debris
Reviewers rate it highlyBoth testers found the DebrisLock basket holds on to fine dirt. Maison et Domotique saw nothing fall back into the pool on lifting it out, and PCWorld found it picked up real leaves as well as synthetic ones.
Coverage and navigation
Mixed resultsMaison et Domotique found it covered floor, walls, steps and ledges without trouble. PCWorld saw it regularly miss the same corners, leave a few leaves on the steps and often tip over coming off ledges, though it always righted itself.
Battery and charging
Not enough evidenceNeither of the reviews we use measured run time. PCWorld couldn't test the claimed four and a half hours because the longest cycle is three hours, and Maison et Domotique notes a full charge takes up to 4.5 hours.
Filter and retrieval
Mixed resultsThe clicker that calls it to the waterline worked every time for PCWorld and Maison et Domotique. Emptying splits them: Maison et Domotique found a rinse enough, while PCWorld had to pick wedged leaves out of the grilles by hand. It weighs about 11kg.
Pool types it suits
Not enough evidenceNeither of the reviews we use compared how it copes with different pool shapes or surfaces. Maison et Domotique suggests it suits a family pool with steps or a submerged beach.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidencePCWorld's unit twice sat on the pool floor until a full power cycle, while Maison et Domotique had no start-up trouble. None of the reviews we use ran it long-term or judged support.
Value
Mixed resultsPCWorld notes it slightly undercuts rivals such as the Beatbot Sora 70 but found the basket cleanup too onerous to recommend it. Maison et Domotique calls the price high but in line with what it delivers.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
Traps grit, but emptying divides testers
Both testers found the DebrisLock basket holds on to fine dirt. Maison et Domotique liked that nothing fell back into the pool when the robot came out, and said a jet of water cleaned the basket, with a deeper clean of the filter panels about once a month. Leaves were a different story for PCWorld: they stuck between the layers of the grilles, hosing didn't shift them, and the basket had to be picked clean by hand. If your pool gets a lot of leaves, expect PCWorld's experience; if it's mostly sand and dust, the basket is the reason to buy it.
Good coverage, but corners get missed
On the longest three-hour cycle, covering floor, walls and waterline, PCWorld measured about 95 percent pickup of synthetic leaves, with similar results for real ones. It left a few leaves on the steps and kept missing the same corners. Maison et Domotique set it loose in a pool a storm had left very dirty, found it clean after two cycles and praised its work on the walls and waterline. Plan on the occasional second run, or a quick brush of the corners.
The clicker makes retrieval easy
Both testers rated the clicker, a small rattle you shake in the water to make the robot climb to the waterline. PCWorld expected little of it and found it worked every time, and far more easily than a pole and hook. Maison et Domotique rarely needed the hook at all. It also notes that using the clicker during UltraRun cancels the scheduled cycles, so restart that mode before putting the robot back.
A rocky start for one unit
Twice, PCWorld's robot sat silently on the pool floor until a full power cycle got it going. It also often tipped onto its back when leaving ledges or starting up walls, although it righted itself. Maison et Domotique reported no start-up trouble. With two tests pulling in different directions, it's hard to call its reliability, particularly if your pool has ledges where the robot may need attention.
Heavy, with an out-of-water app
It weighs about 11kg according to Maison et Domotique, or 24lb according to PCWorld, who called that about average. Maison et Domotique suggests letting it drain for a few seconds before lifting. Both used the Maytronics One app, which can schedule runs, set UltraRun and pick the wall it returns to, but it only talks to the robot when it's out of the water or on charge. PCWorld also notes the rubber cap over the charging port isn't tethered, so it would be easy to lose.
Our take
Should you buy the EON 120d?
Best for: Pools where sand, pollen and fine dirt are the main problem. Skip it if: Your pool gets heavy leaf fall.
Buy it if your pool collects sand, pollen and fine grit and you'd like to call a cordless robot to the edge rather than hook it out. If leaves are your problem, PCWorld found the Beatbot Sora 70's big basket easy to empty, and the cheaper Dolphin EON 100 has a conventional basket.
The EON 120d is the upper of Dolphin's two EON cordless robots. It adds the DebrisLock basket, a closed filter box meant to trap fine dirt, stop it falling back out when you lift the robot and rinse itself with a backwash. It covers the floor, walls, waterline, steps and shallow ledges, and a small clicker you shake in the water calls it to the edge.
PCWorld and Maison et Domotique agree the basket holds on to fine dirt and that the clicker works every time, and PCWorld measured about 95 percent of test leaves collected on the longest cycle. They disagree about emptying it. PCWorld called cleanup a nightmare, with leaves wedged in the grilles that hosing wouldn't shift, while Maison et Domotique found a quick rinse enough. PCWorld's unit also twice sat on the pool floor until a full power cycle, tipped over often coming off ledges and kept missing the same corners, none of which Maison et Domotique saw. It weighs about eleven kilos, and the app only talks to the robot when it's out of the water or on charge.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Is it cordless, and how long does a charge last?
Yes. Maytronics claims up to 4.5 hours of running, per the specifications, and UltraRun spreads short cycles over about two weeks. PCWorld couldn't confirm the full runtime because the longest cycle is three hours. Charging back to full takes up to 4.5 hours, per Maison et Domotique.
How do I get it out of the water?
Shake the supplied clicker in the water and it climbs to the waterline for you. Both PCWorld and Maison et Domotique found this worked well. It's still about 11kg, so let the water drain for a few seconds before lifting it out.
How do you clean the filter?
Open the top, lift out the DebrisLock basket and rinse it. Maison et Domotique found that easy, but PCWorld had to pick leaves out one by one because they stuck in the grilles. It suits sand and fine dirt better than heavy leaf fall.
Can it cope with steps and a deep end?
Maytronics says it cleans steps, benches and ledges as shallow as 20cm, per the specifications. PCWorld found it manoeuvred well on stairs but left a few leaves there and tipped over often coming off ledges, righting itself each time.
Does it need an app?
No. A button on the robot picks floor-only, waterline-only, full coverage or UltraRun, per PCWorld. The Maytronics One app adds scheduling and extra modes, but it only connects when the robot is out of the water, per Maison et Domotique.
Alternatives
Other robotic pool cleaners to compare.
EON 100
Why consider it: Testers found this cheaper cordless Dolphin cleans floors and the waterline well and never got stuck.
The compromise: It lacks the DebrisLock basket, it's heavy to lift out, and it gives steps only a quick pass.
Sora 70
Why consider it: It skims the surface too, and PCWorld found its big single basket very easy to empty.
The compromise: PCWorld found it slow, and less thorough on the floor in its all-in-one mode.
LIBERTY 600
Why consider it: Two testers found this cordless Dolphin leaves floors very clean, filters well and comes up when you shake the clicker.
The compromise: It wanders at random, and one tester found its step jet shifted only part of the dirt.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the EON 120d?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
Sources
Videos
- FINE Magazine: The Pool Cleaner That Reaches Every Corner | Dolphin EON 120d Review by Fine Magazine ↗
- asiasi: Dolphin EON 120D Review: The Best Cordless Pool Cleaner? ↗
- Search YouTube for Dolphin EON 120d ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.