E10
Limited evidenceRead the findings →A basic corded Dolphin made to scrub the floor of above-ground pools. It picks up leaves and dirt well if the floor is all you need cleaned. It won't climb walls and has no timer, so you start every clean.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Dolphin’s range
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What we know
Three US review sites tested it: The Pool Nerd in an 8 × 20ft vinyl above-ground pool, Robotic Reviews in above-ground and small in-ground pools, and PoolPad. All three are linked to a Dolphin dealer, so none counts as independent, and two point buyers to a pricier Dolphin. They agree it cleans the floor properly and does nothing more, and all three found the lack of a timer a nuisance. Verdicts range from PoolPad's 6.3 out of 10 to The Pool Nerd's "buy with caution".
The Pool Nerd, hands-on, Mar 2024 (Site linked to a Dolphin dealer) · Robotic Reviews, hands-on (Site linked to a Dolphin dealer) · PoolPad, hands-on, Feb 2026 (Site linked to a Dolphin dealer)
A decent floor cleaner
Robotic Reviews found it picked up leaves, twigs and dirt, and had no trouble covering above-ground and small in-ground pools. PoolPad said it did a great job on larger debris like leaves. That's the job it's built for, and none of the three complained about the floor results. If your pool's floor is where the mess ends up, it handles the basics.
Walls and waterline are left alone
It's a floor-only robot, per the specifications. The Pool Nerd found it stops at the wall and won't climb, while PoolPad saw it go slightly up the wall, but no further. Robotic Reviews says it only cleaned the pool floor during testing, which may be fine for a small above-ground pool but not a larger one. You'll still need to brush the walls and waterline by hand.
You start every clean by hand
There's no weekly timer or app, per the specifications. The Pool Nerd says having to go out and start it manually defeats the point of an automatic cleaner, and PoolPad found turning it on every time a pain. The missing timer is on the Robotic Reviews list of drawbacks too. It can't start a clean by itself, so someone has to press start for every cycle.
Cable twists, filter is basic
There's no swivel on the cable. The Pool Nerd warns tangling can seriously affect coverage, and Robotic Reviews suggests stretching the cable out once a week to relax the kinks. The single fine filter lifts easily out of the top, but The Pool Nerd says it can't catch the tiniest particles, and PoolPad missed the finer filters on pricier models.
The US E10 (99996133-USW) is rated for above-ground pools up to 30ft. The European listing (99996133) is rated for 8m pools. All three reviews are of the US version.
Our take
Should you buy the E10?
Best for: Small, flat pools where only the floor needs cleaning. Skip it if: You need it to clean the walls or waterline as well as the floor.
The E10 may suit a small above-ground pool if floor cleaning is the task you want automated and you accept manual starts, wall brushing and a basic filter. All three test accounts are dealer-linked, so confidence is limited. A cordless Sora 10 adds wall and waterline cleaning but had step and retrieval problems; confirm the precise E10 version and pool-size rating for your market.
The E10, sold in the US as the Explorer E10, is a basic model in Dolphin's corded range and is built for above-ground pools up to 30 feet. It plugs into the mains, scrubs the floor with one active brush for a ninety-minute cycle and collects debris in a basket that lifts out of the top. Maytronics pitches it as light and easy to lift out.
Three US sites tested it in real pools, The Pool Nerd, Robotic Reviews and PoolPad, but all three are linked to a Dolphin dealer, so none counts as independent. They found it picks up leaves and dirt well. Maytronics' listing makes its limits clear. It cleans the floor only, not the walls or waterline, there is no timer or app so you start every clean yourself, and the cable has no swivel so it can twist. There is one fine filter in the box with nothing finer for pollen or dust.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it climb walls and clean the waterline?
No. It's a floor-only robot, per the specifications. The Pool Nerd found it turns back at the wall, and PoolPad saw it creep slightly up the wall and no further. You'll need to brush the walls and waterline yourself.
Will it work in an above-ground pool?
That's what it's made for: above-ground pools up to 30 feet, per the specifications. The Pool Nerd tested it in an 8 × 20ft vinyl above-ground pool, and Robotic Reviews had no trouble in above-ground and small in-ground pools.
Does it need an app?
It has no app and no timer, per the specifications. You press start on the power supply each time. The Pool Nerd and PoolPad both found this a real annoyance, since it means going out to the pool whenever you want a clean.
How do I clean the filter?
Lift the basket out of the top, unclip the bottom and rinse it, per the specifications. It's a single fine filter, which The Pool Nerd notes won't catch the tiniest particles such as pollen, and there's no ultra-fine option in the box.
Alternatives
Other robotic pool cleaners to compare.
Sora 10
Why consider it: This small cordless robot also cleans the walls and waterline, and two testers found it gets the pool clean given time.
The compromise: PCWorld found it missed every step and sometimes sank before it could be collected.
LIBERTY 200
Why consider it: It's a cordless Dolphin rated for above-ground pools up to 10 metres, and Maytronics says it climbs walls.
The compromise: We couldn't find an independent test of it yet.
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 E10?
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
- The Pool Nerd: Dolphin E10 review ↗Buy with cautionHands-on · Site linked to a Dolphin dealer (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- Robotic Reviews: Dolphin E10 robotic pool cleaner review ↗76/100Hands-on · Site linked to a Dolphin dealer (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- PoolPad: Dolphin E10 review ↗6.3/10Hands-on · Site linked to a Dolphin dealer (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
Videos
- Search YouTube for Dolphin E10 ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.