Explorer E50
Limited evidenceRead the findings →A corded Dolphin sold in the US, below the Explorer E70, for in-ground and above-ground pools you want to schedule from your phone. Buyer ratings on Maytronics' store are mixed, and the warranty is two years to the E70's three.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Dolphin’s range
- Explorer E50This model
- E50iEuropean model with a similar spec and three-year warranty
- Dolphin Explorer E70Adds an ultra-fine filter kit and a three-year warranty
- EON 120dCordless EON with a self-cleaning DebrisLock basket · £1,188
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What we know
Per the Maytronics US listing, the Explorer E50 scrubs the floor, walls and waterline with two active brushes, runs on a weekly timer through the MyDolphin Plus app and is rated for in-ground and above-ground pools. The Maytronics listing shows Europe's E50i with a very similar spec sheet. The only first-hand signal is the buyer rating on Maytronics' own store, and it's mixed.
Buyers on Maytronics' store are split
The Maytronics US store shows an average of 3.3 out of 5 from 46 buyer reviews, and says 51 percent of reviewers would recommend it. The spread is wide: 18 five-star ratings against 11 one-star ratings. We can't check who wrote them or what went wrong, so take it as a warning sign rather than a verdict, and buy somewhere with an easy return policy.
Scheduling and easy emptying
Per Maytronics, the MyDolphin Plus app works over Wi-Fi and gives you a weekly timer, delayed start and three cycle lengths. The multi-layer basket lifts out from the top, a light tells you when it's full, and a pick-up mode parks the robot at the edge after a cycle. A swivel on the cable stops it twisting.
How it differs from the E50i
Going by the Maytronics listing, Europe's E50i has the same pool length, cycle options, multi-layer filter, app and two active brushes. The Explorer E50 has a different product number, a two-year warranty instead of three, and weighs 19.2lb against the E50i's 8.35kg. The US listing also approves it for above-ground pools, while the European one says in-ground. Reviews of one don't automatically apply to the other.
What's not checked yet
Our search found dealer review pages, including sites linked to Dolphin retailers, and affiliate round-ups, but no independent reviewer who put this model in a pool and reported back. That leaves the basics unanswered: how thoroughly it covers the floor, how it handles steps, how it copes with leaves and how it holds up over a season. The Maytronics listing explains the design, and that's all.
Our take
Should you buy the Explorer E50?
Best for: In-ground pools whose owners want scheduled cleaning from an app. Skip it if: You want a stronger record in independent tests before buying.
It could suit a pool up to fifty feet if you want a corded robot you can schedule from your phone, but there is no test to back it. The Hayward AquaVac 650 is a corded Wi-Fi robot with two positive tests, and the cordless Dolphin EON 100 has good results from testers.
The Explorer E50 is a corded Dolphin sold in the US, below the Explorer E70. It scrubs the floor, walls and waterline with two active brushes, collects dirt in a multi-layer basket that lifts out of the top, and has a swivel to stop the cable tangling. It connects over Wi-Fi to the MyDolphin Plus app for a weekly timer, a delayed start and cycles of up to two and a half hours.
It is rated for in-ground and above-ground pools up to fifteen metres and sold with or without a caddy. Buyer ratings on Maytronics' own store are lukewarm, and the warranty is two years where the E70 gets three. Europe's Dolphin E50i has a very similar spec sheet but is a separate product with a three-year warranty.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it climb walls and clean the waterline?
Maytronics says it scrubs the floor, walls and waterline with two active brushes, per the specifications. We couldn't find an independent test, so we can't tell you how well it actually does it.
Will it work in an above-ground pool?
Yes, per the specifications: Maytronics lists it for in-ground and above-ground pools up to 50 feet long, in rectangular, round, kidney and free-form shapes. Check that your above-ground walls are rigid enough for a climbing robot.
How do you clean the filter?
Lift the basket out of the top, unsnap the bottom and rinse it, per the specifications. A full-filter light tells you when it needs emptying, so you don't have to check after every run.
Does it need an app?
It works plug-and-play without one, per the specifications, but the weekly timer, delayed start and cycle choice all come through the MyDolphin Plus app over Wi-Fi. No Wi-Fi at the poolside means no scheduling.
Alternatives
Other robotic pool cleaners to compare.
AquaVac 650
Why consider it: Another corded robot with Wi-Fi control, and both testers praised its cleaning and filterless canister.
The compromise: Neither tester could make its tug-the-cable recall work.
EON 100
Why consider it: Testers found this cordless Dolphin cleans floors and the waterline well and never got stuck.
The compromise: It's heavy to lift out, and it gives steps only a quick pass.
Nautilus CC Plus
Why consider it: Three independent testers found it cleans floors and walls quickly, with filters that are easy to empty.
The compromise: It sometimes sticks on steps, and testers disagree about whether it cleans the waterline.
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 Explorer E50?
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
Sources
Videos
- Maytronics North America: Explorer E50 | Maytronics™ Dolphin ↗
- Gadget Reviews: Dolphin Explorer E50: BEST Robotic Pool Cleaner? ↗
- Search YouTube for Dolphin Explorer E50 ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.