Premier
Limited evidenceRead the findings →One of Dolphin's top corded US robots, with a choice of filters including a big leaf bag. It's a strong pick for in-ground pools with leaves and fine dirt. It has no app and is heavy to lift out.
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Where it sits in Dolphin’s range
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What we know
Three US reviewers used it in their own pools, though The Pool Nerd and PoolPad are linked to a Dolphin dealer. Bob Vila ran it over several days in a Miami in-ground pool, trying all three filters. The Pool Nerd has run one for over three years and tested it after a storm, and PoolPad tried it with a pool full of leaves. All three rate its waterline cleaning and filters. They disagree about getting it out of the water, and Bob Vila found the price and extras hard to swallow.
Bob Vila, hands-on, Several days in a Miami in-ground pool, May 2023 · The Pool Nerd, hands-on, Over three years of ownership, Apr 2025 (Site linked to a Dolphin dealer) · PoolPad, hands-on, Feb 2026 (Site linked to a Dolphin dealer)
Waterline scrubbing is the highlight
Bob Vila found it senses the waterline and keeps cleaning even with about 40 percent of the robot above it. After a full cycle with the ultra-fine filter, the tile line sparkled. The Pool Nerd calls it the king of the waterline and says it gets right up to the line to remove built-up grime. If a greasy ring at the tiles is your main chore, this is where the Premier shines.
Pick a filter for the season
It comes with a leaf bag plus fine and ultra-fine cartridges, per the specifications. Bob Vila tried all three and found each suited a different kind of mess, from light debris to garden dirt, with the ultra-fine one leaving the tile line sparkling. PoolPad threw a load of leaves into the pool and called it the best robot it has tested for leaves. The Pool Nerd credits the finest filters with crystal-clear water. Swap the filter to suit what's in your pool that week.
Heavy to lift, easier for some
Bob Vila's tester, who describes herself as small, found it hard to pull out of the pool, though her husband managed more easily. It weighs about 22lb dry, per Bob Vila, and more when full. The Pool Nerd found the quick water release drains it fast as you lift, which is easier on your back. A caddy helps you move the robot once it's out, but it won't lift it from the pool for you, and Bob Vila notes it costs extra.
The cable stays out of the way
Bob Vila saw no tangling of the 60-foot cable in its test, and The Pool Nerd also liked the swivel. That's no promise the cable won't tangle in every pool. Maytronics advises against getting in the pool while a Dolphin is running, per Maytronics. A weekly timer handles scheduling, per the specifications, but there's no app.
Long life, with one owner's word
Its own Premier has run for over three years without a hiccup, says The Pool Nerd, which also says it handles stairs, drains and ladders. That's one owner, and we couldn't find a lab-style durability test. Bob Vila lists the price as the main downside, while PoolPad considers it good value given the three-year warranty. Weigh that warranty against how long you expect to keep it.
Covers the US Premier (99996339). Maytronics Italy sells a European Premier (99996741-EU) rated for 15m pools, with a filter bag and a two-year warranty; the reviews here are of the US model.
Our take
Should you buy the Premier?
Best for: Large in-ground pools needing floors, walls and the waterline cleaned. Skip it if: You would struggle to lift a heavy robot out of the water.
The Premier may suit an in-ground pool with leaves and fine dirt if a weekly timer is enough and you can manage the wet lift and bottom-loading filters. There is one independent review; the other accounts are dealer-linked. Sigma adds Wi-Fi but its test evidence is commercially linked, while Liberty 600 removes the cable with its own routing and step-cleaning limitations. Confirm the exact regional SKU and warranty.
The Premier is one of Dolphin's top corded robots in the US, sold through pool dealers and specialist online shops. It cleans the floor, walls and waterline on a three-hour cycle, with a weekly timer and a swivel intended to reduce cable twisting. What sets it apart is the choice of filters: a leaf bag for autumn, plus fine and ultra-fine cartridges for dust and algae.
We found one independent review. Bob Vila ran it over several days in a Miami in-ground pool and tried all three filters. The Pool Nerd has used one for over three years and tested it after a storm, and PoolPad tried it too, but both are linked to a Dolphin dealer. Between them they rate its waterline scrubbing highly. Age and weight are the drawback. There is no app or Wi-Fi, the filter loads from the bottom so you flip the robot over to empty it, and it weighs about 9kg dry and more once it's full of water.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it climb walls and clean the waterline?
Yes, it's built for the floor, walls and waterline, per the specifications. Bob Vila saw the tile line sparkle after a full cycle, and The Pool Nerd found it gets right up to the waterline to lift built-up grime.
How do I get it out of the water?
You lift it by the handle. Bob Vila found that hard work for a smaller person, at about 22lb dry and more when wet. The Pool Nerd found its quick water release drains it as you lift, which helps. A caddy for carrying it costs extra.
Does it handle leaves as well as fine dirt?
It's one of the few robots with a proper leaf bag as well as fine and ultra-fine cartridges, per the specifications. PoolPad called it the best robot it has tested for leaves, and Bob Vila found the ultra-fine cartridge left the tile line sparkling after a full cycle.
How do you clean the filter?
The filter loads from the bottom, per the specifications, so you turn the robot over to get it out, then rinse the bag or cartridges. A light on the robot shows when the filter is full, and Bob Vila notes the alerts tell you when to empty the bag or change a cartridge.
Does it need an app?
It doesn't have one. A built-in weekly timer handles scheduling instead, per the specifications. The Pool Nerd and PoolPad both list the missing app as a drawback, and point to the Dolphin Sigma if you want to start or schedule cleans from your phone.
Alternatives
Other robotic pool cleaners to compare.
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.
AquaSense 2 Ultra
Why consider it: Testers rated its underwater cleaning highly, and its camera searches for missed leaves on the pool floor.
The compromise: It's very heavy, and testers disagree about how well it skims.
Scuba X1 Pro Max
Why consider it: T3 and Heise rate its floor, wall and waterline cleaning among the best they've tested, and it skims too.
The compromise: It weighs about 15kg, and Reviewed couldn't get it to finish runs reliably.
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 Premier?
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
- Bob Vila: Dolphin Premier robotic pool cleaner review ↗9/10Hands-on, Several days in a Miami in-ground pool
- The Pool Nerd: Dolphin Premier review ↗Pool Nerd ApprovedHands-on, Over three years of ownership · Site linked to a Dolphin dealer (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- PoolPad: Dolphin Premier review ↗9.8/10Hands-on · Site linked to a Dolphin dealer (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
Videos
- Search YouTube for Dolphin Premier ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.