Escape
Dolphin's cheapest online-channel robot, a corded floor cleaner for above-ground pools. Bob Vila's tester found it cleaned dirt, debris and algae with little effort, but it won't climb walls and it's heavy to lift out full of water.
The short version
The Escape is the entry point to Dolphin's US online-channel robots, sold through certified web dealers. It plugs into the mains, scrubs the floor with one active brush over a 90-minute cycle, and collects debris in a basket that lifts out of the top. Maytronics rates it for pools up to 30 feet. On paper it matches the Explorer E10, Dolphin's big-box-store model, almost line for line.
The trade-off is how little it does. It cleans the floor only, with no timer, no app and no swivel on the cable. It stops wherever it happens to be when the cycle ends, so you may have to fish for it. At $669, it's a simple floor cleaner rather than a set-and-forget robot.
Our take: Buy it for a small above-ground pool where the floor is the only part that gets dirty and you don't mind starting each clean yourself. If you'd like a timer and wall climbing, the Dolphin Cayman is the step up, though nobody independent has tested it. If you'd rather skip the cable, the Beatbot Sora 10 is a small cordless option that climbs walls.
Where it sits in Dolphin’s range
What we know so far
Limited evidence Only one independent, finished hands-on review so far. A score and badge appear once there is a second.
Two reviewers used it in real pools. Bob Vila's tester, a pool owner of 15 years, ran it in a 24ft above-ground pool and was impressed by how easily it cleaned. The Pool Nerd, a site linked to a Dolphin dealer, tried it in an 8 × 20ft above-ground pool and a small in-ground pool. Both found it cleans the floor well and does nothing more. Bob Vila found it heavy to lift out when full of water. That's one independent test, so treat the verdict as provisional.
Bob Vila, hands-on (Tested in a 24ft above-ground pool) · The Pool Nerd, hands-on (Tested in an 8 × 20ft above-ground pool and a small in-ground pool; Site linked to a Dolphin dealer)
Floor cleaning impressed both testers
Bob Vila found a 90-minute cycle was enough to leave a 24ft above-ground pool free of dirt, debris and algae, and was blown away the first time it ran. The Pool Nerd watched it clear leaves and small twigs without clogging and found it didn't wander in circles. If the floor is where your mess ends up, both testers say it handles it.
Floor only, as promised
It doesn't climb walls, per the specifications, and Bob Vila lists that as a drawback. The Pool Nerd saw it go partway up the walls and steer round steps, but says not to expect it to clean the walls or waterline. The Pool Nerd also tried it in a small in-ground pool, where it gripped the slopes well. You'll still brush the walls yourself.
Heavy to lift, stops anywhere
Bob Vila's tester found it quite heavy to lift when full of water and had to let it drain before pulling it on to the deck. It also stops wherever it is when the cycle ends, sometimes in the middle of the pool. The Pool Nerd warns against pulling it up by the cable, which can damage it over time. Use the handle.
No timer, no swivel
There's no timer or app, per the specifications, so you switch it on each time. The Pool Nerd points buyers who want a schedule to the Cayman. The cable has no swivel, and The Pool Nerd says you'll need to untwist it yourself now and then. Bob Vila adds that the power adapter isn't waterproof, so keep it out of the rain.
Prices
Where to buy the Escape in United States
| Retailer | Price | Delivery | Stock | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PoolRobotsCheapest Dealer | $669 | — | In stock | Go to PoolRobots |
We’re still looking for more United States retailers for this model. Prices shown are read from each seller’s own page.
Prices read from each seller’s own page on 24 September 2026. Some links are affiliate links and are marked where they appear. Commission never changes the order or the recommendation.
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. Bob Vila lists the lack of wall climbing as its main drawback, and The Pool Nerd saw it creep only partway up the walls.
Will it work in an above-ground pool?
That's what it's made for, in pools up to 30 feet, per the specifications. Bob Vila used it in a 24ft above-ground pool, and The Pool Nerd in an 8 × 20ft one.
How do I get it out of the water?
By the handle, not the cable. Bob Vila found it heavy when full of water and let it drain before lifting it on to the deck. It stops wherever it is when the cycle ends, so you may need to pull it to the side first.
Does it need an app?
It has no app and no timer, per the specifications. You switch it on at the power supply each time. The Pool Nerd suggests the Cayman if you want a weekly schedule.
How do I clean the filter?
Lift the basket out of the top, unsnap the bottom and rinse it, per the specifications. The Pool Nerd found it big enough to last a full cycle or more with plenty of leaves, and quick to rinse.
Compare with
Sora 10
This small cordless robot also cleans the walls and waterline, and two testers found it gets the pool clean given time.
PCWorld found it missed every step and sometimes sank before it could be collected.
LIBERTY 200
Dolphin's cheapest cordless robot climbs walls and suits above-ground pools up to 10 metres, per Maytronics.
We couldn't find an independent test of it yet.
Full specifications
Figures come from the manufacturer’s product page unless a source is named. A blank means nobody we trust has confirmed it.
Owner reviews
Own a Escape?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner reviews are shown separately from expert tests and never mixed into the score.
Sources
Everything cited on this page. Expert scores are shown as the reviewer gave them.
- Bob Vila: Dolphin Escape robotic pool cleaner review · 9.5/10Hands-on · Tested in a 24ft above-ground pool
- The Pool Nerd: Dolphin Escape robotic pool cleaner review (2026 model) · Pool Nerd ApprovedHands-on · Tested in an 8 × 20ft above-ground pool and a small in-ground pool · Site linked to a Dolphin dealer (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- Maytronics (US): Dolphin Escape product page (99996153-SPLF)Manufacturer