A robotic pool cleaner is not just a time-saver, but it’s also worth the investment. Not having to spend hours over the weekend maintaining and going the dirty work of scrubbing the pool’s walls and base should be more than enough reason to consider looking for a reliable model. And when it comes to robotic pool cleaners, the Dolphin line never disappoints.
Today, we’re going to take a close look at the Dolphin Advantage, an entry-level robot built for small-sized in-ground pools.
It’s not as feature-rich as mid-and high-end models, but it does the job. Let’s see what advantages the Advantage can offer small-pool owners.
Cleaning Performance
For obvious reasons, how the robotic pool cleaner cleans is the most important factor to consider when shopping for one. I’m happy to report that its lack of features does not, in any way, hamper how well this robot performs below the surface of your pool.
The Advantage uses a single active brush roll with rubber “knives” that gently but effectively scrape away at algae and other pool pollutants before its heavy-duty suction inlet does the rest.
Combine this with the fact that the Advantage has a water flow rate of 4,000 GPH, your pool’s water will appear as pristine as ever after the robot has had its say.
Vertical Movement
It may not seem like it, but this entry-level robot’s maneuverability is on par with many other high-end Dolphins. Its rubbery tracks offer enough traction to allow it to cling onto slippery walls while its jets propel it upward. These two things combined give the Advantage the ability to clean vertical surfaces with relative ease.
Sadly, there’s no waterline cleaning function so you’ll have to do a bit of manual scrubbing.
CleverClean Navigation
Like so many other Dolphin models, the Advantage relies upon CleverClean Navigation software to maneuver its way through your pool. This system relies on several sensors situated around the Advantage which creates a digital map of your pool, thereby allowing its algorithm to come up with the most efficient, power-saving cleaning path.
The result is near-perfect maneuverability up and down your pool, even with the presence of obstructions (toys, swimming trunks, etc.).
However, it doesn’t fare that well on stairs; what potentially ends up happening is the Advantage topples over due to the sudden change of horizontal and vertical surface, forcing you to fish the robot out of the depths of your pool and placing it right-side up.
360° Swivel Cord
The Advantage is equipped with a moderate-size cable that supports free travel across pools of up to 33 feet in length. The power cord also allows the robot to turn freely, up to 360°, without causing damage to the cord and its delicate inner wires.
This power cord is not rated anti-tangle, but thanks to its intelligent navigation system and non-zero-radius turning, this is hardly an issue.
Single Top-Loaded Basket
Because of its shorter reach compared to other models in the Dolphin series, the Advantage is equipped with a singular large-sized filter basket that is accessible through a latch on the top of the bot.
It comes with a fine-mesh filter that traps most of the passing particles while at work, and cleaning it out is as simple as pulling the robot out of your pool, pulling the filter basket out, and giving it a quick rinse with a garden hose.
Programmable Weekly Scheduler
The only convenience-adding feature of the Advantage is its programmable weekly scheduler. It’s not so highly advanced as high-end Dolphin products, but it still does the job. You can modify the scheduler to automatically command the Advantage to begin its 2-hour cleaning cycle every day, every two days, or every three days depending on when you need your pool cleaned.
The Advantage has to sit at the bottom of your pool 24/7 for the scheduler to work.
No Smartphone Connectivity
The simplicity of this entry-level robotic pool cleaner is apparent upon realizing that other than the controller module that comes with it, there’s no way you can direct instructions to the Advantage from afar. It does not have an infrared remote control, and it cannot connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
The Dolphin smartphone app does nothing for the Advantage.
Related Dolphin Robotic Pool Cleaner ArticlesSingle Reviews
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Cleaner
Dolphin Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner
Dolphin Oasis Z5i Robotic Pool Cleaner
Dolphin Proteus DX3 Robotic Pool Cleaner
Dolphin Sigma Robotic Pool Cleaner
Comparison Articles
Dolphin vs. Polaris
Dolphin Premier vs Oasis Z5i
Dolphin Sigma vs. Dolphin Premier
Verdict: Should I Get the Dolphin Advantage?
Considering what it can do, there’s no reason why small pool owners (up to 33 feet in length) wouldn’t benefit from having their very own Dolphin Advantage.
Granted, it’s not the most feature-packed model out there, even among the Dolphin line, but Dolphin Advantage is still a user-friendly robot that offers hands-free convenience that pool owners are looking for.
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Last update on 2023-06-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
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