Robotic pool cleaners have single-handedly destroyed the pool boy cleaning service forever. With one of these babies awaiting orders in your pool 24/7, you won’t have to worry about jumping into an algae-filled, gunked-up pool in the summer.
Of course, that’s assuming that you have a high-quality robotic pool cleaner.
Maytronics is one of the most well-established robotic pool cleaner manufacturers in the world, and their line of Dolphins never fails to impress. Today, we’re going to compare two of their Dolphins—the Nautilus CC Supreme and the Oasis Z5i.
We’re going to discuss what the two have in common, their main differences, and which is the smarter investment.
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Shared Specs and Features
Dual Motors
The motor determines how well the robotic pool cleaner can move and in how many directions. When it comes to Maytronics’ products, there’s no doubt that their robots are well-equipped to maneuver itself gracefully underwater. Both the Nautilus and Oasis are fitted with dual motors that propel the robot forward and vertically for maximum coverage and cleaning effectiveness.
Multiple Active Brushes
A set of delicate yet forceful scrubs will ensure that every speck of algae and dirt is removed fully from your pool’s walls, base, and steps. These robots feature twin active brushrolls that dislodge any clinging pool gunk which allows the suction inlet and filtration system to remove it completely from your pool.
360° Swivel Cord and Cleaning Range
Like any robotic pool cleaner with the Maytronics brand, the Nautilus and Oasis use the patented anti-tangle 360° swivel cord that allows it to move freely and twist and turn beneath the surface without damaging the power cord. The length of their power cords allows them to reach both ends of in-grounds pools of up to 50 feet long.
Dual XL Top-Loaded Filters
These two robotic pool cleaner models come with twin oversized filter and trap buckets that collect fine and super-fine particles from your pool. They’re accessible from the top of the robots to make removing, cleaning, and reinstalling the filters a quick and easy process.
How They Differ
Bluetooth Control
Nautilus CC Supreme
The Nautilus cannot be controlled via smartphone through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity. Instead, you’ll get a control module that sits on the edge of the pool where all of the programmable features and instructions are sent. This is standard in all entry-level robots.
Oasis Z5i
The Oasis does things a bit differently. Instead of relying solely on the control module, the Oasis can connect to your smartphone with Bluetooth where, through the downloadable app, you can set up cleaning schedules and receive status reports. Your smartphone can also double as a controller that gives you the ability to guide the robot to clean any spots it may have missed.
Winner: Oasis Z5i
Admittedly, manually steering the Oasis feels a bit awkward, and Bluetooth connection to underwater devices isn’t that great, but at least you have the option to control the Oasis from afar.
Zero-Radius Turning
Nautilus CC Supreme
Zero-radius turning is the ability to turn at a fixed position. The Nautilus can’t do this. Its tracks do not move independently of each other so it needs to perform a wide 180° underwater to make repeated passes. The result: more time spent on turning which, theoretically, could lead to less cleaning coverage of your pool.
Oasis Z5i
This lets the robot turn a full 180° without backing up or making a full U-turn, giving it the ability to make repeated passes more efficiently. This is what makes the Oasis’ navigation so spectacular—it’ll use every second of its allotted cleaning time to complete its cycle effectively and efficiently.
Winner: Oasis Z5i
What else can I say? It can move better underwater compared to the Nautilus. However, from a practical standpoint, the benefit of the Oasis’ zero-turning radius is only marginally better than the Nautilus’ inability to do so. This “win” doesn’t really mean much when looking at the larger picture.
Waterline Scrubbing
Nautilus CC Supreme
But here’s something that can mean a whole lot: the ability to propel itself vertically and stay afloat to scrub your pool’s waterline. We have the Nautilus’ powerful jets to thank for this. A clean waterline means no slimy and slippery surfaces when backed up against the wall. No manual scrubbing for you!
Oasis Z5i
Sadly, with the Oasis, you’ll need to do a bit of manual labor. Despite having similar dual motors, the Oasis’ cannot keep it afloat for minutes at a time. You’ll need to get down on your knees and scrub the waterline on your own while running the Oasis beneath you to pick up every particle of fallen algae.
Winner: Nautilus CC Supreme
This is a tremendous win for the Nautilus. The main reason why people would want a robotic pool cleaner is to get rid of as much manual labor as possible, and with the Nautilus’ waterline cleaning abilities, you’ll have more time to enjoy your pool rather than maintaining it.
Cleaning Modes
Nautilus CC Supreme
Another department where the Nautilus and Oasis differ vastly is the number of cleaning modes. The Nautilus comes with three presets: quick (90 minutes), standard (150 minutes), and enhanced (210 minutes). You how thoroughly or quickly you want your pool cleaned depending on when you’re next using it.
Oasis Z5i
The Oasis comes with a single 150-minute time preset. When the timer runs out, regardless of whether it has cleaned your entire pool effectively, the robot will automatically shut off. You’ll need to command the Oasis to get back to work if there’s still work to be done.
Winner: Nautilus CC Supreme
The multiple cleaning time options of the Nautilus make it an efficient robot for small, medium, and large pools (up to 50 feet), whereas the Oasis’ single preset can be insufficient or overkill. Of course, you can always command the Oasis to stop in its tracks through your smartphone, so that’s what it has going for it.
Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme vs. Oasis Z5i: Which Is the Better Robotic Pool Cleaner?
Ultimately, I’d have to give the upper-hand to the Nautilus CC Supreme. The main difference between this and the Oasis Z5i is the ability to clean your pool’s waterline.
This is a handy feature, and if you’re looking for ultra-convenience then this is for you. In every other regard, you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart if it weren’t for their physical builds.
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Last update on 2020-10-22 / Most affiliate links and/or Images from Amazon Product Advertising API