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For an affordable robotic pool cleaner, the Dolphin Cayman has a ton of features you'd find on units that cost twice as much. From wall-climbing to active scrubbing, see how the Cayman performs beyond its price tag.
Read the full article >Hey guys, I’m Joshua with Poolbots.com. And today we’re taking a closer look at the Dolphin Cayman robotic pool cleaner. The Dolphin Cayman is popular for its appealing price tag of about $700. And at 14 pounds, it’s 30% lighter than the average robotic pool cleaner. The Cayman has desirable features like hypergrip tracks that help it climb walls, a spinning brush that scrubs away debris, and a filter cartridge that’s easy to remove.
It only lacks a few of the advanced features like waterline cleaning and remote navigation. While these are standard on premium models like the Dolphin Premier or Sigma, the Dolphin Cayman is a scaled-back version of the brand’s top tier models.
We tested the Cayman over several days to see if it could outperform its price tag. Here’s what we found.
First, let’s take a look at what all comes with the Dolphin Cayman. Like we said, it’s light - just 14 pounds. And this ergonomic handle makes it easy to carry and lift out of the pool. The 50 foot cable makes it ideal for pools that are about 33 feet long, so any small-to-medium pool. But you’ll notice it doesn’t have an anti-tangle swivel, which decreases tension that causes tangling.
You can schedule it to run daily, or 2 to 3 times a week on the power supply. It has a pretty simple interface - just plug it in and let the Dolphin Cayman get to work. And finally, it comes standard with this large, top-loading filter basket. It snaps apart for straightforward cleaning, and it clicks back into the Cayman easily.
Once you get the Dolphin Cayman into your pool, you can expect to see it clean the floors and walls, maybe even the steps. It has Dolphin’s SmartNav 2.0 scanning software, which maps your pool so it can create the most efficient cleaning routes.
These hypergrip tracks are key to the Cayman’s climbing ability. Compared to wheels that slip a lot, the tracks cling to pool surfaces, even vertical ones. Plus, the Cayman is lightweight, so it can be more mobile with less power.
Speaking of power, the Dolphin Cayman has 2 DC motors that use about 90% less energy than traditional cleaners, and a standard 2-hour cleaning job adds up to just 10 cents of energy cost. This HyperBrush on the front of the Cayman spins quickly and the tough rubber bristles help dislodge debris. This is way more effective than just a vacuum or even a static brush.
The biggest test of a robotic cleaner’s performance is in its filtration system. And we’d classify the Dolphin Cayman as good. The filter basket is spacious, it’s easy to get to, and it’s simple to clean. Just snap apart the panels and rinse. But it has a few flaws.
First and foremost is the filter media. This type of mesh material is standard on nearly every robot in this price range, but it’s not fine enough to capture all of the debris that makes pool water cloudy.
This is a minor point for some users, but the second issue with the Cayman’s filtration system is that you’re restricted to just this one filter media. For the most efficient cleaning, you want a cleaner that has filter media options, like the Dolphin Premier. With the Premier, you can use a micro filter for debris as small as 2 microns or even an oversized bag for larger debris, like leaves. As it is, the Cayman, like most other robots, leaves you with just one filtration option.
If you’re a user who likes simple, you’ll probably appreciate the Dolphin Cayman. It’s lightweight, so you can get away with not needing a pool caddy. And you can schedule it to run on its own with the timer, but each cleaning is a standard 2 hours. If you need more or less, you’ll have to start or stop it manually.
Finally, the Cayman comes with just a two-year limited warranty. This is a little short, especially compared to the Dolphin Sigma and Dolphin Premier, which have full 3-year warranties. You can try the Cayman for 30 days risk-free.
Ultimately, the Dolphin Cayman is a solid robotic pool cleaner if you’re looking to upgrade from an old-fashioned pressure or suction side cleaner, but you’re not ready to invest in a premium model like the Dolphin Premier or Sigma. The Cayman does a lot of dirty work for you, like scrubbing the floors and walls, picking up large debris, circulating water, and automating cleanings. But like every other robot in this price range, can’t clean your waterline.
In the end, the Cayman is a good value. It’s a lot of robot for the money if you’re looking for a mid-tier robot.
As always, you can read real reviews and learn more about the Cayman and dozens of other robotic pool cleaners at poolbots.com. Visit our website to find tips and tricks for pool ownership, and special buys that’ll help you enjoy your pool to its full potential.
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Every pool deserves an intelligent robot. If you don't love it, simply return the robot. Unlike the other guys, we never charge a restocking fee or any other fees - meaning no restocking fee ever.