Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme Review

Looking for a robotic pool cleaner that claims to do it all? The Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme is Dolphin's premium model in the Nautilus line, designed to clean pool floors, walls, and waterlines with advanced automation and connectivity. But at a hefty price of $1,500, is it truly worth the investment? Or are you better off with Dolphin's new ProLine™? We put the CC Supreme to the test to find out.

What Comes with the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme?

Unboxing and Initial Impressions

You’ll notice right as you take it out of the box — it’s heavy. The Nautilus CC Supreme weighs about 24 lbs, even when it’s dry. The package includes a 50-foot cable with an anti-tangle swivel to prevent cord tangling.

The top of the unit pops open to access the filter cartridges. They snap in and out of the cleaner for easy removal and cleaning. Its power supply has a simple interface, but most of the CC Supreme’s controls are on the MyDolphin app.

Setting Up the MyDolphin App

Setting up the app and pairing it to your unit is straightforward, as long as you’re close to a Wi-Fi source. Once you’re in the app, you have a lot of hands-off control at your fingertips. You can schedule a weekly timer, delay cleanings, and even manually navigate the unit from your phone.

Key Features of the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme

Multiple Cleaning Cycle Options

One standout feature is the variety of cleaning cycle options. You can choose a quick, standard, or enhanced cleaning depending on your pool’s needs:

• Quick Clean: Focuses on just the floors in 1.5 hours.
• Standard Clean: Cleans the floors, walls, and waterline in 2.5 hours.
• Enhanced Clean: Includes extra scrubbing time and completes in 3.5 hours.

Cleaning Performance: What We Discovered

Strong and Steady Coverage

We’d describe this model’s cleaning coverage as strong and steady. It climbs walls well, spending a lot of time scrubbing the waterline, which is the dirtiest part of every pool. The CC Supreme’s tracks are responsible for its climbing capabilities, with tough rubber notches that grip pool surfaces, even vertical ones.

Where the CC Supreme Falls Short

However, it won’t clean the tanning ledge or underwater steps, so you’ll need to manually clean those areas. While its coverage was solid, we didn’t notice anything particularly intelligent about its navigation. The CC Supreme uses CleverClean technology to scan and navigate the pool for optimal cleaning routes, but it didn’t appear as advanced as the SmartNav 3.0 and onboard gyroscope found on the Dolphin Sigma.

Split-Spinning Brushes for Deep Cleaning

In terms of cleaning power, the CC Supreme is very reliable. It has three split-spinning brushes for deep cleaning. The center brush rapidly oscillates to dislodge tough debris, but the outer brushes don’t rotate as quickly as models known for scrubbing power, like the Dolphin Premier. However, the split brushes allow the CC Supreme to turn and pivot in smaller, more efficient spaces.

Filtration: Does the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme Deliver?

Limited Filtration Options

The CC Supreme left behind a noticeable strip of clean pool floor, brushing and vacuuming up a lot of silt and sand. However, it struggled with larger debris, specifically leaves and pine needles. The filtration system on the Nautilus CC Supreme is not impressive. The top-loading cartridges are easy to access, empty, and clean, but they have a small capacity, especially compared to the oversized cartridges on the Dolphin Sigma.

Only Two Filter Media Options

Another drawback is that the CC Supreme only offers two filter media options: fine and ultra-fine. In comparison, equally powerful but less expensive models like the Dolphin Premier have four filter media options, including a microfine filter and an oversized debris bag. The lack of versatility in filtration makes the CC Supreme less adaptable to varying pool conditions.

User Experience: Pros and Cons

App Connectivity Issues

While the app aims to enhance the user experience, it’s problematic if your pool is far from your home’s Wi-Fi source. If the connection is poor, the app disconnects, rendering it useless. Even when connected, the remote control feature has a significant lag, making it frustrating to use.

Weight and Handling

The CC Supreme's weight can also be a concern. At 24 lbs, it may not seem like much, but pulling it out of the water makes it even heavier, despite the quick-release ports on the bottom. A caddy is almost a necessity, but it’s not included with the purchase, which feels like an oversight given the price.

Final Verdict: Is the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme Overpriced?

Based on our experience using the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme, it’s hard to see how the price aligns with its performance. While it offers some level of automation and connectivity with the Wi-Fi app, those features still need improvement. At $1,500, you should be paying for a truly smart, low-maintenance, hands-off robotic pool cleaner, but the CC Supreme just doesn’t deliver that experience yet.

Better Alternatives to Consider

For a robotic pool cleaner that improves on the CC Supreme’s features at a better price, we suggest looking at the Dolphin Sigma or Dolphin Premier. The Sigma, with its three motors, onboard gyroscope, and connectivity, is truly hands-off, while the Premier excels at waterline cleaning with four filter media options for a customized clean.

As always, you can read real reviews and learn more about the Nautilus CC Supreme and dozens of other robotic pool cleaners at Poolbots.com. Visit our website to find the best deals, tips, and tricks for pool ownership, and special buys that’ll help you enjoy your pool to its full potential.