Maytronics Dolphin DX6 – Robotic Pool Cleaner Review

It has been a long time since I have been able to review anything that wasn’t an Aquabot, but I am happy to say for the time being I am done with them, until the next model comes out at least. On ward to new and possibly better things. The Maytronic Dolphin series of robotic pool cleaners. I have touched on them a little in the past, but since those early reviews I have discovered so much more regarding this technology. I know what features are a must and I know who to recommend what to. Those early reviews have now been edited, got to keep up to date.

The DX series sticks close to Maytronics series design sensibilities, three models in the same range each more expensive and more featured than the last. It means we get a bot in every range to suit almost everyone. The DX6 is the best of them, but all these extra bells and whistles comes at a fairly hefty price.

So let’s break this one down, see if it is the right pool cleaner for you.

Maytronics Dolphin DX6 Design and Build Quality

As is always the case with a name brand product like the Dolphins, you are getting quality. There are a few bargain bin options on the market, but the parts used tend to be sub standard. One of the best ways to find out if the cleaner you have bought is good to go is to give it a bit of a shake, you want it to rattle as little as possible. The Dolphin DX6 is a solid design, and the monochrome grey parts fit flush.

Speaking of monochrome, I have no idea where the DX series went wrong in the aesthetics department, the DX3 is a lovely looking machine, but here again, like the DX4 we have a design that takes some getting use to. It still uses the cylinder track propulsion system, which is still to my mind the best drive option available for a robotic pool cleaner.

Overall the build is up the Maytronics usual standards. I am not a fan of the look, but that is not a major issue. Thought clearly went into this design, but the slight deviations fro the DX3 make it look a little basic to me.

Maytronics Dolphin DX6 Features and Specs

Another in ground pool cleaner with all the core functions of the DX3, DX4 and even a few new ones. Let’s start with the similarities. We again have a high powered brush scrub at the base, fully removing debris and algae from the floor of your pool. It can also do a 90 degree transition to climb your walls, cleaning as it goes. The anti-tangle swivel cable is 60′, giving us a maximum advised pool size of 50′. , though I have seen the DX3 do a 60′ pool with a little extension.

The DX6 again uses the filter bag system, not quite as versatile as the mesh film system, but still a fine choice. Unlike the other DX bots this time we have many different cycles to choose from, 2 hours, 3 hours and 4 hours, each cleaner deeper than the last. The Brush and filter system is split into two different sections here, as is the drive, and there is one very good reason for that. Manual maneuverability.

The DX4 offers limited remote control options, but the DX6 is a fully remote control pool cleaner. Hit a button on the remote and you can move the DX6 with 1:1 controls. The weekly timer feature seen in the other two models is here as well, as well as the full bag notification. You can leave this bot in the pool as long as you like, taking it out when the bag is full and no sooner.

The final little bit of icing is the delayed start timer, delaying the start of the clean until the debris settles allows the bot to clean the pool much for effectively. This is not a light machine though, 24.25 pounds, so getting it out of the water can be a bit of a chore. The built in water filter pump is the Maytronic standard 4,233 gallon per hour power pump, giving you crystal clear waters quickly and effectively.

Overall a fine list of features and a whole host of improvements over both the DX3 and the DX4. For me the best bit is the full remote control options, but I have always been a bit retentive when it comes to cleanliness.

Maytronics Dolphin DX6 Ease of Use

A good robotic pool cleaner should be as easy to use as possible. there are plenty of complicated options out there, some requiring extensive set up and connection to external filters and pumps, but I do not bother with them. A pool cleaner should be all about saving you time and a self contained plug and play option is the best choice there. The DX6 is wonderfully simple to use, you plug it in, drop it in the water and select a cycle. It will do the rest. I would argue that the DX6 is the most complicated of the DX series, but that is only because of the feature options on it remote. Learning how to control your bot remotely will take you a short time, but it is still time you could be spending elsewhere.

The weight issue is greater here than on any other Dolphin I have reviewed thus far, bar the Triton. 24.25 pounds might not sound like much, but add in the water weight and you are looking at a long haul. The handle really is a god send here, but the issue still had to be addressed.

The other issue, and this is one that has been plaguing the DX series as a whole, is that bottom loading filter bag. I have had issues in the past with bottom loading bags overflowing a little debris when you remove it from the water, a very small amount but again the issue needs to be known. Replacing the bag is a minor annoyance, requiring that you flip the whole machine over. Clipping in the new bag only takes a minute or so though. I recommend you get a replacement bag just to be safe.

More difficult to use than any other in the series, but that is what happens when you add features. Still very simple to use overall.

Maytronics Dolphin DX6 Pricing, Value, & Discounts

This is not going to be pretty, the price of the DX4 and the DX3 have been in the mid range, but this beast is very much an upper mid range machine. You can expect to pay $1000-$1200 for the DX6. we are no longer in the sub-$1000 range, but I would still argue that the added features make it attractive to a certain kind of consumer. You have to think of a robotic pool cleaner as an investment in yourself. The value of the product is directly correlated with how much you value your own time, and it is easy to see how any robotic pool cleaner will have paid you back within a year with free time. I say that bit a lot, but it applies across the board with this kind of product.

The cost of running the machine varies from place to place. with the Aquabot reviews I could tell you exactly how much it will cost based on the local price per kilowatt hour, all we had to do was slot i the cycle time and the power consumption and we have the price. Not the case here, as Maytronics have not released the power consumption information for any bot in their range. They claim that the cost per cycle is 15c, but that is very much a ball park figure. Still, it is not a lot of money, and you should expect the actual cost to be very close to it. Take it into account when considering the long term implications of this purchase.

Now we look at the warranty, and still I am waiting on detailed warranty information from Maytronic so I can give you the comprehensive rundown. As it stands they claim a 36 month bumper to bumper warranty for the DX6. I’ll be sure to update this article when I get more detailed information.

There’s the price and it is certainly up there. For those who like a little more control I can see an easy justification for the price, but for others there may not be enough here. The warranty is nice and long, but the lack of information there is a bit of a black mark on the company. hopefully they will get back to me soon, before this goes out, but who knows.

Maytronics Dolphin DX6 Conclusion

This is a tough one to call. On the one hand I can see who this is aimed at, the in ground pool owner who wants all the features of the previous models, a slightly deeper clean and the ability to direct the cleaner to problem areas manually. If that describes you then by all means get yourself a DX6, but for me I don’t think there is enough to differentiate itself from the DX4. The DX4 is the better options for most, but this is still a damn fine machine in its own right.

Pros:

• Works out of the box, no need to connect it to a pool pump.
• Cleans walls and the tile line
• Weekly timer frees up more of your time..
• True remote control options
• A few added benefits over the DX3 and DX4
• Range of cycle settings

Cons:

• Seems to specific to a niche within a niche
• Expensive
• Warranty info is light on the ground.