Dolphin Premier
#9 in CordedFull review
For leafy in-ground pools up to 50 ft where filter capacity matters more than app control.
Pool Express $1,999$1,999
The Dolphin Premier is the better robotic pool cleaner overall, rated 3.7 to 3.0. The Dolphin Premier leads on warranty. The Hayward SharkVac XL wins on value. The Hayward SharkVac XL costs $400 less ($1,599 vs $1,999).
Hayward SharkVac XL
#32 in CordedFull review
A full-coverage Hayward for in-ground pools up to 20 x 40 ft, including beach-entry pools.
Leslie's $1,599 Walmart $1,599$1,599
Prices were last checked October 21, 2026 and are subject to change; the price and availability shown by the retailer at the time of purchase apply.
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Dolphin Premier for warranty (3-year warranty vs 1-year warranty).
- Choose the Hayward SharkVac XL for value ($1,599 vs $1,999).
Scores side by side
Each factor is scored 0-100 against the same fixed reference points for every corded robotic pool cleaner; a clear win is highlighted. How we rank explains each one.
| Factor weight | Dolphin Premier | Hayward SharkVac XL |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 3.7/5 | 3.0/5 |
| Value 25% | 10 $1,999 | 19 $1,599 |
| Cleaning 25% | 85 Floor, walls and waterline | 85 Floor, walls and waterline |
| Navigation 15% | 50 Smart scanning | 50 Smart steering |
| Warranty 15% | 100 3-year warranty | 0 1-year warranty |
| Pool size 10% | 100 pools up to 50 ft long (about 1,250 sq ft) | 56 pools up to 40 ft long (about 800 sq ft) |
| Features 10% | 67 2 of 3; no app control | 50 too few features published (neutral score used) |
Specifications
| Dolphin Premier | Hayward SharkVac XL | |
|---|---|---|
| Pool | ||
| Pool size (rated) | Up to 50 ft long | Up to 40 ft long |
| Pool types | In-ground | In-ground |
| Surfaces | - | Gunite, vinyl, fiberglass, pebble, tile |
| Cleaning | ||
| Cleans | Floor, walls and waterline | Floor, walls and waterline |
| Surface skimming | No | No |
| Filter | Multi-layer bottom-access cartridges, plus fine cartridges and an oversized leaf bag in the box | Top-access filter with two fine-porosity elements |
| Water flow | 4,500 gal/h | - |
| Power | ||
| Power | Corded | Corded, 55 ft cable |
| Run time | Longest cycle 3 h | Longest cycle 3 h |
| Swivel cable | Yes | - |
| Navigation & app | ||
| Navigation | Smart scanning | Smart steering |
| App | No | No |
| Scheduling | Yes | - |
| Build | ||
| Weight | 20.3 lb (9.2 kg) | 21.5 lb (9.8 kg) |
| Warranty | 3 years | 1 year |