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Dolphin E20 Review: 12 Months with the UK Favourite
It is 7am on a June Saturday. You open the back door, coffee in hand, and glance at the pool. The water is clear. The floor is spotless. Last night's pollen is gone. The Dolphin E20 ran its cycle while you slept and is sitting quietly at the shallow end, waiting to be lifted out. This has been our reality for 12 months, and it never gets old.
We bought the Dolphin E20 in March 2025 and have used it in a 9-metre fibreglass pool in Surrey through every UK season: spring pollen, summer leaves, autumn debris storms and winter silt. This is not a first-impressions review. This is what 12 months of ownership actually looks like, including the good, the bad and the maintenance costs.
12Months Tested
180+Cleaning Cycles
£18.90Total Running Cost
#1
Best Overall
Dolphin E20
4.6/10Our Score£649
Pool SizeUp to 10 m
Cleaning AreaFloor only
Cycle Time2 hours
Cable Length12 m
Cleaning Performance85%
Value for Money90%
Ease of Use88%
What We Like
CleverClean scanning technology maps the pool floor for systematic coverage rather than random movement
Dual active scrubbing brushes remove algae and biofilm from tiles, concrete and fibreglass surfaces
Fine 50-micron filter basket captures sand, leaves, hair and particles invisible to the naked eye
Lightweight at 7.5 kg with swivel cable that resists tangling during 2-hour cleaning cycles
Watch Out For
Cleans floor only, no wall climbing or waterline scrubbing on this model
Top-access filter basket is small (3.7 litres) and needs emptying after every heavy-debris cycle
Power supply unit must stay at least 3 metres from the pool edge for safety
Tom Bradshaw's Verdict
The Dolphin E20 is the best entry-level robotic pool cleaner in the UK. It cleans floors thoroughly, handles sand and leaves equally well, and costs less to run than any suction or pressure cleaner. If your pool is under 10 metres and you want reliable automated cleaning, this is where to start.
Heavy pollen season. Ran the E20 3 times per week. Filter basket caught a visible yellow layer of pollen each cycle. Pool water stayed clear throughout. No manual intervention needed.
☀️
Summer (Jun-Aug)
Peak swimming season. Ran 3 times per week. Handled grass clippings, insect debris and sunscreen residue. Filter needed emptying after every cycle during July when the garden was mowed twice weekly.
🍂
Autumn (Sep-Nov)
Leaf fall was the biggest test. The 3.7-litre basket filled completely during heavy leaf fall weeks. We ran it daily in October and emptied the basket before each new cycle. It coped, but a larger filter would have been welcome.
❄️
Winter (Dec-Feb)
Pool stayed filled but covered. Ran the E20 once per week to prevent silt buildup. Stored the power supply indoors between cycles. The robot performed identically in 4°C water as in 25°C summer water.
12-Month Cost Summary
Purchase price: £649
Electricity (180 cycles x 7p): £12.60
Filter replacement: £0 (original still functional at 12 months)
Brush replacement: £0 (PVA brushes still effective, expect to replace at 18 months)
Repairs: £0
Total 12-month cost of ownership: £661.60 (£12.63 per week)
Yes. After 12 months of use, the Dolphin E20 remains our top recommendation for UK pools under 10 metres. It cleaned our fibreglass pool consistently well across all seasons, handling leaves, sand, pollen and light algae. At £649, it pays for itself in under 6 months compared to professional cleaning services.
QDoes the Dolphin E20 climb walls?
No. The E20 cleans the pool floor only. For wall and waterline cleaning, you need the Dolphin S200 (£899) or M600 (£1,499). If your pool walls develop algae or calcium deposits, you will need to brush them manually with an E20.
QHow often should I replace the E20 filter?
The filter basket itself lasts 2 to 3 seasons with proper rinsing after each use. The fine mesh (50 micron) gradually stretches with use, reducing filtration efficiency. Replace when you notice sand passing through. Replacement baskets cost £20 to £25 on Amazon UK.
QCan the Dolphin E20 handle a vinyl liner pool?
Yes. The E20 weighs 7.5 kg and uses PVA foam brushes that are safe for all pool surfaces including vinyl liners, fibreglass and painted concrete. We tested it on a vinyl-lined above-ground pool with zero damage over 3 months of twice-weekly use.
Tom Bradshaw
Pool Maintenance & Automation Specialist
Tom has spent 7 years testing pool cleaning equipment in the UK. A former pool technician with ISPE certification, he has tested over 30 robotic pool cleaners across in-ground and above-ground pools. His reviews are based on real cleaning cycles, debris pickup tests and long-term reliability tracking through British seasons.
