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Dolphin S200 Review: Wall Climbing on a Budget
You have the Dolphin E20 open in one tab and the S200 in another. The E20 costs £649 and cleans floors. The S200 costs £899 and cleans everything: floor, walls and waterline. Is that waterline scrubbing worth £250 extra? After running both models side by side in the same pool for 8 weeks, the answer is unambiguous.
The S200 eliminated our weekly wall-brushing routine entirely. The waterline, where calcium and sunscreen residue accumulate, stayed clean without any manual intervention. That is 15 minutes per week we got back. Over a 22-week UK season, that is 5.5 hours of manual labour the S200 handles automatically. At £250 for the upgrade, the S200 costs £45.45 per hour of saved labour. That is a deal.
8 weeksSide-by-Side Test
£250Upgrade Cost
5.5 hrsLabour Saved/Season
#1
Best for Medium Pools
Dolphin S200
4.7/10Our Score£899
Pool SizeUp to 12 m
Cleaning AreaFloor + Walls + Waterline
Cycle Time2.5 hours
Cable Length15 m
Cleaning Performance92%
Value for Money85%
Ease of Use90%
What We Like
Cleans floor, walls and waterline in a single 2.5-hour cycle with no manual intervention
PowerStream mobility system uses internal water jets for precise wall navigation and waterline grip
Dual-level filtration with fine and ultra-fine filters catches particles down to 2 microns
Weekly timer schedules up to 3 automatic cleaning sessions without touching the unit
Watch Out For
At £899, it costs £250 more than the E20 for the wall-climbing upgrade
Heavier at 9.5 kg, making it slightly harder to lift out of the pool after each cycle
No Wi-Fi or app control on this model, must use the power supply buttons
Tom Bradshaw's Verdict
The Dolphin S200 is the sweet spot for UK pool owners who want complete cleaning without premium pricing. Wall climbing and waterline scrubbing eliminate the need for manual brushing. The weekly timer means you can set it and forget it all summer.
The S200 climbs vertical walls using PowerStream water jets. It scrubs from floor to waterline and back. The E20 stays on the floor. If your walls grow algae between manual brushing sessions, this feature alone justifies the upgrade.
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Waterline Cleaning
The waterline is where oil, sunscreen, calcium and body fats accumulate. The S200 scrubs it automatically. With the E20, you need a manual waterline brush and cleaner every 1 to 2 weeks.
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Weekly Timer
The S200 has a programmable weekly timer: set it to clean Monday, Wednesday and Friday at any time. Drop it in on Monday morning and do not touch it until you empty the filter on Friday evening. The E20 requires manual start each time.
Our Verdict
If your pool has tiled or rendered walls that develop algae, the S200 is the better buy at £899. If your pool has smooth fibreglass walls that stay clean naturally, save £250 and get the E20. The wall-climbing upgrade only matters if your walls actually need regular cleaning.
QIs the Dolphin S200 worth £250 more than the E20?
Yes, if your pool has wall algae or waterline buildup. The S200 cleans floor, walls and waterline in a single 2.5-hour cycle. The E20 only cleans the floor. If you currently spend 15+ minutes brushing walls manually, the S200 pays back the £250 difference in convenience within 2 months.
QHow does the S200 climb walls?
The S200 uses PowerStream mobility: internal water jets push the robot against the wall surface while rotating brushes scrub algae and calcium deposits. It climbs vertical walls and transitions smoothly to the waterline. It reverses back down to the floor automatically when the wall cycle completes.
QDoes the S200 have app control?
No. The S200 is controlled via buttons on the power supply unit. It has a weekly timer for scheduling up to 3 automatic cleaning sessions. For app control and Wi-Fi, you need the Dolphin S300i (£1,199) or M600 (£1,499).
QIs the S200 suitable for above-ground pools?
The S200 weighs 9.5 kg, which is on the heavier side for above-ground pools with soft vinyl liners. It is best suited for in-ground pools with fibreglass, tiled or concrete surfaces. For above-ground pools, the lighter Dolphin E20 (7.5 kg) is a safer choice.
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.
