Overall Score
80
55
98
Dolphin Proteus DX5i Robotic Pool Cleaner Click to enlarge
Main
Dolphin Proteus DX5i Poolside
Dolphin Proteus DX5i Poolside 2
Dolphin Proteus DX5i Poolside 3
Dolphin Proteus DX5i Underwater 4
Dolphin Proteus DX5i Underwater Wall Cleaning 5
Dolphin Proteus DX5i Poolside Cleaning Robot 6
Dolphin Proteus DX5i Poolside Caddy 7
Dolphin Proteus DX5i Poolside Caddy 8

Dolphin Proteus DX5i Robotic Pool Cleaner

Robert Knight Reviewed by Robert Knight
$1399

Key Features

  • Dependable, but Consider Alternatives - The Dolphin Proteus DX5i is a reliable pool cleaner, but when compared to the Dolphin Quantum and Dolphin Premier, it lacks some of the advanced features and superior filtration options.
  • Convenient Smartphone App - The Proteus DX5i's app was super easy to use and setup. Within minutes, we programmed the robot to run daily and clean our swimming pool.
  • Suitable for Larger Pools - The Proteus DX5i is designed for pools up to 50ft in length and includes a 60ft anti-tangle swivel cord for easy maneuverability.
  • Basic Filtration Only - Equipped with standard mesh filters, the Proteus DX5i falls short compared to the Dolphin Cayman, which offers optional NanoFilters for enhanced filtration performance.
  • Standard 2-Year Warranty - The Proteus DX5i includes a 2-year warranty, which is standard but shorter compared to the extended warranty offered by the ProLine series.
  • Powerful Active Scrubbing Brush - The Active Scrubbing Brush effectively tackled algae and debris, delivering a thorough clean in our test pool.
Scorecard

Ratings

Waterline Cleaning Excellent Excellent
Filter Bad Bad
Coverage Good Good
User Experience Good Good
Warranty Good Good
Overall Score
80

Highs & Lows

The pros and cons of the Dolphin Proteus DX5i

Check mark Highs
  • Convenient Smartphone App
  • Suitable for Larger Pools
  • Powerful Active Scrubbing Brush
X icon Lows
  • Basic Filtration Only
  • Standard 2-Year Warranty

Dolphin Proteus DX5i
Robot Class: In Ground

Features

Waterline / Tileline Cleaning

Clean where other robots can't.

90% of the bacteria in your pool is on the waterline. Don't get confused with robots that are "Wall Climbing". There is a big difference. Waterline cleaning means the Dolphin Proteus DX5i actively scrubs and sticks to the waterline scrubbing away this problem area in the pool. It is a feature you don't want to miss.


Dolphin Sigma Wall Climbing

Wall Climbing

Provides floor and wall coverage

Dolphin Proteus DX5i is able to easily clean your walls of your pool.The Dolphin Proteus DX5i combines wall climbing with the even more important waterline cleaning to provide a deep clean in your pool, giving you full floor, wall, and waterline coverage in your pool.


Smartphone App

Control the Dolphin Proteus DX5i from anywhere.

With the its smartphone app, you can schedule cleanings, manually control, and fine tune your Dolphin Proteus DX5i.


Anti-Tangle Swivel

Anti-Tangle Swivel

No more tangled cords.

With an Anti-tangle Swivel, the Dolphin Proteus DX5i can fully explore and clean your pool without ever getting stuck. The innovative design allows the robot to move freely 360 degrees around your pool, without ever knotting the cord.


Energy Saver

Ultra Efficient

Save Hundreds of Dollars Cleaning Your Pool a Year!

Dolphin Proteus DX5i saves hundreds of dollars a year in energy when compared to pressure-side or suction-side cleaners.


Dolphin WiFi Power Supply

Plug and Play

Simply Plug Dolphin Proteus DX5i in and start cleaning!

Set up has never been easier. No installation needed. Dolphin Proteus DX5i is ready to go right out of the box. No extra pumps, plumbing, or anything else needed. Simply plug Proteus DX5i and start cleaning!


Smart Navigation

Precise Navigation

Navigate your pool efficiently

™ coverage is powered by an advanced navigation system. This technology ensures that the most effecient route is used to clean your pool floor. So smart, the system automatically navigates around obstacles and quickly returns to its route.

Videos

Watch reviews and tutorials

Maytronics
All Videos 1 videos
Pool & Shop

Where To Buy

Compare prices from trusted retailers — get the best deal on the Proteus DX5i

Seller Buy From Availability Shop Online
Amazon $1,998.95 In Stock (Prime eligible) Shop At Amazon
Poolbots $1,047.00 In Stock (Free Shipping) Shop At Poolbots

Looking for the best deal on the Dolphin Proteus DX5i and other robotic pool cleaners? Look no further, we have you covered. We searched the web and found the best deals on Maytronics, Aquabot, Polaris, and other cleaners.


Compare to higher rated robots

See how this cleaner stacks up against top picks

Dolphin Sigma Robotic Pool Cleaner

Dolphin Sigma

5 stars 4.9
693 Reviews $1897

Highs

  • Dolphin's Best Pool Robot Yet - More Features, More Filters, & More Power.
  • Most Advanced Dolphin Ever - Utilizes Gyroscope
  • Includes NanoFilters - Unlock a Deeper Clean
  • Quad Scrubbing Brushes - 4X Cleaning Power
  • Utilizes 3 Dolphin ProLine Commercial-Grade Motors
Dolphin Premier Robotic Pool Cleaner

Dolphin Premier

5 stars 4.9
2163 Reviews $1747

Highs

  • Only Dolphin with a Leaf Bag - includes Multi-Media
  • Waterline Cleaning Beast
  • New, High Performing Dolphin ProLine Model
  • NanoFiltration - Premier's NanoFilters allow it to clean deeper than standard Dolphin pool robots
  • 3 Year Warranty

Customer Reviews

Real feedback from verified buyers

Dolphin Proteus DX5i
0

Based on 126 Reviews

5 stars

Well worth the money

M491 June 25, 2020

We finally broke down and retired our 15 year old Jandy Ray Vac. The Dolphin is a major step up to the old Ray Vac and it works incredibly quick. First of all the unit is extremely well made. The seller, In The Swim, is a major retailer who does stand behind these devices should there be any repair/warranty work required. The robot literally works 5 minutes out of the box. Open, unpack, connect the power supply to the robot cord and drop into the pool. I had issues getting my wifi feature to work but no worries, the unit will run for 2 hours by default without the app. I brought the power supply into my house where it linked up immediately. Now everything is configured on the app. The cleaning is very very good. The old Ray Vac could never compare and only vacuuming the pool was comparable. There are two sets of filters included and the removal and cleaning of the dirt filters is very simple and gets all the debris removed so the robot is nice and clean. I am very happy with this purchase. Update 8/25/20 This is by far the best pool purchase I have made since building our unground pool 15 years ago. The Dolphin comes up to the water line and does a great job of keeping the tile clean. the floor is a simple task and we have trees nearby that litter the pool any time a bit of wind comes along. I just drop the Dolphin in and that's all I do. I have had more time to focus on the water chemistry as a result. The only limitation is around steps and seats. The robot cannot get into each step and get all the debris. I will just brush those area and the Dolphin can easily get it. Not a big issue since I am skimming the pool at the same time. The power supply has wifi which I thought was a stupid addition but I gave it a try. I can see the condition of the pool and add an extra 1 or 2 hours from my house without having to go out and rest the robot. That sounds like a silly extra for really lazy people but it does save time when you walk out from work (Covid work from home) and get back on a conf call and not stopping to play with the pool. Still very happy with the Dolphin robot.

5 stars

Highly Recommend

J. Puder February 8, 2021

I’ve waited nearly 6 months to write this review. I have used this robot once a week, every week and I couldn’t be more satisfied. I live in south Florida where pool cleaning never stops for the “winter.” This robot climbs the walls and leaves the pool spotless in 2 hours. I have a set of 3 stairs that it doesn’t always get to the top step on, which I understand, I couldn’t imagine a robot realistically navigating it... but for the rest of my 15,000 gallon pool it rocks! All I do is do a quick brush on the top step, one sweep with the brush on the top tile line (just because I’m OCD), throw the robot in and come back 2 hours later. SPOTLESS. Now let’s hope it lasts! (Fingers crossed)

5 stars

Dolphin Proteus DX5i is as good as they claim!

Gail March 18, 2021

First off, I have major kudos to send to Amazon and In The Swim. Ordered online and received the package in less than 24 hours. Unbelievable! Second, DX5i works great. You do need to pair it with your home WiFi, so the power unit needs to be within that footprint, which for some people may be impossible. But after downloading the Dolphin App, snapping a picture of the QR code, and pairing everything, using your cell phone to operate the cleaner is easy. For some reason I had to "re-pair" everything (QR code, WiFi) after a few days of use; hopefully just a 1-time glitch. Cleaning performance and filter cleaning are top-notch for my vinyl liner pool. Definitely recommended.

5 stars

Dolphin Robotic Pool Cleaner

Susan April 24, 2021

We bought the Kreepy Krauly for our new inground fiberglass pool. It was recommended by our pool installer. It worked but slower and inefficiently than expected. We did a lot of research on the robotic cleaners. We found the Dolphin to have the best reviews and Amazon had the best price. Very much worse the cost. Easy to use and cleans the pool to a shine. Love the blue tooth option so you can guide the Dolphin to sweep only what you need when in a time crunch. Love the way the Dolphin comes up the sides and scrubs the water line. Comes with two sets of filters. A fine and a larger filter. Very impressed and highly recommend.

4 stars

Works well but needs longer cycles to clean large pools

Amazon Customer March 26, 2021

Works well but needs a longer cycle. The 1 and 2 hour cycles are not long enough to fully clean my 40K gallon pool. It’s fine though. I just leave it in and run it every day and it keeps it well cleaned that way.

5 stars

Awesome pool cleaner

Wayne F. February 13, 2022

No dislikes Great cleaning power Easy to use controls .

5 stars

Works perfectly and super easy to operate

SS May 15, 2021

Set-up was simple. Took a couple of tries to pair with the iOS app. Once paired, controlling the robot from my iPhone is easy and quick. Cleans the pool as advertised. This includes the bottom, sides, and water-line. I am in the desert so sand is a constant problem in the pool. The Dolphin takes care of it every time. Although this model is expensive, it is recommended highly.

4 stars

Would still buy again

Travis April 17, 2021

This gets “stuck” a lot on my tanning ledge. The auction is not the best. Overall, it is a good item.

5 stars

Get rid of your pool service!

C conrad August 23, 2021

Love this product. We named our robot Taz, he works around the clock, highly recommend and the app is easy to use

5 stars

Take the takes the dirt out

farideh March 21, 2021

The media could not be loaded. This is a great vacuum we had some construction going on in our backyard and they didn’t care about our pool and put so much dirt and dust and trash in the pool in this vacuum save the pool. I love it I have some pictures.

5 stars

Amazing do not wait

Aaron July 21, 2020

We were struggling to warrant sinking this much into a cleaner. Our previous one had been messing so we just finally caved. My wife is incredibly impressed with the function, capacity, and just overall cleaning results for our 36k gallon pool. Update: only complaints are that the cord tangles itself and that sometimes the machine opens up underwater. Other wise it's perfect.

5 stars

Best $$$$$s I ever spent!

tansley4 April 20, 2021

Our shoulders and backs are trashed from cleaning the pool and spa. Now.......DONE! We have a big pool (bought upto 50 ft) 3 steps with a seating bench in the pool. This guy climbs them all easily and scrubs the tile. Love it!!

1 stars

Product Not ready for the consumers ...

simin August 2, 2020

Definitely this product is NOT ready for the market. The app does not work , not user friendly and when I called they told me I should move the robot close to the router which is ridculous , as everybody has wifi by the pool but the machine does not have strong signal & could not get any signals. and when manualy we start then it stops and you have to manually start the machine a couple of times .....we had to do this a few times. Once it starts it does the job. But sorry this is not suppose to be cumbersome .It is suppose to be easy to use. Son not sure who gave it 5 star .. Must have been one of their tech support ! :o)) The SECOD worst part , if you decide to return after 3 days , within the first 10 days , you have to pay for the package .. as they say because it was put in the water. How are we suppose to know if this POOL vacuum works or not IF we dont use it in the pool ? totally Moron ! they should be customer focused and take their Beta Version of product back with pleasure.

5 stars

Upgrade from a dolphin new ones fantastic

Mr. Z July 5, 2020

Upgrade from a Old dolphin,new ones fantastic. the basket on this new one is so easy to clean pops right out of top best investment I’ve made in a long time.Love the ability to schedule on Internet and the cleaner just starts up. Does an amazing job cleaning the pool

5 stars

Works good

dave April 30, 2021

Worked right out of the box tbe only problem is when registration they ask for tbe sealers zip code and proof of lurches

5 stars

Great product!

Steve Silver July 23, 2020

The robot climbs the walls to the top of the water line as shown. Has difficulty with stairs where it falls from the top of the deepest step. The step can be brushed anyway. Cleans the rest of the pool perfectly.

3 stars

Works great when everything works.

cesar guerrero July 30, 2020

Great machine when it works. The control panel only lasted three weeks then stopped working. Make sure to register it. They were great on the warranty though. Sent a new panel ASAP and it’s up and going again.

3 stars

Tangled

GD September 28, 2020

Only real issue with it is the cord. It is much thinner then the one it replaced. It tangles way to easy and I have to untangle it every day.

5 stars

Love it

Amazon Customer June 2, 2021

Absolutely love this product!!! It keeps our pool clean

2 stars

company didn't get back to me

James April 5, 2021

i tried to get an answer bout the unit on why the pine needle and leaves doesn't stay in the bag area and no one got back to me so customer serves isn't good i think there's a design flaw for the 1,100 i spent on this i have to return it

1 stars

Waste of money

April Jenkins June 17, 2021

I spend more time trying to keep it online to use it then I do actually having my pool cleaned. It constantly tells me there is a connection problem with the cloud. I have to unplug it, redownload it to the app, and reconnect it to the cloud and internet every time I want to use the machine. It's a lot of money to spend and not be able to use appropriately. When it does clean my pool it does do a good job removing items off the bottom. The filter is easy to clean.

5 stars

Great Automatic Pool Vacuum

Irene L. Johnson July 22, 2020

Great automatic pool vacuum. Lighter than the older models with a better, easy to remove waste basket.

5 stars

Awesome cleaner!!!!

Rose Touvannas June 16, 2020

This cleaner is the best by far! Powerful and productive in every way! I highly recommend!

5 stars

great machine

Br eagle eye July 28, 2020

can control it from anywhere with a wifi connection

5 stars

Good robot pool cleaner.

CD Harvey July 21, 2020

Online activation using app. Cool lights when cleaning.

5 stars

Anyone with a pool needs this, Just love it!

Pam Robichaux July 17, 2020

Anyone with a pool, this is a must have!

5 stars

Love

givens88 August 17, 2020

I like this pool cleaner.

1 stars

Do NOT purchase!!!

Lori Mackson May 13, 2021

This product does NOT work. We called the manufacturer and they ended up sending us a new unit, and that one had the same exact problems.

1 stars

Get the model w/o app functionality

JasonR May 1, 2021

App will not pair / find robot. Support non existent. Without the app this robot has less functions than the cheaper alternatives.

1 stars

Not great

Deanne S. May 8, 2021

We sent it back, would work for a minute then it would stop running. Total waste of $$$

1 stars

Does NOT work

Leah August 15, 2021

Would not run for more than a few minutes with out stopping. Avoid!!!

5 stars

This is my third yr it does a wonderful job it does the floor /walls /scrubs waterline

Anita C. June 2, 2022

Just set the time schedule It goes goes a long time before you have to empty it I love the Bluetooth technology on this model you can use the remote to get area’s that need an extra cleaning I highly recommend this model it may cost more but so worth it

1 stars

Lame Duck

jeff steer August 13, 2020

Never worked. I put it in the water and it never moved an inch. It blew some bubbles and that was it. I did send back for refund and have not received it yet.

1 stars

Didn’t work out of the box.

Amazon Customer April 25, 2021

Moved 3 inches and stopped working.

1 stars

Will not stay connected!

B.L. Spradlen June 23, 2020

I have asked to be called. To fix the problem if I do not hear from them soon the product will be returned

1 stars

Waste of money

Dennis S. August 12, 2020

Sucks. Or doesn’t suck actually

1 stars

Thoroughly Disappointed

D. Taylor December 2, 2021

We bought one of these to replace a Polaris 360 that I got sick of overhauling all the time. This is the worst $899 we've ever spent. We should've just bought another Polaris. This machine NEVER completely cleans our modest sized (17'x24') pool. We have to run it 3 or 4 times in a row just to get the whole bottom of the pool cleaned. It never cleans the steps. The cord is perpetually tangled, but there is at least enough length for it to traverse the whole pool. We have the optional silt filters, but they do absolutely nothing. The app is just short of terrible. There's very little you can do with it outside of starting and stopping the robot. You can set scheduled cleanings, but it's kind of pointless when the instructions say not to leave the robot in the water when not in use. If you have to go put the robot in the water every time you want to use it, what's the point of a schedule (or even the app, for that matter?) You only get two run time options; 1 hour or 2 hours. Neither of which is remotely long enough for how this robot performs. The manual control in the app IS terrible. It's VERY slow to respond and thereby nearly impossible to get the robot to react the way you want it to. The robot climbs the walls fairly well, WHEN it decides to actually climb them. It seems like it sees everything as an obstacle, from small debris on the bottom to even its own weight. (It'll start to climb a wall, but will stop and go back down.) It won't traverse the entire bottom of the pool in one trip. It'll go a few feet then stop and change directions. And it seems like it always wants to stop RIGHT BEFORE it picks up some debris. Watching the old Polaris do its thing was often peaceful. Watching this robot do its thing is pure frustration. I will never buy another robotic pool cleaner, and I would NOT recommend this one to anyone.

4 stars

better than anticipated.

Dan Bergstrom April 15, 2021

tile cleaning is hit and mis but otherwise captures a lot of loose debris. love the large bin and is easy to clean.

5 stars

Save water no more vacuum and waste of water

mrfix June 6, 2021

Do far it’s the best thing

4 stars

Great cleaning results but WiFi and bluetooth functions a joke.

Mike C. July 12, 2020

I had an in floor cleaning system that I relied in for almost 5 years. Live in a dusty windy area. My pool was never clean. After running two 2 hour cleaning cycles, the pool is spotless. I couldn’t believe the fine dust, sand and debris that the unit picked up. I now have the pool I always wanted. Now for the bad news. If you are looking to actually control everything via WiFi think again. If the app worked the way it was supposed to work this would be a 5 star review. I can only get it running by manually starting the unit. WiFi and Bluetooth signals are strong while the functionality is weak. Would still recommend if it is a chore keeping your pool clean and clear.

1 stars

Piece of crap

Mommy_sews_alot July 22, 2022

We’ve had this for exactly 1 year and it suddenly stopped working. We have kept it clean and taken great care of it, so there shouldn’t be any reason for it to just quit. Once it’s turned on it will go forward and then backwards and then the red light of death appears on the control board. I paid over $1000 for this vacuum and shouldn’t be having these issues. I would stay far away from this brand and/or model.

5 stars

New Dolphin

Ralph May 17, 2021

It is a nice upgrade from my old Dolphin remote does not work as well as I expected. If you just run it in the basic mode it works fine. Don't spend the extra money on the i function.

Questions & Answers

Common questions about the Dolphin Proteus DX5i

Above-ground robotic pool cleaners are designed to clean the floor only. In-ground cleaners with wall-climbing capability are built differently; check your model's specs for floor-only vs floor, walls, and waterline.
With proper care and normal use, most robotic pool cleaners last 3–7 years. Lifespan depends on usage frequency, pool chemistry, surface type, and whether you store and maintain the unit as recommended.
It's best to remove the cleaner after each cycle and store it in a shaded, dry place. Leaving it in the pool can expose it to sun, chemicals, and debris, which can shorten its life.
Most plug into a standard 120V outlet via a low-voltage cable and control unit. A few models are cordless and run on a rechargeable battery; check your product's specifications.
Running it 2–3 times per week is typical for many pools. Heavy debris, high use, or large pools may require more frequent runs; smaller or covered pools may need less.
Check that the power supply is on and the cable isn't tangled or caught. Ensure the filter basket isn't overfull and that the unit isn't stuck on a step or drain. If it still doesn't move, refer to the manual or contact support.
No. Robotic pool cleaners run on their own power and filtration. You can run them with the pump off, which can save energy compared to pressure or suction-side cleaners.
Most residential robotic pool cleaners use a standard 120V outlet. The control box steps this down to low voltage for the floating cable. Check your manual for your model's requirements.
Simple tasks like cleaning filters and unclogging impellers are usually fine. For motor, cable, or electronics issues, use an authorized technician or the manufacturer's support to avoid voiding the warranty.
Cartridge filters are reusable: you rinse or wash them and put them back. Debris bags are often disposable or optional for heavy leaf pickup. Some robots include both; check your model for options.
Dolphin robots are designed to last many seasons. Lifespan varies by model, amount of use, pool chemistry, and pool surface. Following the manual and storing the unit properly helps maximize life.
DIY repairs should be done by an authorized technician. Contact your local retailer, Maytronics at 1-888-365-7446, or the support page on the manufacturer's website for service.
Dolphin units use a standard 120V outlet. The power supply converts this to the low voltage used by the cleaner. Do not use extension cords unless specified in the manual.
Replacement parts and filters are available through authorized Dolphin/Maytronics dealers, the manufacturer's website, and many pool retailers. Use genuine parts to keep the warranty valid.
Yes. Dolphin robotic pool cleaners are built to work in both chlorine and saltwater pools. Rinse the unit with fresh water after use to limit chemical and salt buildup.
Pool Attributes

Specifications

Pool Types In Ground
Pool Size 50 ft
Pool Shape Rectangle, Oval, or Freeform
Obstacles Steps, Ladder, Drain Cover, Ledges, Pop-Ups
Surface Gunite, Fiberglass, Vinyl, Liner
Cleaning
Waterline Cleaning Yes
Number of Filters Included 1
Filter Cleaning Top Access
Cleaning Coverage Floor, Walls and Waterline
Cleaning Cycle(s) 2 hrs
Number of Brushes 2
Connectivity & Automation
Remote operation No
WiFi / Bluetooth WiFi: Yes
Bluetooth: Yes
Smartphone App Yes
Automated Weekly Timer Yes
Other
Full Bag Indicator No
Cable Length 60 ft
Anti-Tangling Swivel Yes
Restocking Fee No
No Restocking Fee Ever.
Warranty 2 Years
Caddy Included Optional Caddies Available
Part Number 99996212-LSWIF
ASIN B0897VT8GY