The Nautilus Robotic Pool Cleaner line from Dolphin is the best seller in the world of robotic pool cleaners, and it’s not hard to see why. They leverage the Dolphin legacy of quality parts, construction, support, and technology to create a robotic pool cleaner that exceeds the value belied by its cost. If you are a residential pool owner, the Nautilus is a solid purchase.
In this article, we will explore the differences between the three current models of this line, the original Nautilus, the CC, and the CC Plus. In general, the CC is more focused on simplicity while the original and CC Plus tend to have a stronger feature set, except for two particular features discussed below.
This website is supported by readers. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The Nautilus Line Succeeds as an Example of Dolphin’s Quality
To reiterate, any one of the Nautilus models is a good purchase. Dolphin brand robotic cleaners are top of the line for a reason.
They meet or exceed all of the basic requirements for a quality pool cleaner, and they do so in style. The overall quality of their products in combination with their excellent customer service and warranty plans ensure you will have a good experience when reviewing, buying, and using their products.
What distinguishes the Nautilus Line
The original Nautilus was designed to be the gold standard for residential robotic pool cleaners, and it succeeded in this. With a 60 ft. cable length, it easily handles pools up to 50 ft. in length. It uses two cleaning brushes, a two-level filtration system, and the Cleverclean navigation system to thoroughly clean pools in 3 hours or less.
However, there were some opportunities for improvement. The filter loading mechanism on the original Nautilus is bottom rather than top-loading. It has no active cleaning brushes and automation mode, and the cleaning time of potentially three hours is now on the high end for Dolphin cleaners.

How the Nautilus CC Advanced the Line
With the Nautilus CC, Dolphin opts for a simpler model with some improvements.
The cleaning time is reduced from three hours to two, and the two cleaning brushes have been replaced with one active cleaning brush. The double-layer filter is replaced with a single-layer filter that loads from the top.
While the anti-tangle cable swivel has been removed, in its place the Nautilus CC has a quick water release mechanism, an automation mode, and a weekly timer setting. The only minor drawback to the Nautilus CC is the reduced size of the pool it can clean, down to 33 ft.

The Nautilus CC Plus Combines Some of the Best Features of the Nautilus and Nautilus CC
In the Nautilus CC Plus, Dolphin created an excellent machine that blends some of the best strengths of the original Nautilus while adding some valuable improvements that were achieved when they designed the Nautilus CC.
As carry-overs from the original Nautilus, the CC Plus has two scrubbing brushes, which can achieve a deeper clean than the single brush on the CC despite it being active. The cleaning time of the CC Plus matches the improved cleaning time of the CC at two hours, and it does do even on larger pools.
That means the CC Plus achieves just as high-quality a cleaning performance as the original Nautilus while matching the improved speed of the CC.
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Video
The CC Plus also reapplies the anti-tangle cable swivel of the original Nautilus, maintains the quick water release of the CC, keeps the automated weekly timer, and includes the double filtration method of the original Nautilus.
As if that weren’t enough, Dolphin has also decided to double the warranty length with the CC Plus, from one year to two. Though it loses the automation mode of the CC, the CC Plus is truly the pinnacle of the Nautilus line.

Improving at Each Stage, Every Nautilus Product is a Good Idea
Any residential pool owner will be well-served by any member of the Nautilus product line. It maintains the excellent legacy of quality design, function, and service that has been created by every model under the Dolphin brand.
Whether you need a model focused on simplicity or a slightly greater focus on speed and size, the Nautilus, CC, and CC Plus will serve you well.
There are trade-offs between the different members of this product family. Nevertheless, with a little review of where the line has been and where it is now, you can be confident that you will be buying the right Robotic Pool Cleaner for you.
Our Recommended Robotic Pool Cleaners
Last update on 2023-06-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This website is supported by readers. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
If you have any questions or do you spot any mistakes, please add them below.