Hayward
Hayward TigerShark QC
- Autonomy
- IIAssisted
- Score
- 68/100Capable
- Readiness
- Ready Now
- Price
- $1,489list
ComparisonHayward TigerShark QC and Maytronics Dolphin S200
Maytronics
Maytronics Dolphin S200
- Autonomy
- IIAssisted
- Score
- 66/100Capable
- Readiness
- Ready Now
- Price
- $1,189list
Up to three
Autonomy Ladder
- IManual
- IIAssisted
- IIIConditional
- IVEnvironmental
- VGeneralized
All robot pool cleaners. Every figure below is placed against the whole class, so a gap can be read against how much the class itself varies.
Where each one suits you.
The conditions each robot was assessed against, side by side. Rows marked in gold are where these machines genuinely differ.
| Condition | Hayward TigerShark QC | Dolphin S200 |
|---|---|---|
| Pool type | ||
| In-ground | GoodStandard in-ground operation; random pathing works well in pools under 15k gallons with consistent pump schedules. | GoodDesigned for in-ground pools with pump and return-line infrastructure. |
| Above-groundthey differ | GoodSuction cleaners pair directly with above-ground pump filtration; no separate equipment required. | PoorRequires pressure-side return line; above-ground pools typically lack this system. |
| Mixed setup | GoodWorks with either pool type, provided pool size stays under 15k gallons and floor is stable. | GoodConfirm your pool has a dedicated pressure return line before purchase. |
| Pool size | ||
| Small (< 400 sqft) | GoodRandom pathing naturally recycles the floor; small pools see consistent weekly coverage with light debris loads. | GoodCapable but may be overkill for under 8,000 gallons; a smaller suction cleaner would cost less. |
| Medium (400 – 800)they differ | DependsPool size around 12k–15k gallons benefits from 8+ hour daily pump schedules; shorter cycles risk coverage gaps. | Good12,000–20,000 gallon range is the designed operating envelope. |
| Large (> 800)they differ | PoorPools over 15k–20k gallons show unvisited dead zones; random pathing cannot ensure complete coverage. | DependsWorks in 20,000+ gallon pools but may require longer runtime or two weekly cycles. |
| Debris load | ||
| Fine (sand / silt)they differ | Poor100-micron mesh basket clogs rapidly with fine silt or algae; fine debris forces daily basket empties instead of weekly. | GoodFine sediment handled well by pressure-side filtration. |
| Leaves / large debris | DependsModerate leaf load manageable with weekly emptying; heavy seasonal leaf fall requires two to three empties per week. | DependsHeavy leaf load risks intake clogging; pre-skimming recommended during fall. |
| Algae / heavy foulingthey differ | PoorActive algae blooms clog the fine-mesh basket within hours; unsuitable for pools experiencing algal blooms without chemical treatment. | DependsFloor and wall algae handled; waterline algae requires manual brushing. |
| Coverage you want | ||
| Floor only | GoodPurpose-built for floor cleaning with fine-mesh debris capture; operates unattended on level floors. | GoodDesigned for complete floor coverage. |
| Floor + wallsthey differ | DependsFloor cleaning is effective; walls and steps require separate manual tools or a dedicated wall-climbing cleaner. | GoodStandard wall climbing with wall-return port engagement documented in specs. |
| Floor + walls + waterline | PoorNo built-in capacity for wall or waterline cleaning; random pathing keeps the cleaner on the pool floor. | PoorNo waterline jet; algae at tile line is not reached by this model. |
A robot being poor for a condition is a fact about fit, not a fault. “Depends” means the record names a limit worth reading, not that the answer is unknown.
What the score is built from.
Nine inputs across three pillars, each weighted as shown and each scored so more is better. A robot can lead on one and trail on another, which is the point of showing them apart.
Capability
Task completion16% of score
Does it finish the job it is sold to do, unattended
7062
- Hayward TigerShark QC70
- Maytronics Dolphin S20062
18median 72 across 444 scored robots100
Coverage and navigation10% of score
Does it work the whole area, and hold that between runs
5050
- Hayward TigerShark QC50
- Maytronics Dolphin S20050
0median 72 across 432 scored robots100
Edge-case recovery10% of score
Does it recover from the failures its category presents
2528
- Hayward TigerShark QC25
- Maytronics Dolphin S20028
18median 53 across 329 scored robots100
Operating envelope4% of score
How far conditions can vary before performance drops
6068
- Hayward TigerShark QC60
- Maytronics Dolphin S20068
28median 68 across 408 scored robots100
Dependability
Field failure rate16% of score
Documented hardware failures per owner-year
9196
- Hayward TigerShark QC91
- Maytronics Dolphin S20096
6median 70 across 365 scored robots100
Software stability14% of score
Whether updates fix more than they break
3733
- Hayward TigerShark QC37
- Maytronics Dolphin S20033
15median 65 across 346 scored robots100
Support longevity10% of score
Committed parts, service and updates, with dates
9788
- Hayward TigerShark QC97
- Maytronics Dolphin S20088
0median 62 across 440 scored robots100
Ownership burden
Routine maintenance12% of score
Hands-on time it asks for in normal operation
5664
- Hayward TigerShark QC56
- Maytronics Dolphin S20064
22median 68 across 445 scored robots100
Consumables8% of score
Parts that must be bought to keep it working
8673
- Hayward TigerShark QC86
- Maytronics Dolphin S20073
8median 69 across 445 scored robots100
How far apart is a long way?
A number only means something next to the spread it sits in. Each track is the real range across every classified robot in the class, with the median marked.
Price70 with a published figure
$1,489$1,189
- Hayward TigerShark QC$1,489
- Maytronics Dolphin S200$1,189
$299median $1,272$4,250
Weight70 with a published figure
21.5 lbs17.9 lbs
- Hayward TigerShark QC21.5 lbs
- Maytronics Dolphin S20017.9 lbs
7.9 lbsmedian 20.9 lbs46.3 lbs
Height67 with a published figure
13.5 in11.7 in
- Hayward TigerShark QC13.5 in
- Maytronics Dolphin S20011.7 in
3.8 inmedian 10.5 in29.9 in
Not compared, because fewer than two of these robots carry a published figure: Runtime, Charge time, Noise.
What the numbers leave out.
Written on each record, and the only thing here every robot on the site carries.
The trade-off
What each design gives up to be good at what it is good at.
Hayward TigerShark QC
You get full-basin cleaning with no programming overhead, but every session starts and ends by hand: the unit is carried to the water, started, lifted out, and the cartridge rinsed.
Two fixed cycles and nothing between them: four hours for a full clean, or 90 minutes on Quick Clean. No scheduling, no pause and no app, so the choice is made at the deck each time.
Maytronics Dolphin S200
Coverage runs floor, walls and waterline in one cycle, but everything it collects comes out by hand: the basket is lifted from the water and emptied at the pool edge after every run.
Mains power removes any runtime ceiling, but it ties the cleaner to an outlet at the deck, and the cable comes out of the water and gets coiled after every cycle.
Who each one is wrong for
Stated by the record itself. A robot being wrong for a household is a fact about fit, not a fault.
Hayward TigerShark QC
- Above-ground pools
- Hayward sells and rates the TigerShark QC for in-ground pools only, and the model name carries Inground at every retailer. Above-ground use is outside what the machine is sold for.
- Pools with persistent fine algae or silt loads
- The cartridge loads quickly with fine debris under heavy conditions, so rinsing moves from after each run to during it. Algae blooms and clay-heavy surroundings keep the owner in the loop.
- In-ground pools larger than 20 x 40 ft
- Hayward's rated coverage is 20 x 40 ft. Larger basins are outside the rating; that is a size limit rather than a coverage-pattern problem.
- Owners wanting scheduled or remote-controlled operation
- The QC runs the cycle you start, then stops. No scheduling, pause, resume or app control; manual placement and start are required each session.
- Pools without a GFCI-protected outlet within reach of the 55 ft cord
- The transformer runs from a grounded, ground-fault-protected receptacle and the cord is 55 ft. Closing a gap with an extension lead is not an acceptable option on a pool cleaner; an outlet in reach has to be installed by an electrician.
Maytronics Dolphin S200
- Pools longer than 50 ft
- Maytronics rates the S200 for pools up to 50 ft in length. Longer pools fall outside that rating.
- Pools without power access at the deck
- This model requires a standard 110V outlet within cable reach. Pools far from outdoor power access will need extension cords, adding complexity.
- Yards with limited outlet access
- 60-foot cable is the maximum reach. Pools far from power sources require extension cords, adding complexity.
What stays your job
The upkeep ownership hands back to you, whatever the autonomy level says.
Hayward TigerShark QC
- After each run: Unplug the transformer, lift the unit out, open it and rinse the reusable cartridge with a garden hose.
- Monthly: Check the brushes and drive tracks for wear and clear hair or fiber from the rollers.
- Every 3-6 months: Inspect the full length of the 55 ft cord for nicks and cracked insulation, and the transformer connector for corrosion. A damaged cord takes the machine out of service.
- Annually: Before storage, rinse the unit and the cartridge, let both dry fully, and keep the machine and the transformer indoors over winter.
- As needed: Replace the cartridge if the media tears or stops seating; replace brushes when they no longer make contact with the surface.
Maytronics Dolphin S200
- After every use: Lift the cleaner out, remove the top-load filter basket, empty it and rinse it with a hose.
- Weekly: Rinse the cable swivel; uncoil the cable before the run and coil it after.
- Monthly: Inspect both brushes for wear and matting.
- Every 3-6 months: Check the cable for cuts or kinks.
- Seasonally: Remove the cleaner and cable from the pool before freezing weather; store both dry with the power supply indoors.
How much each of these is standing on.
Classifications rest on different depths of evidence. A pre-release assessment and a verified one are not the same kind of claim.
| Robot | Evidence status | Sources reviewed | Last assessed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hayward TigerShark QC | Provisional | 10 | Aug 2026 |
| Maytronics Dolphin S200 | Pending | 2 | Aug 2026 |
Evidence status counts the sources behind a classification, not their kind. A high count can be maker documentation and price coverage, so read it as how much was reviewed rather than as independent testing. How we weigh evidence.
Keep going.
The full recordHayward TigerShark QCSpecifications, evidence, the Fit Check in full, and every tracked change.
The full recordMaytronics Dolphin S200Specifications, evidence, the Fit Check in full, and every tracked change.Robovations classifies robots; it does not rank them. Nothing on this page is a recommendation, and no manufacturer influences a classification or its placement here.
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