Maytronics
Comparison · 2 robots
Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX4 · Polaris 9450 Sport
All robot pool cleaners. Every measure below is plotted against the full class, so a difference can be read against how much the class itself varies.
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX4
- Polaris 9450 Sport
01 Classification
What each one does on its own.
The Autonomy Ladder is the same five rungs for every robot on the site. A rung describes the conditions a robot handles without you, not how good it is.
V
Generalized
Any task, any setting
IV
Environmental
Handles new obstacles without help
III
Conditional
Finishes familiar jobs on its own
II
Assisted
Runs preset routines, needs rescue
Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX4Polaris 9450 Sport
I
Manual
One action, on command
02 Assessment
Where they actually differ.
The Robovations Score is nine inputs across three pillars, each weighted as shown and each scored so that more is better. A robot can lead on one and trail on another, which is the point of showing them apart. Cost of ownership and data handling are reported on each robot's own page and are never averaged into the score.
Capability
Task completion16% of score
Does it finish the job it is sold to do, unattended
8784
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX487
- Polaris 9450 Sport84
18median 72 across 433 scored robots100
Coverage and navigation10% of score
Does it work the whole area, and hold that between runs
5263
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX452
- Polaris 9450 Sport63
0median 70 across 421 scored robots100
Edge-case recovery10% of score
Does it recover from the failures its category presents
2725
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX427
- Polaris 9450 Sport25
18median 52 across 320 scored robots100
Operating envelope4% of score
How far conditions can vary before performance drops
7670
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX476
- Polaris 9450 Sport70
28median 68 across 397 scored robots100
Dependability
Field failure rate16% of score
Documented hardware failures per owner-year
5293
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX452
- Polaris 9450 Sport93
6median 70 across 359 scored robots100
Software stability14% of score
Whether updates fix more than they break
3733
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX437
- Polaris 9450 Sport33
15median 65 across 342 scored robots100
Support longevity10% of score
Committed parts, service and updates, with dates
10085
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX4100
- Polaris 9450 Sport85
0median 62 across 429 scored robots100
Ownership burden
Routine maintenance12% of score
Hands-on time it asks for in normal operation
7567
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX475
- Polaris 9450 Sport67
22median 67 across 434 scored robots100
Consumables8% of score
Parts that must be bought to keep it working
8086
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX480
- Polaris 9450 Sport86
8median 69 across 434 scored robots100
03 Measured against the class
How far apart is a long way?
A number only means something next to the spread it sits in. Each track below is the real range across every classified robot in the class, with the median marked.
Price69 with a published figure
$1,099$1,199
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX4$1,099
- Polaris 9450 Sport$1,199
$299median $1,249$4,250
Weight66 with a published figure
18.5 lbs16 lbs
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX418.5 lbs
- Polaris 9450 Sport16 lbs
7.9 lbsmedian 20.9 lbs46.3 lbs
Height61 with a published figure
11.4 in12 in
- Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX411.4 in
- Polaris 9450 Sport12 in
3.8 inmedian 10.6 in29.9 in
Not compared, because fewer than two of these robots carry a published figure: Suction, Runtime, Charge time, Noise.
04 Ownership
What the numbers leave out.
The trade-off
What each design gives up to be good at what it is good at.
Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX4
The tether takes battery replacement and run-time ceilings out of ownership, and puts a 60 ft cable in the pool and a power supply on the deck that has to reach a GFCI-protected outlet without an extension cord.
Polaris 9450 Sport
The 7-day timer is the only scheduling interface: no remote start, no app override, no on-demand cycle without a manual power reset.
Systematic gyroscopic navigation covers the pool methodically, but the 60-foot cable imposes a hard 50-foot pool-length limit; larger pools require a longer-cable model.
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.
Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX4
- Pools longer than 50 ft
- Maytronics rates the DX4 by pool length, up to 50 ft, and runs it on a 60 ft cable from a deck-side supply. Longer pools sit outside that rating and outside the cable's reach.
- Owners who want app control or remote scheduling
- The DX4 has no mobile application and no wireless connectivity. Cycles start at the power supply, by hand or on its weekly timer, and there is no status to check from a phone.
- Heavy leaf load or silt-laden water
- Two-brush capacity caps at moderate debris. Algae-heavy water requires more frequent cartridge changes.
Polaris 9450 Sport
- Above-ground pool owners
- Manufacturer specifies in-ground pools only. Drive track configuration and cable management are designed for in-ground shapes. Above-ground pool walls and entry points are not supported by the drive system.
- Pools longer than 50 feet
- The 60-foot swivel cable constrains operational radius. Pools exceeding 50 feet in length may not receive full systematic coverage in a single 90-minute cycle, leaving uncleaned zones.
- Owners requiring remote or on-demand spot cleaning
- The 9450 has no handheld remote and no app trigger. Cleaning runs only per the 7-day timer or a manual power cycle. The step-up 9550 Sport adds a handheld remote for on-demand control.
- Owners wanting Wi-Fi scheduling or app-based monitoring
- No iAquaLink, no Wi-Fi module, no companion app of any kind. The programmable timer is the sole scheduling method. A networked pool-cleaner alternative is required if app connectivity is a priority.
- Pools without a 120V GFCI outlet near the pool edge
- The control unit requires a 120V GFCI outlet. Pools without this outlet require electrical work before installation. Cordless robotic pool cleaners are the alternative for sites without accessible GFCI power.
What stays your job
The upkeep ownership hands back to you, whatever the autonomy level says.
Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX4
- After every cycle: Lift the machine out by the handle, let it drain, and rinse the top-load filter basket with a hose.
- Monthly: Brush bristle inspection; replace the pair if shedding or wear is visible.
- Annually: Main brush pair replacement as the bristles wear down.
- Seasonally: Pool winterization; drain the machine and store it and the power supply indoors in freezing regions.
Polaris 9450 Sport
- After every use: Remove unit via Easy Lift System, rinse 5L top-load canister under garden hose, reinsert canister before storage.
- After every use: Lay cable out flat or coil loosely to prevent set-in tangles before next cycle.
- Monthly: Inspect drive tracks for debris embedding or visible wear; rinse track channels clean.
- Every 3-6 months: Inspect swivel cable along full 60-foot length for kinks, cracks, or connector wear.
- Every 3-6 months: Inspect scrubbing brush for wear and replace if waterline scrubbing effectiveness has declined.
- Seasonally: Drain and dry unit before off-season storage; do not store with water in the internal chambers.
- As needed: Reprogram the 7-day timer after power outages or daylight-saving-time changes.
05 Evidence
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maytronics Dolphin Proteus DX4 | Pending | 1 | Aug 2026 |
| Polaris 9450 Sport | Pending | 2 | Sep 2026 |
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