Maytronics
Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i
- Autonomy
- IIIConditional Autonomy
- Score
- Not scored
- Readiness
- Not assessed
- Price
- $1,449list
Comparison · 2 robots
Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i · Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ
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 Oasis Z5i
- Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ
Polaris
Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ
Up to three
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
Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5iPolaris EPIC 8642 iQ
II
Assisted
Runs preset routines, needs rescue
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
75
- Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ75
18median 72 across 429 scored robots100
Not scored: Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i
Coverage and navigation10% of score
Does it work the whole area, and hold that between runs
60
- Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ60
0median 70 across 417 scored robots100
Not scored: Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i
Edge-case recovery10% of score
Does it recover from the failures its category presents
45
- Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ45
18median 52 across 318 scored robots100
Not scored: Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i
Operating envelope4% of score
How far conditions can vary before performance drops
50
- Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ50
28median 68 across 393 scored robots100
Not scored: Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i
Dependability
Field failure rate16% of score
Documented hardware failures per owner-year
73
- Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ73
6median 70 across 355 scored robots100
Not scored: Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i
Software stability14% of score
Whether updates fix more than they break
65
- Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ65
15median 65 across 340 scored robots100
Not scored: Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i
Support longevity10% of score
Committed parts, service and updates, with dates
82
- Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ82
0median 62 across 425 scored robots100
Not scored: Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i
Ownership burden
Routine maintenance12% of score
Hands-on time it asks for in normal operation
56
- Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ56
22median 67 across 430 scored robots100
Not scored: Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i
Consumables8% of score
Parts that must be bought to keep it working
43
- Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ43
8median 69 across 430 scored robots100
Not scored: Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i
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
$1,449$1,499
- Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i$1,449
- Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ$1,499
$299median $1,249$4,250
Not compared, because fewer than two of these robots carry a published figure: Suction, Runtime, Charge time, Noise, Weight, Height.
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 Oasis Z5i
Dual tracks climb walls and deliver full waterline reach, but the system costs $1,500+ when a floor-only corded model runs $300-500.
Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ
The iAquaLink app is real convenience, but corded operation is tethered convenience, cable management creates logistics that offset the app’s hands-off promise.
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 Oasis Z5i
- Pools longer than 50 ft or beyond the cord's reach
- Maytronics rates the Z5i by pool shape and length, up to 50 ft, and the 60 ft cable has to reach an outlet serving the pool area. Surface material is not a constraint: Maytronics sells Dolphin cleaners across pool surfaces, vinyl included.
- Renters or short-term pool owners
- Purchase price and dealer setup make ownership economical only for 5+ year tenures. No major resale market for commercial-grade dealer units.
- Owners who want cordless operation
- The 60 ft cord ties the unit to a poolside outlet, and it is placed in the water and lifted back out by hand at each cycle. There is no cordless version of this model.
Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ
- Above-ground pools and small in-ground pools.
- Polaris rates the EPIC 8642 iQ for in-ground pools up to 50 feet, and the 60 foot cable, control box and transport caddy are sized for that installation. On a compact pool the handling routine is the same as on a large one, and that routine is most of the ownership effort.
- Owners preferring cordless or minimal cable management.
- The 60 foot cable is not optional on this model. It runs from the cleaner to a poolside control box, the swivel reduces tangling rather than removing the cord from the routine, and the cleaner and caddy need storage between uses. As with any mains-fed cleaner, it comes out of the pool before anyone swims.
- Environments with heavy brush or concrete surface damage.
- Brush wear on rough surfaces accelerates; brush replacement intervals will increase and consumable costs rise.
What stays your job
The upkeep ownership hands back to you, whatever the autonomy level says.
Maytronics Dolphin Oasis Z5i
- After every cycle: Lift the filter out of the top-load housing, unsnap the bottom and rinse it with fresh water.
- Monthly: Check the brushes and tracks for wrapped debris; inspect the cable for kinks.
- Annually: Check the brushes and filter panels for wear and replace them when worn. Maytronics publishes no replacement interval or price for either.
- Seasonally: For freezing climates, remove the unit from the pool and store it and the cable indoors, out of direct sun.
- As needed: Swap between the fine and ultra-fine filter kits to match the debris the pool is carrying.
Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ
- After each run: Lift out the 4 L filter canister and rinse the debris (~10 min); check the cable swivel.
- Every 2-4 weeks: Deep-clean the canister if debris load is heavy; wipe the brush cartridge.
- Every 6-12 months: Replace brush cartridge (~$60-80 typical Polaris pricing).
- Annually: Replace filter canister (~$120).
- Seasonally: Store the cleaner, caddy and control box indoors and out of freezing conditions; inspect the cable and its connector for corrosion; check wall-climb wheels for algae film.
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 Oasis Z5i | Discontinued | 2 | Aug 2026 |
| Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ | Pending | 3 | Aug 2026 |
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