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Robovations™
Robot Autonomy, Classified
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Comparison · 2 robots

Maytronics Dolphin S200 · Pentair Prowler 930

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.

  1. Maytronics Dolphin S200
  2. Pentair Prowler 930
Pentair

Pentair Prowler 930

Autonomy
IIAssisted Autonomy
Score
56/100 Capable
Readiness
Not assessed
Price
$1,295list

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
II
Assisted
Runs preset routines, needs rescue
Maytronics Dolphin S200Pentair Prowler 930
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
  • Maytronics Dolphin S20062
  • Pentair Prowler 93070
18median 72 across 381 scored robots100
Coverage and navigation10% of score
Does it work the whole area, and hold that between runs
  • Maytronics Dolphin S20050
  • Pentair Prowler 93043
15median 70 across 371 scored robots100
Edge-case recovery10% of score
Does it recover from the failures its category presents
  • Maytronics Dolphin S20028
  • Pentair Prowler 93025
18median 50 across 287 scored robots100
Operating envelope4% of score
How far conditions can vary before performance drops
  • Maytronics Dolphin S20068
  • Pentair Prowler 93070
25median 68 across 345 scored robots100

Dependability

Field failure rate16% of score
Documented hardware failures per owner-year
  • Maytronics Dolphin S20096
  • Pentair Prowler 93070
6median 70 across 371 scored robots100
Software stability14% of score
Whether updates fix more than they break
  • Maytronics Dolphin S20033
  • Pentair Prowler 93040
15median 65 across 300 scored robots100
Support longevity10% of score
Committed parts, service and updates, with dates
  • Maytronics Dolphin S20088
  • Pentair Prowler 93073
0median 63 across 377 scored robots100

Ownership burden

Routine maintenance12% of score
Hands-on time it asks for in normal operation
  • Maytronics Dolphin S20064
  • Pentair Prowler 93053
22median 65 across 382 scored robots100
Consumables8% of score
Parts that must be bought to keep it working
  • Maytronics Dolphin S20073
  • Pentair Prowler 93057
8median 69 across 381 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.

Price63 with a published figure
  • Maytronics Dolphin S200$1,189
  • Pentair Prowler 930$1,295
$299median $1,295$4,250
Weight61 with a published figure
  • Maytronics Dolphin S20017.9 lbs
  • Pentair Prowler 93016.5 lbs
7.9 lbsmedian 20.8 lbs46.3 lbs
Height56 with a published figure
  • Maytronics Dolphin S20011.7 in
  • Pentair Prowler 93012.3 in
3.8 inmedian 10.5 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 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.

Pentair Prowler 930

Dual filters add capacity but not automation. You still empty cartridges by hand after every use.

Scheduling exists, but it lives on the power supply unit. You set the timer poolside, not from a phone; the 930W is the version that moved that to an app.

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 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.
Pentair Prowler 930
Owners seeking app-based or remote scheduling
Cycle selection and the timer sit on the poolside power supply unit. No mobile app, remote start or smart home integration; the Prowler 930W is the model that adds them.
Large-volume commercial pools
The cable length and cartridge capacity are sized for residential in-ground pools. Commercial installations run longer duty cycles and heavier debris loads than this class of cleaner is built for.
Owners unwilling to empty filter cartridges regularly
No auto-filter system. Cartridges must be rinsed or replaced after each cleaning cycle to maintain suction.

What stays your job

The upkeep ownership hands back to you, whatever the autonomy level says.

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.
Pentair Prowler 930
  • After every use: Empty and rinse dual filter cartridges; air-dry before next use.
  • Weekly: Inspect side brushes for debris wrapping; clear as needed.
  • Monthly: Check power cord insulation for cuts or abrasion; test GFCI outlet function.
  • Every 3-6 months: Inspect motor bearing and replace brushes if bristles are worn below 1.5 inches.
  • Annually: Replace filter cartridges if rinsing no longer restores suction; cost approximately $80-120 per pair.
  • End of season: Drain unit completely and store in dry location; do not leave in pool over winter in freeze climates.
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.

Evidence behind each classification
Robot Evidence status Sources reviewed Last assessed
Maytronics Dolphin S200 Provisional 2 Aug 2026
Pentair Prowler 930 Discontinued 5 Sep 2026

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.