Corded Robots That Scrub the Waterline for Under $1,500

The waterline is where oils, sunscreen and pollen collect into the grey ring every pool gets, and it is the one surface the pump and skimmer never touch. Corded robots still have one real advantage over battery ones for this job: they never run out halfway through a waterline pass. Under $1,000 only one corded robot in this catalog scrubs the waterline at all, so this list stops at $1,500, where the choice widens to both of the big pool-trade brands.

How this list is ordered: Corded robots whose maker lists waterline scrubbing, priced under $1,500, ordered by price. 7 of the catalog’s robots qualify.

  1. Dolphin Nautilus CC Pro robotic pool cleaner

    1Dolphin

    ~$999

    Dolphin Nautilus CC Pro

    Adding waterline scrubbing and a 50-foot rating to the Nautilus line is what the CC Pro is for.

    Warranty
    1 yr
    Pool fit
    No cable length published
    Filtration
    No micron figure published
  2. Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ robotic pool cleaner

    2Polaris

    ~$1,149

    Polaris EPIC 8642 iQ

    Continuous treads and a double-helix brush make the EPIC 8642 iQ the Polaris for steep walls, steps and main drains.

    Cable
    60 ft
    Pool fit
    ~52 ft
    Filtration
    No micron figure published
  3. Dolphin Explorer E50 robotic pool cleaner

    3Dolphin

    ~$1,329

    Dolphin Explorer E50

    Where the Nautilus line tops out at one year of cover, the Explorer E50 carries two.

    Warranty
    2 yr
    Pool fit
    No cable length published
    Filtration
    No micron figure published
  4. Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme robotic pool cleaner

    4Dolphin

    ~$1,349

    Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme

    Three brushes, a 2.5-hour default cycle and both a fine and an ultra-fine filter kit in the box put the CC Supreme at the top of the Nautilus range.

    Warranty
    1 yr
    Pool fit
    No cable length published
    Filtration
    No micron figure published
  5. Dolphin S300 robotic pool cleaner

    5Dolphin

    ~$1,499

    Dolphin S300

    Sold mostly through pool dealers, the S300 is also on Maytronics' own store, and it is one of the few Dolphins whose spec block lists a caddy in the box.

    Warranty
    2 yr
    Pool fit
    No cable length published
    Filtration
    No micron figure published
  6. Polaris VRX iQ+ robotic pool cleaner

    6Polaris

    ~$1,499

    Polaris VRX iQ+

    Polaris' flagship corded robot runs a SMART cycle that sizes up the pool and sets its own cleaning time, reports to the iAquaLink app, and climbs to the waterline at the touch of a button so it can be lifted out already draining.

    Cable
    70 ft
    Pool fit
    ~62 ft
    Filtration
    No micron figure published
  7. Polaris ALPHA iQ+ robotic pool cleaner

    7Polaris

    ~$1,499

    Polaris ALPHA iQ+

    In Polaris' spec tables the ALPHA iQ+ matches the VRX iQ+ line for line — 70-foot cable, five-litre lit canister, Easy Lift, caddy, app scheduling — with a mode list that names floor, floor/wall/waterline, waterline-only and custom cycles.

    Cable
    70 ft
    Pool fit
    ~62 ft
    Filtration
    No micron figure published

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