Why it’s a real revolution

Wireless is no longer an option, it is obvious. At least, when we talk about a pool cleaner robot. The pool robot industry experienced its greatest revolution recently, when the wireless models arrived on battery.

With its Liberty range, Dolphin signs a clear strategic turn: offering supporters an autonomous maintenance solution, rid of cables, but without ignoring performance. After several weeks of intensive test, an observation is essential: this robot could well change our relationship to the cleaning chore.

The different Dolphin robots

Small reminder: Mayronics and Dolphin are one and the same entity. This is why, historically, some pool robots were similar between Mayronics and Dolphin. But what must be remembered is that Mayronics is the manufacturer and dolphin the brand. The group embarked on the adventure of the Wireless Pool Robot, with many “Liberty” references (freedom in French). A nod to the absence of an electric cable.

Liberty 200, Liberty 300, Liberty 400 and Liberty 600: from the cheapest to the most expensive. The different models are distinguished by their functionalities and their performance levels. If the 200, 300 and 400 models take up the design of the wired models, the Liberty 600 is a little clean table of the past.

Design: a qualitative product

From unpacking, the Liberty 600 sets the tone. We discover a compact, but robust apparatus, with an assumed industrial design, far from toys for above-ground pools. Above all, design has nothing to do with the old dolphin, like the wired T30 that I have personally.

The technical base has been resumed, there is no secret on it. But the product is more qualitative, especially with its black shade (which should resist UV better) and the transparency of certain elements which allow you to see what is happening inside.

The installation is childish: no external power plant, no cable to unroll, just an induction charging base and a clicker which will allow the robot to be raised to the surface to recover it.

The weight, a little more than 11 kg empty, remains contained for a wireless robot of this range, but it is largely heavier than a wired robot (7.5 kg for the T30) or even the cheaper models of Dolphin, which embark a smaller battery (9,600 vs 5,000 mAh), with less autonomy (4:30 am vs 2h30).

But it is above all the general ergonomics that seduces: fast handling, clear interface, no superfluous accessory, and buttons directly on the robot to change the modes easily.

Applications et communications

On the application side, Dolphin delivers a fairly basic digital companion. Called Mayronics One, it centralizes all the useful information: battery level, filter condition, choice of cleaning mode, trigger the robot. All via a rather stable Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection … provided that the robot is not in the water.

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Because this is one of the main limits of the Liberty 600: once immersed, it becomes unreachable. No feedback, no live management. We start a cycle, then wait. Note that rare are the robots to be able to communicate during the cleaning cycle, as a floating station is needed (like the AIPER SCUBA X1 Pro).

Cleaning performance

Fortunately, the wait is often worth it. In the field, the Liberty 600 is devilishly effective. He aspires vigorously, brush with enthusiasm, climbs the walls and even attacks the steps with insurance that we do not find in all his competitors.

The cleaning performance is there, both on visible debris and on finer dirt. The double filtration system, with basket accessible from above, greatly simplifies maintenance. And the side jets, activated when cleaning the steps (with 32 cm minimum water height), allow the impurities to be dismissed in the corners.

It is to this day the pool robot which has best cleaned my swimming pool, despite a technical sheet which seems less good than the competition. However, it should be noted that our test swimming pool is of the “classic” type, that is to say rectangular, with a salvo of 3 steps. It is therefore not a “complicated” swimming pool for robots.

Small limit: the robot does not float. It therefore does not clean the surface, unlike some more sophisticated models equipped with skimmer type functions. It is not dramatic, especially if you use a component or a tarpaulin, but it is good to know. Likewise, swimming pools with very complex shapes or atypical obstacles (multiple stairs, irregular submerged beaches) could undermine the basic navigation of liberty.

No sensors for the smart side

Because where the rub is, it is on on -board intelligence. The Liberty 600 has neither obstacle sensors nor cartography. He relys on an inertial power station, probably coupled with a gyroscope, to estimate his trips.

In practice, it works … as long as we ask him to be too precise. It cleanses the entire pool without problem. But no real logic of intelligent cover, therefore, and it would be interesting to see what it would give on a swimming pool with the more complex form.

One of the most differentiating arguments undoubtedly remains the click-up function. Concretely, it is enough to shake the clicker in the pool to wake up the robot (if it is in standby) and for it to rise to the surface and position itself against the wall.

No need for pole, no need to dive the arm. It’s simple, clever, and above all very practical. Once adopted, we wonder how we did without.

However, it should be noted that once on the surface, the dolphin does not float: it is maintained out of the water with its engines. It is therefore necessary to recover it in the following minutes, before it gets back in standby and falls back to the bottom of the water. Some robots do better, floating naturally out of the water.

Autonomy and recharge

On autonomy, Mayronics announces until 4:30 am continuous cleaning. A globally held promise, even if it depends strongly on the mode used and the state of the swimming pool.

In Eco mode, which split cycles for regular maintenance over two weeks, autonomy is managed intelligently, and water remains clean without effort.

But beware: like any battery device, the Liberty 600 imposes a new rigor. Forgetting to recharge it is to expose yourself to a dirty swimming pool the next day. And it is impossible to connect it at the last minute: you have to anticipate, because recharge takes several hours (about 4 hours to 100 %).

Please note: like any battery, it will be necessary to put your robot in the fridge, and to avoid exposing it to temperatures above 35 ° C, at the risk of reducing the life of the battery.

Sustainability

On the robust side, nothing to report for the moment. The robot seems well constructed, the materials resist UV, and the induction charging system avoids false contacts and corrosion. The three -year warranty is welcome. However, we remain on a young product, the reliability of which will have to evaluate over time.

Hoping that it will be possible to easily change the battery when it will make the soul after a few years. However, it should hold over time, since a robot is not recharged every day as we would with a smartphone.

Price, availability and competition

There remains the question of the price. Proposed from 1,549 euros, the Liberty 600 is clearly positioned as a premium model. It is more expensive than conventional wired robots, but more affordable than the most upscale models incorporating mapping, AI or surface cleaning.

The more affordable dolphin models start from 699 euros, as for the Liberty 100. They are simpler, but take up house technologies proven for years.

But beware, because Chinese manufacturers arrive strongly on the market, we can notably quote Aiper or Beatbot, with often cheaper proposals or more complete equipment at equivalent price.

In conclusion, the Mayronics Dolphin Liberty 600 is not a perfect robot, but it is a robot that changes the situation. It does not reinvent technology, but it transforms use. No need to plug, unroll, monitor. We start, we forget, we take advantage. For all those who saw swimming pool cleaning like a constraint, this robot could well become a precious ally.

To go further
What are the best swimming pool robots? Our selection

To go further, you can take a look at our Robots Piscine buying guide.