Robotic pool cleaners have become an extremely popular way for pool owners to keep their pools sparkling clean without having to manually vacuum or skim themselves. Robotic cleaners can scrub pool surfaces, vacuum up debris, and filter water – all on their own with no work needed on your part.
It’s like having your own personal pool cleaning robot!
Two of the top robotic pool cleaner brands on the market are Jacuzzi and Dolphin. The Jacuzzi JCRX and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus models are both premium options that offer excellent cleaning performance. But which one is better for your pool?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare the Jacuzzi JCRX and Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus on key factors like cleaning ability, features, ease of use, and cost to help you decide which robotic pool cleaner is the right choice for you.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Jacuzzi JCRX | Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus |
| Pool Size Capacity | Up to 20 ft. | Up to 50 ft. |
| Cleaning Technology | Dual scrubbing brushes, strong suction | CleverClean coverage, active brushing, powerful hydraulics |
| Cleaning Modes | Quick Clean, Deep Clean | Quick Clean, Standard Clean, Enhanced Clean |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
| Price | $1,199 | $1,049 |
Overview of Jacuzzi JCRX Robotic Pool Cleaner
The Jacuzzi JCRX is one of Jacuzzi’s newest and most advanced robotic pool cleaners. This powerful cleaner is designed to thoroughly scrub and vacuum residential pools of all shapes and sizes.
Some of the notable features and specs of the JCRX include:
- 2 scrubbing brushes: Dual scrubbing brushes aggressively attack stuck-on debris on all pool surfaces.
- Powerful vacuum: Strong suction vacuum easily picks up dirt and leaves.
- Large filter basket: Holds more debris so you empty it less often.
- 60ft. cord length: Long cord provides a wider cleaning radius.
- Cleanup cycles: Offers Quick Clean and Deep Clean modes.
- Energy efficient: Uses minimal electricity.
- Automatic shutoff: Shuts off after 3 hours to avoid overheating.
- Pool coverage: Designed to clean the floor, coves, walls and waterline.
- Warranty: Comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
The JCRX is ideal for cleaning in-ground pools up to 20 feet long. It delivers thorough scrubbing and vacuuming for a spotless pool with minimal effort on your part.
Overview of Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Cleaner
The Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is one of Dolphin’s most popular robotic cleaners for residential pools. Engineered for optimal cleaning performance, the Nautilus CC Plus offers powerful suction and scrubbing to leave your pool gleaming.
Here are some of the key features and specifications of the Nautilus CC Plus:
- Dual scrubbing brushes: Scrubs away algae and bacteria.
- Powerful vacuum: Vacuums up debris, dirt, leaves and more.
- 60ft. swivel cable: Allows the robot to access the entire pool.
- Top access filter: Easy to remove and clean out.
- Cleanup modes: Offers Quick Clean, Standard Clean, and Enhanced Clean.
- Energy efficient: Uses minimal electricity.
- Pool coverage: Designed to clean floor, walls, waterline.
- Warranty: Backed by a 3-year limited warranty.
The Nautilus CC Plus is ideal for in-ground pools up to 50 feet in length. It’s engineered to provide excellent scrubbing power and suction for sparkling clean results.
Key Differences Between Jacuzzi JCRX And Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Robotic Pool Cleaners
Now that we’ve covered the basics of each model, let’s compare them across some key factors.
Cleaning Ability
First and foremost, you want a robotic pool cleaner that has excellent cleaning capabilities. How thoroughly and efficiently does it clean the pool?
The JCRX and the Nautilus CC Plus are both equipped with dual scrubbing brushes to scour surfaces.
The brushes spin and scrub to remove stuck-on debris, bacteria, and algae from the floor, walls, waterline, and even small crevices.
Both models also have powerful vacuum suction to quickly pick up leaves, dirt and other debris from the water and floors. The large filter baskets allow the robots to collect plenty of debris before needing to be emptied.
When it comes to coverage, the JCRX is designed for pools up to 20 feet, while the Nautilus CC Plus can handle pools up to 50 feet. The Nautilus CC Plus is capable of cleaning larger pools more efficiently.
The Nautilus CC Plus also includes some additional cleaning features:
- CleverClean technology that uses advanced algorithms to ensure the most efficient cleaning route.
- Powerful hydraulics and water flow for superior debris pickup.
- Active brushing for removing stuck-on debris.
Overall, both offer excellent scrubbing power and suction, but the Nautilus CC Plus has the edge when it comes to cleaning larger pools thoroughly.
Features & Technology
Both models integrate some smart technology and programming to deliver effective autonomous cleaning:
- The JCRX offers a Quick Clean cycle for fast pickup and a Deep Clean cycle for thorough scrubbing. This allows you to select the best cleaning mode for the current needs of your pool.
- The Nautilus CC Plus has Quick Clean, Standard Clean and Enhanced Clean modes. The varying run times allow you to customize each cleaning session. It also uses cleverClean technology to learn optimal coverage paths.
- They both have caddy systems for quickly removing the robot from the pool when finished cleaning.
- Top access filters make removing and rinsing out debris fast and easy.
- Automatic shutoff features on both models prevent overheating or getting stuck.
- The swiveling cords on both avoid tangling during operation.
When it comes to smart features and programmability, the Nautilus CC Plus comes out ahead with its cleverClean technology that customizes cleaning routes for better coverage. But both offer several convenient design features for hassle-free automated cleaning.
Ease of Use
You don’t want your pool cleaning robot to be difficult to operate and maintain. Both the JCRX and Nautilus CC Plus emphasize simplicity:
- They are both quick to install – just place in pool and turn on.
- Straightforward control panels make selecting cleaning modes a breeze.
- The caddy systems allow for simplified retrieval from the pool.
- Top access filters enable quick rinsing of debris after use.
- Minimal maintenance is required beyond cleaning filters periodically.
- The swiveling power cords avoid getting tangled during cleaning cycles.
When it comes to ease of use and maintenance, these two models are neck-and-neck. Both the JCRX and Nautilus CC Plus make automated cleaning as simple as possible for the pool owner.
Reliability
You want your pool cleaning robot to provide years of reliable service. Jacuzzi and Dolphin both have strong reputations for dependability and stand behind their products with warranties:
- The JCRX comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
- The Nautilus CC Plus also comes with a 3-year limited warranty.
Additionally, both brands use durable components and thoughtful design to maximize the robots’ working life:
- The JCRX has an automatic shutoff to prevent overheating and damage if it gets stuck.
- The Nautilus CC Plus uses CleverClean technology to avoid getting caught in confined spaces.
- Both have oversized debris collection bins to minimize clogging issues.
Overall, the JCRX and Nautilus CC Plus seem to offer comparable reliability and durability, backed by 3-year warranties from their manufacturers. Many users report years of trouble-free operation from both models when properly maintained.
Cost Comparison
Here is a breakdown of the retail costs for each model:
- Jacuzzi JCRX: $1,199
- Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus: $1,049
As you can see, both carry a similar price tag around the $1,000 mark. The Nautilus CC Plus typically costs about $150 less than the JCRX.
Keep in mind that you can sometimes find bundle packages, promotions, or pre-owned options that bring the costs down for either model. Overall though, they are competitively aligned in terms of upfront purchase price.
Over the long run, both models offer energy efficient operation to keep electricity costs low. And with minimal maintenance required beyond basic upkeep, there are no major hidden costs down the road.
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Pros
- Cleans in-ground pools up to 50 ft.
- Intelligent CleverClean coverage technology
- Powerful active brushing and suction
- Quick, Standard, and Enhanced clean modes
- Large filter basket
- Durable and reliable performance
- Easy to operate and maintain
- Excellent value for money
Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus Cons
- Relatively heavy at 22 lbs
- Cycle times can be long for large pools
- Not intended for above-ground pools
Jacuzzi JCRX Pros
- Aggressive dual brushes for scrubbing
- Strong suction vacuum
- Quick and Deep cleaning modes
- Automatic shutoff feature
- Long 60ft. cord
- Easy top-access filter
- Durable and reliable construction
- Simplified operation and maintenance
Jacuzzi JCRX Cons
- Best suited for small to mid-sized pools
- Struggles with very fine debris
- Some users report issues with flap valves
- More expensive than Nautilus CC Plus
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
While Yeti is widely considered one of the best premium cooler brands, some alternatives compete closely with Yeti in terms of insulation performance and durability. Top contenders include RTIC, Orca, Pelican, Canyon, and Icey-Tek coolers. For high-end rotomolded cooler performance, brands like RTIC and Orca are on par with Yeti at a lower price point.
For premium cooler performance, a few brands like RTIC and Orca match or even slightly exceed Yeti in ice retention tests. Some key areas where Yeti alternatives can surpass Yeti include better insulation (up to 10% longer ice retention), lower cost for similar sizes, and faster cooling speed. Overall, brands like RTIC and Orca represent the closest competitors to Yeti in the high-performance cooler market in terms of quality and value.
Hooked Coolers is owned by Wayne Adelstein. He founded the company after being frustrated by cheap coolers that couldn’t keep ice frozen on long fishing trips. Wayne used his engineering background to design high-performance coolers made in the USA that could compete with brands like Yeti. Hooked Coolers focuses on offering rotomolded coolers with long ice retention at a more affordable price point compared to leading premium brands.
While Yeti originated the premium cooler segment, competitors like RTIC have managed to produce coolers with comparable build quality, features, and insulation performance. In side-by-side tests, RTIC coolers can match or slightly beat Yeti models in ice retention, keeping ice frozen for days. RTIC is able to offer similar quality and performance to Yeti at around half the price. Overall, RTIC coolers go toe-to-toe with Yeti for a fraction of the cost. Unless you must have the Yeti brand name, RTIC represents a better value purchase.
Final Verdict
When all factors are considered, our verdict is that the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus is the best choice between these two excellent robotic pool cleaners.
The Nautilus CC Plus cleans pools thoroughly and efficiently up to 50 feet thanks to smart CleverClean coverage algorithms. It offers a bit more when it comes to features and programmability too.
While the JCRX from Jacuzzi is still an outstanding cleaner, especially for small to mid-sized pools, the Nautilus CC Plus matches it for durability and ease of use while exceeding its cleaning capabilities. For most pool owners, the Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus represents the wiser investment.
