Here at The Good Pad we know that finding the pool cleaner can be a tricky task. With so many different factors to consider you’ll want to be sure you’re buying a cleaner which will best suit your pools needs.
Finding a product that ticks all the necessary boxes can take time. Dolphin are known for their high quality durable pool cleaners, and have long been a popular choice for pool owners.
Today we’ll be taking an in-depth look at one of Dolphin’s M series models the Dolphin M400 pool cleaner to see if it’s right for you.
If you’re interested in checking out another of the Dolphin M series models then check out our review on the M600 pool cleaner here.
Dolphin m400 Quick review
The Dolphin M400 is a powerful residential cleaner designed to clean pools up to 50ft in length and of any shape, and surface type. It is versatile when it comes to the areas of the pool it is able to clean, with wall climbing, and waterline scrubbing capability there really is no area the Dolphin M400 can’t clean.
The M400 Dolphin Pool Cleaner features a durable well- constructed design which is made out of quality materials. It weighs 26.9lbs which is on the heavier side for a robotic pool cleaner, however it does come with a caddy for easier transportation If needed.
The Dolphin 400 pool cleaner uses a powerful yet energy efficient dual-drive motor which provides great manoeuvrability, and pool coverage regardless of pool shape, slopes or obstacles. To help with its navigation it also comes equiped with CleverClean Technology. This allows the cleaner to map out the optimal cleaning path, while also being able to avoid objects such as drain and ladders.
To aid in its fight against dirt and debris the Dolphin M400 pool cleaner uses three split spinning brushes. These brushes allow the cleaner to easily remove stubborn dirt and debris, while also giving it the ability to pivot and turn without having to reverse allowing for a more efficient clean.
Many pool cleaners have the tendency of becoming stuck around their own power cord while cleaning making them unreliable to be left to clean unsupervised. Dolphin have fixed this issue by by adding an anti-tangle swivel cable to the base of the Dolphin M400’s power cord to prevent this issue.
The Dolphin pool cleaner M400 uses an easy to remove top loaded filter cartridge. These cartridges are designed to filter both fine and ultra fine dirt particles, ensuring all debris remains trapped inside the cleaner. However these filters have quite a low capacity so if your pool is prone to lots of leaves and sticks you may have to empty the filters multiple times during a cleaning cycle.
If you’re looking for a cleaner with a larger filter capacity and that caters better to large debris then the Dolphin Premier is a great choice.
To make pool care even easier Dolphin have equipped the M400 with the MyDolphin App. This App allows you to set weekly timers, different cycle modes, and even control the M400 manually from your smart device. However the manual control has know to not always work well and could use some fine tuning. One other added feature I would off liked to have seen added to the My Dolphin App was the option of a shorter cleaning cycle since there was only currently one choice, that being a cycle time of 2.5 hours.
If you’re looking at purchasing the Dolphin M400 it will cost around $1599, and will need to be purchased through your local Dolphin supplier.
Dolphin pool cleaner M400 specs
- Make: Dolphin
- Modle: M400
- Pool type: In-ground, any shape/surface type
- Waterline cleaning: Yes
- Cycle time: 2.5 hrs
- Bluetooth connectivity: Yes
- Weight: 26.9lbs
- Warranty: 3 years limited
Pros:
- Powerful scrubbing brushes
- Cleans the waterline
- Weekly timer function
- 3 year warranty
- Comes with caddy
Cons:
- Expensive
- Heavy
- Small filter capacity
- No cycle time select option
m400 Dolphin pool cleaner features
CleverClean coverage
CleverClean coverage works by using multiple algorithms which map out the most efficient cleaning path to take. This also gives the Dolphin M400 the ability to navigate around any objects in its way, and return to its original cleaning path. CleverClean coverage also ensures all ares of the pool are cleaned including tricky areas such as the deep end, and the waterline.
Onboard Gyroscope
This feature helps the unit to determine where it is in the pool at all times, while also measuring the units orientation allowing the Dolphin Pool Cleaner M400 to navigate around tight spots such as sharp corners, and around ladders.
Split spinning brushes
The Dolphin M400 Pool Cleaner comes equipped with three split spinning brushes. Not only are these able to provide a gentle yet powerful clean, they also give the cleaner the ability to pivot and turn without the need of going backwards or forwards. In return this allows for a more efficient and thorough clean.
Anti-tangle swivel cable
The M400 Dolphin Pool Cleaner uses a 60ft anti-tangle swivel cable that allows for 360° rotation without any wear, or degradation. The cord stays afloat on the pools surface thanks to multiple buoys attached along the cord. This is highly effective preventing the unit from becoming tangled while performing a clean.
My Dolphin Plus App
The My Dolphin Plus App gives you the ability to connect to the cleaner via you tablet or mobile device. This app gives you the ability to schedule cleans by day, and pool location, eg clean only the pool floor on Monday, then clean only the walls and waterline on a Wednesday. Through this app you can also manually control the cleaner with the joystick. This can be handy if you need to do a spot clean, if your pool has any hard to reach places, or if any areas need extra attention.
m400 Dolphin pool cleaner user reviews
While checking out user reviews for the Dolphin M400 it was clear to see that the majority of users reported a positive cleaning experience. Many users praised the Dolphin M400 Pool Cleaner for how easy it was to set up and operate, saying all they had to do was “plug it in, drop it in the water and forget about it”. While another person said “they’ve never seen their pool so clean in all their life!”
Another user was very impressed with how well the unit was able to handle all the angles and slopes of his custom kidney shaped pool, areas in which his previous cleaner struggled with.
Customers also loved how easy the filters were to clean and empty, as well as how well the Dolphin M400 could handle large debris like leaves and sticks.
However not every user reported a positive experience, with one person saying that the M400 Dolphin Pool Cleaner kept getting stuck on the steps. While another user mentioned they had an issue with the cleaner only cleaning 70% of their pool no matter what cleaning setting it was on.
All in all though the vast majority of users were very impressed with the Dolphin 400 pool cleaner, and its cleaning ability.
Dolphin M400 pool cleaner summary
With all things taken into consideration such as price, features, and cleaning performance I think that the Dolphin M400 pool cleaner is a good robotic pool cleaner, but not great!
Though it is able to provide a satisfactory clean, and packs many great features this does come at a relatively high cost, and there were some areas that let me down.
I would of expected a cleaner of this price to have a cycle time selection option like the Dolphin Nautilus CC Supreme as opposed to a single 2.5 hour option. This means you can’t simply do a quick clean of the pool if need be unlike other Dolphin models like the Dolphin Sigma, which has a quick 1 hour clean option.
I would have also liked to have seen the M400 Dolphin Pool Cleaner come equipped with an oversized filter cartridge which would allow it to store more large debris like leaves and sticks and require less changing during a cleaning cycle.
It is for these reasons I feel there are some better alternatives for a more affordable price.
Dolphin m400 FAQ
What areas of the pool can the Dolphin m400 clean?
The Dolphin M400 is designed to clean the floor, walls and waterline.
Does the Dolphin M400 have bluetooth Connectivity?
Yes, this can be done through either your smart phone or tablet.
How long does a Cleaning cycle take?
The M400 only has a single option of a 2.5 hour cycle.
How long does the Maytronics m400 Warranty last?
The Dolphin M400 comes with a limited 3 year warranty.
