Dolphin M600 Review: connected but outdone by the T60

The editorial team subjected both robots to the same protocol over three consecutive weeks on a polyester shell pool of 8×4 m (depth 1.50 m) located in Arradon, on the edge of the Gulf of Morbihan. Each 2 h 30 cycle was launched under identical conditions: oak and grass pollen, maritime pine needles, beech leaves, post-storm plant debris. Cleaner Lab gridded the basin into zones of 50 cm on each side to measure the coverage rate and photographed the walls before and after each pass.

The quantified results reveal a marginal difference. On the floor, both robots display acoverage rate of 98 %: only two squares of 50×50 cm, located in the rounded corners of the shell, show a residual deposit of fine pollen. On thelow walls(height < 1 m), the M600 cleans 94% of the surface compared to 91% for the T60, a gain of 3 points that translates to a slightly sharper line at mid-height. In contrast, beyond 1 m in height, the M600 systematically detaches after 40 to 60 seconds of climbing, where the T60 does not climb anyway.

The electrical consumption measured with the Voltcraft Energy Logger 4000 wattmeter gives190 Wh per cyclefor the M600,185 Whfor the T60. TheCleverCleanfunction, supposed to optimise the M600's path, produced no perceptible effect: both robots took 2 h 28 to 2 h 32 to cover the basin, with comparable random trajectories. Cleaner Lab deactivated then reactivated CleverClean over ten consecutive cycles without noting any measurable difference in coverage rate or duration.

Price difference and field verdict

TheT60is available between1 200 and 1 400 €according to Breton retailers (prices observed March 2024), theM600between1 800 and 2 000 €. For an additional cost of 400 to 800 €, you get WiFi, the MyDolphin Plus application and 3 additional coverage points on low walls. The editorial team detects no decisive advantage in pure cleaning performance.

The MyDolphin Plus application constitutes Maytronics' central commercial argument to justify the M600's pricing position. The editorial team spent three weeks with this interface to measure its real daily contribution.

Available features and WiFi range

Weekly programming allows defining up to seven independent cycles, with choice of mode (floor only, floor + walls, one-hour quick cycle). Remote start works from any point in the house, the WiFi range reaching30 metrescompared to 10 metres in Bluetooth for the T60. On a Breton property with the pool at the bottom of the garden, this difference proves concrete.

Push notifications signal the end of the cycle, and firmware updates install OTA (over-the-air) without handling the unit. The cleaning history keeps the last six cycles with effective duration and mode used. These elements bring ameasurable ease of use, particularly for owners absent for several days who wish to maintain a regular cleaning rhythm.

Limitations observed in real use

The "Retrieve me" function promises to position the robot near the edge at the end of the cycle. In practice, Cleaner Lab observes a success rate below 40%: the M600 often stops in the middle of the basin or against a side wall, requiring the use of the pole. On a 8×4 m polyester shell pool, this feature does not live up to its promises.

The basket saturation indicator generates alertslate or prematuredepending on the type of debris. After an Atlantic gust loaded with pine needles, the alert appears only once the suction flow is visibly reduced. Conversely, on fine spring pollens, it triggers while the basket remains half empty. The editorial team recommends visually checking the basket every two cycles, making the indicator unreliable.

Cleaner Lab's verdict is nuanced: the application provides areal comfort gainfor programming and updates, but it does not offset the price gap compared to the T60. The advanced features promoted by Maytronics remain imperfect, or even disappointing, for basic uses such as retrieval at the pool edge.

On polyester hulls with vertical walls (90°), the editorial team observed systematic slippage of the M600 from a height of 1.20 m. The robot climbs, brushes a narrow strip, then falls back to the bottom without ever reaching the waterline. This behaviour is explained by the geometry of the wheels and the absence of tracks: adhesion is insufficient to support the robot's weight on a smooth, vertical surface.

On liner with a gentle slope (75 to 80°), performance improves. The M600 climbs to 1.50 m, sometimes 1.60 m, and maintains sufficient contact for brushing. However, the brush pressure remains less firm than at the bottom, and stuck debris (dead algae, light limescale deposits) is not always dislodged. The editorial team observed this phenomenon on an 8×4 m liner pool in Vannes: the robot cleans the walls, but without the expected mechanical vigour for this price segment.

Comparison with Zodiac Vortex OV 3505 and BWT P600

The Zodiac Vortex OV 3505, equipped withwide tracks, holds vertical walls up to the waterline without slippage. The BWT P600, with itswide wheels with soft treads, offers intermediate adhesion: it climbs to 1.80 m on polyester hulls, but sometimes slips at the end of the cycle. The table below summarises these differences measured by the editorial team across three pool configurations.

The editorial team recommends the M600 to owners of liner pools with progressive slopes, where wall cleaning remains a complement to floor work. For hulls with vertical walls or pools requiring rigorous waterline brushing, the extra cost of the Zodiac OV 3505 (around 150 € more) is justified by superior mechanical efficiency.

The price gap between the M600 (1 800 to 2 000 €) and the T60 (1 200 to 1 400 €) reaches600 € on average. The editorial team calculated the total cost over five years to determine whether this difference is justified by usage savings or superior durability. The verdict is clear: WiFi connectivity does not offset the initial extra cost.

Breakdown of costs over five years

Both robots consume180 Wand operate identically: two weekly cycles over six months, or 35 kWh per year at 0.25 €/kWh. Electricity costs 8.75 € annually, negligible compared to the purchase price. Wear parts follow the same schedule: brushes every two years (80 € each), filter every three years (60 €). No mechanical advantage distinguishes the M600.

The 600 € extra cost therefore remains unchanged after five years. The editorial team tested the resale hypothesis: a two-year-old M600 sells for 900 to 1 000 € on the second-hand market, compared to 700 to 800 € for a T60 of the same age. The 200 € residual value gap does not cover the initial 600 €.

For domestic use in Brittany, where the season runs from May to September and cycles are programmed at the start of the week,the T60 offers a superior cost-efficiency ratio. The M600 suits owners managing multiple pools remotely or seasonal rentals requiring control without physical presence. Outside these configurations, the additional investment remains a functional luxury.

The Breton spring imposes a maintenance rhythm on the M600 that Dolphin underestimates in its documentation. Between March and June, birch and grass pollen saturate the100 micronfilter in a single cycle on exposed pools. The editorial team found that bi-weekly basket cleaning becomes necessary, compared to weekly the rest of the year. This doubled frequency is not mentioned anywhere in the manual, even though it directly affects filtration quality.

The5 litrebasket proves undersized against Atlantic debris. Maritime pine needles, oak leaves, twigs after westerly gales: in autumn, the M600 vacuums effectively, but the collected volume requires emptying after every cycle. On a 50 m³ pool surrounded by vegetation, the editorial team measured up to 4.2 litres of debris in a single 2 h 30 pass. The robot works, but the user spends as much time emptying the basket as programming the device.

Salt spray and brush maintenance

Coastal pools expose the M600 to a wear factor that the warranty does not explicitly cover. Salt spray clogs thePVA brushesin less than a month if no fresh water rinse is performed after each use. Dolphin does not specify this in the French documentation, but this action determines the lifespan of the brushes. The editorial team observed a loss of flexibility in the lamellae as early as the fifth week on an installation 800 m from the ocean, without systematic rinsing.

Long overwintering, from October to April in the region, requires a strict protocol. Dry storage is essential, cable unrolled to avoid shape memory, motor block protected from frost. The warranty of3 yearsremains valid if these conditions are met, but Dolphin provides no dedicated checklist. The editorial team recommends photographing the condition of the brushes and cable before storage, to document normal wear and avoid any disputes in case of post-overwintering failure.

The M600 charges1,800 to 2,000 €for WiFi connectivity that many users will never fully exploit. Before investing this amount, the editorial team recommends examining four alternatives tailored to your actual setup, without paying for superfluous features.

Compact pools and tight budgets

For a poolunder 50 m², flat bottom liner or shell, a bottom-only robot is more than sufficient. TheDolphin E10(500-600 €) or theZodiac Tornax OT 2100(600-700 €) ensure an effective daily cycle without any connected pretensions. Cleaner Lab has verified over several seasons that these models hold up on Breton residential pools, including spring pollens.

TheBestway Thetys(400-500 €) represents an acceptable entry-level option: correct filtration on liner bottom, but no wall capability. If you do not need to climb the walls, this robot fulfils its mission at one-third the price of the M600.

Medium pools: the T60 dominates the value-for-money ratio

Between50 and 80 m², with gently sloping walls, theDolphin T60(1,200-1,400 €) establishes itself as the rational alternative. The editorial team compared it to the M600 on an 8×4 m pool: equivalent cleaning performance, identical wall grip, but600 to 800 € differencefor an app whose real use remains marginal after the first two weeks.

The T60 features the same motorisation, the same active brushing system, the same filtration fineness. You forgo the WiFi, you gain a robot just as effective for 40% less.

Large pools and vertical walls: tracks make the difference

Beyond80 m³, especially with vertical walls or demanding waterline, the M600 shows its grip limitations. Two tracked models surpass its adhesion:

TheZodiac Vortex OV 3505(2,200 €) climbs without slipping on vertical tiling and treats the waterline with a regularity that the M600 does not achieve. TheBWT P600(2,500 €) adds SLAM mapping to optimise the path on very large surfaces. These two robots cost more, but their wall grip justifies the difference on demanding configurations.