Maytronics Dolphin EON 120d Review: It Climbs the Steps

With the Dolphin EON 120d, Maytronics takes on the part of the pool most cordless robots quietly ignore: the steps and the submerged shelf. The manufacturer states that the machine can work in as little as 20 cm of water. It naturally cleans the floor, the walls and the waterline as well, and it uses water jets to stabilise itself, change direction and negotiate changes of level.

The model tested here, the Dolphin EON 120d, measures 56 x 44.9 x 31.3 cm and weighs 11 kg. Its 5-litre basket takes a 14-micron DebrisLock filter, whose back-flushing system moves dirt into an isolated compartment to stop it returning to the pool. Suction flow reaches 15 m3/h, and the 9,600 mAh battery is quoted at up to 4 hours 30 minutes of operation.

Maytronics also offers the EON 100. That version keeps the main cleaning functions but makes do with a 6,000 mAh battery, three hours of running time and a conventional 70-micron basket. The DebrisLock filter and the ClickUp retrieval system remain available separately. The differences, in other words, do not change the fundamental character of the robot.

The Dolphin EON 120d makes no attempt at discretion. Its imposing format and 11 kg weight place it among the bulkiest cordless robots of its type. It is nonetheless properly balanced, and the wide handle makes carrying it or lifting it out of the water manageable rather than a struggle.

Two large tracks occupy the sides of the machine, joined by finned brushes front and rear, while a wide opening beneath the chassis funnels debris towards the basket.

Maytronics supplies a charger, a hook that fits a pool pole and the floating recall accessory. This small floating accessory calls the robot back without needing a remote control or a plunge of the arm to the bottom of the pool. It is included with the EON 120d, but offered as an option with the EON 100.

Controls are grouped on the front face. A central button switches the robot on and cycles through the main programmes, with indicators showing remaining charge, connectivity and the selected mode. That makes it possible to choose directly between UltraRun, Full Coverage, Floor Only and Waterline Only without opening the app every time.

Charging happens directly on the robot; there is no station and no dedicated cradle. The connector sits on the front face behind a rubber plug. The plug does its job properly, but its low position close to the brushes is not the most convenient place to plug in a cable.

Pairing with the Maytronics One app happens over Bluetooth first. Hold the power button for a few seconds, select the detected robot and follow the on-screen steps; the reported pairing procedure presented no particular difficulty.

A Wi-Fi connection can then be added, though it is not essential for launching cycles. Wi-Fi handles automatic updates, remote diagnostics and sharing the robot between users. The Dolphin EON stops communicating with the app once it is submerged.

During configuration, the user enters the shape and dimensions of the pool. It is also possible to flag the presence of steps, a submerged shelf, a safety ledge, a cover, obstacles or steep slopes. No detailed map is ever shown in the app, however: SmartMap works behind the scenes and offers no way to check precisely which areas have already been covered.

The interface gives access to a fairly wide choice of programmes. Full Coverage handles the floor, walls, waterline, steps and submerged platforms. The work can also be restricted to the floor or the waterline alone. Durations of 90, 120 or 150 minutes can be selected. Smart mode analyses the pool and adapts the path and duration automatically, and the user can choose between an ordered pattern and a maze-style route.

UltraRun follows a different logic altogether, splitting the available battery into several short sessions so the robot can be left in the pool for a week or two.

An automatic return function finally allows the user to define which wall the robot should finish its work in front of.

On the pool floor, the Dolphin EON 120d moves in an organised fashion. It progresses in relatively regular lines, changes direction without getting stuck against the walls and covers the available surface properly. It covered the available floor without leaving obvious gaps.

The EON's real distinguishing feature shows up on steps and submerged platforms. The robot manages to climb onto the various levels and carry on cleaning in shallow water. The tracks provide traction while the jets help it stay pressed against the surface and change orientation.

Coverage of the steps is not exhaustive on a short cycle, though. Some are passed over quickly, others only after several passes. Increasing the programme duration means the robot eventually visits a greater proportion of these areas.

Behaviour on the walls is equally convincing. The EON climbs without difficulty and stays pressed against the waterline long enough for its brushes to act, applying enough pressure to dislodge light deposits.

Obstacle detection is far less impressive. The robot did not recognise small objects placed in its path, notably a mask and some pool toys, so it is best not to leave anything lying on the bottom before starting a cycle.

The floating recall accessory works well and proves more practical than the hook at the end of a programme. Shaking it in the water for a few seconds wakes the robot, which then climbs a wall and waits at the waterline. During a session, a first use interrupts the programme and a second triggers the ascent.

The Dolphin EON 120d proved particularly effective on the floor. Leaves placed in the pool were drawn in without difficulty, and the robot also picked up the sand and small particles spread along its route. After a full cycle, no area was left holding a significant mass of debris.

Its 15 m3/h suction flow is not the highest on the market, but the wide intake and consistent coverage compensate for a fairly modest figure. Some particles can be pushed around on the first pass, though they are generally collected on the next.

The 14-micron DebrisLock filter is one of the EON 120d's main advantages. Its fineness retains sand and particles far smaller than conventional mesh baskets capture, and no visible discharge was observed during the sessions. The back-flushing system gradually moves debris into a separate compartment, which should prevent it escaping when the flow stops.

The walls and waterline are also handled properly. The robot climbs decisively and holds position for several seconds to dislodge loosely attached dirt. As always, older greasy or limescale deposits will still call for manual work.

The EON does not clean the surface. Floating leaves, insects and dust therefore remain a job for the net or a specialised robot.

The 5-litre basket is reached through a wide hatch on top of the robot. A handle lifts it out without turning the machine over, so it can be carried to a rinsing area, and its capacity is sufficient for several routine sessions.

Maintenance is less straightforward than with a mesh basket, however. Leaves and large debris come out quickly, but sand tends to accumulate in the rims and in the DebrisLock compartment, so both parts need rinsing carefully to clear everything.

Maytronics also recommends a more thorough clean roughly once a month. The concertina panels can be dismantled and rinsed separately. The operation presents no particular difficulty, though particles caught between the folds require some patience. The very fine filter improves cleaning quality at the cost of longer maintenance than the 70-micron basket supplied with the EON 100.

The 9,600 mAh battery in the Dolphin EON 120d allows it to run for 4 hours 30 minutes, a figure matched in the reported measurements. UltraRun uses that energy reserve differently, spreading it across several short sessions over one or two weeks, which can be useful when the house is empty.

A full recharge takes around 4 hours 30 minutes, reasonable given the running time. The EON 100 lasts roughly three hours and recharges in 3 hours 30 minutes, the logical consequence of its smaller battery.

The Beatbot Sora 70 will appeal to anyone who also wants surface cleaning and a large basket, while the Wybot C2 Vision is more interesting for its compact format and its targeted debris-detection mode.