Choosing to go the robotic cleaner route for your pool maintenance is a choice you will be glad you made. However, when looking at the cleaner options out there it can get a little overwhelming. Yes, eventually you settle on the Dolphin pool cleaner product line as the leading manufacturer. They have been doing this the longest of anyone, and have the track record to prove it. Within their model line it often comes down to two. This article is dedicated to comparing the Dolphin Sigma vs Premier.
Dolphin Sigma vs Premier 2023 Review
Load Access
First, some major differences between the Dolphin Sigma and Premier. The Premier is a bottom load while the Sigma is a top load. This means whenever you take out the Premier, you need to flip it over, to access the leaf bag.
The Premier has an expandable leaf bag while the Sigma has removable filters. The leaf bag is bit more of a hassle to take out and put in than the Removable filters on the Sigma. However, the Premier’s leaf bag holds more debris, so if you have primarily a leaf load issue, the Sigma is probably your best choice.
Cleaning Areas
Both cleaners are listed as wall, floor and waterline cleaners. However, in practice the Sigma performs the wall climb and waterline cleaning capability more reliably than the Premier. That said, the Sigma is definitely a tad more advanced technologically.
Dolphin lists the Sigma as capable of ‘manual drive’ where you move the cleaner around the floor using the app. In practice, this is clumsy and somewhat unresponsive. In reality, the smart mapping feature which helps the cleaner vacuum the entire pool floor seems to work well enough on its own without the need for manual drive mode.
The Premier is based on slightly older technology, which is not especially a bad thing. Sometimes certain cleaners work better in certain types of pools. However, when comparing the Dolphin Premier vs Sigma, the Sigma comes out on top for a number of simple reasons.
Cleaner Handling
First, the Sigma is easier to handle. Without the need to flip the cleaner over regularly, it’s just plain an easier to cleaner to manage. Although the Sigma is about 3-4 pounds heavier than the Premier, not needing to flip it over is worth the difference. Whatever cleaner you buy, it’s always a good idea to buy the caddy so you can safely store the cleaner without smashing the tracks and brushes, and you can safely transport the cleaner to and from the pool.
The Premier has one feature the Sigma does not, and that’s the full bag indicator. There are mixed reviews as to whether this works however. Some users tend to find the full bag indicator gives false ‘bag full’ readings, which can be super frustrating.
Dolphin Sigma vs Premier Summary
Both cleaners will clean the floor without question, and both are capable of climbing the walls. We would recommend the Sigma for most people in the market.
- Hassle-free clean. Easy-to-use, robotic pool cleaner equipped with an anti-tangling swivel cable, allowing Sigma to move freely around large…
- No messy bags to clean. Massive top-loading cartridge filters captures and traps fine and ultra-fine debris for an optimal clean swimming pool….
- Powerful, dual scrubbing brushes thoroughly and efficiently attacks tough contaminants removing algae and bacteria from floor, walls and waterline for…
It is easier to use overall and requires less manual effort to clean the debris collection system after the fact. These cleaners are expensive when compared to midrange cleaners like the CC Plus. However, hey are both an excellent products in their own right.
