Dolphin Primal X3 Review
Ratings
Summary: The Dolphin Primal X3 is a great value and an easy-to-live-with automatic pool cleaner. Perfect for in-ground pools that don't have many steps or overhanging trees.
4.3
Great value, efficient & easy to repair.
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Price: 
- For in-ground pools up to 60’ long
- Cleans floors, walls and most steps
- Very efficient, costing only $0.15 per cleaning
- 2 mesh filter cartridges
- Patented cord prevents tangling
Summary
Comparable to the Dolphin Supreme M3 and the Dolphin DX3, the Dolphin Primal X3 Robotic Pool Cleaner comes with a number of added features and improved functionality.
It performs fairly well at cleaning while remaining impressively energy efficient.
This is an automatic pool cleaner for those who want an ever-clean pool without any hustles or high costs.
Cleaning Ability
The first time the Primal X3 enters your pool, it scans your pool’s shape and dimensions to determine the most efficient cleaning route. The pre-scanning process saves energy costs by minimizing the amount of time it takes to clean the entire pool. It also ensures every square foot is touched, meaning every cleaning job will be complete.
As the unit rolls along the floor of your pool, two sets of filters work to remove debris from the water.
The fine filter picks up larger debris like leaves and small twigs, while the ultra-fine filter is designed for finer sand & silt.
Where the Primal X3 robotic pool cleaner disappoints a bit is in collecting larger leaves and sticks. Because the inlets are relatively small, larger debris can be left behind.
Wall Cleaning Ability
Cleaning vertical surfaces like walls is where many older robotic pool cleaners fail. A hallmark of a good robotic pool cleaner is the ability to climb up vertical walls and clean them well. The Primal X3 performs remarkably well.
The high suction power of the unit allows it to effortlessly stick to walls and leave a sparkling clean path behind it.
To help remove stubborn dirt from the floor and walls, the Primal X3 uses two brushes; one at the front and another at the rear.
Unfortunately, one area where the unit gets into trouble is in cleaning steps.
Many customers, including us, found it a bit lacking in this area. You may have to brush-clean spots it misses.
Other than that, though, the X3 does a fine job cleaning walls.
Unique Features
Advanced Scanning
One of the most important features of the Primal X3 is the software that allows the unit to clean any type of pool regardless of its size, shape or surface. This software enables it to scan a pool and determine the best and most efficient way to clean it.
Tangle-Free Cable
Another essential feature is the patented tangle-free cable.
At 60 feet in length, the cable is long enough to comfortably reach the farthest corners of almost any pool.
Dual Mesh Filters
To ensure that most of the debris is picked up, the robotic pool cleaner features both fine and ultra-fine cartridges. Apart from large leaves and sticks (as mentioned before) the Primal X3 does a great job.
Energy Efficiency
Another feature that will no doubt be important to customers is the energy-saving ability of the cleaner. One cleaning only costs about 15 cents, making the Primal X3 highly efficient, relative to other robotic pool cleaners.
Weekly Timer
The Primal X3 also comes with a weekly timer. This feature saves time and makes pool cleaning much easier.
With the weekly timer, you can set the cleaner to automatically clean every day, every other day or at a 3-day interval. The cleaner automatically runs for two and a half hours each session.
The Primal X3 is one of the few robotic pool cleaners designed for long-term immersion in your pool.
Dolphin actually recommends leaving it in your pool for as long as a week between emptying.
Customer Reviews
The general consensus among buyers of the Dolphin Primal X3 robotic pool cleaner is that it is really good at its job. Customer reviews on Amazon really love its quick cleaning time, the energy efficiency and the weekly timer.
In this 4-minute customer video review, you can see how efficient the Primal X3 is.
Dolphin Primal X3 Review (maltronics) Pool… by DIYandMore
Overall, most customers are pleased with their purchase, noting the many advantages of the Primal X3 over other models.
Pros
- Great value.
- Can be left in pool for long periods.
- Excellent flat surface cleaning
- In-store repairable
- Dual-brushes at the front and rear
- Flexible weekly timer
- Very energy efficient, using less than 15 cents per cleaning.
- 60-foot tangle-free cable.
- No installation or assembly required.
Cons
- Not the best for picking up leaves, sticks and large debris.
- Some difficulty cleaning pool steps.
- No ‘full filter’ indicator.
Specifications
- Bottom filter access
- Dual mesh filter cartridges are easily removed for cleaning.
- Has a 2.5-hour cycle time.
- Weekly timer with three timing options.
- 60-foot swivel / tangle-free cable
- 4,233 gallons/hr suction rate.
- 2 Year Warranty – longer than a Dolphin Nautilus
Conclusion
The Dolphin Primal X3 is a great value and an excellent choice for larger in-ground pools that don’t have steps or large trees hanging over them. It is super-efficient, easy to operate, easy to repair and maintain, and the weekly timer makes it a true set-and-forget cleaner.
About the Author
Roger Corbinetti I’ve owned a pool for over 20 years. During that time, I have owned and reviewed dozens of pool cleaners, especially robotic pool cleaners. I created RoboticPoolCleanersCompared to help other home owners leverage my experience to select the right pool cleaner, pool heater, pool cover and modern pool appliance for their needs & budget.
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