The verdict · Clear UV
The Clear UV replaced my Dolphin Premier. The cord keeps its suction steady, the pleated filters catch fine debris, and the UV-C lamp gives me an extra layer of sanitation. It still misses my stairs and sun shelf on some cycles.
What works
- Its 8,500 GPH flow rate beats every other robot I've tested
- The built-in UV-C lamp adds a second layer of sanitation
- Pleated UltraFilters catch silt and dead algae that slip through mesh filters
- The big top-loading basket handles heavy leaf drops without an obvious loss of suction
- I can use the power-supply buttons for the basics and open the app for everything else
What doesn't
- I need room for the power supply and cable at the equipment pad
- It misses the stairs and sun shelf on some cycles
- $1,999 list price puts it at the expensive end of the category
Clear UV — key specs
| Flow rate | ~8,500 GPH (gallons per hour) |
|---|---|
| Sanitation | Built-in UV-C light treats water as it passes under the robot |
| Filtration | Deeply pleated UltraFilters that catch fine debris |
| Debris basket | Big and top-loading; I empty it weekly in normal conditions |
| Power | Corded, so the suction stays steady and there's no battery to charge or replace |
| Coverage | Floor, walls, and waterline, in any combination |
| Controls | On-unit power supply buttons + app with weekly timer and manual drive |
| Warranty | 3 years, with a 30-day trial when bought direct |
| List price | $1,999 direct from Clear |
On this page
Before the Clear UV took over, a Dolphin Premier cleaned my pool for more than four years after replacing a pressure-side Polaris 360. My Clear UV vs. Dolphin Premier comparison covers why I made the switch. The Premier was good enough that I wasn't looking for extra features. Its replacement had to clean better.
What the UV-C Lamp Adds
The Clear UV scrubs and vacuums while a UV-C lamp underneath treats the water flowing through the robot.
I was already interested in UV for controlling germs in offices and pools. In this robot, the water passes directly over the UV-C bulb, which helps neutralize microscopic algae, bacteria, and chloramines at the source. It doesn't replace normal pool chemistry; it gives me a second layer of sanitation while the robot cleans.
Build Quality
The robot felt solid when I took it out of the box. It was also packed much better than my Dolphin Premier had been. Clear prints "ultimate pool cleaning machine" on the side of that box. After three months of near-daily use, it still feels solid and the cleaning power hasn't dropped, though it misses my stairs and sun shelf on some cycles.
What the UltraFilters Catch
The filters are a big reason the Clear UV beats my older cleaners. Standard mesh screens can let fine dirt pass right back into the pool. These deep UltraFilter pleats hold microscopic debris, dead algae, and fine silt instead.
After a full cycle, my water had that polished look, and I saw less of the fine dust that used to settle on the bottom. I noticed the UltraFilters because my pool gets that fine dust. If your only problem is leaves, you may not see as much difference.
Basket Size and Cleaning
Mine picked up large oak leaves, pine needles, small pebbles, and acorns. During heavy leaf drops, the basket came out full after every cycle, and the robot was still pulling hard.
The basket is large enough that I haven't had to stop halfway through a cycle to empty it. It lifts out through the top, gets a quick rinse with the hose, and drops back into place. Under normal conditions, I clean mine about once a week.
Corded vs. Battery-Powered Cleaners
I've tried cordless robots from Beatbot, Aiper, and Winny. None cleaned as hard as the Clear UV.
Their power fell as the batteries drained, and I had to pull each one from the pool and plug it into a wall charger. The cord lets me schedule the Clear UV every day without that routine, and its suction stays the same from the start of a cycle to the end.
Power-Supply Controls
The power supply feels solid, and its buttons handle the things I use most. I can select a mode or call the robot to the wall with pickup mode without reaching for my phone.
App Scheduling and Drive Controls
My Premier put every control on the power supply and didn't have an app. Newer Dolphin models moved buttons off the supply and made the phone more central, which made me hesitant to upgrade within that range. Clear kept the physical controls and uses the app for scheduling and finer adjustments.
- Weekly timer: I can pick a day and time for every cleaning cycle, and the robot has started on schedule. It's the same hands-off setup I like about my Ring Security system.
- Cleaning modes: I can change the cycle length, cleaning speed, and coverage in the app. Floor, walls, and waterline can run alone or together.
- Manual drive: I can steer from my phone for spot cleaning. The automatic mapping covered my pool well enough that I rarely used it.
Suction, Walls, and Waterline
In my pool, the Clear UV covers the floor, climbs the walls, and scrubs the waterline. It can reach the stairs and sun shelf, but it doesn't get them on every cycle. Full-size robots often struggle with those shallow, uneven spots.
Its flow rate is about 8,500 GPH (gallons per hour), well above my old Dolphin's output. All that moving water helps it hang onto the wall, and I've never had another robot scrub my waterline this well.
Verdict After 3 Months
I wouldn't go back to my old Dolphin Premier. The Clear UV cleans with more power, and the cord saves me from pulling it out for a daily recharge. I do have to make room for the cable at the equipment pad, but I'd take that over battery maintenance.
The $1,999 price is high. I'd look at it if you're fighting fine debris or running a demanding cleaning schedule, where you'll use the UV-C sanitation, large UltraFilter basket, and 8,500 GPH flow rate. Just know that the stairs and sun shelf may still need help.
The Clear UV now handles my floor and walls while a Betta SE solar skimmer catches surface debris. Together, they've cut my manual pool work to almost nothing. I'd use the same pair again.
Where to Buy
Clear sells the robot on its Clear UV product page for $1,999. That price includes free U.S. shipping, a 30-day return window, and a 3-year warranty on the robot, control box, cable, and UV module. Buying direct also gets you the company's U.S.-based support team. If you don't want the UV-C lamp, the Clear S uses the same cleaning hardware and costs $250 less.
Compare the Clear UV
- Clear UV vs. Dolphin Cayman: Is the Waterline Worth $870? Clear UV and Dolphin Cayman compared on waterline cleaning, filters, lifting weight, scheduling, UV claims, warranty, and the current $870 price gap.
- Clear UV vs. Dolphin Escape: Start With the Pool A practical Clear UV and Dolphin Escape comparison covering pool compatibility, coverage, filters, lifting weight, controls, warranty, and ownership cost.
- Clear UV vs. Nautilus CC Plus: Is the Premium Worth It? Clear UV vs Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus compared on waterline coverage, filtration claims, UV-C, lifting weight, controls, warranty, and price.
- Clear UV vs. Dolphin Premier: The Filter Decides It An owner comparison of the Clear UV and Dolphin Premier covering filters, leaves, waterline cleaning, controls, upkeep, warranty, and current price.
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