San Francisco Bay Area startup SunnyWhale used CES 2026 to showcase an early version of its first commercial product, a floating pool water monitoring and chemical dispensing system called FinWhale. Named after the fin whale—the largest filter-feeding animal in the ocean—the device is designed to automate both water quality tracking and chlorine management in residential swimming pools.
Roughly the size of a gallon milk jug, FinWhale floats on the surface of the pool and continuously measures key water parameters, including temperature, free chlorine (FC), and pH levels. These readings are logged over time and displayed in a companion mobile app, giving pool owners a long-term view of water chemistry trends rather than isolated snapshots. Power is supplied via an integrated solar charging system, allowing the device to remain operational without manual recharging while it communicates regularly with SunnyWhale’s cloud service over Wi-Fi.
What sets FinWhale apart from many existing pool monitoring solutions is its built-in chlorine dispensing mechanism. The top of the unit unscrews to reveal a compartment that can hold up to six standard chlorine tablets. Using settings configured in the FinWhale app, the system selectively exposes the tablets to the pool water only when FC levels drop below the user-defined threshold. According to SunnyWhale, a fully loaded chamber can typically maintain proper chlorine levels for up to three weeks before requiring a refill.
In addition to its standard Auto Mode for day-to-day operation, FinWhale includes a low-power Vacation Mode intended for extended absences. This mode reduces energy usage while still maintaining stable water chemistry over longer periods. The device is optimized for pools with a capacity of up to 20,000 gallons and carries an IP68 weatherproof rating, allowing it to remain in the pool year-round unless the water freezes. SunnyWhale estimates a lifespan of two to three years for the device under normal conditions, with sensors requiring replacement approximately once per year. Pricing has not yet been finalized, but the company is targeting a Q3 2026 release.