San Francisco Bay Area-based SunnyWhale brought an early version of its inaugural product to CES 2026, a new pool water quality measurement and chemical dispensing system called FinWhale. The device is named after the fin whale, the largest filter-feeding animal in the ocean, which inspired the system.
FinWhale is a self-contained, floating device about size of a gallon milk jug. Bobbing in the pool, the device measures water temperature, free chlorine (FC), and pH, tracking data over time and logging it in its mobile app. A solar charging system ensures its batteries are kept topped up as it floats on the surface, communicating conditions regularly with the company’s cloud system via Wi-Fi.
A cartridge inside the FinWhale holds up to six standard-sized chlorine tablets. The device monitors a pool’s free chlorine (FC), water temperature, and pH, and dispenses fresh chlorine as conditions warrant.
Christopher Null/Foundry
FinWhale distinguishes itself from other pool chemical monitoring systems thanks to the inclusion of an integrated chlorine dispensing system. The top of the FinWhale device unscrews to reveal a chamber that can hold up to six standard chlorine tablets.
By configuring desired levels the FinWhale app, the tablets can be exposed to the water in the pool only when ambient FC is low enough to warrant it. In most cases, SunnyWhale says a full set of tablets should last for up to three weeks before they need to be topped off.
The FinWhale outside of a pool.
Christopher Null/Foundry
While Auto Mode is designed for regular use, a secondary mode called Vacation Mode is also included. This switches the device into a very low-power operational cycle that keeps water chemistry stabilized over longer periods and is designed for use when you’re away from home for extended periods.
FinWhale is ideally designed for pools of 20,000 gallons or less in volume, and it does not need to be removed from the pool in the winter unless the water freezes, thanks to an IP68 weatherproof rating. SunnyWhale expects the device will last for two to three years in typical conditions, with sensors requiring roughly annual replacement. SunnyWhale has not set pricing for the FinWhale, but expects to finalize it in time for an estimated Q3 2026 release.
Additional details can be found at https://sunnywhale.net/, or if you’re attending CES in person, SunnyWhale is exhibiting FinWhale at its Venetian Expo booth #56345.