Head-to-head · Best Inflatable Pools

Intex Rainbow Ring Inflatable Play Center vs Intex Swim Center Round Family Lounge Pool

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Intex Rainbow Ring Inflatable Play Center and Intex Swim Center Round Family Lounge Pool score essentially the same (4.5 vs 4.5). Pick the one whose trade-offs match your priorities — the strengths and watch-outs below are where they actually differ.

Ranked #2 in Best Inflatable Pools

Intex Rainbow Ring Inflatable Play Center

4.5

1 sourceall derived$51.76as of Oct 16

The Intex Rainbow Ring is a toddler play center rather than a swimming pool: a small inflatable slide, a ring-toss game, a ball-toss game and a rainbow sprayer that arches over the water, with two pools holding 46 and 54 gallons. Bob Vila tested it with toddlers, named it the best baby play center, and found children 3 and under enjoyed it most. Expect to spend a while inflating its many separate chambers, and bring your own air pump.

Strengths

— Built-in water slide, rainbow sprayer, ring-toss and ball-toss games, per Bob Vila
— Sprayer strength can be lowered by turning down the garden-hose flow, which Bob Vila found fixed the spray-in-the-face complaint
— Room for three or four children at once, per Bob Vila

Watch-outs

— Many individual air chambers make inflation slow, and no pump is included, per Bob Vila
— Too small for older kids; Bob Vila found it suits children 3 and under best

$51.76 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #4 in Best Inflatable Pools

Intex Swim Center Round Family Lounge Pool

4.5

1 sourceall derived$54.99as of Oct 16

The Intex Swim Center Round Family Lounge Pool is a 90 by 86 inch inflatable pool with a built-in bench and backrest, holding 156 gallons. Bob Vila tested it with two adults and two 4-year-olds, found it comfortable, and named it the best pool with seats. The bench gives a little under adult weight, the cup holders do not fit every bottle, and it is not meant for children under 3.

Strengths

— Built-in bench with backrest for lounging, per Bob Vila
— Dual individual air chambers hold the pool shape
— Drain plug for emptying, plus a repair patch

Watch-outs

— Bob Vila found the bench sank in a bit under adult weight
— Not suitable for children under 3, and no air pump is included

$54.99 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Intex Rainbow Ring Inflatable Play Center

Its two pools hold 46 and 54 gallons per Bob Vila, several times the Intex Sunset Glow's 15 gallons but far below the Intex Easy Set 10ft's 1,018 gallons, and it adds a slide, sprayer and toss games that neither of those has. Like the Intex Swim Center Round Family Lounge Pool, it ships without an air pump.

Intex Swim Center Round Family Lounge Pool

At 156 gallons it is a lounging pool, far smaller than the 1,018-gallon Intex Easy Set 10ft, which has no seating, but much larger than the 15-gallon Intex Sunset Glow. Unlike the Intex Rainbow Ring Play Center it has no slide or games; its draw is the built-in bench.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Intex Rainbow Ring Inflatable Play Center	Intex Swim Center Round Family Lounge Pool
Size	117 x 76 x 53 inches (inflated)	90 x 86 x 31 inches
Water Capacity	46 gallons (wading pool); 54 gallons (main pool)	156 gallons
Capacity	3 or 4 toddlers	—
Features	Slide, rainbow sprayer, ring toss (4 rings), ball toss (6 balls)	—
Air Pump Included	No	No
Repair Patch	Included	—
Model	57453EP	57190EP
Seating Capacity	—	2 adults and 2 children (Bob Vila spec)
Seating	—	Built-in bench with backrest
Drain Plug	—	Yes

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