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A robust robotic vacuum and mop that cleans its personal mopping pads.
Execs
- Sensible base station design
- Mop washes & dries itself
- Tangle-free curler brush
- Robust suction
- Impressively silent
- Lengthy battery life
Cons
- Novel mud bag design isn’t nice
- Flawed mapping system
I’ve personally examined greater than 200 totally different robotic vacuums throughout my time at BGR. For sure, it takes rather a lot to impress me nowadays. But the Narwal Freo X Extremely robotic vacuum and mop combo actually managed to impress me with a novel design and a number of other wonderful options. It’s not excellent, although, and I’ll talk about two large flaws with Narwal’s newest flagship robotic.
Since robotic vacuums are ubiquitous nowadays, I’m not going to bore BGR readers with all of the minutia that they already know. I’ll depart that to the spam blogs that exist solely to sport Google. As an alternative, I’ll concentrate on the important thing options that separate the Narwal Freo X Extremely from different comparable flagship robotic vacuums, such because the Roomba Combo j9+. I’ll additionally spotlight the easiest Freo X Extremely options, in addition to the worst issues about this new mannequin.
For these serious about shopping for one, it’s price noting that the Narwal Freo X Extremely is at the moment on a limited-time sale, so it can save you some cash. Narwal’s personal web site is providing a reduction, however you’ll save much more if you pick yours up from Amazon. The present Amazon deal drops this mannequin to its lowest value ever, however the low cost will solely be accessible for a number of weeks.
One final essential word: there’s a bit close to the tip of this assessment with updates after prolonged use. This fashion, you possibly can see how the Narwal Freo X Extremely holds up throughout prolonged use and testing.
2025 replace
A complete lot has occurred since March 2024, which is after I first reviewed the Narwal Freo X Extremely. So many new robotic vacuum fashions have been launched, together with greater than 20 that I’ve personally examined. Certainly one of them was the Narwal Freo Z Extremely, which is the successor to the Freo X Extremely mannequin.
The newer Z version does have a number of good upgrades. For instance, the interior mud storage luggage that I complained about under on this assessment have been changed by a particles bag within the base station. There are additionally a number of different neat options, like a duster that attaches to the robotic to wipe your baseboards because it cleans.
Regardless of the upgrades, nevertheless, I nonetheless discover that I choose the Freo X Extremely mannequin. It leaves much less particles behind when it cleans, and it additionally usually does a greater job mopping. As a matter of truth, the Narwal Freo X Extremely remains to be my favourite total robotic vacuum and mop combo mannequin. For my cash, there isn’t a greater choice on the market from any model.
Making the selection even simpler is the truth that the Narwal Freo X Extremely goes on sale with deep reductions on a regular basis now. On the time of this replace, it was discounted to just $899.99 instead of $1,399.99. At that value, it’s a very unimaginable worth and a no brainer.
The nice
I’ll begin issues off by highlighting the very best Narwal Freo X Extremely options that basically blew me away. Given my 4.5-star ranking above, it shouldn’t come as a lot of a shock that there’s a complete lot extra to love about this spectacular new robotic vacuum and mop than there’s to dislike.
1. Narwal’s All-in-One Base Station is epic
Apart from iRobot’s Roomba Combo j9+, most flagship robotic vacuum and mop combo fashions nowadays have an auto-wash base station. That features the Narwal Freo X Extremely, and I truly like this mannequin’s design greater than every other mannequin I’ve examined up to now.
For these of you who haven’t but skilled the auto-wash function your self, right here’s the way it works:
When a typical mid-range and high-end robotic vacuum finishes cleansing, it returns to the bottom station, and the mud bin is robotically emptied. It’s an superior comfort function that I refuse to stay with out at this level.
However some newer flagship robotic vacuum and mop combo units take this idea to the logical subsequent degree. As an alternative of solely emptying the mud bin, additionally they robotically wash and dry the mop pads.
The Narwal Freo X Extremely is the latest instance of a mannequin with an auto-wash function for its mopping pads. And in my skilled opinion, Narwal has the very best auto-wash base design up to now.
Inside the bottom station, there are two air-tight tanks in addition to a specially-design bottle of floor cleaner. One tank holds clear water, and it robotically refills the interior water tank within the robotic. The bottom station additionally dispenses a exact quantity of ground cleaner every time it refills the robotic.
When the Freo X Extremely finishes a cleansing activity that entails mopping, the bottom station robotically flushes clear water by means of the mop pads to wash off dust and common nastiness. That’s the place the second tank within the base station is available in. Because the mopping pads are cleaned, the soiled water is sucked up into that tank and saved there till it’s full.
Of word, the soiled water within the second tank actually begins to stink after some time. However the tanks within the Narwal Freo X Extremely base station are improbable, and no odor escapes in any respect. In addition they have a terrific zero-drip design that doesn’t leak in any respect while you carry them round. I’m solely mentioning the odor so that you’re not shocked the primary time the soiled water tank fills up, and you must open it to empty it.
As soon as the twin mop pads on the Narwal Freo X Extremely are accomplished being rinsed, the bottom station makes use of warmth to dry and disinfect them. I’ve been testing this mannequin for almost two months now, and the mop pads are nonetheless good and clear. After some time, nevertheless, I do plan to scrub them with detergent.
2. Excellent for pet hair
The following large verify within the plus column for the Freo X Extremely is Narwal’s curler brush design. It very nicely could be the very best brush design I’ve ever seen on a robotic vacuum.
Some robotic vacuums have higher curler brush designs than others, and I’m the right particular person to check them. That’s as a result of I’ve a canine that sheds nonstop, all 12 months spherical. The fixed onslaught of canine hair is without doubt one of the fundamental the explanation why I check so many robotic vacuums within the first place. With a robotic to deal with routine vacuuming a number of instances every week, I don’t have to fret about seeing canine hair in all places.
Each robotic vacuum I’ve ever examined must have its brush detangled after some time. Whether or not it’s a $100 low cost mannequin or a $1,000+ Roomba, it must be detangled. Between all that canine hair and my lengthy hair, it’s inevitable. However within the almost two months that I’ve been testing the Narwal Freo X Extremely, I’ve but to must detangle this mannequin’s curler brush.
I’m certain it’ll must be detangled in some unspecified time in the future, however I’m shocked at how lengthy the Narwal Freo X Extremely has been tangle-free.
3. The sound of silence
Sure, The Sound of Silence is an incredible tune. However the sound of silence is even higher while you’re speaking a couple of robotic vacuum.
Most robotic vacuums are fairly loud as they roll round your own home, sucking up dust and mud. Even louder is the thumping and clunking you hear as they roll off rugs, over half-rounds, and over every other uneven floor.
The Narwal Freo X Extremely is remarkably quiet, and I’m right here for it. I’m truly blown away by how a lot quieter this mannequin is than the Roomba s9+ that I usually use on the primary ground of my home. I’m usually in my basement fitness center figuring out whereas my first-floor robotic vacuum runs, and the s9+ appears like a military is stomping round. In the meantime, I usually don’t even notice that the Narwal Freo X Extremely is working till I come again upstairs.
4. Battery life
Battery life is one thing I failed to say after I first revealed this assessment. I’ve since realized that this was an enormous omission, although, as a result of the Narwal Freo X Extremely has outstanding battery life.
Let’s begin with some context.
After I’m not reviewing a brand new robotic vacuum, I used to have a Roomba s9+ on the primary ground of my home. I had it set to run twice every week, with every cleansing job configured to take about two-thirds of the rooms on my first ground. There was some overlap as a result of I wished it to hoover the kitchen and the toilet throughout each jobs.
Why didn’t I’ve it set to hoover the total first ground every time, you ask? As a result of the battery on the s9+ couldn’t deal with vacuuming all of the rooms in a single cross. It must return to the bottom station to recharge, after which it might resume the job a few hours later.
I earn a living from home, so listening to the vacuum run for therefore lengthy was annoying. Plus, my canine hates it so I attempt to spare him as a lot as I can by ending every job whereas he’s nonetheless sleeping upstairs.
Now, let’s examine that to the Narwal Freo X Extremely robotic vacuum and mop combo.
For the reason that Freo X Extremely has mapping points (we’ll get to that a bit of bit later), it’s set to wash my complete first ground every time it runs. I nonetheless have it set to run twice every week. The primary time is only a vacuuming run, after which the second time it vacuums and mops my complete first ground.
When it’s accomplished vacuuming and mopping your entire first ground of my dwelling, it nonetheless has about 60% of its cost remaining. And thoughts you, the primary ground of my home positively isn’t small.
The Narwal Freo X Extremely’s battery life is unquestionably one other large verify within the plus column. Until you reside in a sprawling 10,000-square-foot mansion, it’s going to deal with every cleansing job with out having to cease to recharge midway by means of.
5 & 6. Robust suction & squeaky clear mopping
Final however actually not least, the Narwal Freo X Extremely has admirably sturdy suction. Additionally, Narwal’s DirtSense mopping tech is excellent. These are gadgets 5 and 6 on my checklist of 5 issues I like concerning the Freo X Extremely.
The place suction is worried, Narwal says that the Freo X Extremely is rated at as much as 8,200Pa. That’s a really large quantity that’s spectacular on paper, however what does it imply in apply?
In my testing, the Narwal Freo X Extremely is close to the highest of the checklist in relation to sucking up several types of particles. Close to, however not at the highest.
I examined the Freo X Extremely with several types of dust, mud, canine hair, sprinkles, leaves, and even crushed-up bits of meals like pretzels and potato chips. It did a superb job of sucking all of it up, however it’s not fairly pretty much as good as another high-end fashions just like the Roomba s9+. I did discover that a number of bits have been left behind right here and there.
I’ve been utilizing the Freo X Extremely for a number of months now, so I wished to supply an replace on this mannequin’s vacuuming efficiency. After extra time with this mannequin, I do have a tendency to search out that it tends to depart extra issues behind because the bag fills up. Often, it’s little clumps of canine hair. I imagine it’s a problem with the bag design, which you’ll examine shortly.
The problem seems to be extra prevalent when the mud bag is getting full. Additionally, it’s not an enormous downside. When it occurs, I usually solely discover one or two little hair tufts which were missed.
The unhealthy
As you possibly can see, there’s rather a lot to love concerning the Narwal Freo X Extremely. However nothing is ideal, after all, and this mannequin additionally has a number of large flaws that must be mentioned.
1. Narwal’s mud bag design
I listed Narwal’s All-in-One Base Station as the most effective issues concerning the Freo X Extremely. That’s completely true. However there’s one factor that I actually don’t like about this base station.
My solely criticism about Narwal’s new All-in-One Base Station design is that it doesn’t suck the dust and mud out of the robotic’s mud bin. As an alternative, this mannequin makes use of a special filter and dust bag combo to retailer as much as 7 weeks’ price of dust contained in the robotic itself.
The Freo X Extremely has a particular function that compresses particles contained in the bag to retailer as a lot as doable, and it really works nicely. Nevertheless it doesn’t make up for the comparatively small dimension of the mud bag.
These luggage have 1 liter of capability, which is respectable when coupled with Narwal’s compression tech. However comparable flagship robotic vacuums suck particles out of the robotic and into a bigger bag within the base station. These luggage usually have as a lot as 3 liters of capability.
I discover that Narwal’s 7-week estimate is fairly correct. However with different robotic vacuums that maintain particles in a bigger bag inside the bottom station, I can go as much as 3 months earlier than I’ve to alter luggage.
There’s additionally one other downside with Narwal’s mud bag design. It appears as if the robotic doesn’t have any kind of sensor to point when the mud bag is full and wishes altering. As an alternative, there’s only a time-based notification within the app that offers you a message each seven weeks.
What occurs in case your mud bag fills up faster than that, you ask? Nicely, right here’s your reply:
That is what the mud bag appeared like after round 5 weeks since I final modified the bag. I instructed you… my canine sheds A LOT.
As you possibly can see, I didn’t obtain any notification that the bag was so full that it started to overflow. Consequently, canine hair and mud started to again up into the Freo X Extremely’s consumption channel. That’s truly the one means I knew that it was time to alter the particles assortment bag; I discovered little rolled-up hairballs after the robotic was accomplished vacuuming as a result of the bag was so full that it couldn’t maintain any extra particles.
Other than the inconvenience of getting to modify out the mud bag twice as usually — and typically not figuring out when the bag wants altering — there’s one other downside with Narwal’s design: the Freo X Extremely creates far more waste than with comparable fashions. As you can see, Narwal’s filter-and-bag combo design makes use of numerous plastic that finally ends up getting thrown within the rubbish as an alternative of being recycled.
2. Mapping leaves a lot to be desired
The Narwal Freo X Extremely is nice at navigating round obstacles. The truth is, Narwal’s triple-laser navigation system is healthier than most others I’ve examined. Sadly, nevertheless, the identical can’t be stated of Narwal’s mapping system.
The primary ground of my dwelling has an open ground plan. With out getting too deep within the weeds, the lobby, kitchen, and eating room all wrap round a sequence of centrally-located partitions, closets, kitchen cupboards, and a fridge. Then, my lounge and household room are additionally open to one another, with an extended half wall in between them.
For no matter purpose, the mapping system on the Narwal Freo X Extremely can not determine any of this out, and it thinks that many of the first ground of my home is one big room.
This wouldn’t be as large of an issue if the Narwal app let me manually draw partitions to separate the rooms, as most robotic vacuum apps do. Sadly, nevertheless, you possibly can solely draw a brand new wall within the Narwal app if it extends to attach two current partitions. That makes the function ineffective for me and for a lot of others. A fast search on-line reveals that a number of folks have the identical downside with older Narwal robotic vacuums. I’ve discovered threads on Reddit from years in the past the place persons are complaining about this identical downside.
I labored with a Narwal spokesperson to attempt to determine this out, however we have been unable to repair it after three totally different mapping runs. The corporate’s solely suggestion was to make use of “opaque and/or tall” objects to assist the robotic establish totally different rooms. As I instructed Narwal’s spokesperson, I don’t know what could possibly be taller or extra opaque than partitions, a fridge, and floor-to-ceiling kitchen cabinetry.
Most properties received’t have this challenge, so it’s most likely a moot level for 98% of potential consumers. That’s why this challenge and the smaller mud bag mixed to solely knock half of a star off of the Narwal Freo X Extremely’s ranking. However in case you’re like me and different folks on the market who do have the issue, it means you can’t create cleansing schedules for various rooms within the affected space.
3-month replace
Preliminary opinions are nice for early adopters who like to take a look at new merchandise as quickly as they’re launched. Most individuals choose to know the way one thing performs over time, although. That’s why I prefer to replace my opinions after I’ve spent extra time with a product, in case issues change with extra utilization.
Excellent news: not a lot has modified after a number of months of utilization. The Narwal Freo X Extremely continues to impress in so some ways. It’s really a set-it-and-forget-it robotic, because of the improbable base station. I simply want I might “overlook it” for a bit longer, however Narwal’s mud bag design leaves a lot to be desired. I already defined why that’s the case.
I haven’t but modified out the curler brush for a brand new one, just because I haven’t needed to. Efficiency with pet hair is constantly nice, although I do discover that it misses another issues every so often. This previous Might, I usually discovered little bits of leaves left on my kitchen ground after vacuum-only runs, however that was comprehensible. It rained a lot within the Northeast the place I stay, so these moist little bits of leaves can pose an issue. After vacuum-and-mop runs, nevertheless, I usually didn’t see something left behind.
The Narwal’s mapping issues proceed to be annoying, however the challenge nonetheless isn’t a deal-breaker. It could be good to simply have the Freo X Extremely shortly vacuum and mop my kitchen, for instance, as an alternative of spending over an hour going over nearly all of my first ground.
Once more, I’ve by no means had this challenge with every other robotic vacuum I’ve examined, so hopefully, Narwal can sort things in a future software program replace. Sadly, folks have been complaining about this challenge for years with older Narwal fashions, as I discussed earlier than. With that in thoughts, I’m not holding out hope that it will likely be resolved anytime quickly.
I’ll replace this assessment once more after some extra time or if something adjustments.
Do you have to purchase the Narwal Freo X Extremely?
As you possibly can see, the Narwal Freo X Extremely’s execs dramatically outweigh the cons. The Freo X Extremely is well the most effective robotic vacuum and mop combos I’ve ever examined. And that’s saying rather a lot, since I’ve examined greater than 200 totally different fashions.
Should you’re available in the market for a brand new flagship robotic vacuum and mop within the $1,000+ value vary, I extremely advocate the Narwal Freo X Extremely. Of word, it usually goes on sale. On the time of this newest replace, the Freo X Extremely was accessible with a reduction.
This assessment was initially revealed on March 25, 2024. It has since been up to date with further particulars and impressions.
