Pros
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Good smart features
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Touch controls
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Quiet
Cons
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Navigation needs improvements
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Performance doesn't match price point
About the Narwal Freo
- Dimensions: 13.8” x 4.1” (W x H)
- Weight: 9.6 pounds
- Noise level: 39 dBA
- User Manual
The Narwal Freo is a robot vacuum-mop hybrid. The Freo comes with Narwal's DirtSense technology, which claims to detect how dirty the mop pads and floors are so it can return to the base to wash, rewet, and get back to cleaning.
When compared to other robot vacuum and mop devices, Freo is unique in that it is compatible with a proprietary detergent for added cleaning and scent. However, you can run the mop feature without the detergent.
What we like
It is easy and convenient to use
The Narwal Freo has an innovative detergent system.
The Narwal Freo has a lot of innovations like touchscreen controls on the charging base, so you can access features like starting a vacuum or mop-only cycle. The touch controls are a great alternative for anyone who is unable or unwilling to hook the Freo up to Wi-Fi and use the companion app.
We also like that the Freo works with a detergent. This is a great idea, not only to help better fight stains on your floors, but also to impart freshness to the mop pads.
The 31-ounce bottle of lemon-basil scented detergent goes in a slot on the dock. The Freo comes with one free bottle, and replacements cost around $40 to $50. The formula is safe to use on most flooring types like hardwood, marble, vinyl, terrazzo, and luxury vinyl tiles.
The Narwal Freo dilutes the detergent based on this formula, so you cannot make or add your own.
The Narwal Freo has a comprehensive app for iOS and Android devices.
The Freo app offers features that provide lots of control for cleaning your floors, like how wet the mop pads get and where the robot should clean (via the smart map). You can also start and stop the device and access scheduling features. The app is user-friendly and easy to navigate.
This robot Narwal vacuum and mop is very quiet when in use
The Narwal Freo is quiet when it runs on both the mop and vacuum settings. The website claims 39 dBA. We have no way of verifying that because our labs have an ambient noise level of around 40-42 dBA. But, speaking generally, we did not hear the Freo while it ran during testing.
What we don't like
The vacuuming capabilities are underwhelming at this price point
To test a robot’s vacuuming prowess, we put it on our obstacle course filled with simulations of furniture legs, different types of carpets, thresholds, and shelves of different heights. All the obstacles are soiled with ground cork as a stand-in for debris.
The Narwal Freo picked up 8.8 grams of debris per run—roughly average for a robot vacuum. However, the performance leaves us underwhelmed, considering the Freo costs over $1,000 even when on sale.
To put this number in perspective, when it comes to debris pick up, the iRobot j7+ Combo is about 12 percent better and the Ecovacs X1 Omni is about 25 percent better. Both competitors are more affordable, with an average retail price of around $1,099, and also offer a mopping feature.
The mopping was aggravating
To test the mopping capabilities of the Narwal Freo, we presented it with two tasks. The first was a platform made of half linoleum and half hardwood. We covered the platform with talcum powder and a few spots of chocolate syrup. It did well on this test and cleaned everything up without leaving any behind.
When we were less impressed when we took it off the platform and put it onto our lab floors (made of pour-on epoxy) for a test cleaning. The best way to put it is that the Narwal Freo reminded us more of a beached whale, constantly getting caught on power cords.
Multiple times during testing, the Freo lost a mop pad.
Narwal’s website claims the Freo has superior sensors but clearly has a blind spot for power cords. Now, we could have removed all the obstacles that were tripping up the Freo. However, many competitors in this price range have object recognition and avoidance. Brands like iRobot and Samsung program their higher-end robots to navigate around power cords.
Also, on multiple occasions, it got lost while cleaning, and we had to bring it back to its dock.
What consumers are saying
We reviewed the Narwal Freo early in its life cycle, so there are not too many reviews. On Amazon, out of 88 reviews at the time of publishing, the Freo scores a 4.3 stars out of five.
Consumers cited how quiet it was and the quality of the mapping on the app. One consumer said this model Narwal vacuum and mop ran over a pet accident. Another reviewer noted the Narwal Freo getting stuck while cleaning, an issue we ran into during our testing.
Should you buy the Narwal Freo?
No, it’s too half-baked for primetime
After spending a week testing the Freo, the navigation performance isn't what it should be for a robot vacuum-mop hybrid in this price range. This model got stuck, tripping over power cords and getting lost. Also, its 4.1-inch height and 13.8-inch width keeps it from vacuuming and mopping tight spaces. Finally, the price is higher than other similar options.
On the upside, the Narwal Freo is quiet during operation and has useful smart features. The self-cleaning mop is also a clever idea. But, in short, the overall execution lags behind its similarly-priced competitors.
If you’re interested in a robot vacuum-mop hybrid, check out the Ecovacs X1 Omni or iRobot j7+ Combo instead.
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Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.
Meet the tester
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
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