Narwal has a pretty extensive lineup of robot vacuums, many of which we’ve tested in our roundup of the best robot vacuums. One of the latest additions to the lineup is the Narwal Flow, first announced at CES 2025. As the name suggests, the Flow is another high-end robot vacuum that focuses on mopping, but it also comes with more advanced AI navigation and the ability to self-clean and detangle itself. It’s now available for sale at $1,499 full price and $1,099 for presale.
According to Narwal CEO Junbin Zhang, the goal is to provide a hands-free experience. Many robot vacuums aim for this by incorporating auto-emptying docks, self-cleaning and drying mop pads, and even robotic arms and lift systems to help sort items or navigate obstacles.
We’re currently still testing the Narwal Flow in CNET’s Louisville lab, but in the meantime, here’s what we know the Flow brings to the table.
Narwal/ Zooey Liao/CNET
Narwal Flow features
There’s a lot of jargon in robot vacuum technology, but ultimately, all the terminology is fairly straightforward.
The Narwal Flow can mop with 12 newtons of downward pressure. Narwal/CNET
FlowWash Mopping System: Mopping is the selling point of the Flow. Its mopping system uses a track mop design that cleans itself in real time with 113-degree Fahrenheit fresh water while also collecting dirty water, so the mopping pads are always rinsed with clean water between cycles. It also applies 12 newtons of downward pressure to tackle tougher stains, though we’re still testing its mopping performance using a new method where we spread raspberry jelly on various surfaces.
Mopping is the selling point of the Flow. Its mopping system uses a track mop design that cleans itself in real time with 113-degree Fahrenheit fresh water while also collecting dirty water, so the mopping pads are always rinsed with clean water between cycles. It also applies 12 newtons of downward pressure to tackle tougher stains, though we’re still testing its mopping performance using a new method where we spread raspberry jelly on various surfaces. Twin-Al Dodge Obstacle Avoidance: Every robot vacuum is trying to incorporate AI obstacle avoidance in some capacity and Narwal is no exception. The robot comes equipped with dual 136-degree ultra-wide RGB cameras and an AI chip that allows it to recognize and avoid more than 200 different types of objects, including pet waste, socks, plastic bags and cables. According to Narwal, this system allows for precise navigation with 5mm accuracy.
Every robot vacuum is trying to incorporate AI obstacle avoidance in some capacity and Narwal is no exception. The robot comes equipped with dual 136-degree ultra-wide RGB cameras and an AI chip that allows it to recognize and avoid more than 200 different types of objects, including pet waste, socks, plastic bags and cables. According to Narwal, this system allows for precise navigation with 5mm accuracy. CarpetFocus Technology: This is an adaptive solution for cleaning carpets. When the robot detects carpet, its brush cover automatically lowers to create a sealed, high-pressure zone, which boosts suction power and extracts deeply embedded dirt. Think of it being similar to pressing down harder with a vacuum cleaner head. The robot also lifts its mop to avoid wetting carpets and uses a dual-pass zigzag cleaning path for a more thorough clean.
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