We have already tested the robotic vacuum cleaner from the Narwal brand and we have to admit that it pleasantly surprised us. It was a model Freo X Plus, which offers great performance at an affordable price. This time we have the highest model with a self-emptying and cleaning station, Narwal Freo Z Ultra.
In the review, we will look at the individual functions and check the quality of both vacuuming and mopping. We will not miss our measurements of the endurance of individual modes and share our own experiences from daily use. In addition, we will also show the unconventional function of a full-fledged video call, during which you can control the vacuum cleaner.
Where to buy Narwal Freo Z Ultra?
Narwal Freo Z Ultra you can find it in our partner's offer Geekbuying.com with instant shipping and even 2-year warranty! Don't forget to use our advantageous discount coupon in the basket, which will further reduce the selling price. Quick availability in a nearby Polish warehouse is also a big advantage. Your package will arrive by five working days!
For comparison, this vacuum cleaner is sold in the US market for up to $1099, so the offer from Geekbuyingu is more than just advantageous (source: us.narwal.com)! We can compare it with the similarly equipped Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra vacuum cleaner, which, however, has a price tag of up to €1500 (difference therefore up to €650) at domestic sellers, see for yourself.
Important: For orders from Geekbuying ours applies VIP support, which you get after download our Chrome extension only on the computer (never buy through the app at this store).
Narwal Freo Z Ultra, 2 year warranty
Express delivery from a European warehouse free of duty and VAT.
This product will be delivered to you expressly from your local warehouse in Europe. Delivery from EU warehouses usually takes 7-10 days and delivers courier. No extra charges, no customs duties or VAT.
Technical specifications
Model | Narwal Freo Z Ultra |
---|---|
Weight | 15.94kg |
dimensions vacuum cleaner | 355 350 x x 109.6mm |
dimensions station | 430.8 462 x x 388mm |
Sucking power | 12 Pa |
navigation | a pair of cameras with AI chips; tri-laser structured light |
Avoiding obstacles | Yes |
mop | two rotating and pressure mops; force 12N; water heating (45 – 75°C) |
Automatic mop lifting | yes 12mm |
Automatic station | 2.5L dust bag |
5L container for clean water | |
4.5L container for dirty water | |
cleaning and drying the mop | |
120 days without the need for maintenance | |
Drums | 5200mAh |
noise | station 71dB; vacuum cleaner 55-58dB |
Sample packaging
The Narwal Freo Z Ultra robotic vacuum cleaner was delivered to us by DPD courier in a large box with dimensions of 49.5 x 45 x 65 cm and a total weight of 21.2 kg.
Inside, all components are stored in foam reinforcements, which are shaped exactly according to the shape of the individual parts. Everything is also wrapped in silicone, many parts are also protected with stickers, so the quality of the packaging is perfect. Even when unpacking, it is clear that the manufacturer took care, which gives the impression of premiumness.
As for the contents of the package, we will find a number of accessories that are not taken for granted. In addition to the vacuum cleaner and the self-cleaning station, the manufacturer also includes a cleaning agent for mopping, three side towels with long pile, an extra filter, a spare plastic dust container for the vacuum cleaner and a dust bag for the automatic station.
Design and quality of workmanship
The Narwal Freo X Plus was already very good from the point of view of the quality of processing, which is followed by the new model. The Narwal Freo Z Ultra was available in gray, but it is also sold in white. Its surface, like the surface of the automatic station, is matte, but some fingerprints are still visible.
The quality of processing is at a high level and the design is extremely successful for us. The vacuum cleaner is not extravagant, on the contrary, it maintains simplicity and elegance.
Vacuum cleaner with a new side cloth
Robotic vacuum cleaners mostly look the same and differ only in minor design details. At first glance, it is no different in this case either, but if we take a closer look, we notice one interesting novelty. It is a side cloth with a high pile, thanks to which the vacuum cleaner wipes the dust on the objects it rubs against. This is mainly about the skirting boards around the perimeter of the room.
Another novelty is a small plastic container of an unconventional shape for dirt in the vacuum cleaner, which is removable and you will even find a spare one in the package. It is located under the top cover which is magnetic.
Narwal Freo Z Ultra has a pair of cameras that are located in the front part, along with LED lighting. This is what the vacuum cleaner uses if we run it in the dark.
In the lower part, we find a pair of side brushes, a main rotating brush that does not tangle hair, and sensors against falling down the stairs. Another interesting part is the two mopping units in the shape of triangles with rounded edges. However, we will talk about them later.
Refined automatic station
The manufacturer promises up to 120 days of maintenance-free operation of the vacuum cleaner thanks to its automatic station. It is relatively large, but justifiably so. In its upper part we find a pair of containers. One is for clean water (5L) and the other for dirty water (4.5L). They hide under the upper lid.
Another removable cover is located in the front. Behind it is a dust bag, which has 2.5L in the left part, while on the right side there is a place for detergent. It is packaged by the manufacturer in a specially shaped container, which you simply insert into the automatic station.
In the lower part there is a place for the vacuum cleaner itself. People come here not only to charge, but also to clean and refill their water. But not an ordinary one. In this case, the water is heated by an automatic station, sterilized, and then the cleaning agent is automatically dosed.
After finishing mopping, the mop cloths are cleaned in the automatic station and dried using warm air. Disinfection of the dust bag is also included. This automatic station is really loaded with functions. Personally, we are especially curious about the quality of mopping, which we will address in one of the next chapters.
Narwal Freo app
The Narwal Freo Z Ultra vacuum cleaner works with the Narwal Freo application, which you can easily install on your smartphone. The pairing process is quick and hassle-free, unlike the first Freo X Plus model, where we initially had problems with the application.
After successful pairing, we see our new vacuum cleaner directly on the home screen, immediately after launching the application. We can even start vacuuming or mopping from this initial screen, using shortcuts, the so-called Shortcuts.
However, before the first vacuuming, the Narwal Freo Z Ultra needs to map out the premises. Subsequently, the map is displayed on the main screen, together with all the necessary settings to start vacuuming, mopping or editing the map.
The application environment is clear and intuitive. In addition, it is graphically very well handled, so we are satisfied with the application.
Top rendering of the map also thanks to the cameras
During the initial exploration of the rooms, the Narwal Freo Z Ultra does not vacuum, it just quickly goes through all the rooms to create a map. We used it in a three-room apartment, which went through in less than 10 minutes.
It displays the map slightly differently from other vacuum cleaners, so it doesn't just show the places it reaches, but it renders the entire apartment. It even automatically recognized the beds, couch, carpets and table, which were also displayed on the map. Based on these elements, it will also automatically name the rooms. He didn't recognize only the kitchen.
It uses the latest Lidar 4.0 laser system to scan the space, which in this case is supplemented by a pair of cameras with AI chips. The cameras have a resolution of 1600 x 1200 px and a 136° viewing angle.
Avoiding obstacles with artificial intelligence
As we already mentioned, the Narwal Freo Z Ultra has a pair of cameras, which are also assisted by two AI chips that immediately process the data from the cameras. Thanks to them, the vacuum cleaner can immediately decide how to react.
The new model from the Narwal brand can intelligently recognize up to more than 120 objects or obstacles, starting with a size of 5 mm2. It also avoids cables, which many robotic vacuum cleaners have a problem with and easily get tangled in the rotating brush.
It goes around obstacles beautifully, but unfortunately, sometimes too much. Because of this, it happened to us that he missed the dirt immediately at various and larger objects that he detected as an obstacle and remained unvacuated. For example, this is how he detected a shoe rack with shoes, in which he missed quite a lot of dirt from the shoes.
Obstacles are also displayed on the map, which is also supplemented with a photo from the cameras. However, for this functionality, you have to enable the taking of photos, as it transfers them via the cloud.
In automatic mode, the Narwal Freo Z Ultra can recognize the type of dirt and adapt the suction power or turn mopping on or off, as well as regulate its pressure.
Modes and suction power
The Narwal Freo Z Ultra has a suction power of up to an incredible 12 Pa, which is clearly the most so far among the robotic vacuum cleaners we had the opportunity to test. However, we must honestly admit that there is no "wow effect" in the quality of vacuuming, so we did not notice much of a difference in suction power between the Freo X Plus model, which had 000 Pa, and this new product.
We have a separate vacuuming mode with Quiet, Normal, Strong and Super Powerful levels. Furthermore, we can choose whether we want to vacuum once, twice or even three times, and we also have a choice of a normal or condensed route. In the advanced settings, we can change the vacuuming sequence of individual rooms. However, we can also leave everything to the vacuum cleaner, which in the Freo Mind mode regulates its performance and method of vacuuming based on pollution.
There is also a mopping mode with three humidity levels, where we also choose the number of cycles, the type of route, or leave everything to the vacuum cleaner. There are two combined modes: vacuuming and mopping at the same time or vacuuming followed by mopping.
The last option offers us to set all parameters separately for each room. Here we can also combine modes, so that some rooms can only be vacuumed, others can also be washed with different number of cycles or different types of routes.
During mopping, the vacuum cleaner returns to the automatic station every 10 m2to clean the mop cloths. Other settings are offered every 8 or 12 m2, possibly cleaning the mop after each room. Of course, we can also set their order.
Duration of individual modes and battery consumption
During testing, we tried almost all modes, so let's give at least a few examples. Our aforementioned apartment vacuumed in normal mode in 37 minutes and consumed 18% of the battery, in Strong mode it was 19%, as well as in Quiet mode.
With a denser route and normal mode, the vacuuming time increased to 50 minutes and the battery decreased by 26%. With the strongest mode, it was even up to 29%.
Vacuuming together with mopping in normal mode took 38 minutes and 19% of the battery was used up. Every activity of the vacuum cleaner is nicely recorded in the history.
Quality of vacuuming and mopping
As with other robotic vacuum cleaners, we have also prepared a demanding test of the quality of vacuuming in this case. We scattered oatmeal and pieces of yellow peas on the kitchen floor and watched how the vacuum cleaner coped with such dirt.
We chose the highest vacuuming mode with denser routes, and for the first time it managed to vacuum the dirt almost perfectly. Only 2-3 pieces of oatmeal remained on the floor, which the side brushes moved to the place where the vacuum cleaner had previously vacuumed.
We have particularly high expectations for mopping, as there are two mops, they rotate and a maximum pressure force of 12N acts on them. In addition, the vacuum cleaner should be able to recognize dried dirt by itself, slow down when it comes to them or even stop completely in order to be able to remove such dirt.
So in the evening we spilled water with food coloring and cocoa on the floor and let them dry overnight. In the morning, when the liquids had dried and formed stains, we sent the vacuum cleaner to wash away the dirt on the highest mopping mode with denser paths.
As you can see in the photo, the vacuum cleaner coped with these stains very well. While crossing the pavement in these places, he visibly slowed down. Despite the fact that one small stain and several streaks remained on the floor, we rate the Narwal Freo Z Ultra vacuum cleaner excellent.
It definitely washes the floor much better than vacuum cleaners that only have a classic or vibrating mop. For example, we tested a similar rotary mop Ultenic MC1, which, however, could not cope with such stains.
Editing the map
The basic map view is 2D, with room names, carpets and furniture that the vacuum cleaner could recognize. In the map editing section, we can switch to a color display, when each room is a different color, or a 3D display is also available.
However, in the 3D view, we somehow missed some partitions and the placement of the furniture is not quite accurate. By editing the map, we can divide or combine the rooms according to our wishes or rename them (even with our own name with diacritics).
We can add furniture to the map, choose the floor type or adjust the carpet settings. The vacuum cleaner can bypass the carpet, vacuum normally, increase the performance or pass through it to another part of the room, but without vacuuming it.
There are also so-called no-go zones and one interesting option. On the map, we can mark places that are extremely dirty, and we want the vacuum cleaner to vacuum them more thoroughly. However, this convenience should also work automatically and the vacuum cleaner should be able to identify such places by itself.
An additional interesting bonus
Since the Narwal Freo Z Ultra has cameras, the manufacturer decided to use them in a very interesting way that we know from security cameras. Through the vacuum cleaner, we can make a call with two-way audio transmission and images from the vacuum cleaner's cameras. It is almost a full-fledged video call.
Of course, the manufacturer also combined it with vacuuming. Thus, we can comfortably control the robotic vacuum cleaner remotely using the forward / backward and right / left direction buttons, within which we can also see the image. If you are not at home, you can use a vacuum cleaner to check the apartment, or see what the children are doing if they are home alone.
settings
In addition to the usual settings for suction power, level of mopping or customization of the map, we also find several other interesting settings here. One of them is to turn on the automatic recognition of more dirty places, when the vacuum cleaner vacuums these places more thoroughly.
Another option is more precise cleaning of the corners and edges of the room, and there is also a child lock, silent mode or automatic shutdown of the vacuum cleaner after a long period of inactivity.
We can also find a separate section here, which refers to the automatic station. Here we can turn on the automatic addition of detergent, drying and disinfection of the dust bag, drying level, intelligent heating of water for mopping or silent or strong mode of dust extraction from the vacuum cleaner to the bag.
There is also a display of the status of the automatic station, which shows the progress of drying, disinfection and the status of individual components, such as filters or waste bags.
Narwal Freo Z Ultra: Final review
Narwal Freo Z Ultra robotic vacuum cleaner is one of the most advanced vacuum cleaners on the market. It impresses with an extremely high suction power of up to 12 Pa, or a pair of rotary mops with automatic control of pressure force.
In addition, the robot is loaded with many intelligent functions. Since it has a pair of cameras with AI chips, it can recognize various obstacles and even take pictures. The photo will then be displayed on the map during vacuuming. Similarly, it also recognizes dirt, thanks to which it can automatically adjust the level of suction or mopping.
The vacuum cleaner also has an innovative side cloth with a high pile, with which it wipes e.g. skirting boards. Also interesting is the two-way audio call function with the image from the vacuum cleaner's cameras, when you can talk to someone through the vacuum cleaner, similar to a security camera.
Narwal Freo Z Ultra, 2 year warranty
Express delivery from a European warehouse free of duty and VAT.
This product will be delivered to you expressly from your local warehouse in Europe. Delivery from EU warehouses usually takes 7-10 days and delivers courier. No extra charges, no customs duties or VAT.
We also appreciate high-quality mopping, automatic dosing of water and detergent, as well as washing and drying of the mop and disinfection of the dust bag. The Narwal Freo Z Ultra is a truly sophisticated robotic vacuum cleaner.