Laser navigation, mopping function, suction station, all-in-one station and constantly increasing suction power – robotic vacuum cleaners have made gigantic leaps forward in recent years and achieved milestones step by step. Whereas less than ten years ago, they were still wandering around the home, disoriented and weakly vacuuming, today they are not only replacing vacuum cleaners, but also mops. However, many appliances still have one small weakness. And that is that obstacle detection is often only satisfactory, if not inadequate. In the Narwal Freo Z Ultra test, I was able to test a smart household helper that claims to have made a real breakthrough in this respect. Coupled with an all-in-one station and great mopping and suction performance, it could be the perfect complete package for fully automated home cleaning.
Technical data
| Suction power | 12,000 Pascal |
| Navigation | LiDAR |
| Obstacle detection | Two RGB cameras with 1080P HD and 136° ultra-wide angle + 2x AI chips |
| Dust bag volume | 2.5 liters (renewal approximately every 120 days) |
| Mop function | 2x rotating microfiber mops with 180 rpm and 12N, liftable up to 12mm |
| Water tank volume | Fresh water tank: 5 liters Dirty water tank: 4.5 liters |
| Rechargeable battery | Capacity: 5200 mAh Cleaning area: up to 200 m² |
| Dimensions | Robot: 355x350x109.6mm Base station: 430.8x462x388mm |
| Voice assistants | Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri |
| Price | € 949.00 * |
Scope of delivery
- 1 x Robot vacuum cleaner
- 1 x floor cleaning agent
- 2 x side brushes
- 2 x vacuum cleaner bags (1x built-in)
- 1 x Replaceable collection container
- 2 x mop pad
- 4 x skirting rags
- 1 x User manual
Differences to Freo and Freo X Ultra
The Narwhal Freo Z Ultra, the latest model in the Freo series, will go on sale at the end of September. So that you don’t lose track, we want to briefly explain the most important differences between the three models before the test report. In June 2023, we tested the Narwhal Freo (review). This scored first and foremost with a great mopping function. In terms of suction power, however, it was no more than good.
A great feature was the beautifully animated, attractive display on the cleaning station. The price, on the other hand, was not so nice. The Freo lacked a good price-performance ratio. The Freo X Ultra (review) was a consistent further development of the Freo. Here, too, you get a powerful mopping function and a cleaning station with two large water tanks. However, there was no suction function here either.
Instead, Narwal opted for special dust bags in the robot hoover itself, which were designed to score points by compressing with a high capacity. Although this makes maintenance easier, it results in high follow-up costs. With its gray plastic, the Z Ultra is not only visually different from the two Freo models. What’s more, Narwal no longer relies purely on a cleaning station, but also provides the station with a suction function with an industry-standard dust bag in the station.
Narwal Freo Z Ultra test: design and workmanship
In terms of design and build quality, the Freo and Freo X Ultra were already beyond reproach. And that doesn’t change with the Z Ultra either. However, this is not because Narwal has not shown the courage to change with its smart household helper. Quite the opposite.
Robot vacuum cleaner with new camera module
Even at first glance, the Z Ultra takes a different approach. It doesn’t come in white, but in gray. I personally like the matt gray tone very much and I think it looks great on the device. The robot hoover itself has a classic layout.
A small turret in the middle of the top side houses the technology for LiDAR navigation. The two device buttons are located directly next to it. One of them can be used to start and stop the device.
The home button, on the other hand, is used to send the vacuum cleaner to the base. The inner workings of the robot hoover can be accessed under the magnetically attached maintenance flap on the top. This is where the dust container is located, among other things.
There is a bumper on the front of the robot vacuum to prevent damage in the event of collisions. Much more exciting than this standard feature, however, is the camera technology, which is also located at the front.
This is used for obstacle detection and is said to be groundbreaking. In our practical test, we take a look at how well the system performs in practice. The device is not only surrounded by various sensors that are used to measure the distance to the wall.
There is also a holder for a fluffy cloth, which is used to clean skirting boards. On the underside, Narwal relies on a familiar design. In addition to two side brushes, there are also two rotating mops.
In the middle is the suction shaft with a blue main brush in front of it. Unfortunately, this uses a combination of rubber and bristles. I would prefer a pure rubber or silicone brush.
All-in-one station with suction function
The corresponding station of the Narwal Freo Z Ultra fits perfectly with the robot hoover. The “home” of the smart household helper also comes in the attractive matt gray tone. Only the lid has a high-gloss finish, which unfortunately magically attracts fingerprints and micro-scratches.
Narwal has once again opted for a round, touch-sensitive color display for the latest model. Its rather spartan design is more reminiscent of that of an X Ultra than the model that was installed in the original Freo. In my opinion, however, this is perfectly adequate.
Under the lid on the top are the waste and fresh water tanks with a volume of 4.5 liters and 5 liters respectively. So far so familiar. The front of the station is where things get interesting. The insert for the dust bag is located here under a magnetic cover.
That’s right. With the Freo Z Ultra, Narwal has finally integrated a suction function into the station. With the Freo X Ultra, the manufacturer was still trying to create user comfort with special dust bags in the robot hoover itself.
Although these scored points with their impressive capacity thanks to a special compression function, the follow-up costs for these special bags are quite high. The new system saves customers correspondingly high follow-up costs. After all, the new standard dust bags are significantly cheaper and are said to last up to 120 days with the compression inside.
The smart household helper is vacuumed in its parking space in the recess in the lower area. This is also where the mop is washed with hot water. The tray in which the wash takes place can be removed. This makes subsequent cleaning easier.
Both the robot hoover itself and the all-in-one station score points not only with their stylish appearance. The build quality is also really very good. As this was already the case with the predecessors, I am not surprised by the great workmanship.
Narwhal Freo Z Ultra test: App control
The Narwal app is nothing new for us. After all, we already had to deal with it in the predecessors. Accordingly, I was not surprised that the app control of the Freo Z Ultra is also very easy to use. The app has a great overview and is largely self-explanatory.
Furthermore, many different settings can be made here. These do not only affect the cleaning process itself. Parameters of the all-in-one station can also be regulated. For example, you can specify how strong the hot air drying should be.
You can also customize the map, set a cleaning schedule and specify the type of cleaning. You can decide whether to vacuum and mop at the same time, vacuum first and then mop, vacuum only or mop only.
It would go beyond the scope of this article to list all the adjustable parameters. We have taken some screenshots in the app to give you an impression of the many options.
Narwal Freo Z Ultra Test: Navigation
The small turret on the top quickly makes it clear that Narwal also relies on LiDAR technology for navigation. This uses laser beams to map the surroundings. This has the decisive advantage of being able to recognize areas even in complete darkness. The major advantages of LiDAR systems over purely optical navigation, such as that offered by a Yeedi Cube (review), are their speed and reliability.
This can also be observed to a large extent with the latest Narwhal. The smart household helper created a fairly detailed map during its maiden voyage through my home. Unfortunately, one of my walls was missing during the first trip, which is why the final map didn’t really match reality.
A little tidying up and another mapping trip later, the map was already much closer to reality. However, my stairwell was quickly registered here as “Room 3”. This is not really annoying, but given the AI camera, I had expected a little more here. Narwal’s system can’t compete with the level of detail in the floor plans of industry giants such as Roborock or Dreame, but in my opinion it is perfectly adequate.
Narwal Freo Z Ultra test: obstacle and dirt detection
Narwal itself describes its obstacle detection system as a real breakthrough in the entire robot vacuum sector. The question now is whether this is mere marketing bragging or whether the words actually mean something. One thing is certain: Narwal has significantly revised the technology at the front. The Freo Z Ultra uses two RGB cameras that offer a resolution of 1080p. The manufacturer calls the system “Twin AI Dodge”.
The images recorded by the camera are processed in detail with the help of two AI chips. Narwal speaks of 4 trillion calculations per second. This should not only ensure that obstacles are reliably detected. The camera technology at the front should also be able to distinguish between different types of dirt. According to Narwal, more than a hundred different obstacles can be detected. This also includes pet droppings.
So if you’re worried about the robot hoover scattering dog poo all over your home, you can rely on the two cameras and AI chips to detect it. I was all the more excited about the new technology. In short: the technology overhaul has paid off in full. The Freo Z Ultra offers the best obstacle detection I have ever experienced in a robot vacuum. Although the smart household helper made a few small blunders here and there in the test, I hope that the two AI chips will continue to learn bit by bit.
For example, it recognized my bathtub as a sofa, but I don’t see this as a problem. I don’t need the automatic furniture recognition. Much more important is the fact that even my thin USB cable and a flat cardboard box were recognized and avoided by the camera. Impressive! Incidentally, the camera can also be used as a mobile surveillance camera. Nothing more than a fun gadget, but as we all know, having is better than needing.
The LED light should not go unmentioned either. This ensures that the robot always has everything in view, even in dark surroundings. To summarize, I am really impressed with the obstacle detection. The smart household helper reliably avoided even small and flat obstacles, which gives you a good feeling, especially when it comes to cables. Narwal is setting a new standard here, which the competition will inevitably have to measure up to. Over time, the AI should also learn enough to classify objects better.
Narwal Freo Z Ultra test: suction power
When the Narwhal Freo Z Ultra started vacuuming for the first time, I first had to make sure that it was really moving through my home with an active suction function. After all, the smart household helper works extremely quietly. Even on the normal power setting. There is a total of four power levels to choose from, from quiet to extra powerful. The surprise was even greater when I looked at the data sheet.
With a whopping 12,000 Pascal, the Freo Z Ultra is extremely powerful and beats even the flagship models from Roborock and Dreame. The Roborock QRevo Master (review), for example, can “only” conjure up 10,000 Pascal on the floor. Given the strong suction power, it is not surprising that the Narwhal had no problems with dust, rice, cat litter or similar in practice.
This doesn’t just apply to hard floors. It also reliably vacuums carpets. This is where you can really feel how much power is under the hood of this smart household helper. A really cool gimmick for dry cleaning is the side wipe for skirting boards. This skillfully wipes along skirting boards and floor-to-ceiling furniture and reliably removes dust.
Of course, it is not enough for heavier soiling. But I didn’t expect that at this point. All in all, I can attest to the really great suction performance of the Narwhal. Whether hard or carpeted floors – the smart household helper catches pretty much every speck of dust.
Narwal Freo Z Ultra test: mopping performance
The two other devices from Narwal that we have already tested were particularly impressive with their mopping function. Although the predecessors were already beyond reproach, the manufacturer has managed to go one better with the Z Ultra. It impressed me with its excellent mopping results on my vinyl and tiled floors. As I selected vacuuming followed by mopping as my cleaning strategy, it reliably avoided my carpeting and quickly and accurately swept its edges.
If you vacuum and mop at the same time, the robot can raise its mop pads 12 mm high to at least keep short-fiber carpets dry. The two rotating mops left an excellent cleaning result on my hard floors. For stubborn dirt, cleaning agent is used, which the all-in-one station automatically adds when the mops are moistened.
AI is used to dose the cleaning agent and to control the temperature of the water used to moisten the mop pads at regular intervals during cleaning. Anything between 45° and 75° is possible here. This not only ensures a good fragrance, but also reliably removes dried-on stains. The fact that Narwal does not have a retractable mop like a Dreame L20 Ultra (review) or L10s Pro Ultra (review) is a bit of a shame, but by no means a downfall. After all, the smart household helper manages to get quite close to skirting boards with its mop pads.
Narwal Freo Z Ultra test: Maintenance
When it comes to maintenance, the Narwal Freo Z Ultra also scores highly in terms of user convenience. The all-in-one station does a great job here. It not only ensures that the mopping pads of the smart household helper are always freshly moistened for use. On top of this, the use of electrolyzed hot water and subsequent drying with hot air prevents the formation of bacteria and unpleasant odours.
The system again adjusts the water temperature and hot air temperature (between 45° and 75°) with AI support depending on the degree of soiling. Nevertheless, the mop cloths should be cleaned more thoroughly every few weeks. To do this, simply throw them in the washing machine. A particularly practical feature is that the washing tub can be removed from the station. This means you can simply rinse it in the sink.
Apart from that, you have to regularly replenish the fresh water and empty the dirty water tank. One negative aspect of maintenance is the choice of material for the main brush. My dog’s hair got tangled up here during the test. A main brush made entirely of rubber or silicone would have effectively prevented this problem.
Last but not least is the regular disposal of the dust bag. Here too, Narwal makes it very easy for its users. After all, a 2.5-litre dust bag is used here, which can last up to 120 days thanks to compression technology. This means that you can cover almost an entire year with just two bags.
Conclusion
With the Narwal Freo Z Ultra, the experienced manufacturer of robot vacuums has finally achieved a breakthrough in my opinion. You get a very well-made smart household helper here, which with its elegant look can also live visibly in the living room. Apart from this, the appliance not only scores with its powerful suction power and great mopping performance. The object recognition is particularly groundbreaking and is better than that of other flagships. Although the AI may not always be able to determine exactly what type of obstacle it is, even flat objects such as cables were reliably avoided in the test.
The all-in-one station also does a great job and finally has an integrated dust bag. In the end, I can only really complain about two small things. Firstly, the mapping using LiDAR had a few minor weaknesses here and there. On top of that, I would finally like to see a main brush made entirely of rubber or silicone on the successor. Apart from that, however, the Narwal Freo Z Ultra is a really good robot vacuum that raises the bar for other manufacturers in terms of obstacle detection and skillfully irons out the weaknesses of its predecessors.
Narwal Freo Z Ultra
Design & processing
Ease of use
Cleaning performance
Equipment
Navigation and obstacle detection
Price-performance ratio
93/100
The Narwal Freo Z Ultra not only vacuums well and mops like a world champion. It also takes obstacle avoidance in robot hoovers to a new level.
