Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: options, specs, value

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview

There are a whole lot of robotic vacuum and mop merchandise available on the market, so it may be difficult to face out. It is desk stakes for high-end fashions to have multi-faceted base stations and AI cleansing modes.

The Narwal Freo X Extremely has been a robust and competent cleansing robotic in my testing. Whereas none of those robots are excellent, the Narwal checks a whole lot of packing containers.

Many of those corporations make claims about “library quiet” cleansing modes, however the Narwal Freo X Extremely is the closest to matching that declare from the items I’ve examined. Nevertheless, I nonetheless discover it absurd that these corporations attempt to make such excessive claims — nobody on earth ought to consider a vacuum cleaner could be as quiet as a babbling brook.

The Narwal Freo X Extremely is a medium-sized robotic vacuum and mop with a base station. The bottom station is a glossy, squat tower with rounded corners that mix effectively with the decor.

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: highly effective robotic vacuum and mop

The robotic itself is 13.8 in by 13.8 in by 4.2 in. It weighs 9.37 lbs.

There are two buttons on prime of the Narwal Freo X Extremely robotic — residence and energy. Urgent the facility button begins/stops the present activity. The house button recollects it to the bottom station.

The robotic incorporates mud storage for the vacuum that must be cleaned out about each seven weeks, relying on utilization. The mop pads could be eliminated to be washed or changed, however the base station does an awesome job of protecting them clear.

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: it self-cleans the mop pads and disinfects the mud bag when docked

Narwal Freo X Extremely can press the mop pads down at 12NM of drive whereas spinning at 180RPM. Power and velocity are adjusted based mostly on the fabric being cleaned, like tile or wooden.

There is a zero hair tangling brush that is straightforward to take away and clear. Hair and threads can get caught in it, but it surely’s straightforward to slip off the top versus bristled brushes.

The vacuum has a robust 8,200Pa suction. It really works with the 2 sweeping arms to make sure any close by hair or dust is pulled in with ease. There are totally different suction ranges accessible within the app.

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: three sensors for 360 diploma protection

Like different robots of its sort, the Narwal Freo X Extremely is laden with sensors for object detection, navigation, and room mapping. There may be the ahead sensor, edge sensor, and radar on prime for 360 levels of scanning.

It nonetheless bumps into raised edges on furnishings like different robots, but it surely’s higher at avoiding objects than I’ve seen beforehand. The radar dome is important, but it surely does stop it from becoming below some objects.

All vacuums are going to be noisy whereas cleansing and whereas within the base station. There are strategies and applied sciences that may assist with this, however anticipating whisper-quiet cleansing is unreasonable.

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: up to12Nm of drive for a elegant clear

The Narwal Freo X Extremely is among the many quieter gadgets I’ve examined. I recorded some audio-level samples throughout testing in my residence utilizing the Apple Watch noise app.

My front room confirmed a baseline of 35 dB. Setting the Narwal free on a robust vacuum and mop job confirmed about 65dB common with my wrist at standing peak from the robotic.

I set the vacuum mode to “quiet” to check this library-like declare. Whereas it may very well be drowned out with a white noise machine at a decent quantity, it was something however “quiet.”

I recorded about 59 dB on common within the quiet setting, which is concerning the stage of a dialog or dishwasher. That is an anticipated worth, contemplating I am speaking a few vacuum cleaner.

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: mop pads are lifted when cleansing a rug

Even with the robotic simply rolling round, I noticed effectively over the 40 dB library noise stage, so maybe my house is simply loud. To be truthful, I’ve hardwood flooring and wooden paneling partitions.

I set the vacuum to tremendous sturdy suction, and it surprisingly wasn’t too loud. It hit about 70 dB, which is effectively below the 80 dB or so I’ve seen in competing choices.

For comparability, Apple Watch sees my HomePod stereo pair within the workplace at 70 dB whereas I am seated at my desk. That is with the amount set to 35%.

Sound is not nearly quantity, however pitch. I complained concerning the loudness of the Dreame robotic I reviewed earlier than, but it surely ran between 60dB and 80dB, which has similarities to the Narwal on the low finish, at the least. It is simply that the pitch is far more nice and ignorable for the Narwal.

In fact, that is subjective and dependent in your area.

The bottom station is 16.3 in by 14.6 in by 17.1 in. It’s totally self-contained with a garage-like storage and charging bay.

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: the bottom station is glossy and compact

The bottom station lid has a small touch-sensitive management dial. A toddler/pet lock could be set to forestall inadvertent activation.

For the reason that mud field is inner to the robotic, the bottom station is smaller than some rivals. The inner compartment has two water tanks for clear and soiled water, plus a spot to insert the cleansing answer container.

The bottom station has its personal noise ranges to fret about when prepping the robotic and when cleansing the pads afterward. There are settings for the way a lot air is blown by means of the system for drying and disinfecting, which controls noise ranges to some extent.

The cleansing prep noise stage hits about 65dB on common. Air compression of the mud bin reached about 73dB, and that is the loudest the unit can be at a given second.

The water tanks are adequate to have the robotic clear my whole higher flooring if it is a one-and-done job. Nevertheless, when the AI Freo Thoughts with DirtSense is turned on, the robotic would possibly clear an area a number of instances, which requires extra water.

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: detachable water tanks and cleaning soap dispenser

About midway by means of a deep cleansing run of my front room, eating room, and kitchen, the Narwal Freo X Extremely wanted a water tank refill. It is not essentially a foul factor in case you’re residence to alter out the water — it is only a little bit of added work.

The tradeoff is completely price it, although, as a result of it leaves areas wanting additional clear and glossy after a deep clear. In case you’re working the robotic often and your flooring don’t get too soiled between passes, repeated deep clear runs will not be wanted.

If you would like to ensure minimal water tank refills, you may flip off the AI options for particular cleansing duties. Or, there’s all the time the choice of upgrading your tank with a water trade system.

Relying on the dimensions of your house, the cleanliness of your areas, and the time because the final Narwal run, a cleansing job might require a number of water refills and a recharge. For instance, a deep clear of my primary residing area, about 700 sq. ft, took 3 hours with one water refill, and the battery was useless on the finish.

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: the bottom station has easy controls on prime

Once more, this could be a blessing and a curse. Flip off the particular cleansing modes, and it will clear a lot sooner and with fewer supplies. The Dreame robotic I reviewed cleaned my primary areas in about 45 minutes, which now appears a bit quick by comparability.

The result’s notable. The flooring are clear all the best way to the wall and edges round furnishings.

I have never encountered points with the robotic getting caught or tangling cables, however there’s a drawback with making it previous some obstacles. I’ve a cableway in my workplace that is a minimal hump, but it surely proves a problem for the robotic. I’ll must get a robotic ramp for it.

I had one vital drawback getting the Narwal Freo X Extremely arrange, and that is with the mapping characteristic. I dwell in a house the place the principle residing areas wrap round a central stairwell, creating a big, open circle with doorways resulting in rooms on one facet.

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: mapping earlier than and after constructing a wall

The Narwal would determine the bed room, workplace, and toilet as separate rooms effective. Nevertheless, it labeled the lounge, eating room, kitchen, and hallway as one giant doughnut-shaped area.

The app would not let me separate the rooms on account of a bizarre enhancing limitation. So, I contacted Narwal, they usually gave me an odd answer — simply block one part with a synthetic wall.

I put up some objects to dam the robotic’s path, thus creating a brand new “wall” between the kitchen and hallway. It labored, and I now had separate rooms for each area.

Whereas annoying, it is not a deal breaker. Narwal must replace the machine’s logic to account for properties like mine. Or, on the minimal, make the map editor work so I can create rooms simpler.

The Narwal app has all the pieces it is advisable function the robotic vacuum and mop. The large play button simply launches it into cleansing each room on the default settings, that are configurable.

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: management all features of the robotic vacuum and mop from the app

Customers can simply see the present standing of various components of the robotic, like if it is time to change the cleansing answer or mop pads. Every accent within the listing has directions for correct care and cleansing frequency.

Customers can arrange duties that happen as soon as or repeat on a schedule. There’s additionally the choice of including actions to Shortcuts by offering a voice command that is donated to the app.

Narwal has a superb robotic within the Freo X Extremely. The bottom station appears nice and takes up minimal area whereas hiding the robotic in somewhat nook.

Narwal Freo X Extremely overview: deep cleansing with a handsome robotic

In case you’ve by no means owned a robotic earlier than, the top-of-the-line Narwal is wonderful, if expensive. You will get what you pay for with this wonderful machine, however maybe investing in a lower-cost unit could be good to find out if a robotic vacuum and mop is for you.

I like that the mud bin is within the robotic and lasts a prolonged seven weeks earlier than needing to be dumped and cleaned. The robotic additionally does not trigger any points with odors across the station from water within the dock or the soiled water container.

Narwal Freo X Extremely will clear your house with out a lot oversight. Whereas it has object avoidance and different options, I nonetheless like clearing muddle from the ground and placing chairs on the desk to maximise entry and effectivity.

• Wonderful edge-to-edge deep cleansing
• Easy controls and choices
• Low-maintenance
• Minimal oversight, however…

• … AI cleansing mode can require a number of water refills
• Noise ranges are manageable, however not library quiet like the web site claims
• Cannot deal with the smallest of bumps
• Mapping oddities with circle-layout properties

Narwal Freo X Extremely is a superb robotic with a couple of bugs that should be labored out. It will probably’t determine what to do with a circular-layout residence, and the app does not assist repair it both.

Whereas it is good at avoiding points that’ll get it caught, its wheels and motor cannot make it over slight humps just like the cableway in my workplace. This wants work.

Alternatively, you may order the robotic vacuum and mop from Narwal instantly, with an automated low cost dropping the value of the Freo X Extremely to $1,183.98 within the U.S. on the time of this overview.