Carpets are not its forte but luckily, I dont have many!
In laymans terms, its better at obstacle avoidance and adaptive cleaning, plus it sucks up more dirt!
Its mapping powers were also great, but I would have liked a quick option for spot cleans.
Box size comparison with 11-year-old Bonnie!
I also had a few bin-related issues, and mopping was deadly s-l-o-w, but absolutely worth the wait.
Technophobes and the impatient (and anyone on a budget) might prefer to steer clear.
Read on for my full Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop review.
That places it firmly in the premium price bracket.
There are two accessories pack options.
Option 2 gets you a few of the most-used accessories, for $100.
The large mops lift up when vacuuming.
you’re free to also add a one-year extended warranty plan for $79.
I wouldnt buy it purely for vacuuming, but as a combo, it might be worth the spends.
It comes with a simple instruction card for first-time setup, as well as a more comprehensive user manual.
The dirty water bin is very satisfying to empty!
I used the former to roll out the side brushes, insert the detergent and add clean water.
Choose from Galaxy White or Space Gray.
The various lids and covers pop off without breaking any fingernails, and everything is easy to access.
The robovac didn’t get quite as close to the edges of rooms as I’d like
(Effective anti-hair wrap brushrolls are a key feature amongst thebest robot vacuums for pet hair.)
Theres a cool little window strip in the base that shows the water being ionized.
(Here’s more onhow to prepare your house for a robot vacuum, if you’re unsure.)
The mapping was precise and accurate.
Some models Ive tested dont allow you to just mop.
(TechRadar’s article onhow robot vacuums navigatewalks through the typical approaches brands use.)
The mop edging wasn’t brilliant, especially alongside the kitchen kickboards.
The second thing I noticed was how it doesnt get terribly close to the edges in mopping mode.
The Freo Z Ultra doesnt carry any water onboard, which is unusual.
I didnt want to find out!
Ive never tested a robot that spends longer than two hours on the job.
The latter takes a couple of hours but its incredibly quiet, so you wont notice it.
Hardly surprising given how microscopic the onboard bin is.
Flour on hard floors(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
The Freo Z Ultra did well on the hard floors, eventually anyway.
It took at least three passes and full power mode to get everything up.
With oats on carpet, the results were middling.
Flour on hard floors(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
The robot pushed things around a fair bit and it took three runs before they were gone.
The dog may have helped!
On carpet, the fine mix removal was very disappointing.
Flour on hard floors(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
I gave up after three attempts and got my cordless vacuum out.
These results were much better, although the dried-on ketchup required two passes to complete the job.
And the results show it.
Oats on hard floors(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
This is important to prevent bacteria breeding in the mop heads and before being dragged all over your home.
It should be replaced every three-six months.
double-check you connect using a 2.5GHz wi-fi link, not 5GHz.
Oats on hard floors(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
you’re free to also split rooms, merge rooms and add no-go zones.
The app also provides cleaning history and notifications to ensure you stay informed of cleaning progress.
Should you buy the Narwal Freo Z Ultra Robot Vacuum and Mop?
Oats on hard floors(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
Youve got a messy home
While its always worth picking up stray toys and shoes etc.
before your robot cleans, sometimes you just dont have time.
For me, it was every full ground floor clean.
Oats on carpet(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
This was by far the slowest robot Ive tested.
Read we test
First reviewed November 2024
Oats on carpet(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
Oats on carpet(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
Flour on carpet(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
Flour on carpet(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
Flour on carpet(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
Wet spill(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
Wet spill(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
Wet spill(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
Dried-on ketchup(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
Dried-on ketchup(Image credit: Future/Linda Clayton)
All these common objects were successfully swerved.
