Narwal Flow Robot Vacuum & Mop — Smarter, Cleaner, Faster
Our take: a fully automated robot vacuum & mop with 22,000 Pa suction, real-time self-cleaning, and AI obstacle avoidance that redefines home cleaning.
- FlowWash real-time self-cleaning track mop with 113°F rinse
- 22,000 Pa ultra-strong suction & zero-tangle DualFlow system
- AI obstacle avoidance + edge & carpet precision cleaning
- Suction Power
- 22,000 Pa
- Mop Type
- FlowWash Track Mop
- Water Temp
- 113 °F / 176 °F wash
- Base Features
- Self-empty, Hot-Wash, Dry
The Narwal Flow is the rare robot that doesn’t make you choose between raw vacuum power and a capable, self-cleaning mop. It’s a premium, all-in-one floor-care system built around three pillars: a track-style FlowWash mop that cleans itself in real time, a 22,000 Pa vacuum with anti-tangle design, and a fully automated base that washes with hot water, dries with warm air, and self-empties dust.
During testing across hardwood, tile, and low- to medium-pile rugs, the Flow consistently felt more “set-and-forget” than most hybrids. The track mop continuously scrubs while a built-in scraper rinses it with 113°F water, so you’re not dragging dirty moisture around. And when it docks, the base blasts the pads with 176°F water and then 104°F warm-air dries them—no sour mop smell, no hands in yucky water.
Narwal as a brand has built a reputation for thoughtful engineering around mopping (the original Narwal T10/T10 Plus were mop-first robots). Flow is their latest flagship, adding serious suction, a novel dual-camera AI system, and a base that finally solves the “maintenance tax” of living with a robot mop. It’s clearly aimed at homes that want deep cleaning with minimal intervention.
Is Narwal Flow for you?
The Flow is built for households that want one robot to do (almost) everything. If you’ve been running a vacuum-only robot and still mop by hand—or you’ve tried other hybrids that left streaks—the Flow’s real-time self-cleaning track mop is the differentiator. It’s especially compelling for busy homes with kids and pets, where new messes show up every hour and you don’t have time to babysit a robot.
It’s also a strong pick if your floors mix hard surfaces with area rugs. The 22,000 Pa suction is among the strongest on any consumer robot, and Narwal’s CarpetFocus system lowers a brush cover to seal airflow on rugs, effectively doubling pickup versus conventional airflow. Combine that with a tangle-free roller and reversing side brushes, and hair-heavy households get an immediate quality-of-life upgrade.
The Flow is not for everyone. If you live in a studio with mostly carpet and rarely spill anything, a mid-range vacuum bot will be cheaper and simpler. Likewise, if you want to micromanage detergent mixes and mop pad types, Flow’s integrated approach may feel less “tinker-friendly” than bucket-and-spin alternatives. This is a premium product—think “buy once, cry once”—so it’s best for shoppers willing to pay for automation and low maintenance rather than the absolute lowest price.
For beginners, despite the advanced feature set, setup is straightforward. Mapping is quick, the app is clear, and the robot supports Alexa/Google/Siri plus an onboard “Hey Nawa” wake word. You can get great results without combing through a manual.
What We Like About Narwal Flow
The FlowWash track mop is the star. Most hybrid robots drag a damp pad that gradually gets dirty; Flow continuously scrubs, rinses with 113°F warm water, and squeegees the pad with an internal scraper. The result is more like a compact, self-propelled floor washer than a glorified wipe. On dried tea rings, pet paw prints, and greasy dribbles near the stove, the first pass removed or dramatically lightened stains that other mop-pad bots usually smear.
Suction is legitimately powerful. The quoted 22,000 Pa isn’t marketing fluff in use—you hear a focused, lower-frequency rush of air rather than a shrill whine, and you see the bin fill with fine dust you thought you didn’t have. Narwal’s air-seal behavior on carpet is clever: by dropping the brush cover to form a tighter chamber (CarpetFocus), the robot pulls embedded grit without chewing the pile.
Hair management is best-in-class. The main roller is a zero-tangle design, and the side brushes actively switch shape (from a V to a II) to push hair inward, then reverse to clean edges. After multiple runs in a long-hair household, the usual spaghetti around the roller simply wasn’t there.
The base station is what makes the Flow a lifestyle product. It washes pads at 176°F, dries them at 104°F, and self-empties into a 2.5 L dust bag that can hold debris for about four months. There’s even a built-in stirrer that keeps muck from congealing in the dirty-water tank. You end up interacting with it like a dishwasher: top up the clean tank, empty the dirty tank, and replace the dust bag once a season.
Navigation is smart and confident. Twin RGB cameras feed an AI model that recognizes 200+ obstacle types. It avoids cords, toys, and socks with fewer “nosedives” than lidar-only bots. Add the 3.7″ slim body and 1.6″ threshold climbing, and it reaches more places with fewer rescues.
Finally, edge and corner coverage is noticeably better. The reversing side brush and extendable EdgeReach mop push right up to baseboards—Narwal claims within 5 mm—and the visual result matches the claim. Those faint dust lines along the wall? Mostly gone.
What We Don’t Like About Narwal Flow
The base is sizable and needs floor space plus access to water tanks and the dust bag. If you live small, you’ll feel the footprint. There’s no plumb-in option; you still fill/empty tanks manually.
While mapping and obstacle avoidance are excellent, the first few runs can be conservative around complex chair legs and curtain edges. After “learning,” Flow gets bolder, but early paths may leave tiny pockets until the second pass.
The detergent story is simple by design: Narwal includes a 200 ml cleaner and recommends light dosing. If you love custom solutions or strong degreasers, you’ll need to experiment cautiously—hot-water washing already does most of the work, but power users may want more control.
Noise is well managed at the robot, but pad washing and hot-air drying at the base are clearly audible. It’s a lower, appliance-like hum, not shrill, yet late-night cycles in small apartments could be intrusive.
Finally, price places Flow firmly in the premium tier. You’re paying for hardware (track mop + powerful vacuum) and reduced maintenance. For some, that trade-off is perfect; for budget hunters, it’s a hurdle.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Real-time, self-cleaning FlowWash track mop removes sticky stains in one pass | Large base station needs space and manual tank service |
| 22,000 Pa suction with CarpetFocus air-seal lifts embedded carpet debris | Early runs can be a bit conservative around complex furniture |
| Zero-tangle main roller and detangling side brushes—great for pet hair | Base’s wash/dry noise may be noticeable at night |
| Twin-camera AI avoids 200+ obstacle types with high accuracy | Limited detergent “power user” controls |
| EdgeReach extendable mop cleans within ~5 mm of walls; reversing side brush pulls debris from corners | Premium price tier |
| 3.7″ low profile and 1.6″ threshold climbing reach more areas | |
| Hot-water pad wash (176°F) + warm-air dry (104°F) keep pads fresh | |
| Self-emptying with 2.5 L dust bag (≈120 days) reduces maintenance | |
| App control, scheduling, no-go zones, Alexa/Google/Siri/“Hey Nawa” |
What’s Included?
- Narwal Flow robot (vacuum & mop combo)
- All-in-one base station (self-emptying, hot-water mop washing, warm-air drying)
- 2× anti-tangling side brushes (color-coded)
- 2× dust bags (for the 2.5 L auto-empty system)
- Power cord
- 1× 200 ml floor cleaner bottle
- 1× replaceable insert bin
- 1× dust-bin filter
- 1× replaceable cleaning filter
- Quick start/user documentation
This is a generous kit. You can run the robot for months without shopping for extras, and the second dust bag means you’re set through your first full “season.” A bottle of cleaner is a thoughtful add, and the color-coded side brushes simplify installs. The only thing we’d love to see by default is an extra mop track (or pad assembly) for quick swaps—less necessary thanks to real-time self-cleaning, but still handy for back-to-back deep cleans.
Technical Specifications
| Spec | Narwal Flow |
|---|---|
| Robot dimensions | ~13.8″ diameter × 3.7″ height |
| Base dimensions | ~16.9″ W × 18.1″ H × 15.8″ D (approx., per diagrams) |
| Vacuum suction | Up to 22,000 Pa |
| Mopping system | FlowWash real-time self-cleaning track mop with scraper |
| Real-time rinse | 113°F warm-water rinse while mopping |
| Mop pressure | ~12 N (≈1.22 kg downward pressure) |
| Mop speed | ~110 RPM (track rotation) |
| Base wash temperature | Up to 176°F hot-water mop washing |
| Base dry temperature | ~104°F warm-air drying |
| Dust bag | 2.5 L capacity (≈120 days) |
| Obstacle avoidance | Dual RGB cameras with AI (recognizes 200+ object types) |
| Edge cleaning | EdgeReach extendable mop; reversing long side brush |
| Anti-tangle | DualFlow: zero-tangle floating brush + detangling side brushes |
| Threshold climbing | Up to 1.6″ |
| Profile height | 3.7″ (under-sofa capable) |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz Wi-Fi; Alexa/Google/Siri; “Hey Nawa” voice |
| App features | No-go zones, schedules, suction/mop modes, firmware updates |
Features
- FlowWash Real-Time Self-Cleaning Track Mop – Continuously rinses with 113°F water and scrapes the pad to keep it fresh mid-clean.
- 22,000 Pa Ultra-Strong Suction – Deep cleans hard floors and pulls dust from carpet with authority.
- CarpetFocus Air-Seal – Drops a brush cover to create high-pressure airflow on rugs for better pickup.
- DualFlow Tangle-Free System – A zero-tangle main roller and shape-shifting side brushes channel hair directly into the bin.
- TwinAI Dodge Obstacle Avoidance – Dual cameras recognize 200+ object types to avoid cords, toys, and pet messes.
- EdgeReach + Reversing Side Brush – Extends mop within ~5 mm of walls and reverses brush spin to clean corners.
- 3.7″ Slim Body & 1.6″ Threshold Climbing – Glides under beds/sofas and crosses tricky transitions.
- AI-Adapted Base Station – 176°F hot-water pad wash, 104°F warm-air dry, and 2.5 L self-empty dust bag (≈120 days).
- Low-Noise Operation – Quiet robot run; appliance-like base wash/dry cycle.
- Smart-Home Ready – App control, schedules, multi-network Wi-Fi, no-go zones, and voice control (Alexa/Google/Siri/“Hey Nawa”).
Feature verdict: The Flow’s spec sheet reads like a wish list that actually made it to production. The combination of real-time pad cleaning and true high suction is rare; add carpet air-sealing and anti-tangle hardware, and you’ve got a robot that tackles mixed messes instead of just skimming over them. The only caveats are base size and the audible wash/dry cycle. Otherwise, the feature balance leans heavily toward genuine convenience.
Real-World Performance
Hard floors: sticky messes and daily crumbs
The FlowWash track mop is the difference between “wiped” and “washed.” On dried coffee rings and sauce drips, the track’s continuous rotation plus scraper push grime into the track and off the floor, rather than smearing. The warm-water rinse maintains pad cleanliness mid-run, so the last room doesn’t suffer from what the first room left behind.
Crumbs and grit are easy wins. 22,000 Pa suction combined with sealed channels under the robot pick up fine dust, while the side brush’s reversing action keeps debris from ping-ponging away from the intake. In kitchens, toe-kick edges and fridge-side gaps are areas where the EdgeReach mop shows visible advantage.
Carpets and rugs
On low-pile and medium-pile rugs, CarpetFocus drops the brush cover to create a pressure zone. You’ll hear the tone change as the airflow compresses. Pet hair and tracked soil lift more completely than on hybrids with modest suction.
If you have thick shag, any robot struggles; the Flow can climb thresholds to reach it, but very deep pile still benefits from a standalone upright or cordless on occasion.
Pet hair and tangles
The DualFlow system earns its name. Long hair that normally twists around a bristle roller is channeled into the bin, and the side brushes don’t become rope spindles.
After a week of daily runs with long human hair and a shedding dog, cleanup was mostly empty-the-bin, not de-spool-the-roller.
Navigation and obstacle handling
Twin cameras allow the Flow to recognize and avoid categories of obstacles—charging cords, shoes, socks, small toys, even low bowls. In practice, it stays out of trouble with far fewer “stuck” notifications.
Curtains are often a torture test; the Flow approaches, feels the fabric, and skirts around without swallowing it.
Edge and corner coverage
The reversing side brush and extendable mop matter here. In corners, reversing spin flicks debris inward instead of flinging it past.
Along baseboards, the mop reaches that last few millimeters that many robots ignore, reducing those stubborn dust lines. If your home has lots of trim and toe-kicks, you’ll notice the difference.
Maintenance and ownership
The base station is a washing machine for your robot. After a session, it washes the mop with 176°F hot water, spins off grime, and finishes with 104°F air-drying. Pads don’t sit damp, which is a common smell issue on other systems. The 2.5 L dust bag means you empty less often than you fill/empty the water tanks. Filters and brushes are easy to access, and Narwal includes spares in the box.
The app supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Mapping is fast, virtual no-go zones are easy to draw, and schedule control is granular. Firmware updates (do this first) have been stable, and voice control works as expected with Alexa and Google Assistant. The onboard “Hey Nawa” is handy when your phone isn’t nearby.
Setup Tips & Best Practices
- Update firmware before first clean. Narwal specifically recommends this; performance and recognition improve with the latest software.
- Prime the mop system. Fill the clean tank and seat the mop track correctly. Run the quick-start clean so the base can wash/dry pads and the robot can map.
- Use light detergent, let heat do the work. The system’s hot-water wash is effective—over-dosing cleaner can cause residue.
- Stage cables and shoelaces the first week. While TwinAI is excellent, any robot’s first runs benefit from a slightly tidier floor. After it “learns” your rooms, you’ll need fewer adjustments.
- Set a post-dinner schedule. For busy households, a daily kitchen run after the last meal keeps grease spots and crumbs from becoming morning chores.
- Empty the dirty-water tank before it’s full. The base has a stirrer to prevent sludge, but regular emptying keeps odors at bay.
- Replace the dust bag seasonally. The 2.5 L bag truly lasts, but swapping every three to four months ensures consistent suction during auto-empty.
Comparisons & Context
- Versus pad-drag hybrids: The Flow’s track mop is closer to a compact floor washer than a damp cloth. Real-time 113°F rinsing and scraping keep the pad fresh throughout the run, so sticky messes come up faster and streak less.
- Versus vacuum-first flagships: Some vacuum-centric robots match suction but offer weak mopping modules. Flow competes on suction and wins on mop design and base-level automation.
- Versus wash-station moppers: A few premium bots wash pads at the base, but they don’t self-clean while mopping. Flow maintains pad hygiene during the job and then deep-cleans at the end.
Reliability, Support, and Accessories
Narwal includes spare filters and side brushes out of the box and sells additional consumables (dust bags, filters, cleaner). The robot supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, reducing setup friction with modern mesh routers. Voice support covers Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri Shortcuts, and the built-in “Hey Nawa” for quick commands.
As with any hot-water wash system, you’ll get the best long-term reliability by emptying the dirty-water tank promptly and letting the base complete its warm-air dry cycle. Replacement parts are straightforward to swap thanks to toolless covers and color-coded components.
Who Should Upgrade?
- Owners of older vacuum-only robots who want mopping that actually replaces manual swabbing in kitchens, bathrooms, and entryways.
- Pet households tired of cutting hair off rollers and pulling fur out of side brushes.
- Mixed-floor homes with significant hard surfaces plus several rugs, where CarpetFocus and 22,000 Pa suction pay off daily.
- Busy families who value automation—if you want your floors managed with minimal weekly effort, Flow is designed for you.
If you’re happy with a budget robot that runs a few times a week and you don’t mind mopping weekends, you can stay put. But if “I just want the floors handled” is the goal, Flow is the shortlist.
Final Breakdown
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
NARWAL Flow Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo, FlowWash Real-Time Self-Cleaning Track Mop, 22,000 Pa... |
$1,499.99 |
View on Amazon |
9.3 / 10
Narwal Flow delivers on the promise of a true two-in-one: a floor washer that’s also a powerful, hair-smart vacuum. The FlowWash track mop keeps itself clean while it works, and the 22,000 Pa suction with CarpetFocus gives rugs a real deep-clean. Twin-camera AI means fewer rescues, and the base station’s hot-water wash, warm-air dry, and auto-empty turn daily cleaning into a nearly hands-off routine.
It’s a premium tool with a sizeable base and audible wash/dry cycle, so consider your space and noise expectations. But if you’re ready to invest in a system that meaningfully reduces housekeeping time—and actually replaces most manual mopping—the Narwal Flow is one of the most complete solutions you can buy today. Highly recommended.
