Why the Narwal Freo is Your Next Must-Have Cleaning Gadget
Alright, folks, gather around. I'm about to introduce you to a cleaning solution that will leave your house spotless and still afford you ample time to relax . No, it's not a magic wand, and no, it's not a team of house elves. It's the Narwal Freo, the world's first self-cleaning robot vacuum and mop. This little guy is about to become your new best friend, and trust me, your floors are going to love him.
Narwal's previous model, the T10, made a decent impression but Narwal didn't just sit back and relax; they decided to up the ante with the Freo which is sure to be one of the best robot vacuums of 2023. Essentially, Narwal decided that satisfactory just wasn't cutting it.
Flaunting improvements in cleaning efficiency, battery life, and more, the Freo is here to tackle some of the shortcomings of its predecessor. While retaining the familiar base station design, the Freo boasts several upgrades that make it a worthy contender in the market.
And once again, Heyup, your reliable shopping companion, is here to guide you through one of the best robot vacuums. Today's mission? The Narwal Freo. Let's dive into the details.
Specs
The Narwal Freo boasts a suction power of 3000 Pascals, which, while not particularly impressive in the lower settings, performs exceptionally well in its highest setting.
Main features
Long-Lasting Battery: The Narwal Freo's battery life is impressive. After a full cleaning cycle, the battery still had over 60% charge remaining.
Carpet Cleaning Pro: The Freo doesn't just clean hard floors; it excels at carpet cleaning too. When it detects carpet or rugs, it applies extra pressure to ensure a deep clean.
Smart Mapping for Efficient Cleaning: One of the standout features of the Narwal Freo is its smart mapping capabilities. Using lidar technology, it creates a precise map of your home in a single pass. You can even label rooms and set up no-go zones.
Self-Cleaning for Hassle-Free Maintenance: The Narwal Freo doesn't just clean your floors; it takes care of itself too. After each cleaning cycle, it returns to its base station for self-cleaning.
Spot Cleaning Made Easy: Got a specific area that needs extra attention? The Narwal Freo has you covered. Its app allows you to set up a customized spot-cleaning area.
A Cleaner, Fresher Home: With the Narwal Freo, you're not just getting a clean floor; you're getting a cleaner, fresher home. The included Cleaning Solution, mixed with clean water, leaves a pleasant scent after mopping.
Design that Wows
First off, let's talk about the looks. The Narwal Freo retains the base station design that users of the T10 are familiar with, but it comes with notable enhancements. It’s sleek, modern, and has a touchscreen display that's so user-friendly, even your grandma could figure it out.
The touch-screen monitor serves as a convenient control interface, allowing users to select from various cleaning modes and providing visual explanations of error codes. This feature eliminates the need to rely solely on the app, making the robot accessible even for those who prefer not to use smartphone applications.
Another design improvement is the addition of a detachable tray, providing easier access for thorough cleaning. The ribbed component, where the pads spin during the pad-washing cycle, has also been expanded, increasing the surface area for dislodging debris and gunk from the pads.
One of the key design changes is the shift from a squarish frame (as seen in the T10) to a round frame with the LIDAR sensor in the middle. Narwal also claims to have included an obstacle avoidance sensor which has the capability to maneuver around obstacles, though not as precisely as robots with laser or IR sensors.
The dustbin, positioned at the top of the robot, boasts an above-average capacity of 480 milliliters. What's particularly noteworthy is the trap door design, which allows easy disposal of debris into a small diameter trashbin.
As mentioned earlier, the interactive touch-screen monitor on the base station provides users with easy access to various cleaning modes. This feature is especially valuable for those who prefer not to use the app, as it allows you to control the robot directly. Additionally, users can access menu options that are otherwise exclusive to the app in competing brands. This accessibility without the need for an app is a significant advantage.
Like its predecessor, the T10, the Narwal Freo features two water tanks for storing clean and dirty water. Narwal goes a step further by offering an optional "automatic water exchange module" for even greater convenience in automating water refilling and disposal. This feature, combined with a dedicated slot for a cleaning solution, enhances the mop's effectiveness compared to the T10, where users needed to add detergent sheets manually.
The Freo Modes
Vacuum and Mop at the Same Time: The Freo can vacuum and mop at the same time.
Freo Mode: And then there's the Freo mode. This mode is so smart, it can detect if it needs to mop again by analyzing the dirty water.
App Control: The Narwal Freo comes with an app that lets you control everything from cleaning schedules to suction power. And for all you Apple users out there, it even integrates with Siri.
While the touch-screen monitor provides direct control, the Narwal Freo app offers additional features that enhance the user experience. The Narwal Freo app differs significantly from the previous Narwal app and provides valuable functionalities:
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Live Map: The live map feature allows users to track the robot's real-time location. The 3D map option provides a dynamic view of the robot's movements, differentiating it from competitors that rely on grid lines.
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Map Saving: The ability to save maps for up to four levels is a notable addition, offering more convenience for users with multi-story homes.
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Mapping Run: The Narwal app streamlines map creation through the mapping run feature, harnessing LIDAR's 360-scanning capability for faster map generation.
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Containment: Users can create no-go zones by drawing boxes or rectangles in the app. The app also allows further customization with vacuuming, mopping, or hybrid modes.
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Floor Type: The app includes floor type settings for hardwood, tile, and cobblestone floors, with preset mop pressure and suction levels for optimized cleaning efficiency.
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Carpet Settings: The Narwal Freo's ultrasonic sensor detects carpets and offers various options, including setting no-go zones for high-pile or plush carpets and different preferences for other carpet types.
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Selective Room Cleaning: After saving maps and setting partitions, users can clean specific rooms or areas with various cleaning modes.
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Area Cleaning: This feature allows users to select rectangular or square zones for targeted cleaning within a room.
The Real Test - How Well Does It Clean?
We put the Narwal Freo to the ultimate test – a messy obstacle course featuring milk, coffee, cereal, candy, Gatorade, yogurt, and more. And guess what? It passed with flying colors. This robot doesn't back down from a challenge. It navigates through the mess, vacuuming and mopping with precision.
On hard floors, it efficiently removes debris and leaves minimal remnants thanks to its wide brush roll and twin side brushes. It also excels in picking up sand on hard floors, achieving impressive results even after just one pass. Edge cleaning is a strong suit for the Freo, as its dual side brushes effectively capture debris along edges and corners.
The robot also demonstrates proficiency in handling different types of hair, excelling at cleaning short strands although facing challenges with longer ones due to potential hair wrapping around the roller. Carpet cleaning proves to be another strength, with the Freo delivering above-average performance on both low and mid-pile carpets, aided by its efficient combo brush.
While it faces limitations in deep cleaning, scoring decently for a low-powered robot, its mopping capabilities shine in removing tough stains with minimal residue after the first pass. However, it's worth noting that thorough cleaning beneath the robot is necessary to address accumulated debris and gunk, highlighting the importance of regular maintenance.
Verdict
The Narwal Freo is more than just a cleaning robot; it's a revolution in household maintenance. Its sleek design, intelligent sensors, and efficient cleaning modes make it a standout product.
Plus, the convenience of the touch screen display and the ability to operate it without an app are a breath of fresh air. If you're tired of manual cleaning, the Narwal Freo is your knight in shining armor.
Want to try this dust buster for free?
Now that you've heard all about the Narwal Freo, we want to know what you think. Would you like to see this incredible cleaning robot on Heyup Tryouts? Head over to our Heyup community and share your thoughts. Let's make cleaning smarter and more effortless together!