October 2026 Update: Improved Mopping Results in Our Retest
We retested the Narwal Flow 2 after seeing strong results from the Freo 20, which uses the same FlowWash track-mop hardware. The Flow 2’s stain-removal performance improved substantially, scoring well above our studio averages and moving it higher on our Top 20 Robot Vacuum list. We believe a major firmware update released after our original testing explains the improvement. We have updated our mopping assessment and final verdict below.
August 2026 Update: Three-Month Home Review
Since publishing our original studio review, one of our staff writers has used the Narwal Flow 2 for three months in a busy family home. This extended test provided additional perspective on its everyday mopping, pet hair management, obstacle avoidance, base station, and app experience. Read our three-month Narwal Flow 2 home review to see what stood out during longer-term use and whether we recommend it.
Original review video, recorded before our retest. See the October 2026 update above and the revised mopping assessment below for our latest findings.
We got a first look at the latest Narwal premium flagship robot vacuum and mop combo, the Flow 2, when we attended CES earlier this year. It has a range of upgrades from aesthetics to intelligence compared with the original Narwal Flow.
One of the most important changes is in the robot’s visual system, which has access to a Visual Language Model that theoretically gives the Flow 2 unlimited object recognition. This opens the door for several possibilities, such as helping to find lost keys or other valuables and enabling scenario-based cleaning strategies.
We bought the Narwal Flow 2 and evaluated its vacuuming, mopping, obstacle avoidance, and navigation in our independent studio tests. This review now includes our October 2026 retest update, which substantially changes our mopping assessment and explains how the improved results affected its placement on our Top 20 robot vacuum list.
Narwal Flow 2
Vacuum Wars Stars 3.90
The Narwal Flow 2 combines strong vacuuming and mopping performance with advanced obstacle recognition. In our studio tests, it avoided 20 of 24 obstacles, delivered above-average navigation efficiency, removed 84% of embedded sand in our carpet deep-clean test, and performed well at picking up flattened pet hair. It also had no hair wrap in our 7-inch hair-tangle test. Its dual-camera Visual Language Model system supports advanced object recognition and valuables-location features, while Narwal advertises 31,000 Pa of suction. The self-refreshing track mop lifts 10 mm and extends for edge cleaning, and the multifunction dock automatically empties the dustbin, washes and dries the mop, and dispenses detergent. Narwal rates threshold crossing at 30 mm for a single step and 40 mm for a tiered threshold; in our testing, it cleared 32 mm easily and 38 mm on a second attempt. Matter compatibility and extensive app controls add flexibility, although reported mapping and connectivity issues remain considerations. After the Narwal Freo 20 performed well with the same FlowWash track-mop hardware, we retested the Flow 2. Its stain-removal results improved substantially, rising from below average in our original evaluation to well above our studio averages. We believe a major firmware update released between evaluations explains the improvement, which also moved the Flow 2 higher on our Top 20 robot vacuum list at the time. The stronger mopping results make the Flow 2 a more well-rounded option than our original evaluation suggested. See additional info
Narwal Flow 2 Features and Design
Starting with the basics, the Flow 2 sits at the top of the Narwal robot lineup, with the most premium features and automations the brand has to offer.
The Flow 2 has a new look, with a major aesthetic change that includes an ambient light on the dock with three standby options, plus another light on the robot that changes color based on its status.
Visual Language Model and Object Recognition
The headlining feature of the Flow 2 is its Visual Language Model, or VLM system. This combines with dual HD cameras to allow the robot to identify a basically limitless number of objects. You can turn on a “Valuables Protection” feature in the app that lets the robot identify things that may have fallen on the floor, such as keys or wallets, and pin their location on the map.
Scenario-based cleaning includes pet care and baby care modes, so the robot can decrease noise in a nursery or perform a more focused clean in pet zones.
The system has an AI chip rated at 10 TOPS for faster data processing, and Narwal says it can detect objects as small as 0.2 inches, or 5 mm.
Obstacle Avoidance Test Results
In our obstacle avoidance test, the Flow 2 did very well. Between our standard test and torture test, the Flow 2 avoided 20 out of 24 obstacles, which was above the 16-object average. The original Flow avoided 18 out of 24.
Navigation and Cleaning Efficiency
Navigation was another pro. The Flow 2 uses a combination of LiDAR and side structured-light sensors to map and route its path, and it has an interesting way of moving through a room. Narwal claims this system enables the robot to clean the floor more like a person might, and you can see some of that behavior as it moves around. Instead of relying only on long rows, it works in smaller zones with a lot of back-and-forth movement.
That movement pattern seems like it might hurt navigation efficiency, but the Flow 2 scored much higher than average in that test. It covered 0.8 square meters per minute, compared with the 0.71 average and the original Flow’s 0.52.
It also finished vacuuming and mopping the studio floor plan in 38 minutes, matching the original Flow and beating the 56-minute average.
On the whole, this was a smart robot, and it looks like Narwal’s efforts here are paying off. With machine learning and a powerful processor, it’s also possible that it will improve further as the technology matures.
See also: How Vacuum Wars Tests Obstacle Avoidance
Vacuuming Performance
Another pro was that it was a good vacuum. The official suction rating is competitive at 31,000 Pascals, and in our suction bench test, it measured 1.92 kPa, nearly double the 0.99 kPa average. Airflow was also slightly above average at 18 CFM, compared with the 17 CFM average.
The vacuum did well in its main task of sweeping debris of various sizes from the surfaces of both hard floors and carpets without scattering or leaving debris behind. In our carpet deep-clean test, where we embed fine grit into medium-pile carpet and then measure how much the robot can remove, it performed above average by removing 84% of the sand. The average is 78%.
Pet Hair Pickup and Hair Tangle Results
The Flow 2 also did very well in our flattened pet hair test, where we press 2.5-inch hair onto carpets to see how well the robot can pick it up. It scored 88%, which was above the 82% average.
The main single brush has bristles to agitate the floor and a tapered anti-tangle design that sends hair and debris into the dustbin. The side brush is also designed to resist tangles and reverses direction to reach into corners.
In our 7-inch hair tangle test, the Flow 2 performed perfectly, with zero hair wrapped around the brush or axle. That was much better than the 26% average.
While the onboard dustbin is a little smaller than average at 300 mL, it is larger than several other flagships we have seen this year, so that is a hardware advantage for homes with a lot of pet hair or bulky debris.
Mopping System and Hot-Water Track Mop
The mopping features are robust. The Flow 2 uses a rolling-track-style mop pad that continually refreshes itself with hot, clean water at 140°F, or 60°C. That is a temperature upgrade over the original Flow, which used 113°F water.
It also squeegees dirty water into an onboard dirty-water tank integrated into the robot’s body. While the tank cannot be removed, it does have an agitator inside to help prevent grime from building up. Mops that refresh themselves like this are very good for processing wet spills because they collect liquid messes instead of spreading them around on the floor like traditional spinning pads or flat pads can.
The track design is also an advantage because it gives the mop more surface contact with the floor than a cylinder roller. The mop can lift 10 mm so the robot can clean a mixture of hard floors and carpets in a single run without getting carpets wet. It uses 12 Newtons of downward pressure and can extend to the side for cleaning along walls and furniture.
The mop initially fell short in our studio tests, but subsequent retesting showed substantially stronger stain removal. We explain the original results and the retest below.
Threshold Crossing
Threshold crossing was another pro. The official threshold limit for this robot is 40 mm for a tiered threshold and 30 mm for a single threshold. In our test, the Flow 2 crossed a 32 mm threshold without any problems, and it was even able to cross a 38 mm threshold on the second try.
Based on those results, we believe the Flow 2 should be able to handle its standard single-tier limit of 30 mm without problems.
Base Station and Dock Automation
The base station for this robot is a major pro. The dock washes the mop at 212°F and dries it with warm air at 104°F, or 40°C. It now also has automatic detergent dispensing for refilling the robot’s water tank.
It has very strong auto-empty suction that was able to empty the robot’s dustbin completely, storing debris in a 2.4-liter disposable dust bag. Narwal is also supposed to introduce a reusable dust bag for the base station in the near future. The dock dries and sanitizes the bag so that any moisture that gets in during cleaning will not cause mustiness or clogging.
There are three light options on the base, including a fire-color animation, a purple-color animation, and a static night light. While the lights do not affect performance, they are pleasant, and they can be disabled completely if needed.
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Narwal App Features
App features are a pro overall. The Narwal app has controls for scheduling, room customization, cleaning settings, no-go zones, and other robot control features.You can set the robot to vacuum carpets before it wets the mop for more dry protection, and you can set a carpet-intensive mode that makes the robot cover the carpet in two passes.
The robot is Matter-compatible and has an onboard voice assistant for commands.
Narwal App Drawbacks
There are a few things about the app that we consider drawbacks. While the app itself is feature-rich, it is not a favorite among users on Android or iOS. The Flow 2 is still a little young to have a large number of negative reviews, but the few we do see often cite mapping issues and difficulty getting the robot to connect.
Mopping Performance: Original Results and Retesting
Mopping was a weakness in our original evaluation of the Narwal Flow 2. Its stain-removal results fell below our studio averages, which held it back in our rankings. Although it left relatively little water behind, its overall mopping performance did not meet our expectations for the FlowWash system.
Our later testing of the Narwal Freo 20 prompted us to revisit those findings. The Freo 20 performed very well with the same track-mop hardware, so we brought the Flow 2 back for another round of stain-removal tests.
This time, the Flow 2 performed substantially better. Its results rose well above our studio averages, improving its position on our Top 20 Robot Vacuum list.
We believe a major firmware update that Narwal released after our initial evaluation was responsible for the improvement. One of our writers had already reported better mopping performance at home following that update, and our subsequent studio retesting confirmed that the Flow 2 could deliver much stronger stain removal than our original results suggested.
Based on this retest, we now consider mopping a strength of the Flow 2.
Original testing, before retest
The images below are retained from our original review for context. They do not depict the retest or its improved stain-removal results.
Final Verdict: Is the Narwal Flow 2 Worth It?
Our retesting gives us a more favorable view of the Narwal Flow 2. Strong stain removal now complements its capable vacuuming, above-average obstacle avoidance, efficient navigation, and excellent resistance to hair tangles.
The improved mopping results moved the Flow 2 higher on our Top 20 Robot Vacuum list. Its advanced object-recognition features and automated dock add to its appeal, although the app concerns discussed above remain considerations.
With its substantially improved mopping performance, the Flow 2 is a more well-rounded robot vacuum and mop than our original evaluation indicated.
Top 20 Robot Vacuums
Explore Vacuum Wars’ always up-to-date rankings of the best robot vacuums, based on independent, hands-on testing. We purchase every unit ourselves and have evaluated more than 150 models, giving us a deep benchmark for cleaning performance, navigation, battery life, and advanced features like obstacle avoidance and mopping.
Robot Vacuum Mop Systems Explained
Flat pad, dual spinning pad, and roller mop systems all clean differently. See how each design works—and what our real-world testing shows about stain removal and water handling. Learn About Robot Vacuum Mop Systems
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Narwal Flow 2 have obstacle avoidance?
Yes. The Narwal Flow 2 uses a Visual Language Model system with dual HD cameras, and in our testing it avoided 20 out of 24 obstacles.
How much suction does the Narwal Flow 2 have?
Narwal lists the Flow 2 at 31,000 Pa of suction. In our suction bench test, it measured 1.92 kPa, which was nearly double our current average.
Is the Narwal Flow 2 good for pet hair?
The Flow 2 performed well in our pet hair testing. It scored 88% in our flattened pet hair test and had zero hair wrap in our 7-inch hair tangle test.
How well does the Narwal Flow 2 mop?
The Narwal Flow 2 performed well above our studio averages for stain removal when we retested it. This was a substantial improvement over its original below-average results. We believe a major firmware update released between evaluations explains the improvement.
Does the Narwal Flow 2 clean carpets?
Yes. It can lift its mop 10 mm over carpets, and it removed 84% of embedded sand in our carpet deep-clean test, which was above average.
Does the Narwal Flow 2 have a self-emptying dock?
Yes. The dock auto-empties the robot’s dustbin into a 2.4-liter disposable dust bag. It also washes and dries the mop and includes automatic detergent dispensing.
What is the biggest upgrade on the Narwal Flow 2?
The biggest upgrade is its Visual Language Model system, which gives it advanced object-recognition potential and supports features such as valuables detection and scenario-based cleaning.
Did the Narwal Flow 2 make the Vacuum Wars rankings?
Yes. The Narwal Flow 2 earned a place on our Top 20 Robot Vacuum list, and its substantially improved mopping results in our retest moved it higher in the rankings. See the list for its latest placement.
Narwal Robot Vacuum Buyers Guide – 2026
Our Narwal Robot Vacuum Buyer’s Guide explains the differences between models so you can easily compare features and prices. We cover everything from the best budget-friendly Narwal vacuums to the most advanced systems with self-cleaning docks and smart navigation. Whether you’re upgrading or buying your first robot vacuum, this guide will help you choose the best Narwal robot vacuum for your home and budget. See the Guide
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Narwal Flow 2
