Narwal has quietly adjusted the Matter timeline for its Flow robot vacuum. Earlier product materials stated a November 2025 update, but the listing now indicates availability sometime in 2026 with no specific date. For Narwal Flow (See our review) users, this means Matter control remains forthcoming. The robot’s cleaning performance and app-based functions are unchanged, but integration with broader smart home platforms awaits Narwal’s firmware and certification work.
What Robot Vacuum Matter Support Will Offer
Matter is an emerging technical standard for smart home systems (Wikipedia link) that aims to simplify setup and expand control options. The standard allows devices to connect across multiple ecosystems—such as Apple Home, Google Home, Alexa, and SmartThings—through a unified protocol.
For robot vacuums, Matter enables users to start or stop cleaning, pause or resume, and send the robot to its dock from supported apps. It also displays basic status details, like whether the robot is cleaning or charging, and may allow mode changes between vacuuming and vacuum-mopping. Once platforms fully support the device type, users can include their robot in automations and scenes—for example, starting a clean when leaving home or pausing during a “Movie Night” routine.
What Matter Won’t Replace
Even after Flow gains Matter support, Narwal’s own app will remain essential. Matter currently standardizes only core controls, not advanced features like map viewing, no-go zones, multi-floor management, or dock maintenance. In practice, Matter offers convenient, cross-platform control, while the Narwal app still handles detailed setup and customization.
Robot vacuums were added to Matter in version 1.2, which focuses on whole-home cleaning and mode control. This is later than other smart devices, like lights, sensors, and media, which were the first to work with Matter. The newer Matter 1.4 revision introduces room-level cleaning, but adoption depends on future updates to both robot firmware and smart home platforms.
Narwal Flow’s revised schedule reflects a broader, gradual adoption of Matter for robot vacuums as companies prioritize functionality before expanding to more advanced smart home features. These emerging smart home technologies can often face delays, as we saw last year with Apple Home’s postponing robot vacuum control in their Home app.
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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
