I’ve always been fascinated by the promise of robot vacuums—effortless cleaning, more time for life’s joys, and floors so spotless you could eat off them (not that I’d try).
When I set out to compare the Narwal Freo and the Narwal Freo X Ultra, my goal was simple: figure out which one delivers the best bang for your buck. In this article, I’ll share my firsthand experience testing these two, breaking down their features, pros, cons, and whether the pricier Freo X Ultra is worth the splurge.
Let’s find out which robot reigns supreme for your home.
A Brief Comparison Table
| Feature | Narwal Freo | Narwal Freo X Ultra |
| Suction Power | 3,000 Pa | 8,200 Pa |
| Dustbin Capacity | ~0.5L (est.) | 1L (with dust compression) |
| Dust Storage Duration | ~2-3 weeks | Up to 7 weeks |
| Mopping Pressure | 12N | 12N |
| Mop Rotation | 180 RPM | 180 RPM |
| Obstacle Avoidance | Basic LIDAR | Tri-laser with LIDAR SLAM 4.0 |
| Noise Level | ~60 dB (est.) | ~50 dB (est.) |
| Battery Life | ~180 min | ~208 min |
| Base Station Features | Mop washing/drying, detergent dispensing | Mop washing/drying, detergent dispensing, dust compression |
| Price (MSRP) | $900 | $1,400 (often discounted to $1,000-$1,200) |
| App Features | Cleaning schedules, no-go zones | Enhanced mapping, customizable cleaning modes |
| Voice Assistant | Alexa, Google Assistant | Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri |
| Weight | ~9 lbs (est.) | ~9.5 lbs (est.) |
My First Impressions: Unboxing The Narwal Freo And Freo X Ultra
When I unboxed the Narwal Freo, I was struck by its sleek, glossy white finish.
It felt like a premium gadget, though its 4-inch height (thanks to the LIDAR turret) made me wonder how it’d fare under my low coffee table.
The Freo X Ultra arrived with a similar aesthetic but a slightly beefier build, hinting at the extra power under the hood.
Both came with hefty base stations that house clean and dirty water tanks, plus a slot for Narwal’s lemon-basil-scented detergent—a nice touch that made my home smell like a fancy spa.
Setting them up was a breeze. The Narwal app guided me through Wi-Fi connection and initial mapping, and both robots were ready to roll in under 15 minutes. The Freo’s base station has a small LCD screen for basic controls, while the Freo X Ultra’s touchscreen felt more intuitive.
Right away, I could tell the X Ultra was aiming for a more polished experience, but I was eager to see if it justified the $500 price gap.
Vacuuming Performance of Narwal Freo And Freo X Ultra
Let’s talk suction. The Narwal Freo’s 3,000 Pa is respectable for a mid-range robot vacuum. It handled cereal crumbs and cat litter on my hardwood floors with ease, though it struggled with fine dust embedded in my low-pile living room rug.
Pet hair?
It did okay, but I found myself untangling fur from the brush roll more often than I’d like.
In my week-long test, the Freo needed its dustbin emptied every few days, which wasn’t a dealbreaker but felt less “hands-free” than advertised.
Then came the Freo X Ultra, boasting a whopping 8,200 Pa of suction.
This thing is a beast. It sucked up everything—rice grains, pet hair, even the stubborn coffee grounds I spilled near the kitchen counter.
Its U-shaped air duct and zero-tangle brush were game-changers.
With two cats shedding like it’s their full-time job, I was thrilled to see the brush roll stay hair-free after a week. The dust compression system meant I only emptied the 1L dustbin once every two weeks, compared to the Freo’s smaller bin needing attention twice as often.
However, the Freo X Ultra’s power comes with a caveat: it’s not perfect on low-pile carpets. While it outperformed the Freo, it still left some fine debris behind, especially compared to competitors like the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra.
If your home is mostly carpet, you might notice this limitation.
Mopping: Do They Scrub as Well as They Suck?
Both robots shine when it comes to mopping, thanks to their dual triangular mop pads that spin at 180 RPM and apply 12N of downward pressure. I tested them on my kitchen tiles, where dried ketchup stains and muddy paw prints are a daily reality.
The Freo tackled these well, leaving my floors streak-free after two passes. Its base station automatically washes and dries the mop pads, preventing that gross mildew smell I’ve dealt with in older models.
The Freo X Ultra matched the Freo’s mopping prowess but added a layer of sophistication with its DirtSense technology. It detected dirtier areas (like the ketchup disaster) and adjusted its cleaning pattern, sometimes making an extra pass for good measure.
I noticed it used slightly less water, which meant fewer refills for the 4.5L clean water tank. However, both robots struggled with tight corners under cabinets, leaving about an inch of uncleaned space. If you’ve got a lot of nooks and crannies, you’ll still need a manual mop for touch-ups.
One gripe: the Freo X Ultra’s water tank ran dry mid-cycle in my larger kitchen, interrupting the job. The Freo had similar issues, but I expected more from the pricier model. Narwal offers an optional auto-refill kit, but at $250, it feels like a steep add-on for a $1,400 device.
Navigation And Obstacle Avoidance: Smarts Under Pressure
Navigation is where the Freo X Ultra pulls ahead. The Freo uses basic LIDAR, which maps rooms decently but isn’t flawless. It bumped into chair legs and got tangled in a phone charger cable once, requiring a rescue mission.
In my 1,200-square-foot home, it took about two hours to vacuum and mop, which felt sluggish compared to newer models.
The Freo X Ultra, with its tri-laser LIDAR SLAM 4.0 system, is a different story. It zipped around obstacles like a pro, skirting my cat’s food mat and avoiding a stray sock with millimeter precision.
It mapped my home faster and more accurately, with the app showing color-coded rooms and furniture icons. I could set no-go zones for my dog’s water bowl, and the X Ultra respected them every time. It shaved 30 minutes off the Freo’s cleaning time, finishing my first floor in about 90 minutes.
That said, the X Ultra isn’t infallible. It occasionally nudged chair legs in tight spaces, and its obstacle avoidance struggled with very small objects like Lego pieces. If you’ve got kids or pets scattering tiny toys, you’ll still need to do some pre-cleaning.
Base Station and Maintenance: Hands-Free or Hands-On?
The base stations for both models are bulky but functional, housing clean and dirty water tanks and a detergent dispenser. The Freo’s station is solid but basic—it washes and dries mop pads and dispenses cleaning solution automatically.
I loved not having to scrub the pads myself, but the dustbin still required frequent emptying, which felt like a chore for a $900 robot.
The Freo X Ultra’s base station is a step up. It uses dust compression to store debris for up to seven weeks, a huge win for pet owners like me. You can choose between a reusable dustbin or disposable bags, though I’m not thrilled about the environmental impact of the bags (or their $30 replacement cost for a three-pack).
The station’s touchscreen is more user-friendly, and it’s noticeably quieter during mop washing, which is great if you run it at night.
One downside: neither base station self-empties debris into a larger reservoir like some competitors. The X Ultra’s compression system is innovative, but it’s not as convenient as a true self-emptying dock. If you hate touching dustbins, this might bug you.
App Experience: Control At Your Fingertips
The Narwal app is a highlight for both robots. It’s intuitive, letting you schedule cleanings, set no-go zones, and tweak suction or mopping intensity.
With the Freo, I could choose between vacuuming, mopping, or both, but the map quality was basic—rooms weren’t always labeled correctly, and I had to manually adjust boundaries.
The Freo X Ultra’s app experience is more refined. The maps are vibrant, with icons for furniture and carpeted areas. You can fine-tune settings like mop-drying intensity or enable “Stairless Mode” for better climbing.
I also appreciated push notifications for maintenance, like when the water tank needed refilling. However, the app has quirks—you can’t edit room shapes easily, and mixing cleaning modes for different rooms isn’t an option.
Both support voice assistants (Alexa and Google Assistant for the Freo; add Siri for the X Ultra), which made starting a cleaning cycle as easy as yelling across the room. My only complaint? The app occasionally lagged when updating the robot’s status, which was mildly annoying.
Battery Life: Endurance for the Long Haul
Battery life is a strong suit for both. The Freo’s 5,200 mAh battery lasted about 180 minutes in my tests, covering my entire first floor with juice to spare.
The Freo X Ultra, with the same battery capacity, stretched to 208 minutes on low power, thanks to optimized energy use. In real-world use, it cleaned about 1,400 square feet per charge, which is impressive for larger homes.
Charging times are reasonable—about 3 hours for a full charge on both. The X Ultra’s efficiency meant I could run it daily without worrying about battery drain, even in mixed vacuum-and-mop mode. If you’ve got a sprawling home, either model should keep up.
- Noise Levels: Can You Hear Yourself Think?
Noise is a big deal for me, especially with pets who get spooked by loud appliances. The Freo, at around 60 dB, was quieter than my old Roomba but still noticeable during phone calls. The Freo X Ultra, at roughly 50 dB, is a whisper in comparison.
I could barely hear it from the next room, and even the base station’s mop-washing cycle was less intrusive. This makes the X Ultra a better pick for nighttime cleaning or homes with noise-sensitive folks.
- Price and Value: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
The Narwal Freo retails for $900, often bundled with an accessories pack (mop pads, filters, and detergent) for $1,000. It’s a solid value for a mid-range robot vacuum and mop, especially if you’re upgrading from an older model like the Narwal T10.
But its limitations—lower suction, frequent dustbin emptying, and basic navigation—make it less future-proof.
The Freo X Ultra, at $1,400, is a premium investment, though I’ve seen it drop to $1,000 during sales. Its superior suction, tangle-free brush, and smarter navigation justify the cost for pet owners or tech enthusiasts, but the lack of true self-emptying and occasional carpet struggles might give you pause.
If you can snag it on discount, it’s a no-brainer.
Pros and Cons of Narwal Freo And Freo X Ultra
Narwal Freo Pros
- Affordable at $900, especially with discounts
- Excellent mopping with 12N pressure and 180 RPM
- Automatic mop washing and drying
- Decent battery life (~180 minutes)
- Intuitive app with basic customization
Narwal Freo Cons
- Only 3,000 Pa suction, weak on carpets
- Small dustbin needs frequent emptying
- Basic LIDAR navigation bumps into obstacles
- Slower cleaning time (~2 hours for 1,200 sq ft)
- Noisy compared to newer models
Narwal Freo X Ultra Pros
- Powerful 8,200 Pa suction tackles tough debris
- Zero-tangle brush is a lifesaver for pet owners
- Advanced tri-laser navigation with LIDAR SLAM 4.0
- Dust compression for up to 7 weeks of storage
- Quieter operation (~50 dB)
Narwal Freo X Ultra Cons
- Expensive at $1,400 (though often discounted)
- No true self-emptying base station
- Subpar performance on low-pile carpets
- Water tank may run dry in large homes
- Disposable dust bags add recurring costs
Who Should Buy Which?
If you’re on a budget or have a smaller home with mostly hard floors, the Narwal Freo is a fantastic choice.
Its mopping is top-notch, and the price is easier to swallow.
It’s not perfect for carpets or pet-heavy households, but it gets the job done for casual users.
The Freo X Ultra is for those who want a premium, low-maintenance experience.
Pet owners, busy families, or anyone with a larger home will appreciate its power, tangle-free brush, and long dustbin life.
If you can afford it (especially on sale), it’s a significant upgrade. However, if carpets dominate your space, you might want to explore options like the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra.
My Testing Process: A Real-World Perspective
To keep things fair, I tested both robots in my 1,200-square-foot home with a mix of hardwood, tile, and low-pile carpet. I scattered rice, cereal dust, and pet hair to mimic daily messes. I ran each robot in Freo mode (auto-optimized cleaning) and custom modes to compare performance.
I also tracked noise levels with a decibel meter, timed cleaning cycles, and monitored app usability over two weeks. My two cats and a dog added real-world chaos, ensuring no test was too easy.
The Freo X Ultra consistently outperformed the Freo, but I was surprised by how well the Freo held its own on hard floors. The price difference became the deciding factor—does the X Ultra’s tech justify the extra $500? For me, the answer leaned yes, but your needs might differ.
FAQ: Quick Answers To Common Questions
Yes, if you have pets or a larger home and can snag it for under $1,200. Its suction, tangle-free brush, and dust compression make it a premium choice, but the $1,400 MSRP is steep for some.
The Narwal T10 is an older model with lower suction (1,800 Pa), no tangle-free brush, and basic navigation. The Freo offers 3,000 Pa, better mopping, and a more advanced app, making it a significant upgrade.
No, the Freo doesn’t have a self-emptying base station. You’ll need to manually empty its dustbin every few days, unlike the Freo X Ultra’s compression system that lasts up to seven weeks.
A 31-ounce bottle lasts about 1-2 months with daily mopping in a 1,000-square-foot home, depending on how often you run the robot and the detergent dispensing settings.
Conclusion: Which Narwal Should You Choose?
After weeks of testing, I’ve seen the Narwal Freo and Freo X Ultra battle it out on my floors, and the choice comes down to your priorities. If you want a reliable, budget-friendly robot that mops like a champ, the Freo at $900 is a solid bet.
But if you’re after power, smarts, and less maintenance—especially with pets—the Freo X Ultra’s 8,200 Pa suction and tangle-free brush make it worth the splurge, especially if you catch it on sale. Whichever you pick, you’re getting a robot that takes the hassle out of clean floors.
Now, go enjoy that extra time you’ll save.