This new robot vacuum cleaner wants to crush the competition… and waste

Narwal is a manufacturer of robot vacuum cleaners that is still little known here, but has been trying since the beginning of the year to make a name for itself on the European market with interesting, or at least intriguing, models. The Freo Z Ultra is the latest, and is positioned above Freo X Plus and Ultra of which it not only takes up the waste compaction system, but also pushes it a little further while promising many other small improvements. It's simple, this new model intends to compete with the best on the market, like the Qrevo Curv at Roborock or the X40 Ultra at Dreame.

Up to 120 days without emptying waste

Narwal's first robots had the particularity of being able to compact the vacuumed waste in a bag occupying the place of the usual dust bin. A tip which should allow them to run for up to 7 weeks without draining, not even automatic. The Freo Z Ultra benefits, for its part, from automatic emptying with a 2.5 liter bag, but combines it with this compaction system to arrive at the promise of 120 days of peace of mind, or approximately 4 months. For the dust at least.

Of course, as a high-end model, the latest from Narwal is also equipped with a mop, or rather two small mops, which the station can also wash. To do this, it uses water purified by electrolysis, and heated between 45 and 75°C depending on the level of dirt detected. The mops are then dried with hot air and the station is also responsible for filling the robot's water tank so that it can moisten its mops while washing.

An accessory for washing skirting boards

The Freo Z Ultra itself does not lack originality either. If it does not have arms to extend its brushes or mops, it can be supplemented with a small brush on one side to wash not along the walls but simply the baseboards. Narwal still offers a specific movement to improve washing along the walls. On the suction side, the manufacturer announces a power of 12000 Pa and the robot can count on 2 side brushes in addition to its main brush to guide the waste towards its suction mouth.

A dual camera to analyze obstacles and waste

The Freo Z Ultra is also well equipped for sailing. In addition to the usual telemeter visible on the top to map the house, it integrates not one but two cameras on the front to detect small obstacles. Up to 120 must also be able to be recognized by the robot, which must therefore be able to adopt the best avoidance strategy. Side sensors must also allow it to skim obstacles, including charging cables, so that it leaves as little surface area as possible in cluttered spaces, but its cameras must also allow it to analyze dirt.

Narwal's robot must not only adapt its washing mode (suction, washing) to the nature of the dirt (solid or liquid) it encounters, but also analyze the quantity of it present in order to activate its thorough cleaning mode. as needed; he then passes over it twice, changing the direction of his comings and goings. The robot can also stop its side brushes to avoid spreading waste.

As much for its station as for its cleaning functions, the Freo Z Ultra is therefore a very promising robot. We can only hope that it will keep its promises since it was launched at the recommended retail price of €999. There are certainly more expensive models still on the market, but it remains a significant investment.