Freo Z Ultra
2 independent reviewsRead the findings →Narwal's previous flagship and the first Freo to empty its own dust. It's a strong pick for properly mopped hard floors, and it dodges clutter well. It's slow and thirsty, though, and weak on deep carpet.
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
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What reviewers found
TechRadar lived with it for three weeks and Vacuum Wars tested it in its studio, and both praised the mopping and obstacle avoidance. Deep carpet dirt was weaker, though pet-hair pickup did better. Both liked the app, with TechRadar flagging slow syncing and no spot-clean option. Their cleaning times came from very different spaces, so don't read them side by side. Buy it for mopping hard floors, and keep a proper vacuum for rugs.
TechRadar, hands-on, 3 weeks at home, Dec 2024 · Vacuum Wars, lab test, Dec 2024
Hard floors
Mixed resultsVacuum Wars found it picked up every size of debris nearly perfectly. At home, TechRadar got there in the end but needed at least three passes on full power to clear its biscuit, flour and oat tests.
Carpet and rugs
Mixed resultsSurface debris is fine: Vacuum Wars rated its carpet sweeping great. Deep dirt is the weak spot. TechRadar gave up on fine dust in carpet after three attempts, and Vacuum Wars measured low sand removal, though its test runs were erratic.
Pet hair
Reviewers rate it highlyVacuum Wars measured above-average pet-hair pickup on carpet and named it best for pets, with the tapered brush resisting long-hair tangles. With two moulting spaniels, TechRadar found the anti-tangle design does work.
Mopping
Reviewers rate it highlyTechRadar called it the best mopping robot it had tested, clearing dried juice and ketchup, and Vacuum Wars rated it well above average, beating a floor washer on dried stains. TechRadar saw a strip left dry along walls.
Navigation and obstacles
Reviewers rate it highlyVacuum Wars recorded its best obstacle-avoidance score ever, and TechRadar saw it never get lost or stuck, steering round a sock, shoe and charger cable over three weeks.
Dock and upkeep
Mixed resultsVacuum Wars reported no trouble and expects the bag to last around 120 days. TechRadar had to set emptying after every run to stop the tiny bin clogging, saw it sometimes fail to empty anyway, and refilled water after every full clean.
App and software
Reviewers rate it highlyVacuum Wars called it one of the better apps around, with multi-level maps and detailed room settings. TechRadar found it user-friendly and intuitive, let down only by slow syncing and no spot-clean option.
Noise
Not enough evidenceOnly TechRadar measured it, at 60 to 70dB, finding it one of the quietest robots it had tested. No second qualifying review judged the noise.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceNo qualifying review has run it long-term or judged Narwal's support yet.
Value
Mixed resultsVacuum Wars found its price competitive for the features. TechRadar thinks it worth it only if you'll use the mopping, since better all-rounders cost the same and stronger carpet cleaners cost much less.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
Excellent mopping on hard floors
TechRadar called it the best mopping robot it had tested, clearing dried juice and dried ketchup from tiles, the ketchup in two passes. Vacuum Wars rated it well above average, and on dried stains it even beat a Bissell CrossWave floor washer. The one gap is edges: TechRadar saw an inch or more of dry floor left along walls and kitchen units. If you want clean, sticky-free hard floors, this is the reason to buy it.
Very good at dodging clutter
Vacuum Wars recorded one of its strongest obstacle results. In its home test, TechRadar saw it steer round furniture, dog toys, socks and a charger cable. That's a good record, but no test covers every hazard, and a cable can end up in a different spot or shape from one run to the next. Pick up anything it could damage or swallow, and check for pet accidents before a clean.
Carpet is the weak spot
TechRadar gave up on fine dust in carpet after three attempts and got out a cordless vacuum, and even on hard floors it needed three passes at full power to clear its test mess. Vacuum Wars measured just 55% sand removal from carpet, but says the robot never managed a normal run in its enclosed test area, so the real figure may be higher. Vacuum Wars did find everyday pickup and pet hair on carpet good. Keep a proper vacuum for rugs.
Slow at home, quick in the studio
TechRadar took 2 hours 41 minutes to vacuum and mop about 68m², with frequent trips back to wet the pads. Vacuum Wars finished its own, different test floor in 41 minutes. The rooms, layouts and settings weren't the same, so you can't say which is right or why they differ. If you're planning a combined vacuum and mop, allow time for all those dock visits.
Self-emptying needs watching
TechRadar had to set the dock to empty after every run, or the small onboard bin clogged. Even then it sometimes didn't empty while claiming it had. Vacuum Wars reported no such trouble and said the 2.5-litre bag should last around 120 days. TechRadar found it one of the quietest robots it had tested, at 60 to 70dB.
This covers the original Freo Z Ultra, not the Freo Z10 Ultra or Z10 Turbo.
Our take
Should you buy the Freo Z Ultra?
Best for: Homes with hard floors and clutter to steer around. Skip it if: Removing fine dust and embedded grit from carpet is your priority.
It's a strong pick for a home that's mostly hard floor, where the owner cares about a properly mopped finish and a robot that steers round socks and cables. It's a poor fit for carpet-heavy homes, and for anyone who wants a quick daily run. If you can buy the newer Freo Z10 Ultra at a similar price, compare it first; if deep carpet is your priority, a Roborock such as the Qrevo Curv suits better.
The Freo Z Ultra replaced the Freo X Ultra at the top of Narwal's range. It fixed the X Ultra's biggest gap: the dock now empties the robot's bin into a bag, as well as washing and drying the two spinning mop pads and adding floor cleaner. It also gained a pair of front cameras for spotting objects, and more claimed suction. There's no water tank on the robot, so it goes back to the dock to wet its pads. It has since been followed by the Freo Z10 Ultra and isn't widely sold new any more.
The trade-off is time and carpet. Mopping a whole floor can take hours, you'll refill the water tank often, and deep carpet cleaning is its weak spot. At 10.9cm tall with a turret on top, it won't fit under the lowest furniture.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Will it avoid cables and pet mess?
It's one of the better robots for it. Vacuum Wars recorded its best-ever obstacle score, and TechRadar saw it steer round a sock, a shoe and a charger cable. Vacuum Wars also named it best for pets. Still, pick up anything you'd hate it to hit.
How often do I have to empty or refill anything?
Water needs attention far more often than the dust bag. TechRadar refilled clean water and emptied dirty water after each full ground-floor clean. Vacuum Wars' roughly 120-day bag figure is an estimate, not a measured period without maintenance. Check that emptying has actually worked, not just whether the bag is full.
Can it get over rugs and the raised strips between rooms?
Narwal lists a threshold limit of 18mm while cleaning, or 20mm on clean, dry surfaces. TechRadar had it cross thresholds fine at home, but shape and surface still matter. The pads lift by a claimed 12mm over carpet, and thicker pile may still touch them, so set it up to treat deep rugs carefully rather than assuming they'll stay dry.
Alternatives
Other robot vacuums to compare.
Freo Z10 Ultra
Why consider it: Its mopping, edge reach and obstacle recognition are consistently praised.
The compromise: One home test hit unfinished jobs and unreliable bin emptying, and it uses a lot of water.
Flow
Why consider it: Testers liked its flat track mop and its hair-resistant hardware.
The compromise: Its cleaning routes and app draw steady criticism, and vacuuming results conflict sharply.
Omni S2
Why consider it: Strong carpet and hair pickup, and it dodges obstacles superbly.
The compromise: Its mopping results are divided, and one long-term reviewer's unit had to be replaced.
Qrevo Curv
Why consider it: Reviewers agree it's especially good on hard floors, with strong edge cleaning and mopping.
The compromise: Testers split on carpets and rugs, and it misses too many small objects.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the Freo Z Ultra?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- TechRadar: Narwal Freo Z Ultra robot vacuum and mop review ↗4 / 5Hands-on, 3 weeks at home
- Vacuum Wars: Narwal Freo Z Ultra review ↗Lab test
Sources
- Narwal: Freo Z Ultra product help page ↗Manufacturer
- Narwal: Freo Z Ultra and Z10 Ultra product page ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Search YouTube for Narwal Freo Z Ultra ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.