Narwal Freo X Ultra vs Narwal Freo X Plus
Quick take: The Narwal Freo X Ultra costs $90 less; the Narwal Freo X Ultra has stronger suction (8,200 vs 7,800 Pa).
Which one to buy
Oddly, the better Narwal here is also the cheaper one. The Narwal Freo X Ultra is listed at $250 and the Narwal Freo X Plus at $340, yet the Ultra is the step-up model. It adds hot-water pad washing, tri-laser obstacle avoidance and DirtSense, which detects dirty pads mid-run and sends the robot back to rinse them. X Plus owners name exactly those three as what they miss: it bumps into small objects regularly, its cold-water wash lets odor build unless you hand-clean the pads and basin every week or two, and it can't tell when its pads are dirty.
Everything else is close to identical. Both are rated at 210 minutes, both have 400 ml bins, both run at 65 dB and both lift their mops on carpet. Suction is 8200 Pa on the Ultra against 7800 Pa on the X Plus, which won't change much. Owners of both rate Narwal's mopping above similarly priced rivals, and owners of both say the brand's US parts, support and troubleshooting help are thin.
That last point matters more because both are discontinued. Whichever you buy, replacement pads and brushes will get harder to find, and Ultra owners report repairs that can mean shipping the robot overseas. If you're set on one of these, buy the Freo X Ultra: it costs about $90 less and does more. If you want a robot you'll be able to service for years, a current model is the safer choice.
Narwal Freo X Ultra
Pick the Narwal Freo X Ultra over its sibling in almost every case: it's about $90 cheaper and adds hot-water washing, obstacle avoidance and DirtSense, though like the X Plus it's discontinued.
Narwal Freo X Plus
Pick the Narwal Freo X Plus only if you find it priced well below the X Ultra, since it lacks hot-water washing and obstacle avoidance and is also discontinued.
| Spec | Narwal Freo X Ultra | Narwal Freo X Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$250 | ~$340 |
| Type | Robot Vacuum & Mop | Robot Vacuum & Mop |
| Suction | 8200 Pa | 7800 Pa |
| Battery | 210 min | 210 min |
| Navigation | LiDAR + Camera | LiDAR |
| Filtration | — | — |
| Cordless | Yes | Yes |
| Bagged | — | — |
| Noise | 65 dB | 65 dB |
| Dustbin | 400 ml | 400 ml |
| Water tank | 350 ml | 300 ml |
| Self-empty dock | Yes | Yes |
| Auto mop washing | Yes | No |
| Hot water washing | Yes | No |
| Obstacle avoidance | Yes | Yes |
| Carpet detection | Yes | Yes |
| Auto mop lifting | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-floor mapping | Yes | Yes |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 13.6 x 13.6 x 3.8 in | 13.6 x 13.6 x 3.8 in |
| Weight | 10.4 lbs | 9.5 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year |
Pros & cons
Narwal Freo X Ultra
- ✓DirtSense detects dirty mop pads mid-clean and returns to wash — genuinely useful
- ✓Arguably the best mopping performance of any robot vacuum combo
- ✓Tri-laser obstacle avoidance is very effective, especially with dark furniture
- ✓EdgeSwing side mop extends to clean along walls
- ✓Quieter operation than most competitors at 65dB
- ✗Brand is less known in the US — harder to find replacement parts
- ✗Dock is large and the design is polarizing (tall, boxy)
- ✗Suction at 8200Pa is good but not class-leading for the price
- ✗Fewer third-party accessories and replacement parts available
Narwal Freo X Plus
- ✓Narwal mopping quality at a significantly lower price than the X Ultra
- ✓7800Pa suction is strong for this price range
- ✓All-in-one dock with self-empty and mop wash under $400
- ✓210-minute battery handles large floor plans easily
- ✓Effective mop lifting keeps carpets dry
- ✗No camera-based obstacle avoidance — bumps into small objects
- ✗No hot water mop washing — cold water only
- ✗App ecosystem is less mature than Roborock or Ecovacs
- ✗Limited US retail presence makes returns more complicated
Narwal Freo X Ultra vs Narwal Freo X Plus: common questions
Why would the Freo X Ultra cost less than the Freo X Plus?▾
Clearance pricing on discontinued models doesn't always follow the original lineup order. At these prices the X Ultra is the better deal, since it adds hot-water washing, tri-laser avoidance and DirtSense on top of the same battery, bin and mop lift.
Does cold-water washing on the X Plus really cause smells?▾
Owners say it can over time. Their advice is to clean the mop pads and dock basin by hand every one to two weeks to stop bacterial buildup. The X Ultra's hot-water wash is the fix owners point to.