Narwal isn’t trying to make the Flow 2 merely the most powerful robot vacuum around; it also wants it to be the smartest, thanks to built-in AI. After a full month of testing, here is our verdict.
Narwal is aiming to cement its place among the leading robot vacuum brands. Following the first Flow, which really impressed us in 2025, the Chinese manufacturer is back with a second-generation model. The overall recipe is familiar, but it has been noticeably refined.
The Flow 2 is an automated vacuum and mop that leans heavily on artificial intelligence to stand out. That AI is designed not only to improve cleaning, but also to sharpen spatial detection and deliver deeper analysis of objects left around the home. It also adds a playful twist via an integrated camera. Here’s our test.
Price and availability
The Narwal Flow 2 is already on sale via Narwal’s website and through partner retailers. The standard version costs 1299 euros, while the compact version is priced at 1499 euros. That places it firmly in the ultra-premium bracket.
What the Narwal Flow 2 offers
Where the original Narwal Flow had a chunky look that broke with the segment’s usual design language, the Flow 2 goes for something more conventional. The robot itself is a 35 cm-diameter disc that docks into a 55 cm-tall tower. It’s undeniably bulky, so you do need enough room at home. The finish, however, is excellent-especially the front panel, which has an almost mirror-like effect. The black colour is less welcome, as it shows dust very quickly.
The docking base houses two removable water tanks (clean and dirty). Taking them out is straightforward, which helps with cleaning, though overall maintenance is slightly less convenient. The vacuum bag and detergent container are positioned underneath the tanks. It’s not a major issue, but we would have preferred easier access.
What truly sets the Flow 2 apart is the robot itself. First, it uses a mop designed as a roller mounted on tracks-something we haven’t seen elsewhere. The benefit is stronger mopping performance, particularly for lifting dried-on marks. We tried it on stubborn spills on tiled flooring, including syrup and ketchup, and it delivered. The cloth comes off easily for upkeep. Water is heated to 60 degrees and the roller is washed at 100 degrees, helping ensure it’s clean whenever it goes back to work. On the vacuuming side, maximum suction reaches 31 000 Pa, which is huge.
The other major leap is onboard tech. At the front, the Flow 2 has two cameras offering a field of view of more than 130 degrees, plus two sensors at the rear. On top of that is built-in AI that enables object recognition. In practice, the robot can tell whether what’s ahead is temporary clutter or something that belongs there, such as a plant. You can see this directly in the companion app, which creates a 3D model of your home. For instance, we could see in the app that children’s toys had been left out: the Flow identified them and flagged them.
Because the Flow 2 is connected to the internet, its AI can send unknown objects to a remote server for analysis and training. The approach may improve recognition over time, but we’re not keen on it for obvious data-protection reasons. Thankfully, you can switch this option off.
This same AI also helps the Flow 2 adapt its behaviour around children and pets. In a baby’s room, for example, it moves more gently than elsewhere, reducing the risk of bumping into things or waking a sleeping child. Near a cat bed, it ramps up effort to pick up as much fur as possible. Over our month of use, we found this adaptive system genuinely effective.
Our experience with the Narwal Flow 2
The Narwal Flow 2 is, quite simply, one of the best robot vacuums we have tested at Presse-citron. We set a typical routine: vacuuming daily and mopping twice a week over 50 square metres. It handled the job with ease. Even stubborn marks were removed without fuss. Beyond raw cleaning, we also appreciated the battery life, which can cover up to 300 m² if required. Maintenance proved painless too: we didn’t need to empty the vacuum bag once in a month, and we only emptied the dirty-water tank twice.
The onboard AI adds real peace of mind because the Flow 2 identifies objects rather than blundering into them. We even managed to “find” a toy we’d lost: it had ended up under a piece of furniture, and we spotted it in the app. The built-in cameras go further than obstacle avoidance as well-you can watch the cleaning in real time and do much more besides. It’s possible to drive the robot remotely (your phone screen becomes a controller) or even interact with your pet by speaking to it; it effectively doubles as a cat sitter. One particularly fun extra is pet search: give it the command and the Flow 2 will go looking for your cat-handy if the little rascal is hiding under the furniture.
On navigation, the Flow 2 performs very well, though it’s not magic. Yes, it can climb onto rugs-including thick ones-without trouble to get the job done.
However, it cannot get up small steps of a few centimetres (even if it keeps trying!). If you live in an old, awkwardly laid-out house like we do, that can be frustrating. To be fair, no robot vacuum on the market manages that.
So, should you buy it?
The Flow 2 is a brutally effective robot vacuum. It excels at cleaning performance, it’s straightforward to maintain, and it’s impressive at understanding and recognising its surroundings. More than anything, it’s the AI-driven behaviour that wins you over. During our testing, the system proved its worth: we stopped worrying about leaving cables around because, unlike many rivals, it spots them and avoids them. It also charms with its playful side, letting you see what it sees when you’re away.
Above all, the Narwal Flow 2 is for people who want the very best robot vacuum and are happy to spend heavily for top-tier performance. A real success.
Narwal Flow 2
1499 euros
Overall score
9.0/10
What we like
- Extremely effective at both vacuuming and mopping
- Easy maintenance
- Strong ability to recognise its environment
- High suction power
- Fun camera features
What we like less
- Vacuum bag positioned under the tank
- Data-protection concerns
- Expensive
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