The Narwal Flow 2 Review
A smarter robot vacuum that actually knows what it is looking at
Having been a long-time Narwal advocate, I was wrapped to get the opportunity to try the new Narwal Flow 2 and compare it with the original Narwal Flow. I have reviewed Narwal machines before and have encouraged plenty of clients , listeners to my segments on FIVEaa plus other radio stations and friends to consider the brand, so I was particularly interested to see whether the Flow 2 was a genuine improvement or simply another yearly upgrade with a bigger list of specifications.
For me, a robot cleaner really has three jobs: vacuum the floor properly, mop it properly, and dodge whatever has been left lying around so it can finish the job without getting tangled, stuck or requiring me to rescue it. The Flow 2 does all three very well, but it is the third job — understanding what is actually on the floor — where this model has taken a noticeable step forward.
Setup starts in the Narwal app on your smartphone
The first job is mapping the house. My advice is to pick up as much as possible for that initial mapping run. Give the robot a clean look at the rooms, doorways, hard floors and carpets. Once the map is created, check that the rooms and floor types are correct and don't be afraid to edit or completely remap the house, flat or unit if something doesn't look right. I also go through the vacuum settings and generally choose the strongest suction where appropriate rather than simply accepting every default.
What has improved?
The headline number is suction. Narwal rates the Flow 2 at up to 31,000Pa, compared with 22,000Pa on the original Flow. On paper that is a substantial increase, but the more important point is how it performs across different surfaces. CarpetFocus adjusts the cleaning behaviour for carpet, while the mop can lift by 10mm when moving onto carpet. In my view, specifications are useful, but what matters is whether the floors look and feel clean when the robot has finished.
The mopping system is also a major part of the Flow 2. Rather than dragging the same dirty round pads around the house, the FlowWash system uses a continuous track-style mop. The robot can use 60°C hot water while mopping and apply up to 12N of downward pressure. Back at the base station, the mop system can be washed at temperatures up to 100°C and then dried with warm air. That means much less handling of wet, dirty mop pads and helps make the whole process genuinely more hands-off.
The base station is a big part of the appeal of this type of machine. It empties the dust, manages clean and dirty water, dispenses detergent, washes the mop and dries it. Narwal says the dust system can provide extended hands-free operation, although exactly how long you get will obviously depend on the size of the home, how often you clean and how much dirt, dust and pet hair it has to deal with.
The AI obstacle detection is the standout
Where the Flow 2 really impressed me is obstacle avoidance. It uses dual cameras and AI object recognition to work out what it is seeing rather than simply detecting that 'something' is in front of it. The app can mark obstacles on the map and, in some cases, show you an image of what the robot detected. This is more useful than it sounds because you can see why the robot changed its route rather than wondering why it apparently ignored part of a room.
This is also an area where independent reviewers have been impressed. Mashable's testing found the Flow 2 particularly good at recognising everyday mess and avoiding small obstacles such as charging cords, shoes and slippers. Vacuum Wars recorded 20 avoided obstacles out of 24 in its testing, compared with 18 out of 24 for the original Flow. That doesn't mean you should deliberately leave the floor covered in cables, socks and pet toys, but it does mean the Flow 2 is better equipped to deal with a real home rather than a perfectly prepared showroom.
There is an important qualification: AI is not magic. No robot vacuum should be blindly trusted around pet accidents, liquids or anything that could create a serious mess if the robot gets it wrong. The technology is getting very good, but I would still pick up anything potentially disastrous before starting an unattended clean.
Battery, mapping and day-to-day use
The Flow 2 has a 7,000mAh battery, with Narwal claiming coverage of about 250 square metres per charge. It also introduces AI-managed battery care designed to adjust charging behaviour and help preserve battery health over time. That is a sensible improvement because the battery is one of the components you want to remain healthy for years, not just while the machine is new.
Mapping has moved beyond the simple 2D plan of the earlier generation, with 3D mapping and more detailed recognition of the environment. There are dedicated Pet and Baby Care modes, floor tagging and a large number of cleaning options. The downside of all this flexibility is that the Narwal app can become a little complicated. There are settings inside settings, and some reviewers have also found that useful options aren't always where you expect them to be. Spend some time with the app when you first install the machine — it is worth learning what the various carpet, mopping and cleaning modes actually do.
Price
This is unquestionably a premium robot cleaner. Narwal's Australian media material lists the Flow 2 Complete at an RRP of $2,999. At the time of writing, Harvey Norman is listing the black Flow 2 Complete at $2,499. By comparison, the original Narwal Flow is currently listed there at $1,999. Prices and promotions change, so it is worth checking the current deal rather than paying attention only to the RRP.
My verdict
The Narwal Flow 2 is not cheap, and if your idea of a robot vacuum is something that just wanders around picking up crumbs, there are far cheaper machines. But that misses the point of a flagship robot cleaner. What you are paying for is the combination of strong vacuuming, serious mopping, intelligent navigation and a base station that takes over much of the dirty maintenance work.
Compared with the original Flow, the Flow 2 has more suction, smarter object recognition, improved mapping, a larger battery and a more sophisticated approach to automated cleaning. For me, the biggest improvement is not the 31,000Pa figure — it is the fact that the machine is becoming better at understanding the home it is cleaning.
Would I still pick things up before running it? Yes. Would I still check the map and spend time setting it up properly? Absolutely. A $2,500-plus robot doesn't remove the need for common sense. But once it is configured, the Flow 2 gets remarkably close to what these machines have always promised: press a button, leave it alone and come back to cleaner floors.
At a glance
Up to 31,000Pa suction
60°C hot-water FlowWash track mopping with up to 12N downward pressure
Base-station mop washing up to 100°C and warm-air drying
Dual-camera AI obstacle recognition and advanced mapping
10mm mop lift for carpets
7,000mAh battery; Narwal claims around 250m² coverage per charge
Automatic dust emptying, detergent dispensing and mop maintenance
Pet Mode, Baby Care Mode and AI floor tagging
Australian RRP: $2,999 for the Flow 2 Complete; retail pricing can be lower
Review note: This review combines hands-on observations with manufacturer specifications and independent testing. Retail pricing was checked on 22 August 2026 and may change.