Narwal is a SCAM
We purchased a Narwal Freo Ultra Z in March 2025 for $1,499. At first, it performed very well and we were happy with the cleaning results. Unfortunately, almost exactly one year later—in April 2026—the unit started experiencing multiple serious issues.
The robot began having trouble docking properly. It would spin its wheels, back out of the base several times, and eventually connect to charge only after repeated attempts. We contacted Narwal support about this.
Soon after, a second issue appeared. The robot would mop a room, return to the base to clean the pads, and then continue “cleaning” indefinitely—draining all of the clean water and detergent from the tank. Again, we contacted support.
Then things escalated further. In the middle of the night, the unit turned on by itself and started announcing that it was trying to connect to the charger. We have never set up any scheduling features, so this was completely unexpected. We contacted support yet again.
Unfortunately, customer service was a major disappointment. After finally reaching a representative, we were repeatedly told to clean the charging contacts—over and over—without any meaningful troubleshooting. It felt like they were simply reading from a script rather than addressing the actual problems.
The most frustrating part: the warranty had expired by just two weeks. Despite the timing and the clear pattern of malfunctions, we were told we would need to pay out of pocket to ship the (very heavy) base station to them—likely over $100 each way—plus diagnostic fees, repair costs, and return shipping.
For a product in this price range, that level of support is unacceptable.
Initially, I believed this was a company that stood behind its product. I value good performance and good customer service, and I tend to stay loyal to brands that deliver both. Unfortunately, this experience has completely changed my opinion.
I’m fortunate enough to move on and purchase a different brand, but many people are not. If sharing this helps someone else avoid the same situation, then it’s worth it. Being just two weeks outside the warranty shouldn’t be the difference between support and being left on your own.
At this point, I’m looking at alternatives from iRobot 705.








