How Chinese companies took the market for domestic cleaning robots

We used Narwal Flow for a couple of weeks in a context of daily use, with scheduled cleaning, intensive washing cycles and mixed spaces between hard floors and low carpets. The overall feeling is that of a mature product, capable of combining power, precision movements and truly above-average washing.

The suction power is one of the elements that immediately impresses (provided you set the 'strong' option, otherwise it sucks less). The robot does not just pick up dust, but is also able to capture larger residues, crumbs and debris even in corners, thanks to the design of the roller and the position of the brushes. The transition between carpet and hard floor takes place without much hesitation, and the robot recognises precisely the areas in which to raise or lower the wash.

But in our opinion it is the washing component that is the strong point. The roller system, which exerts constant pressure and physically reaches closer to the edges, produces a visually better result than conventional robots with circular mops. Fresh stains are removed without difficulty and the floor has a more uniform appearance, without halos. Corner grip is one of the most successful aspects: Flow manages to clean areas that many robots simply do not touch.

The base station is large, yet extremely convenient. It automatically empties the dust container, washes the roller, dries and resets the system so that the robot is ready for the next cycle. In fact, once installed, it seems as if you can forget about the robot. Except for topping up the water and checking the powder basket, human intervention is minimal.

The least successful side is perhaps the application. Although it is comprehensive and feature-rich, it has some inaccuracies in the translation and some behaviour that is not always straightforward: sometimes the map is updated in a way that is not entirely intuitive, other times the cleaning profiles have to be reconfigured. These are not serious problems, of course. But being a top-of-the-range device costing more than EUR 1,000, one expects the best.

In summary, Narwal Flow is an ideal robot for those who have a lot of hard floors and want a serious wash, not a 'cosmetic' solution. It is a product designed for those who seek a very high level of automation and do not want to deal with daily maintenance. If the priority is washing quality and attention to detail, Flow is one of the most convincing robots available today.

The Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller Complete arrived with a different approach: more power, more sensors, more functions and an even more robust wash. In the two-week test, the flagship vocation of the product, which combines a highly advanced navigation system, a powerful roller and a series of algorithms that optimise both the amount of water and the pressure exerted on the floor in real time, was immediately apparent.

Unlike more traditional robots, this Aqua10 Ultra Roller adopts a wider roller with a texture designed to scrub and capture dirt even when it is more tenacious. Dry stains, especially on stoneware, were removed in a single pass in most cases. The robot manages the rotation of the roller by means of a dedicated motor that modulates the force according to the surface and the amount of dirt detected. This leads to a more homogeneous result: the floor remains not only cleaner but also more even, with fewer 'dragged' areas or light streaks. Navigation is one of the strengths: the combination of laser, 3D vision and infrared sensors allows the robot to move with a safety that reduces collisions to almost zero and improves room coverage. In addition, being able to set low height areas on maps allows the robot to move into less accessible areas (such as under beds, or under suspended toilets).

The maintenance base is very comprehensive, probably one of the most sophisticated around. It not only empties and cleans the roller, but also runs differentiated washing and drying cycles to ensure that no odour or residue remains. Admittedly, the drying cycle of the dust bag and the roller was too long. Not the best for someone who lives in a studio apartment and wants to sleep peacefully.

Water consumption is managed more intelligently than in other models: the robot only takes the amount needed and distributes it more evenly, reducing waste. The app interface is also more modern and responsive, with clear maps, precise furniture recognition and a rich set of settings.

The negative aspects are not absent. The complexity of the system makes it a bulky product, both as a base and as a robot body. If space is limited, it is not the most practical choice. Moreover, it requires a minimum of familiarity with the settings: those who want a totally 'plug-and-play' robot may find the interface very rich, at times almost excessive. But once configured, the product works steadily and produces excellent results. And besides, the price (well over 1,000 euros), allows no extenuating circumstances.

In conclusion, Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller Complete is designed for those who want the best available today in terms of washing and navigation technology. It is an ambitious robot, built to tackle even the most difficult dirt and to handle complex environments with above-average precision. It is not the simplest robot, but it is certainly one of the most advanced.