China's Narwal Leapfrogs LG and Samsung in Robot Vacuum War (C) Big W
SEOUL—The global robot vacuum market, long dominated by tech behemoths like LG and Samsung, is witnessing a significant shift as Chinese brands, particularly Narwal, surge ahead in performance, driven by innovative mopping technology. The competition for the 'best' floor cleaning robot has intensified, with the focus now squarely on advanced wet cleaning capabilities.
The new Narwal Flow robot vacuum is at the center of this upheaval. In a recent comparative analysis utilizing the AI search service Perplexity, tech media firm Hygenberg's CEO, Soon-Yong Kwon, tasked the AI with scientifically ranking flagship robot vacuums based on performance metrics. Narwal’s new product, the Flow, secured the top spot with a score of 9.2 out of 10. Other Chinese brands also demonstrated strong performance, with Dreame's L50 Ultra and Roborock's Saros Z70 tied for second at 8.8 points. Products from LG and Samsung were ranked lower in this evaluation.
The Rise of the 'Crawler-Type' Mop
Kwon emphasized that a robot vacuum's mopping effectiveness is paramount. This performance is determined by a combination of factors: the downward pressure applied, the temperature of the water used for cleaning, and the cleanliness of the mop during the process.
Narwal's Flow distinguishes itself with a new 'crawler-type' mop. This design evolves beyond the first-generation vibrating and second-generation rotating (circular) mops, and the subsequent 'roller-type' mops that gained popularity. The crawler-type is an oval shape, resembling a flattened roller, similar to a tank's track.
The new structure is lauded for its potential to scientifically resolve the limitations of existing methods. While earlier rotating mops improved scrubbing action over vibrating types, they faced criticism for potentially spreading contaminants due to the lack of real-time washing. The crawler-type, according to Kwon, is designed to overcome this by improving the key mechanism of cleaning: friction, which is a product of the coefficient of friction and the vertical load (downward pressure). The Flow applies a significant downward pressure of 12 Newtons (N)—equivalent to pressing down with a 1.2 kg weight—and uses 45°C hot water for mop washing, increasing the coefficient of friction.
Nuanced Performance and the 'Paradox of Surface Area'
Despite the high praise, the crawler-type is not a definitive successor in all scenarios. Tech reviewer 'Guigom' tested the Flow and found that while it was overwhelmingly superior to vibrating and rotating types in tackling liquid, oily stains, its performance against hard, dried-on messes (like caked coffee) was not as clean as some high-end rotating mops. However, it did perform better than the traditional roller-type mops in this specific test, showing about a 50% improvement.
Conversely, in the critical test of oil removal (using peanut butter), the Flow was superior to rotating mops but left more residue than the roller-type. Guigom analyzed this as the 'Paradox of Surface Area': the crawler-type, with its broader surface, excels at scrubbing hardened dirt, while the roller-type, with its narrower, more concentrated point of force, is better at scraping away liquids and oils, similar to a squeegee. This suggests that neither is strictly superior, but each has strengths in different cleaning domains.
The Narwal Flow's other features include instant response to sudden spills—reversing to clean detected messes immediately—and a new roller brush design that minimizes hair tangling. It is equipped with dual RGB cameras and an AI 8-core chip, and its slim 95mm height allows it to clean under low furniture.
Despite the nuanced results, the overall reception from tech creators has been positive. Reviewers like 'Gajeonjubu' noted that the Flow improves upon Narwal’s existing strengths of superior mopping and quiet operation, leading to a faster and more thorough clean. The domestic launch price for the new model in Korea was approximately 1.6 million won (around $1,200 USD). The strong performance of the Chinese-developed technology marks a clear challenge to established South Korean brands in the high-end robot vacuum segment.
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