Narwal Flow 2 review: The robot vacuum that finally perfected obstacle avoidance

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For the last few years, Narwal has been working to improve the navigation and obstacle avoidance of its robot vacuums. It has enhanced its devices' ability to navigate around objects, recognizing what they are as they go -- even taking photos to let you know what it avoided.

Also: 5 smart home gadgets I actually recommend, after years of testing

The Narwal Flow 2 is the robot vacuum and mop that actually delivers on the manufacturer's promises, cleaning effectively while carefully avoiding important items and obstacles that could get caught in its roller brush. In both our controlled lab tests and in-home experiments, the Flow 2 outperformed most similarly priced competitors.

Getting the most bang for your buck is important when you're spending over $1,000, and the Narwal Flow 2 delivers.

During our tests, the Flow 2 avoided every single obstacle placed in its path, including cords, tissues, socks, small toys, and even pet waste. The Flow 2's navigation is powered by two 1080p cameras, a LiDAR sensor, and AI-powered object recognition software.