Robot vacuum makers have spent the past couple of years chasing ever-higher suction figures. Both of these flagships quote around 30,000Pa, so the more useful difference between them is how they mop, how well they can navigate, and how easy they are to use.
Narwal and Dreame take very different approaches. The Narwal Flow 2 uses a heated, track-style roller mop and keeps everything else simple. The Dreame Matrix10 Ultra uses spinning pads and a huge dock that automatically swaps between three types of mop pad.
Dreame’s approach is to pack in as much automation as possible. Narwal’s is to build the best mopping system it can and make sure the rest is good enough. Which makes more sense depends on your floors.
How we tested
We’ve tested the Narwal Flow 2 in The Ambient’s Home Technology Lab, using the same carpet, hard-floor, stain and obstacle tests we use for every robot vacuum. We haven’t reviewed the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra yet, so for that model we’ve gone by Dreame’s specifications and the review on our sister site, Trusted Reviews. We’ll update this comparison once we’ve tested it.
Specs at a glance
| Spec | Narwal Flow 2 | Dreame Matrix10 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Suction | 31,000Pa | 30,000Pa |
| Mop system | FlowWash track-style roller mop | Dual detachable spinning pads |
| Mop water temperature | 60°C while mopping, 100°C dock wash | 100°C dock wash |
| Mop pressure | 12N | Not disclosed |
| Side brush | Side brush plus EdgeReach mop extension | Extending side brush and mop |
| Battery | 7,000mAh (up to 190 minutes) | Not disclosed |
| Noise | Under 56.5dB (Narwal claim) | Not disclosed |
| Navigation | Dual 1080p RGB cameras, side structured light | Retractable DToF laser sensor, AI camera, 3D structured light |
| Dock functions | Auto-empty, 100°C mop wash, hot-air dry, detergent dosing | Auto-empty, 100°C mop wash, hot-air dry, detergent dosing, automatic mop pad swapping |
| Hands-free operation | Up to 120 days (2.5L bag) | Up to 100 days (3.2L bag) |
| Mop lift on carpet | 10mm | 10.5mm; pads detach on long-pile carpet |
| Max threshold | 3cm (4cm double) | 8cm double, 4.2cm single |
| Height | 95mm | 89mm with sensor retracted |
Price and availability
Dreame’s UK store lists the Matrix10 Ultra at £999, discounted to £799 at the time of writing. The Narwal Flow 2 has a US list price of $1,499.99 and now sells for $1,299.99 on Narwal’s US store, while in Europe it costs €1,299. Narwal hasn’t confirmed UK pricing yet.
How the Flow 2’s roller mop compares with the Matrix10 Ultra’s spinning pads
This is where the two machines differ most. Narwal’s FlowWash system uses a continuous fabric track rather than a pad. It’s fed with water heated to 60°C, cleaned as it goes and pressed onto the floor with 12N of pressure. In our testing, the Flow 2 removed dried coffee and red-wine stains in a single pass and cleared mud in two. Dried-on ketchup needed pretreating with kitchen cleaner, but then came off completely.
The Matrix10 Ultra uses two spinning pads, which its dock washes in 100°C water (the Flow 2’s dock does the same). Its big trick is that the dock swaps pads automatically, choosing between a thermal pad for living areas, a nylon pad for kitchens and a sponge pad for bathrooms and spills.
The Flow 2’s scrubbing action is excellent on tough, dried-on stains, and we’ll see how Dreame’s pads compare when we test the Matrix10 Ultra. Dreame’s system is more flexible, though, with a different pad for each kind of room.
Suction and carpets
The two quote similar suction: 31,000Pa for the Flow 2 and 30,000Pa for the Matrix10 Ultra. In our lab, the Flow 2 cleared flour from carpet in two passes and picked up all the dust on hard floors in a single vacuum-only run.
The bigger difference on carpet is the mop. The Flow 2 lifts its roller by 10mm, which is fine for short-pile rugs but may not keep it clear of deeper carpet, and it can’t leave the mop at the dock. The Matrix10 Ultra lifts its pads by 10.5mm and detaches them entirely on long-pile carpet, so it’s the safer choice for homes with thick rugs.
Navigation and obstacle avoidance
Neither robot has a raised LiDAR turret. The Flow 2 uses dual 1080p RGB cameras and side-mounted structured-light sensors, which keeps it 95mm tall. The Matrix10 Ultra has a laser sensor that retracts so it can drop to 89mm and get under lower furniture, plus an AI camera and 3D structured light for obstacle avoidance.
In our testing, the Flow 2 steered around shoes, cables and fake pet mess without touching them. Dreame says the Matrix10 Ultra can recognise more than 240 types of object.
The Matrix10 Ultra is the better climber, handling double-layer thresholds up to 8cm, or a single 4.2cm step. The Flow 2 manages a 3cm single threshold or a 4cm double one, which is enough for most homes.
Corners and edges
Both robots have ways of reaching into corners. The Matrix10 Ultra can extend its side brush and its mop. The Flow 2 has Narwal’s EdgeReach mop extension. In our testing, its side brushes left some dust along a kitchen plinth during a vacuum-only run, but adding the mop picked up almost everything they’d missed.
Docks, batteries and smart home support
Both docks empty the robot automatically, wash the mops in 100°C water, dry them with hot air and add detergent. The Flow 2’s dock has a 4.5-litre clean tank, a 4-litre dirty tank and a 2.5-litre dust bag that Narwal says lasts up to 120 days, and you can use your own floor cleaner rather than proprietary cartridges. Dreame’s dock uses a 3.2-litre bag rated for up to 100 days, with an automatically refilled compartment for three cleaning solutions.
The Flow 2 has a 7,000mAh battery that Narwal rates at up to 190 minutes, and it cleaned our whole lab on one charge, even set to three passes. Dreame doesn’t give a battery capacity or runtime for the Matrix10 Ultra, but Trusted Reviews noted that battery life was long enough for even complicated double-pass cleans.
Both work with Alexa, Google Home and Siri, and both are mainly controlled through their apps. The Flow 2 also has Narwal’s own Hey Nawa voice assistant built in.
Which should you buy?
Buy the Narwal Flow 2 if most of your home is hard floor and you want the best stain removal we’ve seen from a robot mop. Buy the Dreame Matrix10 Ultra if you have thick rugs, a mix of floor types or high thresholds, or you want the most hands-off mopping available.
If you’re still undecided, our Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai review covers another take on roller mopping, and our IFA 2025 best in show round-up has more on Narwal’s FlowWash system.
For more options, our best robot vacuum guide rounds up our favourite models at every price.
