Robot Vacuums · Head to head

iRobot Roomba Plus 505 vs Narwal Flow

Full Robot Vacuums comparison in 2026

Updated October 2026
Data from Amazon and official iRobot and Narwal sites.
2026 verdict
Narwal Flow is the stronger robot vacuum of this pair, ahead of the iRobot Roomba Plus 505 on owner rating, suction power and battery life.
Narwal Flow
Winner
Narwal Flow
$999.99

Last recorded price

Buy on Amazon USA
It also mops with a different mechanism entirely: a rolling track scraped and rinsed with hot water while it works, rather than the Roomba's dual spinning pads. Its 22,000 Pa of suction dwarfs the Roomba Plus 505's 7,000 Pa, and it runs about 20 minutes longer per charge. iRobot Roomba Plus 505 answers with a lower price and matches the Narwal Flow on self-emptying, no-go zones and the full list of ecosystem integrations including Matter and Apple Home, though several of its own owners describe the dock's self-cleaning cycle as noticeably loud, something Narwal Flow owners rarely mention. Choose the Narwal Flow for stronger suction and a mop built to actually scrub, and the iRobot Roomba Plus 505 if price matters more than either.
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FeatureiRobot Roomba Plus 505Narwal FlowWinner
Price$469.99$999.99iRobot Roomba Plus 505
Rating4.24.4Narwal Flow
Battery Life180 minutes200 minutesNarwal Flow
Suction Power7000Pa22000PaNarwal Flow
Warranty1 year1 yearTie
Auto RechargeYESYESTie
Connectivity2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth2.4 GHz WiFi, 5 GHz WiFi, BluetoothTie
IntegrationsGoogle Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, MatterGoogle Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, MatterTie
Navigation TypeLaser (LiDAR)Laser (LiDAR)Tie
Obstacle DetectionYESYESTie
Cliff DetectionYESYESTie
Multi-Room MappingYESYESTie

What the differences mean

Mop mechanism

Narwal Flow scrubs with a rolling track that is scraped and rinsed with hot water continuously. iRobot Roomba Plus 505 uses dual spinning mop pads with SmartScrub instead.

Suction power

Narwal Flow is rated at 22,000 Pa against the iRobot Roomba Plus 505's 7,000 Pa, a large gap on carpet and pet hair.

Noise during the dock's cleaning cycle

Several iRobot Roomba Plus 505 owners describe the AutoWash dock's self-cleaning cycle as noticeably loud. Narwal Flow owners more often describe it as quiet during both vacuuming and mopping.

Battery life

Narwal Flow runs up to 200 minutes on a charge against the iRobot Roomba Plus 505's 180 minutes.

Which one to buy if

Winner
Narwal

Narwal Flow

Prime exclusive deal
$999.99

Last recorded price

Buy on Amazon USA
  • + Rating: 4.4
  • + Battery Life: 200 minutes
  • + Suction Power: 22000Pa
  • - Price: $999.99 vs $469.99

What owners say

Owners of both robots agree the LiDAR mapping is fast and accurate on the first run. From there they diverge. iRobot Roomba Plus 505 owners praise strong pet-hair pickup across carpet and hard floors and how much the AutoWash dock removes from the routine, but a meaningful share describe the dock's self-cleaning cycle as louder than expected, similar to a washing machine nearby, and a portion report bumper-stuck or navigation errors surfacing a few months in. Narwal Flow owners coming from spinning-pad robots single out the rolling track mop, saying dried spills and greasy kitchen marks come up in a pass or two instead of being smeared around, and several specifically call the machine quiet during both vacuuming and mopping. Their complaint is carpet, where the app sometimes misreads bare floor as rug.

Price history compared

Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.

  • iRobot Roomba Plus 505
  • Narwal Flow

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better overall: iRobot Roomba Plus 505 or Narwal Flow?

The Narwal Flow wins on suction power, owner rating and battery life. The iRobot Roomba Plus 505 costs less and matches it on automated mop washing, the self-emptying dock and ecosystem integrations.

What is the biggest difference between iRobot Roomba Plus 505 and Narwal Flow?

How they mop. The Narwal Flow uses a rolling track that is scraped and rinsed with hot water continuously, while the iRobot Roomba Plus 505 uses dual spinning mop pads with SmartScrub.

Which robot has the longer battery life?

The Narwal Flow, rated for up to 200 minutes per charge versus 180 minutes on the iRobot Roomba Plus 505.

Is the iRobot Roomba Plus 505 loud?

Several owners describe the AutoWash dock's self-cleaning cycle as louder than expected. Narwal Flow owners more often describe both vacuuming and mopping as quiet.

Who should buy the iRobot Roomba Plus 505?

Choose the iRobot Roomba Plus 505 for the lower price if raw suction power and mop mechanism aren't the priority, and buy from an authorized seller for warranty support.

Who should buy the Narwal Flow?

Choose the Narwal Flow for the strongest suction, a mop built to scrub rather than wipe, and a quieter dock cycle.

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