When it comes to robotic lawn mowers, consumers’ choices have increased dramatically since our first robot mower review just five years ago. Where there were once just two players vying for the mantle of best robot mower manufacturer—Husqvarna and Worx—a dozen or so other companies have jumped into the market, albeit with varying success.
What’s more, prices have come down significantly over that time. In the early days, you’d need to spend a minimum of several thousand dollars for even the most basic robot mower. Today, there are $1,000 models that work as well if not better than those first high-priced bots.
Much like robot vacuums, robot lawn mowers now feature onboard positioning to know where they are in your yard, cameras to spot obstacles, and even artificial intelligence (AI) to remember the tricky parts of your yard and how to get around them. Gone are the days when a robot mower relied on bump sensors—and suffered the scuffs and scratches that resulted. Modern mowers are now truly smart.
Why you should trust us
My family is known in our neighborhood for our well-kept yard, but we’ve used a push mower most of our lives—just like everyone else. But we’re also early adopters of indoor robotics, so it was a no-brainer for us to transition to using outdoor bots, where the real hard work of home ownership comes into play.
Our original property was your basic small suburban lot, but our new home is an oddly shaped and slightly uneven 1/4-acre lot with a steep slope. Our property thus pushes the limits of every robot mower we test, which is just the ticket for conducting comprehensive evaluations at their capabilities.
Update, October 16, 2024: We’ve added a link to our Mammotion Yuka 1500 review.
Our top picks in robot Lawn mowers
Mowrator S1 AWD — Best robot lawn mower overall
Pros
- 21-inch cutting radius
- Highly maneuverable
- Outstanding remote control
- Riding-mower build and cut quality
Cons
- Very heavy (120 pounds)
- Disappointing autonomous obstacle avoidance
Why we like the Mowrator S1
Calling the Mowrator S1 a robot mower is generous, as a remote control—much line one you’d use with an aerial drone—controls most of its functions. The extent of automation is cruise control, which only allows the mower to move in a straight line, and obstacle avoidance, which seemed rudimentary at best. But everything else about this mower is top-notch.
A 21-inch cutting radius is a half-foot larger than most robot mowers, and a traditional mower blade versus the razor blades on most other models provides a riding mower quality cut that has so far not been matched by any other mower we tested. And the maneuverability and all-wheel drive combined with an excellentl remote control made mowing the grass fun.
Who should buy the Mowrator S1
We see the Mowrator as perfect for those who enjoy mowing their grass, but don’t care for the physical exertion—especially in the summer heat. We tested the Mowrator during a record-breaking heat wave here in the eastern U.S. and appreciated the fact we didn’t have to sweat it out to get our yard done. We couldn’t say the same about our neighbors.
Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD — Best boundary wire robot lawn mower
Pros
- Excellent results in a short amount of time
- Outstanding maneuverability
- Anti-theft features
- Very quiet
- GPS navigation
Cons
- Pricey (less-expensive SKUs are available for smaller yards)
- “Weather timer” feature isn’t based on actual weather conditions
Why we like the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD
The 435X AWD was the first robotic mower that we reviewed, and it mowed our lawn with minimal issues and fuss for four seasons. Husqvarna has a long history with robot mowers, extending back more than a decade. Of all the AWD robot mowers we’ve tested, the 435X AWD has the most power and the most success mowing slopes (including on a tilt). Our lawn consistently had a golf course look when this mower was finished.
This is due to Husqvarna’s preference to allow their mowers to mow your yard using random paths. While this will leave your yard patchy in the early and late season, it’s a beautiful cut during peak growth, free from the lines that traditional mowers leave from repeatedly mowing the same path.
Who should buy the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD
If you have a complicated yard that isn’t larger than one acre, you really should consider the 435X AWD. That said, we’d equally recommend any of the other Husqvarna 400-series models, as they work similarly. The best part of the Automower experience is the app, which is easy to use and understand.
On the other hand, we wouldn’t recommend this mower for yards with a lot of obstacles inside the boundary. These mower series uses bumper sensors to detect obstacles, so your mower will begin to look a little beat up after years of use. For those yards, you would need to look at Husqvarna’s boundary wire-free EPOS models, which offer more modern methods of obstacle avoidance.
Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD — Best AI-equipped robot lawn mower
Pros
- Best nighttime mowing experience of any mower we’ve tested
- Quality, even cut
- Handles narrow passages with ease
Cons
- Frustrating mapping and app experience
- Too low profile for sharp slope transitions
Why we like the Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD
While the mapping setup of the Orion X7 was suboptimal, we were really surprised by its vision and AI capabilities once the mower was running; they worked as advertised—even at night. The Orion X7’s obstacle-avoidance performance was the best of any robot mower we’ve tested to date.
Better yet, it seemed to remember where these obstacles were during a session, unlike other mowers we’ve tested that would return to the same spot and make the same mistakes. The dual floating cutting plates give you a smooth level yard even if it’s not perfectly flat. If Sunseeker can fix the usability issues in its app, we’ll rank the Orion X7 higher.
Who should buy the Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD
If you are taken aback by the high price of all-wheel drive robot mowers (typically several thousand of dollars), the Orion X7 comes in at the lower end of that range: $2,400. But the cut quality and capability of this mower is as good as other mowers that we’ve tested that are double the price. It’s AI works great.
Segway Navimow i110N
Pros
- Best navigation technology in its price class
- No line-of-sight requirement from the mower to the GPS antenna
- Outstanding cutting performance
- Handles common yard types and terrain without issues
Cons
- Front-wheel drive has trouble with steep slopes
- Inadequate cliff detection
Why we like the Segway Naivmow i110n
While the lack of all-wheel drive held the Navimow i110n back in our tests, we were very impressed with how the Navimow navigated our yard and alternated its cutting patterns with each mowing session. It also does it quickly; we could mow nearly all of our quarter-acre lot in about 30 minutes.
While we had problems keeping the Navimow from falling off our parking-strip curb, this is more of a detection issue with the vision and AI versus a fatal flaw. Since our initial review, several firmware updates have been released, including a new firmware update (version 2.2) that the company says is a fairly significant release. So those problems might be getting addressed.
Who should buy the Segway Naivmow i110n
If you have a fairly flat yard that’s less than a quarter-acre in size, the $1,300 Navimow i110n is the best option by far. It doesn’t pack enough power, however, for anything other than gradual slopes; so, if that describes your yard, we’d recommend the Sunseeker Orion X7, instead.
What to look for when shopping for a robot lawn mower
While there are many features to look for in a robot mower, some of which will be based on your personal preference, these five factors are the most important to consider to ensure trouble- and frustration-free operations.
Run time and maximum yard size
This one seems obvious, but many will look to the cheapest mower that can handle the size of their yard. That’s not the right approach. What you should do instead is opt for a model with a maximum yard size of at least 1.5 to 2 times the acreage of your yard.
Our reasons for this are twofold: First, the maximum yard size is the amount your robot mower can handle in a single day, including time for charging. If you select a model with a maximum yard size close to the size of your yard, the mower will need to run 24/7 to keep up.
Secondly, buying a larger-capacity mower prevents buyer’s remorse later, should you move to a larger home. There is no such thing as a robot mower that’s too big for a property, but you can end up with a robot mower that’s too small for your yard. Another benefit is total run time, as a larger mower won’t need to return to its base station and charger as frequently.
Cut quality
Cut quality has much to do with how the cutting plate is set up, and the methods used for cutting. Some models use a blade that’s shaped bread tag. We’ve found this style typically doesn’t cut well—or last very long.
Rectangular blades are better, since the entire side cuts your grass no matter which way it’s oriented on the plate. This style of blade also lasts longer, which means you’ll need to change it out less during each mowing season.
The cutting method is also important. We prefer robot mowers that follow straight lines and paths and alternate cutting directions during each mowing session. Some cheaper boundary-wire mowers mow in a random pattern within the boundary, which early in the season can leave your yard looking like you’ve forgotten how to mow.
App functionality
Most robot mowers have a lot of extra functionality to help you customize how your lawn is maintained. This means you’ll spend a lot of time in their apps. While some robot mower apps attempt to squeeze every possible feature into the app, we have found in most cases it is unnecessary and cluttering. The best mower apps have clean interfaces, along with clear instructions (and sometimes videos) to get you up to speed on important functionality.
Collision and obstacle avoidance
Early robot mowers used bumper sensors to detect obstacles. That’s no longer the case, and the best robot mowers use technologies like cameras, LiDAR, and onboard AI to detect obstacles. Opt for one of these models and you’ll spend a lot less time getting your mower out of places it shouldn’t have gone into.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence is a recent addition to robot mowers, and it makes boundary wire-free models much more reliable. With AI, your mower “learns” the quirks of your particular yard over time, optimizing its mowing session accordingly.
One word of caution, however: not all robot mower AI is created equal. Some mowers seemed to not remember obstacles or places where they’ve frequently gotten stuck. AI is a relatively new addition to robot mowing, and some manufacturers’ claims don’t match reality. Fortunately, this is an upgradeable element—it resides in firmware—so this class of mower will improve with time.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about robot lawn mowers
How do robot mowers work?
Robot mowers come in one of two flavors, some a boundary wire to keep the mower in check, while others rely on GPS satellites and onboard vision capabilities leveraging AI to help the mower make both a visual and location-based map of your yard. If you would like to read more about this topic, read our in-depth guide.
Which type of robot mower should I get?
Boundary wire robot mowers are far less expensive, as the mower needs fewer sensors and less brain power to ensure proper operation. But if you go that route, we strongly recommend hiring a professional to bury the boundary wire, so you’re not constantly tripping over it. That will increase the final price of your mower—by as much as several hundred dollars if it’s not already factored into the mower’s price—but it’s worth it.
You should also be aware that boundary wires have finite lengths, maxing out at 1,000 to 2,500 feet, depending on the model and the quality of the wire. This won’t be an issue for most suburban and urban properties, but you might need more than one mower for a large property.
For this and other reasons, we typically recommend boundary wire-free mowers, as they’re much easier to set up and don’t require a professional; it’s why all our best top picks—save one—are boundary wire-free models.
Why are robot lawn mowers so expensive?
It depends on how you look at it. If you compare a robot mower to a traditional push mower, even a self-propelled one, robot mowers are considerably more expensive. Many robot mowers, however, are competitively priced in comparison to riding mowers, which offer much less in the way of labor savings.
Is the cut quality of a robot mower as good that of a traditional mower?
You use a robot mower the way it’s designed to be used and its cut quality will be every bit as good as a conventional mower’s. Unlike a push or riding mower, a robot mower is designed to run multiple times a week, cutting a small portion of your grass each time. Some even alternate the direction of cut with each successive mowing session, which will prevent it from leaving lines in your grass from the mower’s wheels from passing over the same patch of grass each time.
What maintenance is required of a robot mower?
Maintaining your robot mower is not difficult, and it’s not all that different from traditional mowers—except you won’t need to monitor and periodically engine oil; robot mowers use electric motors. You’ll want to regularly clean accumulated grass clippings and other debris from the underside of the mower. You’ll also want to keep it out of the elements as much as possible when it’s not in use. The plastic bodies of these mowers will slowly fade over time as the sun’s ultraviolet rays cause plastic to degrade and discolor.
The most important difference has to do with cutting blades. Where conventional motors have thick blades that need sharpening at least once a season, most robot mowers use what look like razor blades to cut your grass. As you might expect, you’ll probably need to replace them at least twice every mowing season. Fortunately, the blades aren’t expensive, and you might find that third-party blades are even cheaper, although they might not last as long the OEM versions.
How we test robot lawn mowers
I test robot mowers in as close to real-world situations as possible: this includes operating them during the day and at night and in varying weather conditions.
I’ll typically cut my lawn an inch or two higher than normal before a test to help judge the cut quality and its ability to operate in taller-than-average grass. I’ll also put temporary obstacles in the yard to judge the mower’s collision avoidance capabilities. If the mower has AI onboard, I’ll observe whether it remembers permanent obstacles.
Author: Ed Oswald, Contributor
Ed is a science and technology journalist hailing from Reading, Pennsylvania. He has covered emerging technologies for more than 20 years, including smart home systems and components, 5G, AI, and 3D printers. His work has appeared in TechHive, PCWorld, Digital Trends, Popular Mechanics, and more. Ed holds a BA in Journalism from Temple University and recently attended Millersville University to study meteorology. Ed operates the weather gadget reviews site The Weather Station Experts.