In this robot lawn mower review, I thoroughly compared design, power, performance, ease of setup, features, safety and value for money for multiple products. After hours of research and testing, I recommend the LawnMaster L12 Robotic Lawnmower as the best robot lawn mower on the UK market.
My Top Recommended Robot Lawn Mowers
for small gardens
Flymo EasiLife 150 GO Robotic Lawn Mower
for medium gardens
WORX Landroid S WR130E Robot Lawn Mower
1. Best all rounder - LawnMaster L12 Robotic Lawnmower[ SAVE 17% ]
2. best robot lawn mower for small gardens - Flymo EasiLife 150 GO Robotic Lawn Mower[ SAVE 4% ]
3. best for medium size lawns - WORX Landroid S WR130E Robot Lawn Mower
4. best budget robot lawn mower - LawnMaster VBRM16 Drop and Mow Robotic Lawnmower[ SAVE 14% ]
5. best robot lawn for large gardens - MAMMOTION LUBA AWD 3000 Robotic Lawnmower
6. best for sloped gardens - LawnMaster L10 Robotic Lawnmower
7. best value - LANDXCAPE LX799 Robotic Mower
8. best for complex lawns - Einhell Power X-Change 18V Robotic Lawnmower
9. Best security features - Swift RM18 28V Robotic Lawnmower
10. Best technology - Gardena smart SILENO life 1000 robot lawnmower
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My Product Reviews & Opinions
If you’re on the hunt for the best robotic lawnmower, Cleva’s offerings will quickly catch your eye. Famed for its innovation, the brand has produced a number of highly capable models over the years, one of which is the LawnMaster L12 Robotic Lawnmower. Designed for lawns up to 800m² in size, I put it to the test on my rough and bumpy 500m² lawn to see how well it really performs.
The setup process for this lawnmower is pretty standard. Lay the perimeter wire, set up the base station, and you’re good to go! The instructions are fantastic and my lawn boundaries aren’t too complex, so the entire assembly process only took about 40 minutes.
The design of this lawnmower has been very well thought out. Rather than being wide and chunky, like some of the others that I’ve used, it’s long and sleek, yet it still has an 18cm cutting width. This may seem small for a larger lawn but, as I soon found out, it’s more than sufficient. Paired with the easy-to-use dial to switch between the five cutting heights, as well as the larger rear wheels and second front jockey wheel for manoeuvrability, this lawnmower pretty much has it all.
While some robotic lawnmowers have a removable battery, this one’s 20v 4aH battery is built into the unit. When the lawnmower is docked, it takes about two hours to charge, after which it runs for a little over two hours.
Speaking of running, that’s exactly what it does when it races over the lawn! It’s significantly faster than the other robotic lawnmowers that I’ve used. The way in which it manoeuvres, whether this may be when it hits the perimeter wire or when it encounters an obstacle, is also very quick and agile, unlike the slow and clumsy turns that many other robotic lawnmowers do. This meant that it took only six days to get my long lawn under control and, ever since then, it’s looked beautifully crisp and even. I thought that the machine’s random mowing pattern would be a downfall but it still manages to cover every centimetre of my lawn.
Compared to some of the other robotic mowers that I’ve tried, this one isn’t quite as feature-dense. However, I appreciate its simplicity, especially since many of the features that come with other mowers are more on the gimmicky side and don’t provide much real value. From its simple keypad, you can adjust its cutting schedule, determining how many hours it cuts for each day along with whether you want it to cut daily or every alternate day. It has a built-in rain sensor too that keeps the machine docked during a downpour (it still cuts in a drizzle).
If you plan on running this lawnmower on a lawn that’s used by young children or pets, you have nothing to worry about – its safety features are fantastic. The blades stop running if the lawnmower is lifted or tilted and, if the mower does happen to run into you, the bump is extremely gentle and won’t cause any pain. The fact that you need to enter a pin code before you can actually do anything with the mower helps to keep it safe from thieves too.
In terms of price, this is a robotic lawnmower that truly offers fantastic value for money. There are plenty of other similarly priced machines out there but they’re not able to tackle large lawns and, in my opinion, they don’t compare when it comes to quality either. With the speed and efficiency that this lawnmower offers, I would have expected, and been willing, to pay more than its retail price, making this machine a great bargain.
All in all, I’m absolutely delighted with this lawnmower, so much so that my other robotic lawnmowers have now been relegated to my shed. It’s much easier to use than the other models I’ve tested and it also gets the job done to a much higher quality – my lawn has never looked so evenly green and healthy! Although primarily designed for medium to large gardens, its customisable features make it a great fit for smaller lawns too, which is why the LawnMaster L12 Robotic Lawnmower is a machine that I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a low-maintenance way to keep their lawn neat and tidy.
Best all rounder
Scores:
- Design
- Power
- Performance
- Ease of Setup
- Features
- Safety
- Value for Money
- Overall
If you’re on the hunt for the best robotic lawnmower, Cleva’s offerings will quickly catch your eye. Famed for its innovation, the brand has produced a number of highly capable models over the years, one of which is the LawnMaster L12 Robotic Lawnmower. Designed for lawns up to 800m² in size, I put it to the test on my rough and bumpy 500m² lawn to see how well it really performs.
The setup process for this lawnmower is pretty standard. Lay the perimeter wire, set up the base station, and you’re good to go! The instructions are fantastic and my lawn boundaries aren’t too complex, so the entire assembly process only took about 40 minutes.
The design of this lawnmower has been very well thought out. Rather than being wide and chunky, like some of the others that I’ve used, it’s long and sleek, yet it still has an 18cm cutting width. This may seem small for a larger lawn but, as I soon found out, it’s more than sufficient. Paired with the easy-to-use dial to switch between the five cutting heights, as well as the larger rear wheels and second front jockey wheel for manoeuvrability, this lawnmower pretty much has it all.
While some robotic lawnmowers have a removable battery, this one’s 20v 4aH battery is built into the unit. When the lawnmower is docked, it takes about two hours to charge, after which it runs for a little over two hours.
Speaking of running, that’s exactly what it does when it races over the lawn! It’s significantly faster than the other robotic lawnmowers that I’ve used. The way in which it manoeuvres, whether this may be when it hits the perimeter wire or when it encounters an obstacle, is also very quick and agile, unlike the slow and clumsy turns that many other robotic lawnmowers do. This meant that it took only six days to get my long lawn under control and, ever since then, it’s looked beautifully crisp and even. I thought that the machine’s random mowing pattern would be a downfall but it still manages to cover every centimetre of my lawn.
Compared to some of the other robotic mowers that I’ve tried, this one isn’t quite as feature-dense. However, I appreciate its simplicity, especially since many of the features that come with other mowers are more on the gimmicky side and don’t provide much real value. From its simple keypad, you can adjust its cutting schedule, determining how many hours it cuts for each day along with whether you want it to cut daily or every alternate day. It has a built-in rain sensor too that keeps the machine docked during a downpour (it still cuts in a drizzle).
If you plan on running this lawnmower on a lawn that’s used by young children or pets, you have nothing to worry about – its safety features are fantastic. The blades stop running if the lawnmower is lifted or tilted and, if the mower does happen to run into you, the bump is extremely gentle and won’t cause any pain. The fact that you need to enter a pin code before you can actually do anything with the mower helps to keep it safe from thieves too.
In terms of price, this is a robotic lawnmower that truly offers fantastic value for money. There are plenty of other similarly priced machines out there but they’re not able to tackle large lawns and, in my opinion, they don’t compare when it comes to quality either. With the speed and efficiency that this lawnmower offers, I would have expected, and been willing, to pay more than its retail price, making this machine a great bargain.
All in all, I’m absolutely delighted with this lawnmower, so much so that my other robotic lawnmowers have now been relegated to my shed. It’s much easier to use than the other models I’ve tested and it also gets the job done to a much higher quality – my lawn has never looked so evenly green and healthy! Although primarily designed for medium to large gardens, its customisable features make it a great fit for smaller lawns too, which is why the LawnMaster L12 Robotic Lawnmower is a machine that I would recommend to anyone who is looking for a low-maintenance way to keep their lawn neat and tidy.
Read the full LawnMaster L12 Robotic Lawnmower Review
Tested By: Derek Smith
Features:
- Lawn Size
- 800m²
- Weight
- 8.2kg
- Cutting Width
- 18cm
- Cutting Height
- 20-60mm
Pros
- Clear instructions make this lawnmower easy to set up - it only took me about 40 minutes
- Cuts well on rough, uneven, and sloped ground thanks to its large rear wheels and two front jockey wheels
- Has a few customisable features that enable it to be adapted to both small and large lawns
- Has a lot more speed than many other robotic lawnmowers, meaning that it gets the job done in half the time
- Its runtime is longer than its charge time, enabling it to cut a large amount of lawn in one day
- Its safety sensors mean that it can be used around pets and young children without any injury concerns
Cons
- Leaves a fringe of uncut grass along the outside of the boundary line, but this is something that all robotic lawnmowers do. On the plus side, the fringe left by this lawmower isn’t as wide as those left by other models
- If the lawnmower gets stuck (which it only does due to user error), it repeatedly rams into whatever it’s stuck against until it runs out of battery, rather than turning itself off after a while
- Doesn’t come with any spare blades, but these are easy to find and don’t cost much
Designed for small lawns of up to 150m² in size, the Flymo EasiLife 150 GO Robotic Lawn Mower is one of the most popular models out there. Why? To find out, I sectioned off a 150m² area of my lawn and put this machine to the test.
Setting the Flymo up is relatively easy. It took me about 40 minutes in total – the majority of the work lies in positioning and pegging down the boundary wire. This machine also requires an additional guide wire to be laid, which helps the Flymo to find its way back to its base. Not all robotic lawn mowers require a guide wire, but it doesn’t add too much to the setup time.
Once the lawn mower is set up, it charges for a while before it starts moving. Its runtime is roughly just over an hour. At this point, once its power level reaches 20-30%, it makes its way back to the base, where it takes about an hour to charge back to 100%. The base needs to be connected to mains electricity, which I did with the use of an extension lead.
In terms of design, it’s nicely compact, with a 16cm cutting width and cutting height variations of 20-50mm. Its interface is relatively simple – it’s controlled by four buttons, with advanced settings available through the Flymo app. It can definitely be used without the app, but the app does help with fine-tuning things.
When it comes to performance, this lawn mower is certainly impressive. It’ll get to work rain or shine, mulching as it goes to keep your lawn healthy. So long as the cutting height is left relatively high, it handles bumpy and uneven ground with no problems, and tackles long grass well too. It’s not able to cleanly cut up to raised edges – it leaves an uncut border behind. However, if your lawn runs off at a flat edge, then this machine provides a beautiful finish.
There are some fantastic features included in this model. FrostSense keeps the machine in its base if temperatures are below 4°C, while PassageSense enables the lawn mower to manoeuvre its way through narrow gaps of 60cm. You can also schedule the lawn mower to only run at certain times of the day. Since it’s such a quiet machine, I left mine running well into the night.
There are several safety sensors dotted around the lawn mower too. From how the blades stop moving if the machine is picked up to its ability to detect obstacles, it really is a clever machine!
Considering all of the above, this Flymo comes in at a very reasonable price. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now and other than a couple of minor teething problems, I’ve had no real issues. It has managed to maintain a tidy lawn just as well as the pricier models that I’ve tested, making it great value for money.
If you have a small garden and don’t enjoy cutting your lawn, then the Flymo EasiLife 150 GO Robotic Lawn Mower would be a great purchase. With its robust design, customisable features, and reliable performance, it provides all of the basics of a high-quality robotic lawn mower in an easy-to-use, fuss-free manner.
best robot lawn mower for small gardens
Scores:
- Design
- Power
- Performance
- Ease of Setup
- Features
- Safety
- Value for Money
- Overall
Designed for small lawns of up to 150m² in size, the Flymo EasiLife 150 GO Robotic Lawn Mower is one of the most popular models out there. Why? To find out, I sectioned off a 150m² area of my lawn and put this machine to the test.
Setting the Flymo up is relatively easy. It took me about 40 minutes in total – the majority of the work lies in positioning and pegging down the boundary wire. This machine also requires an additional guide wire to be laid, which helps the Flymo to find its way back to its base. Not all robotic lawn mowers require a guide wire, but it doesn’t add too much to the setup time.
Once the lawn mower is set up, it charges for a while before it starts moving. Its runtime is roughly just over an hour. At this point, once its power level reaches 20-30%, it makes its way back to the base, where it takes about an hour to charge back to 100%. The base needs to be connected to mains electricity, which I did with the use of an extension lead.
In terms of design, it’s nicely compact, with a 16cm cutting width and cutting height variations of 20-50mm. Its interface is relatively simple – it’s controlled by four buttons, with advanced settings available through the Flymo app. It can definitely be used without the app, but the app does help with fine-tuning things.
When it comes to performance, this lawn mower is certainly impressive. It’ll get to work rain or shine, mulching as it goes to keep your lawn healthy. So long as the cutting height is left relatively high, it handles bumpy and uneven ground with no problems, and tackles long grass well too. It’s not able to cleanly cut up to raised edges – it leaves an uncut border behind. However, if your lawn runs off at a flat edge, then this machine provides a beautiful finish.
There are some fantastic features included in this model. FrostSense keeps the machine in its base if temperatures are below 4°C, while PassageSense enables the lawn mower to manoeuvre its way through narrow gaps of 60cm. You can also schedule the lawn mower to only run at certain times of the day. Since it’s such a quiet machine, I left mine running well into the night.
There are several safety sensors dotted around the lawn mower too. From how the blades stop moving if the machine is picked up to its ability to detect obstacles, it really is a clever machine!
Considering all of the above, this Flymo comes in at a very reasonable price. I’ve been using it for a couple of months now and other than a couple of minor teething problems, I’ve had no real issues. It has managed to maintain a tidy lawn just as well as the pricier models that I’ve tested, making it great value for money.
If you have a small garden and don’t enjoy cutting your lawn, then the Flymo EasiLife 150 GO Robotic Lawn Mower would be a great purchase. With its robust design, customisable features, and reliable performance, it provides all of the basics of a high-quality robotic lawn mower in an easy-to-use, fuss-free manner.
Read the full Flymo EasiLife 150 GO Robotic Lawn Mower Review
Tested By: Derek Smith
Features:
- Lawn Size
- 150m²
- Weight
- 6.1 kg
- Cutting Width
- 16cm
- Cutting Height
- 20-50mm
Pros
- Setup is simple and only takes about 40 minutes
- The cables don’t need to be buried - you can simply peg them down and they become pretty much invisible after a few weeks once the grass grows around them
- Cuts in both dry and wet conditions, without leaving tracks behind on damp grass
- Extremely quiet - it won’t bother your neighbours, although, if you’re still concerned, you can schedule it to only cut at certain times of the day
- Comes with a number of safety features to keep it safe around pets and children
- Works well on bumpy and rough lawns, although you’ll need to remove any large twigs or other obstacles
Cons
- In addition to a boundary wire, a guide wire also needs to be installed, even in a very simple boundary. This slightly adds to the setup time, especially if you plan on burying the cables
- Leaves a fringe of uncut grass along any edges that border a perceived obstacle, such as a wall or a structure. This means that additional strimming would be required to keep the edges neat
One of the biggest bestsellers in the robotic lawn mower market, the WORX Landroid S WR130E is designed to maintain a lawn of up to 300m². It promises to work faster and more efficiently than its competition, so I put it to the test on my overgrown, uneven, and sloping lawn.
It took me about half an hour to set the Landroid up, although it may take you longer depending on how complex your boundary is. The fact that it only uses a boundary wire, rather than an additional guide wire too, keeps things simple.
The base of the lawn mower needs to be connected to mains electricity – I used an extension lead for this and it worked well. However, rather than an in-built battery, the Landroid runs on a WORX PowerShare battery, which you simply slot into the unit. This makes the battery easily interchangeable. I ended up swapping the provided 2aH battery with a 5aH, enabling the machine to run for longer in between charges.
It’s clear to see that the lawn mower has been thoughtfully designed. It’s compact and sleek, with an 18cm cutting width. It offers height settings of 20-50mm, and this can be easily adjusted via a dial on the side of the unit. It boasts a simple LED screen too, which, in my opinion, makes it easier to use than screen-less models.
I really threw this lawn mower in at the deep end with the long and thick grass that I expected it to cut. As a result, it struggled a little on particularly uneven and sloped sections, but it managed these areas just fine once it was able to take the grass down to a more manageable height. It left behind a neat finish, with the mulch that it released quickly settling into the lawn.
The number of features included in this little machine may seem a little overwhelming at first. However, you won’t need to worry about those if you don’t want to – everything is already set up for a standard lawn. It will automatically use its Intelligent Grass Care System to detect weather and grass conditions so that it can adapt its cutting technique and schedule to your specific lawn. Download the app and you’ll have access to even more features, and there are also extra modules that you can purchase separately and add to your machine to customise it even further.
As you can imagine, this lawn mower isn’t lacking when it comes to safety features either. Tilt and lift sensors stop the blades from moving if the machine is picked up or knocked over, and if it does happen to bump into someone, it’s extremely gentle. The inclusion of a pin number, plus the app-activated alarm and locking system, helps to keep the Landroid safe from potential thieves too.
All of this machine’s advanced features already warrant a slightly higher price tag, but the fact that it comes with four sets of spare blades makes it even better value for money. Its software will wirelessly update as well, without you having to do anything.
When it comes down to it, the WORX Landroid S WR130E is a robotic lawn mower that I would highly recommend, even if your garden is a fair bit smaller than 300m². Its highly customisable nature combined with its advanced technology and exceptional performance makes this machine a fantastic choice for anyone wanting a fuss-free way to maintain a healthy lawn.
best for medium size lawns
Scores:
- Design
- Power
- Performance
- Ease of Setup
- Features
- Safety
- Value for Money
- Overall
One of the biggest bestsellers in the robotic lawn mower market, the WORX Landroid S WR130E is designed to maintain a lawn of up to 300m². It promises to work faster and more efficiently than its competition, so I put it to the test on my overgrown, uneven, and sloping lawn.
It took me about half an hour to set the Landroid up, although it may take you longer depending on how complex your boundary is. The fact that it only uses a boundary wire, rather than an additional guide wire too, keeps things simple.
The base of the lawn mower needs to be connected to mains electricity – I used an extension lead for this and it worked well. However, rather than an in-built battery, the Landroid runs on a WORX PowerShare battery, which you simply slot into the unit. This makes the battery easily interchangeable. I ended up swapping the provided 2aH battery with a 5aH, enabling the machine to run for longer in between charges.
It’s clear to see that the lawn mower has been thoughtfully designed. It’s compact and sleek, with an 18cm cutting width. It offers height settings of 20-50mm, and this can be easily adjusted via a dial on the side of the unit. It boasts a simple LED screen too, which, in my opinion, makes it easier to use than screen-less models.
I really threw this lawn mower in at the deep end with the long and thick grass that I expected it to cut. As a result, it struggled a little on particularly uneven and sloped sections, but it managed these areas just fine once it was able to take the grass down to a more manageable height. It left behind a neat finish, with the mulch that it released quickly settling into the lawn.
The number of features included in this little machine may seem a little overwhelming at first. However, you won’t need to worry about those if you don’t want to – everything is already set up for a standard lawn. It will automatically use its Intelligent Grass Care System to detect weather and grass conditions so that it can adapt its cutting technique and schedule to your specific lawn. Download the app and you’ll have access to even more features, and there are also extra modules that you can purchase separately and add to your machine to customise it even further.
As you can imagine, this lawn mower isn’t lacking when it comes to safety features either. Tilt and lift sensors stop the blades from moving if the machine is picked up or knocked over, and if it does happen to bump into someone, it’s extremely gentle. The inclusion of a pin number, plus the app-activated alarm and locking system, helps to keep the Landroid safe from potential thieves too.
All of this machine’s advanced features already warrant a slightly higher price tag, but the fact that it comes with four sets of spare blades makes it even better value for money. Its software will wirelessly update as well, without you having to do anything.
When it comes down to it, the WORX Landroid S WR130E is a robotic lawn mower that I would highly recommend, even if your garden is a fair bit smaller than 300m². Its highly customisable nature combined with its advanced technology and exceptional performance makes this machine a fantastic choice for anyone wanting a fuss-free way to maintain a healthy lawn.
Read the full WORX Landroid S WR130E Robot Lawn Mower Review
Tested By: Derek Smith
Features:
- Lawn Size
- 300m²
- Weight
- 14.1kg
- Cutting Width
- 18cm
- Cutting Height
- 20-50mm
Pros
- Quick and easy to setup - you’ll need to lay a boundary wire but it doesn’t require an additional guide wire
- Its technology and cutting pattern enable it to cut a lawn faster than other robotic lawn mowers of this calibre
- Comes with a removable WORX PowerShare battery, making it easy to swap the provided 2aH battery with a larger size
- Offers a huge range of features, making it easy to customise how the lawn mower works
- Works well on uneven and bumpy ground if you keep the cutting height high
- Runs quietly enough to not disturb nearby neighbours, although you can set it to cut to a schedule too
Cons
- Leaves a strip of uncut grass along edges that border a wall or anything viewed as an obstacle. However, it cuts flat edges well
Robot lawn mowers don’t have to cost the earth, and for those with small and simple shaped lawns, the LawnMaster VBRM16 Drop and Mow Robotic Lawnmower is a good budget option. Is it going to be able to tackle complex shaped lawns? Arguably not. But for those who don’t have time to mow their smaller lawn, it’s a great choice.
Designed for lawns up to 100 m² in size with hard borders such as gravel, paving and decking, this mower clearly isn’t as advanced as others on this list. However, it’s exceptionally simple to use. There’s no boundary wire needed which drastically reduces the set up time.
It works instead using the attached camera and ultrasonic sensors which detect obstacles, including moving obstacles like pets! The child safety key prevents children from tampering with it, while the blades automatically stop running when the unit is lifted.
All you need to do is charge the battery (using the fast 1 hour charger provided), and put the mower on the lawn once or twice a week during the day time. It can only be used on dry days, and it does need to be manually placed on the lawn, but once down it’ll mow in a random pattern for up to 4 hours, until the entire lawn has been mowed. For a neater finish, use the spot cut function on any uncut grass.
It drops clippings back onto the grass so there’s no grass collector to worry about. The clippings will break down into the grass, improving the quality and density of your lawn over time.
The cutting height can be adjusted from 20 mm to 60 mm to suit your lawn, and it’s able to tackle slopes up to 35%.
There aren’t many downsides to this mower. Essentially, you get what you pay for. While it’s cheaper than many others on the market, it’s not as versatile, and it’ll struggle in gardens with overhanging plants or soft borders. It’s also not fully automatic, you need to manually pick it up and place it on the lawn.
However, for those looking for an easy to use robot mower on a budget, this LawnMaster model is an excellent choice.
best budget robot lawn mower
Scores:
- Design
- Power
- Performance
- Ease of Setup
- Features
- Safety
- Value for Money
- Overall
Robot lawn mowers don’t have to cost the earth, and for those with small and simple shaped lawns, the LawnMaster VBRM16 Drop and Mow Robotic Lawnmower is a good budget option. Is it going to be able to tackle complex shaped lawns? Arguably not. But for those who don’t have time to mow their smaller lawn, it’s a great choice.
Designed for lawns up to 100 m² in size with hard borders such as gravel, paving and decking, this mower clearly isn’t as advanced as others on this list. However, it’s exceptionally simple to use. There’s no boundary wire needed which drastically reduces the set up time.
It works instead using the attached camera and ultrasonic sensors which detect obstacles, including moving obstacles like pets! The child safety key prevents children from tampering with it, while the blades automatically stop running when the unit is lifted.
All you need to do is charge the battery (using the fast 1 hour charger provided), and put the mower on the lawn once or twice a week during the day time. It can only be used on dry days, and it does need to be manually placed on the lawn, but once down it’ll mow in a random pattern for up to 4 hours, until the entire lawn has been mowed. For a neater finish, use the spot cut function on any uncut grass.
It drops clippings back onto the grass so there’s no grass collector to worry about. The clippings will break down into the grass, improving the quality and density of your lawn over time.
The cutting height can be adjusted from 20 mm to 60 mm to suit your lawn, and it’s able to tackle slopes up to 35%.
There aren’t many downsides to this mower. Essentially, you get what you pay for. While it’s cheaper than many others on the market, it’s not as versatile, and it’ll struggle in gardens with overhanging plants or soft borders. It’s also not fully automatic, you need to manually pick it up and place it on the lawn.
However, for those looking for an easy to use robot mower on a budget, this LawnMaster model is an excellent choice.
Features:
- Lawn Size
- 100m²
- Weight
- 6.6kg
- Cutting Width
- 15cm
- Cutting Height
- 20-60mm
Pros
- No boundary wire required - uses sensors and a camera which will greatly reduce the set up time
- Doesn’t need an outdoor socket, which others on the market do require
- Good value for money, saves plenty of time in the garden but doesn’t have a complicated set up
- Comes with a charger included and it charges fully in 1 hour
- Spiralling spot cut function should tackle any areas that it has missed
Cons
- Can only be used in small gardens with a simple layout - no overhanging plants or undefined soft borders
- Doesn’t start mowing automatically - needs to be picked up and placed onto the lawn
The MAMMOTION LUBA AWD 3000 Robotic Lawnmower is unlike anything on the market to date. It looks more like a high-speed RC car than a lawn mower, but hidden beneath the pearl white chassis are some impressive features worth our attention.
For a 20% Discount Use Code: 4UJYYUHW
Firstly, let’s look at some of the specs. Most robot lawn mowers are only capable of dealing with small to medium sized gardens, at best. But the LUBA AWD comes in 3 models; the 1000, 3000 and 5000. This number represents the square meters it’s capable of cutting.
The 3000 that I tested is capable of dealing with medium to large gardens, whilst the 5000 can cut over an acre!
It can also handle challenging terrain, with slopes up to 65% inclines/declines. So if you’ve got a big, nontraditional garden, this could be the best option for you.
Next, let’s move on to the all important setup of this model. With all robot lawn mowers there’s this slight concern you get when the box arrives, as you know it’s not going to be a walk in the park! Whether it’s mapping out a perimeter or navigating the technology, it’s always going to be more time consuming than normal.
I have to say, the LUBA wasn’t bad at all. There aren’t that many parts to the charging station, and the mower comes pre-built (thankfully!). What I would say though, is that the instructions could be worded a bit clearer and there should be a greater emphasis on the charging station being close enough to your house so sync it up with the WiFi. Otherwise though, it was all pretty straightforward and we were up and running in about 40 minutes.
What I really like about this model is that you don’t have to bury a perimeter wire, unlike some other models on this list. Instead, you map it out yourself on the accompanying app, using the mower itself. You kind of drive it round to create your area. Depending on the complexity of your garden borders, this could potentially create challenges in getting a close, straight line on the edge, but I’d say if you take it slow it’s very achievable.
In terms of performance, this is where this bot comes into its own. It gives a lovely even cut, and distributes to small clippings back onto your grass as it goes. This is of course very beneficial for your lawns health! It also mows in a strategic pattern which helps with the finish.
Everything is controlled by the app, such as the cutting height and schedule. Plus it gives you handy information such as how much of the grass has been mowed (as a percentage) and how many minutes left to complete it’s current job.
Overall, I’m really quite impressed with the LUBA AWD 3000 Robotic Lawnmower. It’s not perfect, but if you have a large or heavily sloped garden it’s one of the best options on the market currently. However this ability to handle less traditional terrain, does come at a price though; it’s not cheap! So it all comes down to your personal assessment of how much the convenience is worth to you.
best robot lawn for large gardens
Scores:
- Design
- Power
- Performance
- Ease of Setup
- Features
- Safety
- Value for Money
- Overall
The MAMMOTION LUBA AWD 3000 Robotic Lawnmower is unlike anything on the market to date. It looks more like a high-speed RC car than a lawn mower, but hidden beneath the pearl white chassis are some impressive features worth our attention.
For a 20% Discount Use Code: 4UJYYUHW
Firstly, let’s look at some of the specs. Most robot lawn mowers are only capable of dealing with small to medium sized gardens, at best. But the LUBA AWD comes in 3 models; the 1000, 3000 and 5000. This number represents the square meters it’s capable of cutting.
The 3000 that I tested is capable of dealing with medium to large gardens, whilst the 5000 can cut over an acre!
It can also handle challenging terrain, with slopes up to 65% inclines/declines. So if you’ve got a big, nontraditional garden, this could be the best option for you.
Next, let’s move on to the all important setup of this model. With all robot lawn mowers there’s this slight concern you get when the box arrives, as you know it’s not going to be a walk in the park! Whether it’s mapping out a perimeter or navigating the technology, it’s always going to be more time consuming than normal.
I have to say, the LUBA wasn’t bad at all. There aren’t that many parts to the charging station, and the mower comes pre-built (thankfully!). What I would say though, is that the instructions could be worded a bit clearer and there should be a greater emphasis on the charging station being close enough to your house so sync it up with the WiFi. Otherwise though, it was all pretty straightforward and we were up and running in about 40 minutes.
What I really like about this model is that you don’t have to bury a perimeter wire, unlike some other models on this list. Instead, you map it out yourself on the accompanying app, using the mower itself. You kind of drive it round to create your area. Depending on the complexity of your garden borders, this could potentially create challenges in getting a close, straight line on the edge, but I’d say if you take it slow it’s very achievable.
In terms of performance, this is where this bot comes into its own. It gives a lovely even cut, and distributes to small clippings back onto your grass as it goes. This is of course very beneficial for your lawns health! It also mows in a strategic pattern which helps with the finish.
Everything is controlled by the app, such as the cutting height and schedule. Plus it gives you handy information such as how much of the grass has been mowed (as a percentage) and how many minutes left to complete it’s current job.
Overall, I’m really quite impressed with the LUBA AWD 3000 Robotic Lawnmower. It’s not perfect, but if you have a large or heavily sloped garden it’s one of the best options on the market currently. However this ability to handle less traditional terrain, does come at a price though; it’s not cheap! So it all comes down to your personal assessment of how much the convenience is worth to you.
Tested By: Clive Harris
Features:
- Lawn Size
- 3000m²
- Weight
- 25kg
- Cutting Width
- 40cm
- Cutting Height
- 30-70mm
Pros
- Really well designed - looks great and very durable
- Capable of handling big gardens and steep slopes
- All managed from an app on your phone
- You don't need to lay a perimeter wire
- Good safety features and immobilizer to prevent theft
Cons
- Quite expensive
- The distance to your router needs to be considered when setting up
The LawnMaster L10 Robotic Lawnmower is the best robot lawn mower if you’ve got a sloped garden. It has a cutting width of 18 cm and has been designed to tackle slopes with a gradient of up to 35%.
While robot lawn mowers are designed to save you time in the garden, the technologically-challenged amongst us can find them very tricky to set up. This robot lawn mower is exceptionally easy to use. It can be operated using a simple keypad, with no need for a smartphone app or remote control.
To set up this mower, you’ll need to mark out the cutting area using boundary wire and pegs. The mower will automatically return to its docking station to charge at intervals throughout the day. Once set up, simply leave this mower to get on with its job. While easy to use, some users may still find the initial set up tricky.
It’s also a good choice for medium size gardens. It’s capable of mowing areas up to 400 m² in size, and there’s a range of cutting heights to suit different grass lengths. Choose from 20 mm to 60 mm.
The body of the unit is tough, sturdy and waterproof. It’ll automatically return to the docking station in heavy rain.
To deter thieves, this mower is PIN protected. Before it can be used, a PIN code needs to be entered. Having said that, there’s no alarm system, so it’s best used in more secluded gardens.
Overall, this mower strikes the right balance of convenience and ease of use. What it lacks in advanced features and functionality, it makes up for in its ability to handle gradients.
best for sloped gardens
Scores:
- Design
- Power
- Performance
- Ease of Setup
- Features
- Safety
- Value for Money
- Overall
The LawnMaster L10 Robotic Lawnmower is the best robot lawn mower if you’ve got a sloped garden. It has a cutting width of 18 cm and has been designed to tackle slopes with a gradient of up to 35%.
While robot lawn mowers are designed to save you time in the garden, the technologically-challenged amongst us can find them very tricky to set up. This robot lawn mower is exceptionally easy to use. It can be operated using a simple keypad, with no need for a smartphone app or remote control.
To set up this mower, you’ll need to mark out the cutting area using boundary wire and pegs. The mower will automatically return to its docking station to charge at intervals throughout the day. Once set up, simply leave this mower to get on with its job. While easy to use, some users may still find the initial set up tricky.
It’s also a good choice for medium size gardens. It’s capable of mowing areas up to 400 m² in size, and there’s a range of cutting heights to suit different grass lengths. Choose from 20 mm to 60 mm.
The body of the unit is tough, sturdy and waterproof. It’ll automatically return to the docking station in heavy rain.
To deter thieves, this mower is PIN protected. Before it can be used, a PIN code needs to be entered. Having said that, there’s no alarm system, so it’s best used in more secluded gardens.
Overall, this mower strikes the right balance of convenience and ease of use. What it lacks in advanced features and functionality, it makes up for in its ability to handle gradients.
Features:
- Lawn Size
- 400m²
- Weight
- 8.1kg
- Cutting Width
- 18cm
- Cutting Height
- 20-60mm
Pros
- Copes very well with long grass
- Grass cuttings are very small so the result is a tidy lawn
- Runs very quietly, could be set to work overnight without disturbing anyone
- Fairly simple compared to other robot lawn mowers - there is no app to control it and programming is quite basic
- Handles lumps and bumps in the garden very well
Cons
- You may still need to tidy up the edges of the lawn using a strimmer every so often
- It can be tricky to figure out the best location for the base
- If you use the emergency stop button, the unit needs to be reprogrammed again to start the next day
While we’d hesitate to call any robot lawn mower ‘affordable’, the LANDXCAPE LX799 Robotic Mower certainly represents good value for money. It’s been designed for gardens up to 300 m² in size, and it has an effective 3 blade cutting system that mulches the clippings as it mows, gradually improving the health of your lawn.
This mower starts at just the press of a button with no programming required. It has bump sensors that allow it to navigate narrow paths and bumpy terrain with ease.
It has cutting heights ranging from 20 to 50 mm, and a cutting width of 16 cm. It’s not designed for inclines, although it can still tackle slopes of up to 25%. Overall, it’s best for flatter lawns.
It’s also easy to use. Those that are after a simple machine will love this unit. It can only be controlled using the keypad, there’s no app or remote control.
Once it’s finished cutting, this mower automatically returns to its docking station. It comes with perimeter wire and cable hooks included, so you can easily lay the boundary. It does leave around 10 cm of uncut grass at the edge of the lawn (more than this if it’s not level between your lawn and patio, or if a wall borders your lawn), so will need neatening.
Another slight issue is that the docking station needs 150 cm clear all around it, which can be difficult to achieve without sacrificing some of your lawn.
This mower does get stuck every so often and will need rescuing. Some users have found it occasionally goes past the boundary wire. It also doesn’t have a rain sensor, so will continue to mow in the rain. Waterlogged grass isn’t particularly good for the blades, so you’ll need to turn off the mower manually if the weather turns.
Safety features include a lockable PIN and a sensor that switches off the blades if the mower is lifted or tilted.
If you’re looking for an easy to use, simple and good value for money mower, this model is our top recommendation.
best value
Scores:
- Design
- Power
- Performance
- Ease of Setup
- Features
- Safety
- Value for Money
- Overall
While we’d hesitate to call any robot lawn mower ‘affordable’, the LANDXCAPE LX799 Robotic Mower certainly represents good value for money. It’s been designed for gardens up to 300 m² in size, and it has an effective 3 blade cutting system that mulches the clippings as it mows, gradually improving the health of your lawn.
This mower starts at just the press of a button with no programming required. It has bump sensors that allow it to navigate narrow paths and bumpy terrain with ease.
It has cutting heights ranging from 20 to 50 mm, and a cutting width of 16 cm. It’s not designed for inclines, although it can still tackle slopes of up to 25%. Overall, it’s best for flatter lawns.
It’s also easy to use. Those that are after a simple machine will love this unit. It can only be controlled using the keypad, there’s no app or remote control.
Once it’s finished cutting, this mower automatically returns to its docking station. It comes with perimeter wire and cable hooks included, so you can easily lay the boundary. It does leave around 10 cm of uncut grass at the edge of the lawn (more than this if it’s not level between your lawn and patio, or if a wall borders your lawn), so will need neatening.
Another slight issue is that the docking station needs 150 cm clear all around it, which can be difficult to achieve without sacrificing some of your lawn.
This mower does get stuck every so often and will need rescuing. Some users have found it occasionally goes past the boundary wire. It also doesn’t have a rain sensor, so will continue to mow in the rain. Waterlogged grass isn’t particularly good for the blades, so you’ll need to turn off the mower manually if the weather turns.
Safety features include a lockable PIN and a sensor that switches off the blades if the mower is lifted or tilted.
If you’re looking for an easy to use, simple and good value for money mower, this model is our top recommendation.
Features:
- Lawn Size
- 300m²
- Weight
- 12.9kg
- Cutting Width
- 16cm
- Cutting Height
- 20-50mm
Pros
- Leaves a very neat cut every time
- Recycles grass clippings which improves the soil quality
- Instructions aren’t too long but are very easy to understand
- Simple functionality (no app, wifi or timer) means this robot mower is easier to use than many others on the market
Cons
- There is no easy way to skip a timed mow, except to turn it off completely
- The base needs to be placed on the lawn so you will end up sacrificing a small amount of lawn for the base
- Leaves around 10 cm of uncut grass at the edge which will need to be trimmed
If you’re thinking the shape and layout of your garden is a little too complex for a robot lawn mower, think again! The Einhell Power X-Change 18V Robotic Lawnmower has been designed for lawns up to 1200 m² in size, and it’s capable of tackling even the most complex layouts.
In terms of specifics, this mower has cutting heights ranging from 20 mm to 60 mm, and a cutting width of 18 cm. It can be controlled using a Bluetooth app, while there’s also an LCD display and keypad so you can adjust the settings on the unit itself.
There’s a multi-zone mowing mode. This means that it can start both from the charging station and other defined points within the garden, allowing it to mow a range of areas. It detects obstacles quickly and easily, while it can also handle slopes of up to 35%. The rain sensor automatically sends the unit back to the charging station if it detects rainfall.
This lawn mower works using boundary wires. If you’ve got a complex garden, the wire can take a while to lay out, but once completed, you can sit back and relax. This mower produces a neat cut every time, while the mulching functionality will improve the density and quality of your lawn. It’s able to accommodate children’s toys and lawn furniture, so there’s no need to clear up before mowing starts.
A couple of downsides. The first is that it doesn’t reach the edges, instead leaving a gap of around 25 cm. If you’re particularly fussy about the look of your lawn, you’ll need to go around the edges with a strimmer. Another issue is that it can get stuck on long grass. If you’ve allowed your grass to grow very long, you’ll need to cut it down before using this mower.
It’s equipped with safety sensors. The blades will automatically stop if the mower is lifted, tilted or knocked.
This mower comes with everything you need included. There’s 12 replacement blades, 50 m of boundary wire and 100 hooks included.
If you’re wanting a robot lawn mower that’s able to tackle the most complex of lawn designs, this Einhell model is well worth considering.
best for complex lawns
Scores:
- Design
- Power
- Performance
- Ease of Setup
- Features
- Safety
- Value for Money
- Overall
If you’re thinking the shape and layout of your garden is a little too complex for a robot lawn mower, think again! The Einhell Power X-Change 18V Robotic Lawnmower has been designed for lawns up to 1200 m² in size, and it’s capable of tackling even the most complex layouts.
In terms of specifics, this mower has cutting heights ranging from 20 mm to 60 mm, and a cutting width of 18 cm. It can be controlled using a Bluetooth app, while there’s also an LCD display and keypad so you can adjust the settings on the unit itself.
There’s a multi-zone mowing mode. This means that it can start both from the charging station and other defined points within the garden, allowing it to mow a range of areas. It detects obstacles quickly and easily, while it can also handle slopes of up to 35%. The rain sensor automatically sends the unit back to the charging station if it detects rainfall.
This lawn mower works using boundary wires. If you’ve got a complex garden, the wire can take a while to lay out, but once completed, you can sit back and relax. This mower produces a neat cut every time, while the mulching functionality will improve the density and quality of your lawn. It’s able to accommodate children’s toys and lawn furniture, so there’s no need to clear up before mowing starts.
A couple of downsides. The first is that it doesn’t reach the edges, instead leaving a gap of around 25 cm. If you’re particularly fussy about the look of your lawn, you’ll need to go around the edges with a strimmer. Another issue is that it can get stuck on long grass. If you’ve allowed your grass to grow very long, you’ll need to cut it down before using this mower.
It’s equipped with safety sensors. The blades will automatically stop if the mower is lifted, tilted or knocked.
This mower comes with everything you need included. There’s 12 replacement blades, 50 m of boundary wire and 100 hooks included.
If you’re wanting a robot lawn mower that’s able to tackle the most complex of lawn designs, this Einhell model is well worth considering.
Features:
- Lawn Size
- 1200m²
- Weight
- 14.3kg
- Cutting Width
- 18cm
- Cutting Height
- 20-60mm
Pros
- Designed for awkward shaped lawns with narrow areas
- Finds its own way back to the station when the battery runs low
- Produces a very neat and even cut every time
- Improves the density of your lawn thanks to the mulching functionality
- Obstacle detection works very well - able to accommodate children’s toys and lawn furniture
Cons
- Can get stuck on long grass
- Doesn’t mow 25 cm at the edges of the lawn so a strimmer may still be needed
Robot lawn mowers aren’t cheap, and you want to be sure that they don’t go missing! The Swift RM18 28V Robotic Lawnmower is a great choice if you’ve got an exposed garden and are worried about passers-by making off with your new tool. It’s equipped with a PIN code and alarm to deter thieves.
It’s been designed for lawns up to 600 m² in size and can conquer gradients up to 35 %. Once set up, it simply gets to work. The instructions are clear and it’s easy to adjust the cutting height. Choose from heights ranging from 20 mm to 60 mm.
It has a display that’s fairly easy to use. There’s a large on/off switch and the ability to set the area and start time. The rain sensor means it’ll automatically return to its docking station when the weather turns.
With a bumper sensing technology, this mower will avoid obstacles including pets and lawn furniture. When the battery runs low, it’ll automatically return to the docking station.
Unlike others on the market, this robot lawn mower isn’t controlled using an app. This makes it easy to use, especially for those who are new to robot mowers.
The only real fault is that there isn’t enough boundary wire included to map out a full 600 m² garden. If you have a garden of this size, you’re going to need to purchase more wire.
There’s a lot to love about this robot lawn mower. The simple functionality, coupled with the convenient security features make it a great option for most medium size lawns.
Best security features
Scores:
- Design
- Power
- Performance
- Ease of Setup
- Features
- Safety
- Value for Money
- Overall
Robot lawn mowers aren’t cheap, and you want to be sure that they don’t go missing! The Swift RM18 28V Robotic Lawnmower is a great choice if you’ve got an exposed garden and are worried about passers-by making off with your new tool. It’s equipped with a PIN code and alarm to deter thieves.
It’s been designed for lawns up to 600 m² in size and can conquer gradients up to 35 %. Once set up, it simply gets to work. The instructions are clear and it’s easy to adjust the cutting height. Choose from heights ranging from 20 mm to 60 mm.
It has a display that’s fairly easy to use. There’s a large on/off switch and the ability to set the area and start time. The rain sensor means it’ll automatically return to its docking station when the weather turns.
With a bumper sensing technology, this mower will avoid obstacles including pets and lawn furniture. When the battery runs low, it’ll automatically return to the docking station.
Unlike others on the market, this robot lawn mower isn’t controlled using an app. This makes it easy to use, especially for those who are new to robot mowers.
The only real fault is that there isn’t enough boundary wire included to map out a full 600 m² garden. If you have a garden of this size, you’re going to need to purchase more wire.
There’s a lot to love about this robot lawn mower. The simple functionality, coupled with the convenient security features make it a great option for most medium size lawns.
Features:
- Lawn Size
- 600m²
- Weight
- 10kg
- Cutting Width
- 18cm
- Cutting Height
- 20-60mm
Pros
- Instructions are fairly easy to follow and, once boundaries are set up, the rest of the installation is very easy
- Deposits grass clippings back onto the lawn to improve its quality
- Large cutting height adjustment ranging from 20 mm to 60 mm
- Comes equipped with an alarm and PIN code that can help prevent theft
Cons
- There isn’t enough cable provided to map out a garden of 600 m², need to purchase more cable if your garden is over 400 m² in size
- Takes some time to set up the boundaries
If you’ve got a big lawn and an even bigger budget, the Gardena smart SILENO life 1000 robot lawnmower is well worth considering. This state of the art robot lawn mower is one of the most advanced on the market today. It has the capacity to mow lawns up to 1000 m² in size and is equipped with AI technology.
This mower utilisers LONA intelligence, an AI technology which offers intelligent mapping, zone management, area protection and location tracking. It’ll map your garden precisely, producing an accurate layout of the area you want to mow.
The settings can be adjusted to suit any style of lawn. The zone management feature allows you to specify the mowing intensity and frequency for each area of your lawn, while there’s also the ability to define ‘stay away’ zones for areas you don’t want mown. All features can be customised using a smartphone app.
It’s weatherproof and capable of mowing in both sunshine and rain, while it can be cleaned using a garden hose. The cutting heights can be adjusted from 20 to 50 mm, and it runs at just 57 dB, so it’ll mow overnight without disturbing anyone.
It comes with everything you need included; a smart gateway, a charging station, 200 m of boundary wire and 300 hooks.
Equipped with the most advanced technology, this mower certainly has a lot going for it. While the technology is very impressive, those with smaller, simple gardens can get the same result from a much cheaper unit.
Best technology
Scores:
- Design
- Power
- Performance
- Ease of Setup
- Features
- Safety
- Value for Money
- Overall
If you’ve got a big lawn and an even bigger budget, the Gardena smart SILENO life 1000 robot lawnmower is well worth considering. This state of the art robot lawn mower is one of the most advanced on the market today. It has the capacity to mow lawns up to 1000 m² in size and is equipped with AI technology.
This mower utilisers LONA intelligence, an AI technology which offers intelligent mapping, zone management, area protection and location tracking. It’ll map your garden precisely, producing an accurate layout of the area you want to mow.
The settings can be adjusted to suit any style of lawn. The zone management feature allows you to specify the mowing intensity and frequency for each area of your lawn, while there’s also the ability to define ‘stay away’ zones for areas you don’t want mown. All features can be customised using a smartphone app.
It’s weatherproof and capable of mowing in both sunshine and rain, while it can be cleaned using a garden hose. The cutting heights can be adjusted from 20 to 50 mm, and it runs at just 57 dB, so it’ll mow overnight without disturbing anyone.
It comes with everything you need included; a smart gateway, a charging station, 200 m of boundary wire and 300 hooks.
Equipped with the most advanced technology, this mower certainly has a lot going for it. While the technology is very impressive, those with smaller, simple gardens can get the same result from a much cheaper unit.
Features:
- Lawn Size
- 1000m²
- Weight
- 16kg
- Cutting Width
- 22cm
- Cutting Height
- 20-50mm
Pros
- Capable of tackling slopes with a gradient of up to 35%
- Intelligent mapping and location tracking means you can map your garden precisely
- Designed for large areas of lawn up to 1000 m² in size
- Gets virtually to the edges of the lawn meaning you won’t need to use a strimmer to neaten it up
- Adjusts automatically to the grass height to produce a neat finish every time
Cons
- More expensive than others on the market
- Doesn’t come with enough pegs for the boundary wire
- Installation takes a fair amount of time although Gardena have provided a number of helpful videos on their website
Compare Product Features Here
Use the dropdown to sort the table by the feature that's most important to you.
- Our score
- Lawn Size
- Weight
- Cutting Width
- Cutting Height
-
- Lawn Size800m²
- Weight8.2kg
- Cutting Width18cm
- Cutting Height20-60mm
-
- Lawn Size150m²
- Weight6.1 kg
- Cutting Width16cm
- Cutting Height20-50mm
-
- Lawn Size300m²
- Weight14.1kg
- Cutting Width18cm
- Cutting Height20-50mm
-
- Lawn Size100m²
- Weight6.6kg
- Cutting Width15cm
- Cutting Height20-60mm
-
- Lawn Size3000m²
- Weight25kg
- Cutting Width40cm
- Cutting Height30-70mm
-
- Lawn Size400m²
- Weight8.1kg
- Cutting Width18cm
- Cutting Height20-60mm
-
- Lawn Size300m²
- Weight12.9kg
- Cutting Width16cm
- Cutting Height20-50mm
-
- Lawn Size1200m²
- Weight14.3kg
- Cutting Width18cm
- Cutting Height20-60mm
-
- Lawn Size600m²
- Weight10kg
- Cutting Width18cm
- Cutting Height20-60mm
-
- Lawn Size1000m²
- Weight16kg
- Cutting Width22cm
- Cutting Height20-50mm
Tips for Buying a Robot Lawn Mower
- If you’ve not got the time to mow your lawn (or you simply don’t want to!), a robot lawn mower is a great purchase. There’s a huge range on the market today to choose from.
- Robot lawn mowers are designed to mow little and often, which will mean your lawn never gets too long. They take just a small amount off at a time, depositing the clippings back into the ground to improve the quality.
- If you’re new to robot lawn mowers, you will probably want to consider ease of use and set up. Some connect to an app and can be controlled using your smartphone, while others can be controlled using buttons on the unit.
- Think about the number of obstacles you have in your garden. The cheapest robot lawn mowers may struggle to mow complex lawns, while more advanced models will be better able to handle obstacles, awkward shaped lawns and different zones.
- Take a look at security features. Some robot lawn mowers have a PIN code which must be entered before the mower can be used, while others have an alarm feature, where a loud alarm will be triggered if the mower is lifted.
Why You Can Trust DIY Garden
At DIY Garden, we believe your trust is earned through our knowledge and transparency. Our team of experts has over 75 years collective experience in the gardening and DIY space. Since the website’s creation in 2016 we’ve tested over 275 products, ensuring our recommendations are based on real experience. We’re open about what we’ve tried and what we’ve researched, and this is clearly labelled in our product reviews. Every year, we revisit and update our suggestions to include worthy new additions to the market. Our aim is to give you straightforward, honest, and helpful recommendations, so you can confidently choose the best tools and equipment for your projects.
How to Choose the Best Robot Lawn Mower
Robot lawn mowers have been in the public sphere for over five decades, yet they’re still thought of as futuristic!
Today’s robot lawn mowers take the hard work out of mowing and have been manufactured for almost any size garden.
With so many different robot lawn mowers on the market today, how do you decide which is the right model for you?
Take a look at the following advice to help you find the best robot lawn mower for your garden.
How do Robotic Lawn Mowers Work?
Robotic lawn mowers have a few key features that help save time in the garden. They work using a unique cutting system, designed to cut little and often.
They are built with smaller blades that skim just the top of the grass blade each time. They are designed to be used much more frequently than regular mowers, cutting just a small amount of grass with each mow. Because of this, they don’t need collection bags. Instead, the clippings are deposited back onto the lawn.
Robot lawn mowers work using perimeter detection. This is usually set up with a boundary wire. They use their built in navigation system to detect the wire, and they won’t go past this point. The perimeter wire can be installed around obstacles, to prevent the mower from knocking into a tree or flowerbed.
Safety components can help prevent your robot lawn mower from injuring someone. Most have blades that are tucked underneath the model, while many can sense if they are lifted off the ground, shutting down the blades if that happens.
The Benefits of Using a Robot Lawn Mower
There’s a number of benefits of a robot lawn mower. The first and most obvious reason why so many people are investing in robot lawn mowers is because they are more convenient. They don’t cut into your free time, operating at night or while you are at work. Once they’ve been set up, you can usually just leave them to do their job!
Robot mowers are designed to make short, regular cuts. They remove just the top of the grass blade each time, and don’t allow the grass to get so long. Because of this, your lawn will always look neat and tidy. You’ll likely never even notice that it needs a mow!
Mowing this consistently can improve the density of your lawn, and most robot mowers won’t leave streaks or marks across your lawn. The result? An enviable lawn every day of the week!
Compared to petrol mowers, robot lawn mowers are better for the environment. They don’t emit any fumes and they can be started with the push of a button. This also means they are a lot quieter, with many people choosing to set their mowing schedule for overnight.
Finally, robot lawn mowers are better for your lawn. The grass clippings aren’t collected, instead they are simply deposited back onto the lawn. This will add nutrients back into the grass.
By working more frequently than regular mowers, the clippings are smaller. This means they break down quicker and leave a neater finish than mowers which deposit large clippings back onto the soil.
Choosing The Best Robot Lawn Mower For Your Garden
Robot lawn mowers aren’t cheap, so a little thought is required before you make a purchase. Here’s what to consider.
Garden Type
You cannot purchase a new lawn mower without thinking about your garden. All robot lawn mowers have been designed to suit particular gardens.
The first thing to consider is the size. Robot lawn mowers have area limits, so you’ll need to find one that has a lawn coverage which slightly exceeds the size of your lawn. If you think you may move in the future to a property with a larger garden, ensure your new mower is able to accommodate a larger space.
You should also think about the slope. Most mowers are designed to handle a certain level of slope, and no steeper. If you’ve got a slope in your garden, ensure your mower is able to accommodate it. Most robot lawn mowers can handle slopes at a gradient of between 20% and 35%.
Finally, think about the number of obstacles in your garden. Plants, flower beds, trees or children’s climbing equipment can all get in the way of a robot lawn mower. You’ll need to look for one that is able to handle obstacles and fit into tight spaces if you’ve got a lot going on in your garden.
Ease of Setup & Use
There is no denying that robot lawn mowers are more complicated to set up than regular lawn mowers. However, that’s not to say they are tricky to use.
There are many robot lawn mowers on the market with simple functionality, and these mowers are often cheaper. The mowing schedule can be set on the unit itself, and they may not require boundary wire, instead detecting the surface underneath and only mowing when it senses grass.
Cheaper models however, may not be able to cope with sharp angles or difficult areas. They can get confused, stuck easily and may need rescuing!
The more expensive mowers with higher functionality will have a larger number of features. This might include weather sensors, GPS navigation and the ability to connect to your wifi or smartphone. This allows you to adjust and view the schedule from your smartphone, while also tracking it if it goes missing.
Robot Lawn Mower Features
You should also think about the specific cutting features. For instance, the height and width.
With some robotic mowers, the height of the cut can be adjusted via the display. They often don’t have a particularly large range, as they are designed for small but regular cuts.
The cutting width of robot lawn mowers is a lot narrower than regular lawn mowers. This is because they are designed to get into smaller spaces and take up a lot less room. Models for smaller lawns may have a cutting width of just 20 cm.
Safety Components
Safety components should also be considered. Those with pets or young children are right to be concerned about the safety of robot lawn mowers, as those blades are seriously sharp!
However, most robot lawn mowers now come with effective safety features, such as a collision detection system. This allows your mower to stop and turn before it bumps into an obstacle, but it’ll also prevent it from crashing into people or pets.
The cutting blades are usually buried right underneath the mower’s body, meaning even if the mower does crash into you, the blades won’t make contact.
Most robot mowers now have a ‘lift and tilt’ sensor which shuts off the cutting system when the mower is either lifted from the ground or tilted in some way.
Finally, there should be an emergency stop button. This is a bright red button that’s easy to access, and will instantly turn off the mower.
Security Features
Let’s face it, robot lawn mowers are costly, and the last thing you want is for it to get stolen! But if you’re out at work or relaxing inside during the day, you want to be sure a passer-by isn’t going to help themselves to your new tool.
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Thankfully, robot lawn mowers can come with any number of security features.
The first is PIN protection. They are usually secured with a personal PIN, which will need to be inputted whenever you want to use the device. While someone could still disappear with your lawn mower, it’s nice to know that they won’t be able to use it.
Another is an audible alarm signal. This is an alarm which will alert you if someone tries to steal the mower. It’ll sound when the mower has been lifted and the PIN hasn’t been entered. This alarm may also sound if the mower moves out of a certain area.
Those with a GPS often have the option of GPS tracking. The position of the unit can be determined using your smartphone or computer, allowing you to quickly track down the thief.
Robot Lawn Mower FAQs
Are robotic lawn mowers worth buying?
This depends on how much time you have for mowing, as well as how much you value the time you do have spare!
Those with robotic lawn mowers often declare that they couldn’t go back to a traditional lawn mower. Robot lawn mowers can save you a huge amount of time every week, leaving you with time in your day free to put your feet up or, let’s face it, tackle another gardening task!
Robot lawn mowers certainly take the toil out of lawn care once they are set up. What puts many people off is the time they take to set up and the cost. Depending on the mower you purchase, you may find that your new lawn mower doesn’t reach the edges of your lawn, meaning you’ll need to go over them with a strimmer. Of course, some people enjoy mowing, so a robot lawn mower wouldn’t suit them.
If you’ve got the money, you dislike mowing the lawn and you value your free time, a robot lawn mower is certainly worth serious consideration.
Are robot mowers better for my lawn?
Some robot mowers are specifically designed to improve the quality of your lawn. This is because instead of collecting the grass clippings, the mower deposits the clippings back onto the lawn. Over time, the clippings will break down and add nutrients to the soil.
Robot lawn mowers are also designed to mow more frequently. They generally mow the lawn every one to three days depending on your preference. This leads to the grass growing wider and forming more shoots, which will eventually improve the density of the grass. Letting grass grow too long then cutting it short can damage it, and also lead to weed growth.
What are the disadvantages of a robotic mower?
Robotic lawn mowers are gaining in popularity, but there’s still a few considerations to be made.
The first is that they are expensive to purchase initially. While they can save you a huge amount of time, the initial price means a purchase requires some serious thought.
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Another is that their installation can be complex. Wifi connectivity, boundary wires and charging bases aren’t something that need considering with a traditional lawn mower, but if you want to make the most of your robot lawn mower, you’re going to want to understand every part of it.
The layout of your garden and terrain also needs considering. Gardens with steep slopes or very bumpy terrain may find that a robot lawn mower gets stuck.
Finally, there is the risk of theft. Robot mowers are worth a lot of money, and if you’ve left it out in your front lawn to work, you may find an intruder helps themselves to it. While some robot lawn mowers come equipped with security features such as an alarm, many do not.