The best robotic lawnmowers automatically trim your yard to ensure you consistently have a lush, manicured lawn. That means you won’t have to waste time starting your traditional lawnmower on the weekends. Simply mark the boundaries of your lawn, set a schedule, and this robot will get going.
This convenience and efficiency comes at a cost: Robot lawnmowers are much more expensive than standard push- or ride-on options. Read on to see the five most important factors before making a major investment.
grass type
Take stock of the overall size and terrain of your garden before even looking at robotic lawnmowers. This is because you can save a lot of money with a smaller unit for narrow, flat lawns.
Larger spaces and yards with steeper slopes require more powerful models that can climb hills and have the battery life to cover all the ground. For example, we found that the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD could get up and down a hilly yard, but the Husqvarna Automower 415X got stuck more often and ended up digging holes trying to get out.
Cutting performance
Lawnmower robots focus on two cutting dimensions; height and width. Look for a model with several adjustable cutting heights if you’re feeling a little obsessive about the length of your grass. That extra inch can mean the difference between a smooth putting green-like surface or more traditional growth. You may also want to vary the length of your lawn mowing during the summer, depending on weather conditions.
The cutting width determines how quickly the mower can cut the grass. You want a wider width to cover more space, which greatly reduces cutting times in large open areas.
Smart features and limit settings
Smart home connectivity and app controls are essential areas to familiarize yourself with if you want to automate your lawnmower to the fullest. You’ll want to be able to schedule cutting sessions, monitor progress, and receive notifications at a minimum. If your robot supports creating custom zones, you can even send it to maintain specific parts of your garden using voice commands from the smart assistant Alexa or Google Assistant.
Speaking of zones, you’ll want to see how your potential mower navigates the yard. Many models still rely on boundary wires to establish the cutting area. This prevents the lawnmower from entering prohibited areas, such as children’s play areas or flower beds. More premium models, like the Husqvarna Automower 450XH EPOS, can scan your yard for obstacles and map it out without the need for physical markers.
Battery life and charging
Compare the battery life of your prospective robotic lawnmower to the size of your lawn. While this will vary depending on size and power source, you can compare the manufacturer’s estimated run times with each other. Longer battery life is essential to cover larger areas without interruptions. Some of the more expensive models will even return to their charging base when the battery is low to recharge and pick up where they left off like the best robot vacuums we’ve tested. More affordable models will require you to change the battery by hand.
Price
Although robotic lawnmowers are slowly coming down in price, they are still much more expensive than a traditional lawnmower, so you want to make sure you spend your money wisely.
First, you’ll want to find a model that can adequately cover your yard. Next, you’ll want to create a list of must-have features, whether it’s smart home platform integration or long battery life. Then compare your top two or three options based on size, skills, and price to get the most bang for your buck.
Robot lawnmowers start at $599, giving you a compact model like the Worx Landroid M20V ($682, Amazon), which can mow up to a quarter of an acre and even suggest a schedule based on the size or conditions of your yard.
Mid-range options include models like the Segway Navimow i110N, which costs $1,299 at Amazon and adds more power and features like AI-assisted mapping. Premium options cost upwards of $3,000, like the Husqvarna Automower 450XH EPOS ($5,899, Husqvarna) and are often loaded with advanced technology like LiDAR sensors to create virtual boundaries so you don’t have to set up a physical perimeter wire.
A robotic lawnmower is an investment, but it can save you from having to do another task every weekend. Hopefully, these tips will help you make the right decision.
- Husqvarna Automower 450XH EPOS Review
- Robot lawnmowers: 5 reasons to buy and 5 reasons to avoid it
- How to create a smart home routine with Alexa
