Robot lawnmowers have finally reached a level where they can take a significant chunk of work out of maintaining a yard. They are not yet set-and-forget machines, but with some supervision, these autonomous cutters can handle the weekly chore for you. Over the past few months, I tested five of the latest models on my flat, three-quarter-acre property in coastal South Carolina. The landscape contains sandy soil, centipede grass, and plenty of trees. The results were far better than last year’s trials, thanks to major improvements in navigation and maneuverability. These mowers stopped getting stuck, my lawn has never looked healthier, and even my spouse, who had sworn off robot mowers after a user-error accident, is now a convert.
Running daily and trimming just millimeters at a time, robot mowers produce a noticeably lusher lawn. The consistency is impressive. I walked barefoot on my grass for the first time in years, and the professional-looking mowing lines are a pleasure to see. The machines work quietly around the clock, without bothering pets, wildlife, or neighbors. The best part is that they keep the lawn trimmed evenly, which encourages denser growth.
What’s better this year
The key upgrades in the latest generation of robot mowers are network RTK navigation, fallback navigation systems, and improved all-wheel-drive for rougher terrain. RTK, or real-time kinematic positioning, uses satellite data and ground-based reference stations to provide location accuracy down to a centimeter or two. Most mowers now use RTK instead of boundary wires. Every model I tested, except the Lidar-based Dreame, comes with its own RTK antenna that must be installed with a clear view of the sky. Trees, houses, and rooflines can block the signal. In past testing, I couldn’t get any RTK mower to work in my backyard because GPS coverage is spotty.
This year’s models also offer NetRTK, which taps into existing RTK reference stations through a cloud connection. This requires Wi-Fi or 4G on the mower. Most worked out of the box without needing to install the antenna, but coverage varies by location. In addition, RTK mowers now use secondary navigation technologies like lidar or vSLAM to keep on track when the signal drops. This improvement, along with bigger and more capable machines, meant I no longer spent my summer dragging confused mowers out from under oak trees.
What still needs work
Robot mowers are far from perfect. These are autonomous machines with spinning blades, and leaving them to their own devices comes with risks. One mower spent three days methodically destroying a patch of my lawn before I noticed. Another took out two outdoor extension cords. Several models dug sandpits in bare patches, and one tried to climb a small tree. Obstacle detection is better across the board, but it still struggles with hoses, cables, and cars. My family now knows to check under the wheels before driving away. No one has really solved gates yet, so I still have to manually open mine to let the robot mow the full property.
Every manufacturer currently advertises NetRTK coverage as free for the lifetime of the device, but relying on a cloud service to mow your lawn has obvious downsides. Robot mowers are also expensive, and long-term durability remains an open question. Like robot vacuums, there are many models on the market, and the right one depends on your yard size and landscape. I tested four top-of-the-line models capable of handling my challenging terrain: the Husqvarna 420 IQ ($3,299), Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000 ($2,799), Segway Navimow X430 ($2,499), and Dreame A3 AWD Pro 2500 ($3,099.99). I also tried the entry-level Roborock RockNeo Q110H ($1,299) on my front lawn, which is more like a standard suburban yard.
Segway Navimow X430: The best overall
The Segway Navimow X430 is by far the best mower I tested. This 60-pound beast looks like something out of a science fiction movie, but it performed flawlessly. It was the only mower that didn’t get stuck once. Its 4WD wheels and impressive suspension rolled over potholes, sticks, rocks, and even small tree branches. It navigated around my chickens and crossed the tall, uneven transition from the front yard to the back yard without trouble. It was the only bot that could mow both areas in one trip, provided the gate is open.
The X430 uses a combination of RTK, vSLAM, and vision-based navigation. It covered my entire property without getting lost or stuck. Its zero-turn maneuverability allows it to pivot smoothly without damaging the turf. The dual-disc, 17-inch cutting width covers more ground, and it mowed most of my backyard in under three hours, nearly twice as fast as the competition. The remote-control mowing feature was handy for tidying up edges and sensitive areas around flower beds. The Segway’s speed does leave a few blades untrimmed, and its rain sensing relies on internet weather data, which sometimes predicted rain that never came. Setting up NetRTK was a bit tricky because the charging station had to be placed in an awkward spot with a clear view of the sky.
Dreame A3 AWD Pro 2500: Best lidar alternative
The Dreame A3 AWD Pro 2500 is the best option if you can’t rely on RTK. Its lidar and camera-based navigation performed nearly as well as the Segway in my backyard, only getting stuck a couple of times. It doesn’t need a clear view of the sky, so you can place the charging station anywhere. Its sliding edge-cutting deck worked slightly better than the Segway’s EdgeSense feature. However, the A3 has a fixed minimum cutting height of 1.2 inches, which may not suit every lawn.
In my testing, lidar proved to be the least reliable navigation technology. The A3 sometimes declared the job complete when it wasn’t. Lidar robots do best in fenced yards, as they can more easily get lost and wander off into a neighbor’s property, something that never happened with the RTK robots. While the Dreame rarely got stuck, its turning mechanism wasn’t as smooth as the Segway’s, and it dug several sandpits in bare spots. I did like the “Garden Guardian” mode, which uses the camera as a roaming security guard. It can also detect people crossing its path and warn them that it’s working, which surprised more than a few dog walkers.
Husqvarna Automower 420 IQ: Reliable for open yards
The Husqvarna Automower 420 IQ is a solid choice for a standard yard with few trees. It has the longest warranty at four years, the easiest app and controls, and a modular design for longevity. It uses 2WD, but its large wheels handled uneven terrain well. It requires an RTK antenna and offers cloud-based RTK in some areas. For backup navigation in satellite dead spots, you need to install physical boundary wire, which is a drawback for a wire-free system.
I tested the Husqvarna in my neighbor’s yard because their property has clearer views of the sky. The mower navigated well, but it uses radar for obstacle detection and has no camera. It wasn’t as good at dodging objects as the others, running into bushes once and trying to climb a small tree. If you have a large, uncomplicated, tree-free yard, the Husqvarna is a good option thanks to its broad support network, free-for-life cellular connectivity, and reliable performance.
Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000: Great navigation, but software issues
The Mammotion Luba 3 AWD 3000 combines RTK, lidar, and vision navigation, making it ideal for properties with spotty GPS coverage. It cut the lawn well, but it was less nimble than the other AWD models due to lower ground clearance and weaker suspension. Its turning mechanism tore up a couple of areas in my garden, particularly a shaded spot that stayed damp. Mammotion acknowledged the issue, saying a recent software update caused the mower to turn too sharply and tear up grass, especially in wet or thin turf. They deployed several updates to address the problem, but relying on software fixes for fundamental issues with an expensive machine is concerning.
Roborock RockNeo Q110H: Best budget pick
The Roborock RockNeo Q110H is the most affordable option in this roundup. This rear-wheel-drive mower was impressive on my flat, treed front yard, but large tree roots occasionally stopped it in its tracks. Its limited range and lack of all-wheel-drive explain the lower price. It offers RTK and vSLAM navigation, with the option of an antenna or NetRTK. The RockNeo is remarkably similar to the Segway Navimow i100N from last year, but adds better camera-based obstacle detection, steeper slope navigation, and a wider cutting blade. It also supports manual remote-control mowing and has a built-in edge-cutting feature, though an add-on edge module is available for even better results.
Edge cutting remains a work in progress
Edge cutting is still a challenge for all robot mowers. Some models do well straddling the edge, but if you have a fence or delicate boundary, that won’t work. Companies are trying various solutions, including special attachments. The Ecovacs Goat A3000 Pro Lidar looks promising thanks to a side-mounted string trimmer. For now, you should expect to keep a manual trimmer handy for the final touches.
Robot mowers have improved significantly over the last 18 months. Advances in navigation have solved many of the pain points from previous testing, and bigger, more capable machines are better at navigating the varied terrain of American yards. Today, the right robot mower will maintain your yard beautifully with minimal effort. While these machines still need oversight and occasional rescue, and not every problem is solved, they do take a large amount of work out of lawn care.
Source: The Verge News