If you don’t have enough time in your hands to mow your own lawn by yourself, getting a robotic lawn mower might just be the solution you need.
These portable battery-powered machines helps you automate your lawn mowing projects, freeing up time for you to carry out other tasks and projects.
Unlike other types of lawn mowers you don’t have to physically push or ride on the mower to cut the grass.
In fact, you don’t even have to be physically present for it to work. You just have to program and create a schedule of the specific times and days you want it to mow your lawn using the supported mobile app, and it will follow it without your intervention.
If it’s time for it to ride out and mow, it will start up, leave the charging station, and start mowing your lawn all by itself.
When it’s time for it to recharge, it will ride back to the charging station without your intervention and begin recharging.
Once it’s recharged, it will ride out again and continue mowing the lawn until its completed it or the schedule you set for it.
It’s that easy.
Here in this article, we’ve reviewed and chosen 6 of the best robotic mowers you can use to automate your lawn care projects, so you can free up time for other activities.
Here are our best picks:
Best Robotic Mowers
BEST FOR LARGE LAWNS: Husqvarna 420iQ
RUNNER-UP: YUKA 2000
BEST NAVIGATION SYSTEM: ANTHBOT Genie 3000
BUDGET UNIT: Worx Landroid S WR165
Robotic Mower | Lawn Size | Installation Method | Mowing Pattern | Cutting Width |
---|---|---|---|---|
Husqvarna 420iQ | 1 Acre | RTK | Stripe | 9.4 inch |
YUKA 2000 | 1/2+ Acre | RTK | Stripe | 12.6 inch |
Redkey MGC1000 | 1/4+ Acre | Guide Wires | Random | 23.6 inch |
SEGWAY Navimow i105N | 1/8+ Acre | RTK | Stripe | 7.1 inch |
Worx Landroid S WR165 | 1/8+ Acre | Guide Wires | Random | 16 inch |
ANTHBOT Genie 3000 | 3/4+ Acre | RTK | Stripe | 7.9 inch |
Gardena Sileno | 0.31 Acre | Guide Wires | Random | 8.7 inch |
Choosing the right robotic mower can be quite a challenge, so we’ve done the research and testing for you, and here we’ve chosen 6 of the best units to go for.
We picked the ones that are easy to install, we considered their mowing capacity, the type of navigation system they have, battery life, and their overall performance.
Here are the best robotic lawn mowers you can go for.
Husqvarna 420iQ Automower
Price: Check Amazon
The Husqvarna Automower is arguably one of the best robotic lawn mowers you can use for your projects. It’s one of the first ones that was ever made, and so far, they’ve improved it a lot.
Husqvarna makes several models of the Automower. This particular unit is the Husqvarna 420iQ, which is a pretty new series of the Husqvarna automowers.
And the pretty unique thing about this new series of Husqvarna automowers is that you don’t need to install wires to guide it around your lawn.
It uses what Husqvarna calls Exact Positioning System (EPOS) to map out the perimeter and area of your lawn. So it basically uses satellites in space to figure out where your lawn is like trees, driveways and walkways, and just mowing the lawn only.
This Husqvarna 420iQ has a mowing capacity of 1 Acre. So, if your lawn is up to 1 acre, this will mow every inch of it. And it can climb slopes up to 45 degrees, which is pretty impressive because earlier models where not that powerful.
You can also adjust the cutting height from 1 inch to 4 inches, and all controls and adjustments can be made from the Husqvarna Connect app.
You an control the mowing schedule, set the cutting height and even choose mowing patterns from the app. The Husqvarna 420iQ can be set to mow whatever striped pattern you want. You can set it to mow striped, checkerboard, random and whatever pattern that’s in the app. Something that was not available in earlier models of the automower.
Overall, I really like this Husqvarna 420iQ robotic lawn mower. Installation is very straightforward, build quality is very good, and it’s very easy to control and configure.
Pros
- Easy straightforward installation
- Sturdy construction
- It can mow patterns
- Large cutting capacity
Cons
- Requires a bit of a learning curve.
Related: 9 Best Weed Trimmers for Cutting Down Thick Brush and Grasses
YUKA 2000 Robotic Lawn Mower
Price: Check Amazon
The YUKA 2000 is one of the most impressive robotic lawn mowers I’ve seen, even though, it’s not as pricey as the competition.
It’s made by Mammotion, and it’s design to mow up to 0.5 acres of your lawn. Considering the price, you’d think it will not meet up to the standards of the more expensive robotic mowers. But trust me it does. It has all the latest features and more, including AI integration.
And the beautiful thing is, it’s not just a robotic lawn mower, it’s also a robotic lawn sweeper. It can mow the lawn, and also sweep off the grass dirt on it, which is something that’s unique to this unit.
You don’t need boundary wires to guide it around your lawn. Instead, YUKA uses GPS satellites and 2 smart AI integrated cameras to map your lawn.
Setting it up is very easy. Just walk the mower around the perimeter or boundary of your yard, using your phone to control it, and it will create a virtual perimeter of the area you want it to mow. It’s that easy.
It is water resistant, and it has anti-theft protection. You can track it through GPS if it gets stolen.
You can schedule how often you want it to mow or sweep the lawn right from your phone.
One more thing I really love about this YUKA 2000 is that you can use the cameras on it to watch outside your home. So, apart from being a robotic mower, it also seconds as a security camera for your home.
Overall, I really recommend this YUKA 2000 if you’re looking for a high quality robotic mower that is not too expensive. It’s very easy to install, easy to use, and has a lot of amazing features.
Pros
- It’s easy to set up
- It doubles as a lawn sweeper
- You can use it as a security camera to watch your home from anywhere.
- It creates beautiful stripe patterns on the lawn.
- Mows quietly. Very silent.
Cons
- Struggles in steep lawns
Related: 8 Best Lawn Dethatchers and Scarifiers for Your Yard
Redkey MGC1000 Robotic Lawn Mower
Price: Check Amazon
The Redkey MGC100 robotic lawn mower is one of the least expensive robotic mowers you can get your hands on today.
It’s designed for lawns no larger than 0.25 acres in size. So, if you have a relatively small yard, this one will get the job done.
Installation involves laying boundary wires, and then allowing the Redkey mower to map the entire yard. From there on, you just need to schedule how often you want it to run using the app, and it will work according to your schedule.
There are collision sensors in it, so you don’t have to worry about it hitting obstacles. It’s able to detect and avoid obstacles on its own. So, if there’s a tree, a bike or something else in the mapped area, it will sense and avoid it.
You can adjust the cutting height between 3-7 cm, control and schedule everything right from the app.
It’s water resistant, but it will return back to the charging station if it detects rain. You can secure it using a pin code and it also has GPS tracking in case it gets stolen.
In terms of performance, it really cuts well. The battery is reliable, allowing it to cut for 1hr+ if it’s fully charged before it returns to the charging station to recharge. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly robotic mower, this is one contender you should consider.
Pros
- It’s budget-friendly
- Long lasting battery
- Handles slopes really well.
Cons
- Not for large yards
SEGWAY Navimow i105N
Price: Check Amazon
Another robotic lawn mower I like and recommend is this SEGWAY Navimow i105N. This one is designed for lawns that are 0.125 acres in size. But if you have a larger lawn, you can go for Navimow i110N which is just a model higher.
Both are the same, but the i105N is for lawns 1/8 acres in size, and the i110N is for lawns 1/4 acres in size.
Installation is very easy. You just have to set up the charging station, make sure the Navimow is charged, and then ride it around the perimeter of the lawn, controlling it through the app, so that it can map the area of your lawn.
You don’t need to install any wires. The Navimow uses RTK technology and sensors, allowing it to use satellite data to map the exact location, size and perimeter of your lawn. Once mapped, it will follow whatever schedule you set on the app and mow that area continuously. It has sensors and an AI-assisted camera which helps it identify and avoid any obstacle within its path.
You can track the mower from anywhere in case it’s stolen, and you can also control it from anywhere through the supported app.
Overall, I really like this SEGWAY Navimow. It’s got a good price, it performs really well, setup is very easy and controlling it is even easier.
Pros
- Very good build quality. It really looks well put together.
- Long battery runtime
- Easy to track and control
- It works silently, so you can schedule it to mow at any time.
- The price is alright. One of the most budget-friendly options out there.
Cons
- The installation instructions are a bit confusing.
- It struggles in highly sloped areas. Not for very steep lawns.
Worx Landroid S WR165 Robotic Lawn Mower
Price: Check Amazon
The Worx Landroid is another robotic lawn mower you should definitely consider when making your choice. One of the main reasons why I like it is the price. If you’re not looking to spend a lot of money on a robotic mower, then this Landroid should interest you.
It’s not just the price though. The Landroid is pretty impressive in terms of performance. It just works. It cuts the grass, and it does so really well.
It’s designed for a maximum lawn size of 1/8 acres, although there’re higher models that can mow up to 1/4 and 1/2 acres.
Installation is pretty easy. Just set up the charging station, and define the perimeter of your lawn by installing guide wires around it. Then simply insert the battery into the Landroid, and turn it on. It’s that easy.
Once turned on, the robotic mower will measure the size of your lawn and suggest a mowing schedule for you, or you can set your own mowing schedule.
The Landroid is 20V rated, and it uses the same Worx Powershare battery used by all other outdoor power tools. So, if you already have some Worx battery-powered tools, you can use the same battery to power it.
The Worx Landroid doesn’t mow in straight lines though. It will not create any stripe patterns like some of the other robotic mowers on this list. It mows in random directions. But rest assured, it will cover every inch of your lawn.
In case it gets stolen, you can track it via cellular network.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Quiet operation
- Easy installation
Cons
- It mows in random directions. Will not create stripe patterns
Related: 8 Best Telescopic Hedge Trimmers for Tall Overgrown Hedges
ANTHBOT Genie 3000 Robotic Lawn Mower
Price: Check Amazon
This ANTHBOT Genie 3000 is easily one of the best robotic lawn mowers on this list. It’s got all the latest robotic mowing tech you can ever get on a unit like this.
It uses RTK and high definition 3D cameras to map out every inch of your lawn. So, you don’t need to manually install wires to guide it.
Once it has mapped the size of your lawn, you can create a mowing schedule and it will mow in straight lines, creating beautiful stripe patterns on the lawn.
The cameras on it has built-in AI which helps it detect and avoid any obstacle it runs into during operation.
Overall, I really like this ANTHBOT because it gets the job done, and it’s got some pretty impressive features that all work in unison, thus creating one of the best mowing experience you’ll get on a robotic mower.
It uses RTK to connect to satellites that helps it know the precise location, size and perimeter of your lawn, and it’s got AI integrated cameras and adaptive cruise control that helps it identify and avoid obstacles within the area it has mapped.
ANTHBOT is a relatively new competitor in this robotic mowing race, but it’s got all the latest features that puts it head to head with best.
Pros
- No guide wires required for installation
- It mows beautiful stripe patterns into the lawn.
- Very quiet operation.
- Requires very little maintenance
- It’s relatively well-priced.
Cons
- Its a very new brand which launched recently. So, we don’t really know how far they’ll go, or how their support is at the moment.
Gardena Sileno Minimo Robotic Lawn Mower
Price: Check Amazon
The Gardena R80Li is another robotic lawn mower you can use to automate the cutting of the grasses in your yard. It has a cutting width of 16cm and a minimum to maximum cutting width of 20-45mm.
Setting up the mower is very easy, as it comes with very good and clear assembly instructions from the manufacturer.
You can program it to work at specific days and times, and it will work whenever you want it to, whether night or day.
One Gardena Sileno Minimo mower can mow up to a maximum 800 square meters of yard space effectively. It has a good battery capacity, but whenever the battery runs low, it will automatically return to the charging station by itself to recharge.
Once it’s recharged and ready to work again, it will start mowing again all by itself just the way you programmed it to work.
Since it’s battery operated, it does not produce any form of emission or noise, even when working at night.
Pros
- It mows and performs well even though the blades are tiny.
- It’s quite easy to setup.
- It’s not noisy. It can even run at night without disturbing anyone.
- Charges fast.
Cons
- Can’t be tracked if stolen
What to Consider When Choosing A Robotic Lawn Mower
The Size and Terrain of Your Lawn
It’s important that you consider the size of your lawn before choosing a particular model, because each robotic mower is designed to work on a specific lawn size. Some are designed for 1/2 acre, 1 acre, or more.
You should also consider the terrain of your lawn, like the slope and shape of the lawn. Is your lawn flat or are there several deep spots in it.
Robotic mowers cannot climb very steep slope. So, if the slope of your lawn is very steep (say 50+ degrees), you might want to consider other alternatives, since it just won’t work.
Control and Scheduling
Robotic mowers usually have downloadable apps you can use to set and schedule how often you want the unit to work.
You can use this app to monitor the mower even if you’re not at home or around the unit and want to check on it’s progress or status.
Before choosing any unit, try to check which mobile operating systems are supported on their mobile app. Also check if there’re any additional cost or subscription fees associated with using the app, so you’re not surprised when you discover any hidden fees.
Navigational System
Robotic mowers make use of navigational systems to find their way around your lawn. These navigational systems allow them to reach every corner of the perimeter you set for it and find its way back to the charging dock when it’s low on battery.
Some mowers use boundary wires to navigate, some use GPS-assisted navigation (RTK), some make use of sensors and cameras, while some combine 2 or more of these systems.
Most of the latest robotic mowers uses RTK GPS technology (Real-Time Kinematics GPS) to map the exact location and boundary of your lawn. So, you don’t have to install any guide wires.
They usually come with an antenna that helps receives this GPS signals, and all you have to do is use the supported app to ride the mower around the perimeter of your lawn, and it will know the exact GPS coordinates of your lawn.
One of the main advantage of this kind of mapping is that it’s more accurate, and because of that the mower is more precise, and you can even configure it to mow stripes into your lawn.
Robotic mowers that use boundary wires usually don’t have this capability to mow stripes, but they’re still accurate, and will not exceed the wire boundaries you have set, unless something breaks the wire. If the wire breaks, the mower will still notify you through the app, and you can go ahead and fix the break.
Safety – Anti-Theft
Robotic mowers are designed to stay outside and work on their own automatically. Since they’re outside, in certain environments they can be open to theft.
If you live in such an environment, then you should ensure that the one you choose has some way to track the mower if it ever gets stolen. Some units require a pin to be entered before they can work if they’re ever taken out of the perimeter that has been set.
Having a pin is okay, but without GPS tracking, it can still be stolen and even though the person who stole it may not be able to use it without the pin, you’re still at a loss since you can’t track where it is.
Also, most units come with sensors that turn off the robotic mower instantly if it gets raised or lifted off the ground. This is important especially when you have kids around the house that might try to play with it in your absence. The ability to shut off automatically when it’s lifted is important.
Battery Life
How long does it take for the battery to charge, and how long does it last in between charges? Those are important questions to ask before choosing any unit.
These robotic lawn mowers run on batteries. Hence it’s important that they have good batteries that charge easily and discharge slowly. If it can work for an hour or more in between charges, that’s fine.
Final Note
Installation is very important
You can get a very good functioning robotic lawn mower, but bad installation can cause it not to work the way it’s intended. No matter how expensive it is, install it wrongly and it will not meet your expectations.
So, if you’re installing it yourself, ensure you follow the manufacturer’s instructions to a T. If possible, you can get professional installation service from the manufacturer, so they can set it up properly for you.
Choose a flat shady spot for the docking / charging station
When the battery runs low, the robotic lawn mower will find its way back to the charging station. You don’t want to install this on a hill or a very bad terrain. The docking station should be on a flat shady area for easy access and protection from heat and rain.
Also ensure the docking station is not installed in a place where a water pool forms when it rains, so the unit doesn’t get submerged in water. Most robotic mowers are water resistant, but they’re not submersion resistant. If can get damaged if it gets submerged in water.