RS Recommends: The Best Robot Lawn Mowers for Every Size of Yard
Think of it like a robot vac, but for mowing your lawn. There have been a few different attempts at these over the years, all with varying success. And while it’s still a pretty new product that will continue to improve with each generation, these current models are better than ever. If you want to get your hands on the best robot lawn mower, here’s what you need to know.
Robot Lawn Mower Buying Guide
We considered the following features when choosing the best robot lawn mowers.
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Boundaries: Yards are all different shapes and sizes, so how does a robot know where yours ends and the neighbor’s begins? Or prevent it from rolling out into the street? There are a few different options. A simple boundary wire, much like an invisible dog fence, can be laid out around the perimeter of your yard, keeping the robot inside. Setting borders through an app is also possible, but this can get tricky to get a close cut around curved areas like flowerbeds.
Charging: Just like a robot vacuum, these need a dock to return to after they’re done mowing. And since they use up a significant amount of battery each time, it’s best to keep them consistently charged up. The battery itself is another aspect to consider, as some of them need to be swapped out by an authorized dealer, so you may want to go for one that you can order yourself and replace it when the time comes.
Mowing: You can even set the blade height to get grass cut exactly how you want it. Don’t expect an attached bag to catch the cuttings either, as it’s just not practical to have on a small machine like this. Instead, these generally mulch the grass, which is a good thing since it allows it to keep on mowing continuously without needing to empty out a full bag.
Safety: Having an autonomous robot with spinning blades running around your yard might understandably raise some concerns. But companies often install multiple safety features that are easy to use if anything goes wrong. Options like a giant “stop” button are instantly recognizable even to kids, and a front-facing bumper freezes the mower in its tracks when it hits something, all while keeping the blades tucked away underneath. To guard against theft, these can also contain a GPS tracker to locate it anywhere, and have the ability to be password protected too.
The benefits of a robot mower are big ones, most importantly freeing up your schedule to save all that time you’d be cutting the grass manually.
What Are the Best Robot Mowers?
Here are the best robot lawn mowers to help you keep up with your yard work this season.
1. Husqvarna Automower Robotic Lawn Mower
Husqvarna’s expertly designed 415X utilizes a three-blade cutting system that slices through a width of two inches and is resiliently weatherproof. This worked best in a small, enclosed yard, covering about 700 square feet in an hour, and can be operated via the app on a phone, smartwatch, or smart home system. At just 17.7 inches wide, the unit can sense when it’s going through a tight spot and still squeeze through it, even on inclines up to 40 degrees.
There’s some installation required, mostly placing the aluminum wire around the property, similar to installing an Invisible Fence, and roping off the areas like flower beds where you definitely don’t want it to roam. You can also set schedules, like different areas for different days, depending on your yard’s custom needs. The charger remains plugged in at all times and security is a factor that Husqvarna didn’t forget, requiring a PIN code to use the mower and an alarm that sounds if anyone tries to mess with it or remove it. It also has GPS installed so you never lose track of it.
Amazon
Buy: Husqvarna Automower Robotic Lawn Mower
2. Worx Landroid Robotic Mower
The cleverly named Landroid is a powerful little tank of a mower, complete with safety features and a rain sensor that tells it to return to the charging dock when the weather starts getting wet.
You can set a daily or weekly schedule of your choice through the app, and it’s able to make its way around curves and corners thanks to the wired boundaries that are simple to set up. You can even choose from five different height settings to cut grass each time depending on what it needs.
Amazon
Buy: Worx Landroid Robotic Mower
3. Gardena Sileno Minimo Robotic Mower
This 13.5-pound robot mower can cover lawns up to 2,700 square feet, and remains at a relatively low noise level in the process, about 57db – way less than a traditional mower. The Bluetooth-enabled model connects up through the app, letting you control and configure various settings, remaining inside the boundaries you set up by nearly 500 feet of wire. It’s rated IPX5 waterproof, meaning that it’s protected from light water like rain and snow. It can also detect frost on the ground, waiting out the cold until the grass is thawed enough to cut.
Amazon
Buy: Gardena Sileno Minimo Robotic Mower
4. Robomow RX20 Battery-Powered Mower
The RX20 is best for smaller yards, around 2,000 square feet, has an adjustable seven-inch cutting width, and can handle inclines up to 8.5 degrees. It’s quiet enough to operate without waking up the neighbors, and boundaries can be easily set with wire. When it’s done, or when it senses rain, it’ll return to the unit until next time.
Amazon
Buy: Robomow RX20 Battery-Powered Mower
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