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Oct 26, 2024

The best robot mowers of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed | ZDNET

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean? ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

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33 years of experience 30 hands-on product reviewers 10,000 square feet of lab space

Price

Yard and outdoor equipment can turn into a large investment. Decide on your budget, and which features are most important to you.

Features

Determine whether you're looking for a no-frills machine, or something with smart features.

User experience

Look into our reviews, along with user reviews, money-back guarantees, and warranties when possible before making a purchase to ensure people are happy with their experience.

Though I mostly enjoy mowing my lawn, I can't say I always look forward to it. After getting a robot mower, what used to be quiet time with my mower has turned into quality active time with my kids, and I'll never complain about that. A robot mower functions like a robot vacuum and mop, with sensors to navigate obstacles and stay within boundaries while cutting grass and a companion app for control.

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Unlike a robot vacuum, a robot mower uses a physical boundary, such as a buried wire along a perimeter, or a combination of GPS and LiDAR navigation aided by a satellite antenna to autonomously mow within a specified area. Because robot mowers are battery-powered, they're also a sustainable alternative to traditional gas-powered mowers. But all these features and differences can make choosing the right one for your yard difficult.

After testing some of the top robot mowers on the market, ZDNET's pick for the best robot mower overall is the Mammotion Luba 2. This all-wheel-drive robot lawn mower uses a virtual, GPS-powered boundary and can handle up to 80-degree slopes and mow up to 0.25 acres in one go, with options going up to 2.5 acres. Luba 2's GPS navigation system is so accurate that I fully trust it to mow my unfenced property line without burying boundary wires. But this isn't the only option or the best for all buyers. Read on to find ZDNET's top robot mower picks.

I've been testing the Mammotion Luba 2 3000 for about two months and have loved the freedom it's given me. It's not only the best GPS-powered mower I've tested, so accurate to its map that it mows precisely along my property line in my front, back, and side yards each time, but it's also the one I've found to deliver the most features in the app.

The Mammotion Luba 2 has proven so accurate and reliable that I can easily send it out to mow my uneven, 0.3-acre yard and return to see a beautifully checkered yard upon my return. The Mammotion app lets you adjust mowing height and pattern, map out perimeters, and set up separate coverage areas. The robot mower's wide cutting width of 15.7 inches makes it more efficient than other models.

Review: This robot mower looks like a racecar, but it mows a gorgeous lawn

Other Luba 2 users agree, with one buyer remarking, "What sets this mower apart is not just its ease of setup, but also its outstanding performance and features. The intuitive interface made configuring zones a straightforward task, and I was impressed by its cutting precision and battery life. Additionally, the smart connectivity options add another layer of convenience to its functionality."

The coolest thing about the Luba 2 is that there's a model for everyone. Ranging from a 0.25-acre capacity variant available for $2100 to a 2.5-acre model for $4100, you're not stuck paying a high-end price to mow a small yard.

Mammotion Luba 2 Features: Price: $2,100-$4,100, depending on acreage | Cutting width: 15.7 inches | Maximum cutting area: .25- to 2.5-acre models | Maximum slope: 38 degrees | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 4G | Anti-theft: Alarm, 4G, GPS theft tracking

Robot mowers are usually meant for small- and medium-sized lawns, but the Husqvarna 430X can handle lots up to almost a full acre. The 9.5-inch cutting deck features three blades that mulch clippings into ultra-fine pieces to re-feed your lawn between fertilizer applications.

The large rear wheels enable the mower to handle up to 24-degree inclines. The spot-mow feature lets you quickly tackle small areas the 430X may have missed or may be growing faster than other sections of your lawn, while the spiral-mow mode provides a consistent cutting pattern. The Husqvarna 430X has a built-in alarm to alert you to would-be thieves that can only be disabled with a personalized PIN, with GPS theft tracking to boot.

Review: This $2,500 robot lawn mower is so impressive my neighbors come to watch it mow

Husqvarna also offers interchangeable top covers to make it easier to see where your 430X is in your yard or to match the rest of your lawn and garden equipment.

ZDNET's Beth Mauder tested the Husqvarna 430X for a year on her one-acre yard and said in her review that she was "thoroughly impressed... We never once had to manually mow our lawn this past year."

Husqvarna 430X Features: Price: $2500 | Cutting width: 9.45 inches | Maximum cutting area: 0.8 acres | Maximum slope: 24 degrees | Connectivity: Bluetooth, cellular | Anti-theft: Alarm, PIN code, GPS theft tracking

Since robot mowers are a relatively new technology, they can be quite expensive. Fortunately, the Mowro RM24 is one of the more affordable options on the market, with a price tag that sits comfortably under $450.

The 9.5-inch cutting deck and 28V battery allow the RM24A to mow yards up to a quarter acre, while the large rear wheels help it tackle steeper hills and inclines. The brushless motor is quieter than gas mowers and many other battery-powered mowers, so you can enjoy your deck, patio, or backyard while the RM24A mows your lawn.

This MowRo automatically mows every two days to keep a consistent cut across your lawn, programmed through a built-in timer. It even has rain sensors to let the mower know it's time to return to the docking station when storms roll in.

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The RM24 robot mower includes 330 feet of perimeter wire and 150 boundary wire stakes, with extension kits available. It mows the lawn in random cutting patterns until it covers the intended area.

One buyer says, "I was super excited to see a robotic lawn mower for such a low price -- at that price, I was willing to give it a go even if it didn't exactly operate perfectly. My expectations have been exceeded. The mower is random in its pattern but it seems to cover its area pretty well. I'm using all of the spec 1/4 acre and needed to purchase additional wire to cover the perimeter, but I'm glad to see the mower seems to keep up."

MowRo RM24 Features: Price: $350 | Cutting width: 9.5 inches | Maximum cutting area: 0.25 acres | Maximum slope: 26 degrees | Connectivity: Built-in programming | Anti-theft: None

The Husqvarna Automower EPOS offers satellite connectivity, straying from traditional boundary wire installations. Using a reference station like the Mammotion Luba 2, the EPOS machine doesn't need wires laid to know where to mow and where its charging station is located. Instead, it uses an Exact Positioning Operating System (EPOS) to do all of that.

The map is adjustable and easily adapted to include landscaping changes as your lawn evolves.

Review: I tested a $6,000 automower for four months. Here's why I'm fully invested

Featuring an almost 10-inch cutting width, the Automower EPOS can mow in various patterns, including neat rows or a crisscross design. With this machine, you don't have to give up your lawn style for simplicity. Everything is controlled through an app, delivering a hands-free experience.

You'll often forget it even exists once you set a schedule for your robot mower. At night, you can rest assured that the Automower comes equipped with an anti-theft alarm that is only disabled with the personal PIN you create.

ZDNET's Beth Mauder tested the 2.5-acre model, saying "The cost might seem steep up front, but it will pay off in the end. As someone who invests heavily in items and services that buy back my time, this automower is no exception. My husband and I both have gotten our weekends back -- another hour or two every week we can spend making memories rather than being stuck working."

Husqvarna Automower EPOS features: Price: $3,300-$5,900 | Cutting width: 9.5 inches | Maximum cutting area: 1.25-2.5 acre models | Maximum slope: 45 degrees | Connectivity: Bluetooth, cellular, Wi-Fi | Anti-theft: Alarm, PIN code, GPS theft tracking

Based on ZDNET's hands-on testing, the best robot mower is the Mammotion Luba 2, thanks to its excellent ability to mow small and large yards, how accurate it is at mowing within the mapped area, its theft tracking measures, and its AWD capacity that enables it to navigate slopes of up to 38 degrees.

But this doesn't make the Luba 2 the best option for anyone looking for a robot mower. Here's how our top picks stack up:

When you've finalized a budget for a new robot mower, double-check your lot's size to narrow your search further. Different models have different runtimes, cutting deck widths, and varying amounts of included guidewires, so you'll have to thoroughly compare each model you're interested in to find the best match for your lawn.

Several factors should be considered when choosing a robot mower. These will help you narrow down your choices and ensure you're investing in a worthwhile one.

Here's what to consider:

To determine the best robot mowers, ZDNET did hands-on testing and research into the top models on the market and considered all the factors before purchasing a mower.

Here's what we evaluate when testing robot mowers:

A robot mower is an autonomous lawnmower that can cut grass and navigate yards with minimal human intervention. Robot mowers typically navigate over a designated area using a combination of sensors, cameras, boundary wires, and GPS to mow efficiently.

Some of the most advanced robot mowers on the market include built-in security features, like PIN code protection, alarm systems that activate when the robot is lifted, geofencing capabilities to alert when a mower leaves a designated area, and a cellular connection to locate a stolen mower.

Though many robot mowers feature a slew of anti-theft measures, these sometimes aren't enough to appease owners, especially after making such a big investment on a device that sits outside. Owners can take some measures into their own hands to protect their robot mowers, like:

Robot mowers run more often than traditional lawn mowers, depending on the grass growth rate, desired lawn appearance, and seasonal changes. Robot mowers have an array of small blades that mulch grass clippings into small pieces that can return to the soil to fertilize it as it decomposes since they don't pick up grass clippings in their wake.

They're still capable of maintaining a manicured lawn, but they may require running a couple of times a week rather than once a week. My robot mowers typically run on a schedule, so I don't have to worry about the lawn and can always walk out to a checkered or striped lawn.

If you have hilly terrain, check how the robot mower you're interested in can handle slopes and uneven areas before purchasing it. Many robot mowers, like the AWD Mammotion Luba 2, are designed to handle hills and slopes.

Check the maximum slope gradient in the device's specifications when shopping for a robot mower. Most models can manage between 20% and 80% slopes, considering that a 100% slope is a 45-degree incline; this translates into 11-38 degrees.

There are many great robot mowers on the market, even if they didn't make it onto ZDNET's best robot mower roundup. Here are some honorable mentions worth considering:

The Worx Landroid WR155 is capable of handling up to 0.5 acres and features a floating blade disk to lift the blades when going over uneven terrain.

With AI-precise cutting patterns, tight corners and passages as narrow as 24 inches are cut reliably.