These days, smart home products seem to be produced en masse. After all, where would we be without the convenience and efficacy of robot vacuums and other worth-the-grab items?
Enter the world of robot lawn mowers. Yes, it’s the buzzy, hands-free version of your traditional lawn mowers, but with a twist. They don’t take up much space in your shed, have a motor all on its own and will slice and dice your grass to manicured perfection.
“Robotic mowers have unique features that make them stand out from traditional mowers,” Brian Shaunfield, store manager at Lowe’s in the Charlotte area, told the New York Post. “The most notable differences are the convenience a robotic mower offers and the time a robotic mower saves you by maintaining your lawn with minimal work from you.”
As we approach warmer temps, take a look at the best robot lawn mowers our expert recommends — along with our in-depth FAQ section — so you can save time grooming your grass and more time basking in the sun’s rays. In short, you’re welcome.
Cutting ability: 1/4 Acre to 1/2 Acre
“The Husqvarna 415X Robot Lawn Mower features an adjustable cutting system for cut heights of 0.8 to 2 inches to suit your lawn’s condition and grass type,” Shaunfield says.
Uniquely, its seamless connectivity allows you to control the electric mower from Amazon Alexa, Google Home or your smartphone with the Automower Connect app, too.
Cutting ability: 1/2 Acre to 1 Acre
“The Husqvarna 430XH Robotic Lawn Mower features ultra-quiet, smart-mowing technology to help you achieve a beautifully cut lawn with easy control from your smart device,” Shaunfield notes.
This robot lawn mower is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home or your smartphone with the Automower Connect app.
Cutting ability: 1/2 Acre to 1 Acre
“Similar to the Husqvarna Automower 430XH Robotic Lawn Mower, the Husqvarna Automower 430X Robotic Lawn Mower is ultra-quiet and features smart-mowing technology,” Shaunfield explains.
Even better, it’s waterproof and equipped with GPS tracking.
Pros:
Cutting ability: Up to 1/4 Acre
“Perfect for small to medium lawns, this mower can autonomously mow up to 0.4 acre, covering 720 square feet in one hour and running 60 minutes on a single charge,” Shaunfield details.
The Husqvarna 115H Robot Lawn Mower also features an adjustable cutting system and is designed for taller grasses, achieving up to a 3.6-inch cutting height.
5. WORX Landroid Robotic Lawn Mower, $1,159 to $1,200
Cutting ability: Up to 1/4 Acre | Model: WR147
“Designed for mid-sized lawns with the ability to cut up to a 1/4 acre, the WORX Landroid Robotic Lawn Mower comes equipped with a patented AIA (Artificial Intelligence Algorithm) that allows it to navigate narrow passages with ease,” Shaunfield says.
It also has a floating blade disc that automatically lifts the blades for more clearance to navigate uneven terrain.
6. WORX Landroid Robotic Lawn Mower, $1,409 to $1,500
Cutting ability: 1/4 Acre to 1/2 Acre | Model: WR155
“Designed for larger lawns, the WORX Landroid Robotic Lawn Mower can cut up to a 1/2 acre. Like the WORX mower listed above, this mower comes equipped with a patented AIA (Artificial Intelligence Algorithm) that allows it to navigate narrow passages with ease,” Shaunfield explains.
Plus, if you love the look of low-to-the-ground, fresh-looking grass, you’ll adore how close this mower will trim your glass, creating an even and polished look.
7. WORX Landroid Robotic Lawn Mower, $982 to $1,000
Cutting ability: Up to 1/8 Acre | Model: WR165
“The WORX Landroid Robotic Lawn Mower comes with a 2.0Ah high-capacity Power Share battery and a wider 7-in. cutting width to mow up to a 1/8 acre,” Shaunfield highlights.
Its Floating Blade Disc technology automatically raises the blades when Landroid encounters uneven terrain, too, so it doesn’t get trapped or stuck.
Cutting ability: Up to 1/4 Acre
“The MowRo mower can be programmed to mow your lawn every 48 hours and has an impressive slope mowing capability of up to 30-degrees,” Shaunfield explains.
This model also allows you to adjust the grass cutting height from 1-inch to 2.5 inches, depending on your preferences.
An FAQ on Robot Lawn Mowers
Ahead, Shaunfield details what to know about robot lawn mowers before purchasing one, including notes on how to use and why it’s worth the investment.
First things first: What is a robot lawn mower?
According to Shaunfield, a robotic mower is a relatively small, battery-powered mower that can take care of your lawn-mowing chores with minimal effort on your part.
“Functioning similarly to the way a robotic vacuum keeps carpets clean, a robotic lawn mower operates through a program with either default or customized settings for your lawn,” he adds.
What are the benefits of a robot lawn mower?
Impressively, robot lawn mowers come with a bounty of benefits that make them worth the splurge, cutting down your grass — and cutting down the time you mow the lawn each week.
“Robotic mowers mow in random patterns, meaning they don’t create rows of wheel ruts that can prevent the grass from growing upright,” he explains. “Additionally, robotic mowers don’t require gasoline or engine oil.”
They also usually come equipped with an automatic adaption system for better maintenance of the grass and can create a mowing schedule for your specific lawn.
Since they rely on boundary and guide wires or sensors to define the limits of the lawn and are relatively quiet, some robotic mowers are capable of mowing at night,” he notes. “Some can even mow in light rain.”
What’s more, robotic mowers are designed to trim the grass blades a little at a time, in some cases taking off less than an inch. “This leads to better growth, reduces stress on the lawn and helps decrease vulnerability to disease and pests,” Shaunfield adds.
Lastly, robotic mowers require very little storage space.
Why robot lawn mowers are so popular
As mentioned, we’re constantly looking for new gadgets and gizmos that can save us time and money in the long haul. With a robot lawn mower, you’ll be spending less money in the long run as it replaces the need to hire a professional landscaping service in most cases.
“They’re easy and efficient,” Shaunfield sums up. “They save homeowners time and energy when it comes to lawn maintenance, are easy to store and return themselves to their charging station when their batteries are low.” More, they’re also easy to control remotely.
How to use a robot lawn mower, according to an expert
First, you’re going to want to sketch your yard layout to plan the location of the charging station, installation of the boundary wire and guide wire if needed.
“Make sure you place your charging station on a level part of the lawn at the perimeter of the mowing area and that it is out of direct sunlight,” Shaunfield advises.
Next, block out areas you don’t want the mower to cover. You’ll want to program your mower, after. “This can include customized timing for when you want the mower to operate, desired height of mowed grass, setting theft deterrent blocks and more,” he says.
Once you’ve followed these initial steps, sit back and relax! Your mower will operate automatically unless you need to adjust its programming.
What features do robot lawn mowers typically have?
Many robotic lawn mowers are self-charging and feature GPS-assisted tech to return the mower to its charging station when its battery is low.
“They also come equipped with smart technology, allowing owners to control settings through an app or other smart home devices,” Shaunfield notes. “Some mowers feature customized cutting settings, depending on the lawn aesthetic and grass height you are going for.”
In terms of safety, robotic mowers will typically feature collision detection to avoid obstacles, with alarms connected to the collision detection system to warm pets and children when the mower is close.
“They can also have theft-deterrent systems such as alarms, GPS tracking and activation codes,” he adds.
What to keep in mind when buying a robot lawn mower, according to an expert
Were’ just going to come out and say it: robot lawn mowers cost a pretty penny, so it’s important to understand which one will work best for your lawn.
“When thinking about which robotic lawn mower to buy, you should consider the size of your lawn, the complexity (hills, etc.) of your lawn, and which apps and features are most important to you,” Shaunfield recommends.
In terms of upkeep and maintenance for your robotic mower, you should keep your app and firmware up to date, regularly replace its mowing blades, occasionally use a brush or cloth to keep its wheels clean, and properly store the unit during the winter months, too.
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