Finest robotic garden mowers of 2025: For yards giant and small
Pardon the pun, however oh my, has the panorama shifted by way of robotic garden mowers. 5 years in the past, once I first began masking this sensible dwelling class, there have been simply two manufacturers to select from: Husqvarna and Worx. In the present day, there are dozen or so producers vying for the mantle of finest robotic mower, albeit with various success.
Costs have come down dramatically, too. Within the early days, you’d have to spend no less than a number of thousand {dollars} for essentially the most fundamental machine. Lately, you will discover fashions for smaller yards that price $1,000 or much less. And like robotic vacuums, robotic garden mowers have develop into extra refined, with options corresponding to onboard positioning to know the place they’re in your yard, cameras to identify obstacles, and even AI to recollect the difficult elements of your yard and how you can navigate them.
Our high picks in robotic garden mowers
Segway Navimow i110N – Finest budget-priced mower for very small lawns
Professionals
- Finest navigation know-how in its value class
- No line-of-sight requirement from the mower to the GPS antenna
- Excellent chopping efficiency
- Handles widespread yard sorts and terrain with out points
Cons
- Entrance-wheel drive has hassle with steep slopes
- Insufficient cliff detection
Finest Costs In the present day:
Who should purchase the Segway Navimow i110?
First, allow us to clarify what we imply by “very small lawns.” On this case, we’re speaking a quarter-acre or much less. When you have a postage stamp-sized garden, you most likely don’t want a robotic garden mower. In any occasion, the $1,300 Navimow i110n is the best choice in its value class. That mentioned, it is a rear-wheel drive mannequin that doesn’t pack sufficient energy to deal with steep slopes, so preserve that in thoughts in case your yard has steep grades.
Segway Navimow i110: Additional concerns
Whereas the shortage of all-wheel drive held the Navimow i110n again in our assessments, we have been very impressed with how the Navimow navigated our yard and alternated its chopping patterns with every mowing session. It additionally does it shortly; we might mow almost all of our quarter-acre lot in about half-hour.
Whereas we had issues retaining the Navimow from falling off our parking-strip curb, that is extra of a detection problem with the imaginative and prescient and AI versus a deadly flaw. Since our preliminary evaluate, a number of firmware updates have been launched, together with a brand new firmware replace (model 2.2) that the corporate says is a reasonably important launch. So these issues may be getting addressed.
Learn our full
Segway Navimow i110N evaluate
Eufy Lawnbot E18 – Finest robotic mower for smaller lawns
Professionals
- Simple setup and mapping
- Delivered a good, thorough minimize from the primary mow
- Impediment detection is promising (though it nonetheless wants work)
Cons
- Considerably underpowered for its measurement
- Rear-wheel drive solely
- Underwhelming efficiency on slopes
Finest Costs In the present day:
Who should purchase the Eufy Lawnbot E18?
This can be a nice, reasonably priced robotic garden mower for smaller, flatter yards as much as 0.3 acres, with slopes of not more than 18 levels. When you have a smaller yard, contemplate its stablemate, the Eufy Lawnbot E15, which may deal with as much as as much as 0.2 acres of garden (battery measurement is the one distinction between the 2 fashions). Each machines are smallish, rear-wheel drive mowers, however don’t let their measurement idiot you: They’re filled with smarts. The Lawnbot E18 makes use of laptop imaginative and prescient to map your yard after you direct it to the areas of your yard you need it to go, which is a a lot easier job than deploying a GPS antenna. I’ve a fancy yard, and this mower accomplished its preliminary mapping shortly, even in areas with obstructed views and different obstacles. As soon as that was carried out, it delivered a good, thorough minimize from the very first mow.
Eufy Lawnbot E18: Additional concerns
The Eufy Lawnbot E15 and E18 are each rebranded TerraMow fashions which were accessible in Europe since mid-2024, in order that they’ve been totally examined by shoppers on the opposite aspect of the Atlantic. Each Lawnbot E-series mowers may appear small in comparison with a lot of the competitors—suburban and rural American yards are typically very giant—however you don’t have to personal an acre or extra of turf to understand a top quality robotic garden mower. The Lawnbot E18 and E15 are each rear-wheel drive mowers, nevertheless, which explains their modest climbing efficiency.
Learn our full
Eufy Lawnbot E18 evaluate
Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD – Finest robotic mower for mid-sized lawns
Professionals
- Finest nighttime mowing expertise of any mower we’ve examined
- High quality, even minimize
- Handles slim passages with ease
Cons
- Irritating mapping and app expertise
- Too low profile for sharp slope transitions
Finest Costs In the present day:
Who should purchase the Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD?
If you’re greatly surprised by the excessive value of all-wheel drive robotic mowers (usually a number of thousand of {dollars}), the Orion X7 is available in on the decrease finish of that vary: $2,400. However the minimize high quality and functionality of this mower is pretty much as good as different mowers that we’ve examined which are double the worth. It’s AI works nice.
Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD: Additional concerns
Whereas the mapping setup of the Orion X7 was suboptimal, we have been actually shocked by its imaginative and prescient and AI capabilities as soon as the mower was operating; they labored as marketed—even at evening. The Orion X7’s obstacle-avoidance efficiency was the most effective of any robotic mower we’ve examined so far.
Higher but, it appeared to recollect the place these obstacles have been throughout a session, not like different mowers we’ve examined that might return to the identical spot and make the identical errors. The twin floating chopping plates offer you a easy stage yard even when it’s not completely flat. If Sunseeker can repair the usability points in its app, we’ll rank the Orion X7 larger.
Learn our full
Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD evaluate
Segway Navimow X350 – Finest robotic mower for bigger lawns
Professionals
- Glorious navigation and impediment avoidance, day or evening
- Mechanically alternates its chopping route
- Able to dealing with very giant yards
Cons
- Reveals an inclination for unpredictable habits on slopes
- No onboard rain sensor
Finest Costs In the present day:
Who should purchase the Segway Navimow X350?
The Segway Navimow X350’s velocity, mixed with its 10-inch chopping radius, will make fast work of lawns as much as 1.5 acres, and it’ll optimize the map it makes of your property in order that it turns into extra environment friendly over time. It’s additionally one of many quietest mowers I’ve examined, which might permit it to function at evening in case you so select. I’ll point out two drawbacks I encountered in my evaluate: First, the mower doesn’t have an onboard rain sensor, so that you’ll have to control the climate. Second, it is a giant mower and it typically had issue navigating tight spots in my yard.
Segway Navimow X350: Additional concerns
The Segway Navimow X350 boasts a 10-inch wheelbase and a proprietary traction management system and onboard AI that helps it climb as much as 27-degree slopes, though it makes use of rear-wheel drive. It navigates utilizing GPS monitoring, which may additionally provide help to recuperate the mower ought to it ever be stolen. This mower will go away your garden trying professionally groomed, because of its means to mechanically alternate its chopping route.
Learn our full
Segway Navimow X350 evaluate
Mowrator S1 AWD – Finest non-autonomous robotic garden mower
Professionals
- 21-inch chopping radius
- Extremely maneuverable
- Excellent distant management
- Using-mower construct and minimize high quality
Cons
- Very heavy (120 kilos)
- Disappointing autonomous impediment avoidance
Finest Costs In the present day:
Who should purchase the Mowrator S1?
We see the Mowrator as excellent for many who get pleasure from mowing their grass, however don’t take care of the bodily exertion—particularly in the summertime warmth. We examined the Mowrator throughout a record-breaking warmth wave right here within the jap U.S. and appreciated the very fact we didn’t should sweat it out to get our yard carried out. We couldn’t say the identical about our neighbors.
Mowrator S1: Additional concerns
The Mowrator S1 robotic mower is in a category of its personal, because it’s not totally autonomous. As a substitute, you management it with a distant—very similar to one you’d use with an aerial drone or an RC automotive. The extent of its automation is cruise management, which solely permits the mower to maneuver in a straight line, and rudimentary impediment avoidance. We included it on this checklist as a result of all the pieces else about this mower is top-notch.
A 21-inch chopping radius is a half-foot bigger than most robotic mowers, and a conventional mower blade versus the razor blades on most different fashions supplies a using mower high quality minimize that has to this point not been matched by some other mower we examined. And the maneuverability and all-wheel drive mixed with a superb distant management make mowing the grass enjoyable.
Learn our full
Mowrator S1 AWD evaluate
Different notable robotic garden mowers we’ve examined
The Husqvarna Automower 435X ($1,799 road) is without doubt one of the few robotic garden mowers we’ve examined that is determined by a boundary wire to maintain from shifting off your garden and into your flowerbeds, the driveway, or different locations you don’t need it to go. On the upside, it’s a beefy machine with all-wheel drive that may deal with lawns as much as 0.9 acres. The Mammotion Yuka 1500 robotic mower had loads of modern options after we reviewed it, however that innovation got here with some tough edges that dampened our enthusiasm for the machine. Likewise with the Dreame Roboticmower A1, which exhibited poor impediment avoidance in our real-world testing.
How we check robotic garden mowers
We check robotic mowers in as near real-world conditions as attainable: this consists of working them in the course of the day and at evening and in various climate situations. We’ll usually minimize a garden an inch or two larger than regular earlier than a check to assist decide the minimize high quality and the mower’s means to function in taller-than-average grass.
We’ll additionally put short-term obstacles within the yard to evaluate the mower’s collision-avoidance capabilities. If the mower has AI onboard, we’ll observe whether or not it remembers everlasting obstacles.
Why it is best to belief TechHive for robotic garden mower critiques and shopping for recommendation
TechHive is a part of PCWorld, a trusted authority on fashionable know-how since 1983. TechHive itself has been masking know-how for the house since 2012, and it’s a subject we’re actually keen about. Every of the robotic garden mowers beneficial right here have been totally examined in real-world situations in our personal yards.
Who curated this text?
Hello, I’m Michael Brown, TechHive’s Government Editor, and I oversee all robotic garden mower protection on PCWorld. I earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism in 1994, however I labored as a contract tech reporter and creator beginning within the mid-Eighties. I’ve specialised in sensible dwelling know-how since 2012. Up to now, I’ve assigned all of TechHive’s robotic garden mower to veteran journalist and TechHive contributor Ed Oswald, who runs the Robomower Revolution YouTube channel. Ed has been testing and writing about robotic garden mowers since 2020.
Whereas there are various options to search for in a robotic mower, a few of which shall be based mostly in your private desire, these 5 elements are an important to contemplate to make sure trouble- and frustration-free operations.
Run time and most yard measurement
This one appears apparent, however many will look to the most affordable mower that may deal with the dimensions of their yard. That’s not the fitting strategy. What it is best to do as a substitute is go for a mannequin with a most yard measurement of no less than 1.5 to 2 instances the acreage of your yard.
Our causes for this are twofold: First, the utmost yard measurement is the quantity your robotic mower can deal with in a single day, together with time for charging. If you choose a mannequin with a most yard measurement near the dimensions of your yard, the mower might want to run 24/7 to maintain up.
Secondly, shopping for a larger-capacity mower prevents purchaser’s regret later, must you transfer to a bigger dwelling. There is no such thing as a such factor as a robotic mower that’s too huge for a property, however you can find yourself with a robotic mower that’s too small to your yard. One other profit is complete run time, as a bigger mower gained’t have to return to its base station and charger as often.
Minimize high quality
Minimize high quality has a lot to do with how the chopping plate is about up, and the strategies used for chopping. Some fashions use a blade that’s formed bread tag. We’ve discovered this model usually doesn’t minimize nicely—or final very lengthy.
Rectangular blades are higher, for the reason that complete aspect cuts your grass regardless of which means it’s oriented on the plate. This model of blade additionally lasts longer, which suggests you’ll want to alter it out much less throughout every mowing season.
The chopping technique can also be necessary. We choose robotic mowers that observe straight traces and paths and alternate chopping instructions throughout every mowing session. Some cheaper boundary-wire mowers mow in a random sample inside the boundary, which early within the season can go away your yard trying such as you’ve forgotten how you can mow.
App performance
Most robotic mowers have lots of additional performance that will help you customise how your garden is maintained. This implies you’ll spend lots of time of their apps. Whereas some robotic mower apps try to squeeze each attainable function into the app, we now have discovered normally it’s pointless and cluttering. One of the best mower apps have clear interfaces, together with clear directions (and typically movies) to get you up to the mark on necessary performance.
Collision and impediment avoidance
Early robotic mowers used bumper sensors to detect obstacles. That’s not the case, and the most effective robotic mowers use applied sciences like cameras, LiDAR, and onboard AI to detect obstacles. Go for one in every of these fashions and also you’ll spend quite a bit much less time getting your mower out of locations it shouldn’t have gone into.
Synthetic intelligence (AI)
Synthetic intelligence is a latest addition to robotic mowers, and it makes boundary wire-free fashions far more dependable. With AI, your mower “learns” the quirks of your specific yard over time, optimizing its mowing session accordingly.
One phrase of warning, nevertheless: not all robotic mower AI is created equal. Some mowers appeared to not bear in mind obstacles or locations the place they’ve often gotten caught. AI is a comparatively new addition to robotic mowing, and a few producers’ claims don’t match actuality. Thankfully, that is an upgradeable ingredient—it resides in firmware—so this class of mower will enhance with time.
FAQ
Ceaselessly requested questions on robotic garden mowers
How do robotic mowers work?
Robotic mowers are available one in every of two flavors, some a boundary wire to maintain the mower in examine, whereas others depend on GPS satellites and onboard imaginative and prescient capabilities leveraging AI to assist the mower make each a visible and location-based map of your yard. If you want to learn extra about this subject, learn our in-depth information.
Which sort of robotic mower ought to I get?
Boundary wire robotic mowers are far cheaper, because the mower wants fewer sensors and fewer mind energy to make sure correct operation. However in case you go that route, we strongly advocate hiring knowledgeable to bury the boundary wire, so that you’re not continuously tripping over it. That can improve the ultimate value of your mower—by as a lot as a number of hundred {dollars} if it’s not already factored into the mower’s value—however it’s price it.
You must also bear in mind that boundary wires have finite lengths, maxing out at 1,000 to 2,500 toes, relying on the mannequin and the standard of the wire. This gained’t be a difficulty for many suburban and concrete properties, however you would possibly want a couple of mower for a big property.
For this and different causes, we usually advocate boundary wire-free mowers, as they’re a lot simpler to arrange and don’t require knowledgeable; it’s why all our greatest high picks—save one—are boundary wire-free fashions.
Why are robotic garden mowers so costly?
It is determined by the way you take a look at it. If you happen to examine a robotic mower to a conventional push mower, even a self-propelled one, robotic mowers are significantly costlier. Many robotic mowers, nevertheless, are competitively priced compared to using mowers, which supply a lot much less in the best way of labor financial savings.
Is the minimize high quality of a robotic mower pretty much as good that of a conventional mower?
You utilize a robotic mower the best way it’s designed for use and its minimize high quality shall be each bit pretty much as good as a traditional mower’s. Not like a push or using mower, a robotic mower is designed to run a number of instances per week, chopping a small portion of your grass every time. Some even alternate the route of minimize with every successive mowing session, which can stop it from leaving traces in your grass from the mower’s wheels from passing over the identical patch of grass every time.
What upkeep is required of a robotic mower?
Sustaining your robotic mower is just not troublesome, and it’s not all that completely different from conventional mowers—besides you gained’t want to observe and periodically engine oil; robotic mowers use electrical motors. You’ll need to commonly clear gathered grass clippings and different particles from the underside of the mower. You’ll additionally need to preserve it out of the weather as a lot as attainable when it’s not in use. The plastic our bodies of those mowers will slowly fade over time because the solar’s ultraviolet rays trigger plastic to degrade and discolor.
Crucial distinction has to do with chopping blades. The place standard motors have thick blades that want sharpening no less than as soon as a season, most robotic mowers use what appear like razor blades to chop your grass. As you would possibly count on, you’ll most likely want to switch them no less than twice each mowing season. Thankfully, the blades aren’t costly, and also you would possibly discover that third-party blades are even cheaper, though they may not final as lengthy the OEM variations.
