Husqvarna Automower 430XH
Yard size: 0.8 acres | Weight: 32.4 pounds | Cutting width: 9.5 inches | Maximum slope: 24 degrees | Runtime: 145 minutes | Connectivity: Cellular or Bluetooth | Boundary wire: Yes
Pros:
- Able to cut up to 0.8 acres
- Larger-than-average cutting width
- GPS theft protection
Cons:
- Requires boundary wire
Husqvarna is a well-known lawn mower brand and one of the leaders in the robotic lawn mower space. The brand has more than a dozen robotic mowers for residential and commercial use, but the Automower 430XH is a top choice for most homes, as it strikes a good balance between performance and price. This robotic mower can handle yards up to 0.8 acres with a maximum slope of 24 degrees, and it has three carbon steel blades with a cutting width around 9.5 inches, helping it to tackle your lawn more quickly than other models.
The Automower 430XH operates quietly—generally between 50 and 60 decibels—so it won’t disturb your outdoor activities, and you can adjust its cutting height between 2 and 3.6 inches. The robot connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth or a cellular network for scheduling and remote control, and it’s also equipped with GPS, which helps it navigate and also alerts you if someone tries to take the unit out of your yard. If it’s lifted, the mower will sound an alarm that can only be deactivated using a PIN code, helping to prevent theft.
Best Affordable Robot Lawn Mower
A Budget-Friendly Option For Small Lawns
Worx Landroid S
Yard size: 0.125 acres | Weight: 21.2 pounds | Cutting width: 7 inches | Maximum slope: 20 degrees | Runtime: Not listed | Connectivity: Bluetooth or Wi-Fi | Boundary wire: Yes
Pros:
- AI-powered navigation
- Automatically adjusts to uneven terrain
- Compatible with other Worx batteries
Cons:
- Only suitable for yards up to 0.125 acre
- No anti-theft technology
Because robotic lawn mowers are a fairly new technology, they often cost several thousand dollars. However, if you have a small yard that’s less than ⅛ acre, the Worx Landroid S is a budget-friendly pick for hands-off mowing. It’s powered by the brand’s 20-volt PowerShare battery, and you can actually swap in batteries from other Worx tools if you want to extend its runtime without stopping to recharge.
The Landroid S uses AI to navigate around your yard, and it can find its way through narrow passages and automatically adjust its blade height to avoid getting stuck on uneven terrain. It can handle slopes up to 20 degrees and cuts all the way to the edge of the wire boundary, saving you from having to trim the edges of your yard.
Best Robot Lawn Mower For Steep Hills
All-Wheel Drive Tackles Slopes Up To 35 Degrees
Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD
Yard size: 0.9 acres | Weight: 39 pounds | Cutting width: 8.7 inches | Maximum slope: 35 degrees | Runtime: 145 minutes | Connectivity: Cellular or Bluetooth | Boundary wire: Yes
Pros:
- All-wheel drive for steep slopes
- Able to cut up to 0.9 acres
- GPS theft protection
Cons:
- More expensive than other models
Many robotic lawn mowers can only handle small hills, but if your yard has a steep slope, you’re going to need a model like the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD. This model has an all-wheel drive that can handle slopes up to 35 degrees, and its rear end pivots for better traction on rough terrain. It’s able to manage lawns up to 0.9 acres, and similar to a robot vacuum, the mower creates a map of your yard that you can customize. For example, you can designate areas with different cutting heights or stay-out zones.
The Automower 435X can operate for up to 145 minutes at a time, and it has built-in sensors that help it avoid collisions with obstacles. It’s equipped with the brand’s GPS theft protection to keep someone from walking away with it, and the high-end design has other advanced features, such as electric cutting height adjustment and automatic passage navigation.
Best Robot Lawn Mower With Longest Running Time
A Unit That Mows Up To 0.5 Acre Per Charge
Greenworks Pro Optimow 50H
Yard size: 0.5 acre | Weight: 23.6 pounds | Cutting width: 8.7 inches | Maximum slope: 20 degrees | Runtime: 150 minutes | Connectivity: Cellular | Boundary wire: Yes
Pros:
- Longer runtime than other models
- Able to cut taller grass
- GPS theft prevention
Cons:
- App is only free for two years
The Greenworks Pro Optimow 50H has a longer battery life than many other lawn mowers, so it’s a great choice for larger yards. It can run for up to 150 minutes per charge, tackling around half an acre of yard before it needs to stop and power back up. This mower also has a max cutting height of 4 inches, which is higher than most other models, allowing it to tackle taller grass.
Also great: The Optimow 50H has a fairly large cutting width of just under 9 inches, and its blades cut grass into “micro-mulch,” which helps put nutrients back into your lawn. The blades fold out of the way when an obstacle is detected to prevent damage to the blades, and the mower is equipped with real-time GPS tracking that lets you monitor its progress and helps deter theft. Just keep in mind that while the mower does come with free app access for two years, you’ll have to pay a subscription fee after that period.
Best Wire-Free Robot Lawn Mower
A High-Tech Option That’s Easier To Set Up
Segway Navimow i110N
Yard size: 0.25 acres | Weight: 24 pounds | Cutting width: 7.1 inches | Maximum slope: 16 degrees | Runtime: 120 minutes | Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or cellular | Boundary wire: No
Pros:
- No boundary wire needed
- Uses grid-like mowing pattern
- Able to schedule mowing in multiple zones
Cons:
- Anti-theft system sold separately
- Unable to handle slopes
Most robot lawn mowers require a boundary wire around the edges of your yard. However, the Segway Navimow i110N has a wire-free design that uses virtual boundaries instead, making it much faster and easier to set up. Using the Navimow app, you can set boundaries in your yard, designate no-go zones and even create pathways to connect multiple areas.
This model can be used on lawns that are 0.25 acre or less, but it doesn’t handle slopes well, so it’s best for those with relatively flat yards. The Navimow uses AI to identify and avoid common obstacles, and unlike many mowers, it actually mows in a grid-like pattern, not just randomly. The one major downside is that the mower doesn’t come equipped with an anti-theft system—for this feature, you have to purchase the Navimow Access+ for an additional $150.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
To help keep your lawn looking great year-round, the Forbes Vetted team has published dozens of expert-backed roundups on outdoor tools and gear. This includes extensive coverage of lawn mowers, from push mowers to electric mowers to high-end zero-turn mowers.
- The Forbes Vetted home and kitchen team includes three expert editors: deputy editor Rebekah Lowin, senior editor Amanda Arnold and editor Sholeen Damarwala.
- Author of this piece, Camryn Rabideau, is a regular contributor with extensive experience covering home and lifestyle topics. In her career as a product tester, she’s reviewed several different types of lawn mowers.
- For this article, Rabideau also spoke with expert Andrea Scharff, owner of Andrea Scharff Landscape Design, for insights on the benefits and drawbacks of robot lawn mowers.
How We Chose The Best Robot Lawn Mowers
To find the best robot lawn mowers, we researched dozens of best-selling options, compared features and asked our team of experienced staffers for insights.
- Our home and kitchen editorial team focused on lawn mowers from trusted brands and retailers, such as Husqvarna and Worx.
- We analyzed features such as maximum yard size and incline, cutting width, runtime, connectivity and cost to determine the best options. We also prioritized mowers with extra features such as theft protection, obstacle avoidance, automatic charging and remote scheduling.
- We took customer reviews and average star ratings into careful account, sticking to models that have garnered at least an average rating of 4 stars and only a negligible amount of concerning reviews, if any.
- The final products on this list reflect in-depth research conducted by our writer and meticulous vetting by the editorial team.
What To Look For In The Best Robot Lawn Mowers
There are several factors to consider when shopping for the best robot lawn mowers. Here’s what to look for.
Robot lawn mowers are only suitable for yards less than 1 acre, and you’ll want to select a model based on how much area you have to mow. For instance, the Worx Landroid S can only mow 0.125 acre, while more expensive models like the Husqvarna Automower 430XH can handle up to 1 acre of yard. If your yard is too large for the mower, you may not have enough boundary wire to fully surround your property, and the mower will likely run constantly to cover the entire area.
It’s also important to consider the slope of your yard, as some options can’t handle large hills. If your property has steep terrain, you’ll need a mower like the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD, which is equipped with all-wheel drive and can climb slopes up to 35 degrees.
There are a few different settings and features you’ll want to consider when selecting a robot lawn mower.
- Deck size: The deck size or cutting width of a mower tells you how much area it cuts with each pass. Mowers with larger cutting widths cover more ground with each pass and often take less time to mow.
- Cutting height: Like most lawn mowers, robotic mowers generally have an adjustable cutting height that lets you raise or lower the blades. If you have tall grass in your yard, you’ll likely want a mower with a higher max cutting height.
- Mow pattern: Robotic mowers typically navigate in a random pattern or a grid. Both will cut your lawn, but mowers that cut in a grid are less likely to miss spots as they work.
- Edge cutting: If you don’t want to do any lawn maintenance, look for a mower that offers edge or boundary cutting. This ensures it cuts right up to the edge of your lawn, saving you from trimming with a weed eater.
There are several other features you may want to look for in a robot lawn mower:
- Anti-theft: Because robotic mowers are relatively small and usually left outside, there’s a risk that someone takes the unit out of your yard. Many options offer GPS tracking that alerts you if the mower is removed from your property. Others even have a built-in alarm that sounds if the mower is picked up.
- GPS navigation: In larger yards, there’s a chance that your mower won’t find its way back to the charging base or gets confused while navigating tight areas. To help avoid these issues, some units have a built-in GPS that improves their ability to find their way around your yard.
- Obstacle avoidance: Like robot vacuums, robot mowers can get hung up on obstacles like rocks, curbs or garden hoses. To save you from having to free the mower from obstacles, some models like the Segway Navimow i110N have AI-powered obstacle avoidance that helps them navigate tricky areas.
Because of their high-tech design, robot lawn mowers are significantly more expensive than your average push lawn mower; you can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $5,000. Cheaper options like the Worx Landroid S typically offer fewer features and can only mow small areas. If you have a large yard or difficult terrain, you’ll likely end up paying $2,000 (or more) for a model like the Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD, which offers better navigation and a longer battery life.
What Is The Best Brand Of Robot Lawn Mower?
Husqvarna is one of the best brands available today if you’re in the market for a robot lawn mower. Its comprehensive line ranges from $700 to upwards of $5,000, and there are options to suit every yard size and budget. In particular, we recommend the Husqvarna Automower 430XH for residential properties. This popular mid-tier model can handle lawns as big as 0.8 acres and has an expansive cutting deck covering more area with each pass. For those with steep hills on their property, the Automower 435X AWD is another top choice, as it can handle inclines up to 35 degrees.
How Big Of A Yard Can A Robot Mow?
The best robot lawn mowers can maintain yards up to an acre in size. Our top pick, the Husqvarna Automower 430XH, can mow up to 0.8 acres of lawn, while less expensive options such as the Segway Navimow i110N are only suitable for 0.25 acre or less.
If you have a large yard, purchasing a self-propelled or riding lawn mower is generally more cost-efficient. While they need to be operated manually, these mowers have much larger cutting decks that make quick work of large areas.
