Pardon the pun, but oh my, has the landscape shifted in terms of robot lawn mowers. Five years ago, when I first started covering this smart home category, there were just two brands to choose from: Husqvarna and Worx. Today, there are dozen or so manufacturers vying for the mantle of best robot mower, albeit with varying success.
Prices have come down dramatically, too. In the early days, you’d need to spend at least several thousand dollars for the most basic machine. These days, you can find models for smaller yards that cost $1,000 or less. And like robot vacuums, robot lawn mowers have become more sophisticated, with features such as onboard positioning to know where they are in your yard, cameras to spot obstacles, and even AI to remember the tricky parts of your yard and how to navigate them.
Our top picks in robot lawn mowers
Segway Navimow i110N – Best budget-priced mower for very small lawns
Pros
Best navigation technology in its price class
No line-of-sight requirement from the mower to the GPS antenna
Outstanding cutting performance
Handles common yard types and terrain without issues
Cons
Front-wheel drive has trouble with steep slopes
Inadequate cliff detection
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Who should buy the Segway Navimow i110?
First, let us explain what we mean by “very small lawns.” In this case, we’re talking a quarter-acre or less. If you have a postage stamp-sized lawn, you probably don’t need a robot lawn mower. In any event, the $1,300 Navimow i110n is the best option in its price class. That said, this is a rear-wheel drive model that doesn’t pack enough power to handle steep slopes, so keep that in mind if your yard has steep grades.
Segway Navimow i110: Further considerations
While the lack of all-wheel drive held the Navimow i110n back in our tests, we were very impressed with how the Navimow navigated our yard and alternated its cutting patterns with each mowing session. It also does it quickly; we could mow nearly all of our quarter-acre lot in about 30 minutes.
While we had problems keeping the Navimow from falling off our parking-strip curb, this is more of a detection issue with the vision and AI versus a fatal flaw. Since our initial review, several firmware updates have been released, including a new firmware update (version 2.2) that the company says is a fairly significant release. So those problems might be getting addressed.
Read our full
Segway Navimow i110N review
Eufy Lawnbot E18 – Best robot mower for smaller lawns
Pros
Straightforward setup and mapping
Delivered an even, thorough cut from the first mow
Obstacle detection is promising (although it still needs work)
Cons
Somewhat underpowered for its size
Rear-wheel drive only
Underwhelming performance on slopes
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Who should buy the Eufy Lawnbot E18?
This is a great, moderately priced robot lawn mower for smaller, flatter yards up to 0.3 acres, with slopes of no more than 18 degrees. If you have a smaller yard, consider its stablemate, the Eufy Lawnbot E15, which can handle up to up to 0.2 acres of lawn (battery size is the only difference between the two models). Both machines are smallish, rear-wheel drive mowers, but don’t let their size fool you: They’re packed with smarts. The Lawnbot E18 uses computer vision to map your yard after you direct it to the areas of your yard you want it to go, which is a much simpler task than deploying a GPS antenna. I have a complex yard, and this mower completed its initial mapping quickly, even in areas with obstructed views and other obstacles. Once that was done, it delivered an even, thorough cut from the very first mow.
Eufy Lawnbot E18: Further considerations
The Eufy Lawnbot E15 and E18 are both rebranded TerraMow models that have been available in Europe since mid-2024, so they’ve been thoroughly tested by consumers on the other side of the Atlantic. Both Lawnbot E-series mowers might seem small compared to much of the competition—suburban and rural American yards tend to be very large—but you don’t need to own an acre or more of turf to appreciate a quality robot lawn mower. The Lawnbot E18 and E15 are both rear-wheel drive mowers, however, which explains their modest climbing performance.
Read our full
Eufy Lawnbot E18 review
Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD – Best robot mower for mid-sized lawns
Pros
Best nighttime mowing experience of any mower we’ve tested
Quality, even cut
Handles narrow passages with ease
Cons
Frustrating mapping and app experience
Too low profile for sharp slope transitions
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Who should buy the Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD?
If you are taken aback by the high price of all-wheel drive robot mowers (typically several thousand of dollars), the Orion X7 comes in at the lower end of that range: $2,400. But the cut quality and capability of this mower is as good as other mowers that we’ve tested that are double the price. It’s AI works great.
Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD: Further considerations
While the mapping setup of the Orion X7 was suboptimal, we were really surprised by its vision and AI capabilities once the mower was running; they worked as advertised—even at night. The Orion X7’s obstacle-avoidance performance was the best of any robot mower we’ve tested to date.
Better yet, it seemed to remember where these obstacles were during a session, unlike other mowers we’ve tested that would return to the same spot and make the same mistakes. The dual floating cutting plates give you a smooth level yard even if it’s not perfectly flat. If Sunseeker can fix the usability issues in its app, we’ll rank the Orion X7 higher.
Read our full
Sunseeker Orion X7 AWD review
Segway Navimow X350 – Best robot mower for larger lawns
Pros
Excellent navigation and obstacle avoidance, day or night
Automatically alternates its cutting direction
Capable of handling very large yards
Cons
Exhibits a tendency for unpredictable behavior on slopes
No onboard rain sensor
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Who should buy the Segway Navimow X350?
The Segway Navimow X350’s speed, combined with its 10-inch cutting radius, will make quick work of lawns up to 1.5 acres, and it will optimize the map it makes of your property so that it becomes more efficient over time. It’s also one of the quietest mowers I’ve tested, which could allow it to operate at night if you so choose. I will mention two drawbacks I encountered in my review: First, the mower doesn’t have an onboard rain sensor, so you’ll need to keep an eye on the weather. Second, this is a large mower and it sometimes had difficulty navigating tight spots in my yard.
Segway Navimow X350: Further considerations
The Segway Navimow X350 boasts a 10-inch wheelbase and a proprietary traction control system and onboard AI that helps it climb up to 27-degree slopes, even though it uses rear-wheel drive. It navigates using GPS tracking, which can also help you recover the mower should it ever be stolen. This mower will leave your lawn looking professionally groomed, thanks to its ability to automatically alternate its cutting direction.
Read our full
Segway Navimow X350 review
Mowrator S1 AWD – Best non-autonomous robot lawn mower
Pros
21-inch cutting radius
Highly maneuverable
Outstanding remote control
Riding-mower build and cut quality
Cons
Very heavy (120 pounds)
Disappointing autonomous obstacle avoidance
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Who should buy the Mowrator S1?
We see the Mowrator as perfect for those who enjoy mowing their grass, but don’t care for the physical exertion—especially in the summer heat. We tested the Mowrator during a record-breaking heat wave here in the eastern U.S. and appreciated the fact we didn’t have to sweat it out to get our yard done. We couldn’t say the same about our neighbors.
Mowrator S1: Further considerations
The Mowrator S1 robot mower is in a class of its own, as it’s not entirely autonomous. Instead, you control it with a remote—much like one you’d use with an aerial drone or an RC car. The extent of its automation is cruise control, which only allows the mower to move in a straight line, and rudimentary obstacle avoidance. We included it on this list because everything else about this mower is top-notch.
A 21-inch cutting radius is a half-foot larger than most robot mowers, and a traditional mower blade versus the razor blades on most other models provides a riding mower quality cut that has so far not been matched by any other mower we tested. And the maneuverability and all-wheel drive combined with an excellent remote control make mowing the grass fun.
Read our full
Mowrator S1 AWD review
Other notable robot lawn mowers we’ve tested
The Husqvarna Automower 435X ($1,799 street) is one of the few robot lawn mowers we’ve tested that depends on a boundary wire to keep from moving off your lawn and into your flowerbeds, the driveway, or other places you don’t want it to go. On the upside, it’s a beefy machine with all-wheel drive that can handle lawns up to 0.9 acres. The Mammotion Yuka 1500 robot mower had plenty of innovative features when we reviewed it, but that innovation came with some rough edges that dampened our enthusiasm for the machine. Likewise with the Dreame Roboticmower A1, which exhibited poor obstacle avoidance in our real-world testing.
How we test robot lawn mowers
We test robot mowers in as close to real-world situations as possible: this includes operating them during the day and at night and in varying weather conditions. We’ll typically cut a lawn an inch or two higher than normal before a test to help judge the cut quality and the mower’s ability to operate in taller-than-average grass.
We’ll also put temporary obstacles in the yard to judge the mower’s collision-avoidance capabilities. If the mower has AI onboard, we’ll observe whether it remembers permanent obstacles.
Why you should trust TechHive for robot lawn mower reviews and buying advice
TechHive is part of PCWorld, a trusted authority on modern technology since 1983. TechHive itself has been covering technology for the home since 2012, and it’s a topic we’re truly passionate about. Each of the robot lawn mowers recommended here have been thoroughly tested in real-world conditions in our own yards.
Who curated this article?
Hi, I’m Michael Brown, TechHive’s Executive Editor, and I oversee all robot lawn mower coverage on PCWorld. I earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism in 1994, but I worked as a freelance tech reporter and author starting in the mid-1980s. I’ve specialized in smart home technology since 2012. To date, I’ve assigned all of TechHive’s robot lawn mower to veteran journalist and TechHive contributor Ed Oswald, who runs the Robomower Revolution YouTube channel. Ed has been testing and writing about robot lawn mowers since 2020.
What to look for when shopping for a robot lawn mower
While there are many features to look for in a robot mower, some of which will be based on your personal preference, these five factors are the most important to consider to ensure trouble- and frustration-free operations.
Run time and maximum yard size
This one seems obvious, but many will look to the cheapest mower that can handle the size of their yard. That’s not the right approach. What you should do instead is opt for a model with a maximum yard size of at least 1.5 to 2 times the acreage of your yard.
Our reasons for this are twofold: First, the maximum yard size is the amount your robot mower can handle in a single day, including time for charging. If you select a model with a maximum yard size close to the size of your yard, the mower will need to run 24/7 to keep up.
Secondly, buying a larger-capacity mower prevents buyer’s remorse later, should you move to a larger home. There is no such thing as a robot mower that’s too big for a property, but you can end up with a robot mower that’s too small for your yard. Another benefit is total run time, as a larger mower won’t need to return to its base station and charger as frequently.
Cut quality
Cut quality has much to do with how the cutting plate is set up, and the methods used for cutting. Some models use a blade that’s shaped bread tag. We’ve found this style typically doesn’t cut well—or last very long.
Rectangular blades are better, since the entire side cuts your grass no matter which way it’s oriented on the plate. This style of blade also lasts longer, which means you’ll need to change it out less during each mowing season.
The cutting method is also important. We prefer robot mowers that follow straight lines and paths and alternate cutting directions during each mowing session. Some cheaper boundary-wire mowers mow in a random pattern within the boundary, which early in the season can leave your yard looking like you’ve forgotten how to mow.
App functionality
Most robot mowers have a lot of extra functionality to help you customize how your lawn is maintained. This means you’ll spend a lot of time in their apps. While some robot mower apps attempt to squeeze every possible feature into the app, we have found in most cases it is unnecessary and cluttering. The best mower apps have clean interfaces, along with clear instructions (and sometimes videos) to get you up to speed on important functionality.
Collision and obstacle avoidance
Early robot mowers used bumper sensors to detect obstacles. That’s no longer the case, and the best robot mowers use technologies like cameras, LiDAR, and onboard AI to detect obstacles. Opt for one of these models and you’ll spend a lot less time getting your mower out of places it shouldn’t have gone into.
Artificial intelligence (AI)
Artificial intelligence is a recent addition to robot mowers, and it makes boundary wire-free models much more reliable. With AI, your mower “learns” the quirks of your particular yard over time, optimizing its mowing session accordingly.
One word of caution, however: not all robot mower AI is created equal. Some mowers seemed to not remember obstacles or places where they’ve frequently gotten stuck. AI is a relatively new addition to robot mowing, and some manufacturers’ claims don’t match reality. Fortunately, this is an upgradeable element—it resides in firmware—so this class of mower will improve with time.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about robot lawn mowers
1.
How do robot mowers work?
Robot mowers come in one of two flavors, some a boundary wire to keep the mower in check, while others rely on GPS satellites and onboard vision capabilities leveraging AI to help the mower make both a visual and location-based map of your yard. If you would like to read more about this topic, read our in-depth guide.
2.
Which type of robot mower should I get?
Boundary wire robot mowers are far less expensive, as the mower needs fewer sensors and less brain power to ensure proper operation. But if you go that route, we strongly recommend hiring a professional to bury the boundary wire, so you’re not constantly tripping over it. That will increase the final price of your mower—by as much as several hundred dollars if it’s not already factored into the mower’s price—but it’s worth it.
You should also be aware that boundary wires have finite lengths, maxing out at 1,000 to 2,500 feet, depending on the model and the quality of the wire. This won’t be an issue for most suburban and urban properties, but you might need more than one mower for a large property.
For this and other reasons, we typically recommend boundary wire-free mowers, as they’re much easier to set up and don’t require a professional; it’s why all our best top picks—save one—are boundary wire-free models.
3.
Why are robot lawn mowers so expensive?
It depends on how you look at it. If you compare a robot mower to a traditional push mower, even a self-propelled one, robot mowers are considerably more expensive. Many robot mowers, however, are competitively priced in comparison to riding mowers, which offer much less in the way of labor savings.
4.
Is the cut quality of a robot mower as good that of a traditional mower?
You use a robot mower the way it’s designed to be used and its cut quality will be every bit as good as a conventional mower’s. Unlike a push or riding mower, a robot mower is designed to run multiple times a week, cutting a small portion of your grass each time. Some even alternate the direction of cut with each successive mowing session, which will prevent it from leaving lines in your grass from the mower’s wheels from passing over the same patch of grass each time.
5.
What maintenance is required of a robot mower?
Maintaining your robot mower is not difficult, and it’s not all that different from traditional mowers—except you won’t need to monitor and periodically engine oil; robot mowers use electric motors. You’ll want to regularly clean accumulated grass clippings and other debris from the underside of the mower. You’ll also want to keep it out of the elements as much as possible when it’s not in use. The plastic bodies of these mowers will slowly fade over time as the sun’s ultraviolet rays cause plastic to degrade and discolor.
The most important difference has to do with cutting blades. Where conventional motors have thick blades that need sharpening at least once a season, most robot mowers use what look like razor blades to cut your grass. As you might expect, you’ll probably need to replace them at least twice every mowing season. Fortunately, the blades aren’t expensive, and you might find that third-party blades are even cheaper, although they might not last as long the OEM versions.
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