Get the Right Robot Mower in Just 4 Steps
Not every mower is appropriate for every garden, but we can help you discover one that is. Use our straightforward step-by-step guide to cut through the jargon and compare major manufacturers like as Husqvarna, Worx, Honda, and others.
4 Easy Steps to Choose the Perfect Robot Mower
Step 1: Evaluate your garden
The key information to gather is:
1. How big is your total garden that you want to mow?
Don’t guess at this, people are normally way off. Measure your lawn using a satellite image and make sure that you take into account flower beds etc.
2. How many separate lawns/ areas does your garden cover?
If you have multiple lawns which are connected, the smaller the gap/ corridor between the lawns, the less likely the robot is to get there during normal mowing. The mower will need to be setup so that it can find its way to each lawn or area.
3. Can the mower make its own way between the areas?
In order for the mower to go between areas, the perimeter wire will need to be laid so that it can follow the wire to each area. The width of the area is key as the wires need to be a certain distance apart and surface is important as wires will need to be laid in/ under it and the mower will need to be able to drive over it – no shingle/ fairly level etc.
If there is no corridor (or it’s too narrow), look for a mower which can be picked up and put down in the other area – the wires still need to be laid but they can be laid together (i.e. no distance between them) and as the mower won’t be following them, the surface is immaterial.
4. How level is your garden?
Although most of us would like a flat, bowling green like lawn, the reality is that most lawns have bumps, holes, slopes and undulations. Some may be affected by rabbits and other animals creating holes overnight. It’s important to choose a mower that suits the condition of your lawn. Generally, the rougher the terrain, the more grip the mower needs to mow it. For rougher terrain, think about:
- The number of wheels – 4 are better than 3 if you have holes appearing overnight
- Grip – big soft wide wheels are better than small hard wheels
- Articulation – a chassis that can pivot over lumps and bumps will ensure that the wheels stay on the ground and provide more stability and more grip.
5. Are you likely to change your lawn design
If you are likely to divide up areas, add flower beds or even add a new area, choose a mower that has the flexibility to add or change areas with the minimum of impact. If you may be adding big areas which one mower could not cope with, choose a mower where it is possible to have multiple mowers working together in the same garden.
Step 2: Evaluate how you are going to use the mower
This is not so easy as you probably haven’t had a robot lawn mower before. Here are some key items to consider:
1. Robot free time
The idea of a lawn is to enjoy it not watch it being mowed (although robot mowers can be very relaxing to watch – especially with your favourite drink in hand). Most robot mowers will aim to mow 6 or 7 days a week so make sure that there is enough time when the mower is not out for you to enjoy the lawn i.e. robot free time. There is no point having a great mower if you can never use the lawn for fear of being ‘mown’.
Don’t worry so much about the battery time/ charging time – the important thing is how long is the lawn free rather than how the mower divides up it’s time when it is mowing.
2. Ease of setup/control
Most mowers give you 1 or more ways to setup/ control your mower. Although once they are setup they work on their own, you will find that you might want change things or be notified if something happens. Generally, the methods are:
- A screen on the mower – great but can be fiddly
- An App connecting over bluetooth – even better but you need to be close to the mower
- An App connecting over the internet – very useful especially if you are away from home lot and want to keep an eye on what your mower is up to.
3. Security
How worried are you about someone walking away with you prized mower. If you are then think about what security features the mower needs. Key features are:
- Pin access – you need a pin in order to use the mower
- Tracking – the mower can be tracked anywhere in the world using GPS/ mobile phone technology
- Geofencing – if the mower goes a certain distance from it’s lawn, you should be notified.
Some mowers have an alarm if they are lifted, that’s great but as with home alarms it requires someone to hear it and to do something about it…not much use if you are away from the house.
4. Running Noise
There has been a lot in the press about mowing your lawn too early/ late and disturbing the neighbours. Most robot mowers are very quiet, about as load as normal conversation. If you are worried about the noise, brushless motors are quieter.
Step 3: Evaluate the manufacturer
You are buying a product that you want to sit outside on the lawn all season for a number of years so you want it to be well built and to be kept up to date. So look at:
1. Longevity
How long has the manufacturer been making robot mowers.
2. Specialisation
Does the manufacturer specialise in robots or is it just another product for them to sell?
3. Innovation
It is important that manufacturers are innovating i.e. bring new products to market and supporting/ improving the products they already have sold. If you are thinking about a mower, ask
- How often they release updates to their mower software and whether you can you install the update yourself or have to wait until your next service.
- How their software/ mowing algorithms differ from their competitors.
4. Build quality
It’s difficult to tell from the pictures but consider the manufacturer i.e. look for the review based on build quality, the weight (i.e. not cheap light plastic) and warranty (although most are 2 years).
Step 4: Evaluate the models
You are buying a product that you want to sit outside on the lawn all season for a number of years so you want it to be well built and to be kept up to date. So look at:
Useful sources
You can find some useful about the manufacturers ranges in the following places:
Other sources:
- The robot lady’s blog – very good general Ambrogio info.
- Myrobotmower – useful but limited range coverage
- Mower Magic - Amborgio comparisons – useful for build quality
- Popular Mechanics – limited range coverage
- Fred’s Shed – a bit out of date on some manufacturers
Useful sources
You can find some useful about the manufacturers ranges in the following places:
| L60 Elite S+ | Twenty ZR | Twenty Deluxe | Twenty Elite | Twenty Elite S+ | Twenty 25 Elite | Twenty 29 Deluxe | Twenty 29 Elite | QUAD | 4.0 Elite | 4.36 Elite | L400 Deluxe |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POWER | ||||||||||||
| Max. Lawn size (m2) | 400 | 1000 | 700 | 1000 | 1300 | 1800 | 2500 | 3500 | 3500 | 3500 | 6000 | 20000 |
| Lithium battery (25.9v) | 7.5Ah | 5.0 Ah | 2.5Ah | 2.5Ah | 5Ah | 5Ah | 5Ah | 2 x 5Ah | 2 x 5Ah | 8.7Ah | 10.35Ah | 4 x 15Ah |
| Average working time (hours) | 3:00 | 4:00 | 2:00 | 2:00 | 4:00 | 3:00 | 3:00 | 6:00 | 2:30 | 3:45 | 4:00 | 11:00 |
| Average recharge time (hours) | 4:30 | TBA | 1:00 | 1:00 | 1:00 | TBA | TBA | TBA | 2:00 | 1:30 | 1:30 | 10:00 |
| Robot Free time | N/A | TBA | 15h | 14h | 17h | 16h | TBA | TBA | 11h | 14h | 5h | 11h |
| Motor Type | Brushless | Brushless | Brushless | Brushless | Brushless | Brushless | Brushless | Brushless | Brushless | Brushless | Brushless | Brushless |
| SLOPE | ||||||||||||
| Max permissable slope (%/degrees) | 50/ 27 | 45 / 24 | 45 / 24 | 45 / 24 | 45 / 24 | 45 / 24 | 45 / 24 | 45 / 24 | 75 / 37 | 45 / 24 | 45 / 24 | 45 / 24 |
| Max slope(%/degrees) | 40/ 22 | 35 / 19 | 35 / 19 | 35 / 19 | 35 / 19 | 35 / 19 | 35 / 19 | 35 / 19 | 70 / 35 | 35 / 19 | 35 / 19 | 35 / 19 |
| Slope on perimeter wire (%/degrees) | N/A | N/A | 20 / 11 | 20 / 11 | 20 / 11 | 20 / 11 | 20 / 11 | 20 / 11 | 65 / 33 | 20 / 11 | 20 / 11 | 20 / 11 |
| CUTTING SYSTEM | ||||||||||||
| Max No. of Areas | N/A | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Cutting width (cms) | 25 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 25 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 36 | 84 (3 blades) |
| Cutting height (min/ max mm) | 42-48 | 25-70 | 25-70 | 25-70 | 25-70 | 25-60 | 25-60 | 25-60 | 25-70 | 20-65 | 20-65 | 25-70 |
| Cutting height adjustment | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Manual | Auto | Auto | Auto | Auto | Auto | Auto |
| Blade type | 4 pt Star Blade | 4 pt Star Blade | 4 pt Star Blade | 4 pt Star Blade | 4 pt Star Blade | 4 pt Star Blade | 4 pt Star Blade | 4 pt Star Blade | 4 pt Star Blade | 6 cutter ring | 4 pt Star Blade | 4 pt Star Blade (3 blades) |
| +Infinity | N/A | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smart cutting | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SETUP/ CONTROL | ||||||||||||
| Mower | Keypad/ LEDs | Keypad/ LEDs | Keypad/ LEDs | Keypad/ LEDs | Keypad/ LEDs | Keypad/ LEDs | Keypad/ LEDs | Keypad/ LEDs | Touchscreen | Touchscreen | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
| Bluetooth App | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Internet App | No | Optional | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GPS | No | Optional | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rain sensor | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Eco mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Assistant Compatible | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SECURITY | ||||||||||||
| Pin on App - * also on mower | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes * | Yes * | Yes * | Yes * |
| Tracking | No | Optional | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Geofence | No | Optional | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AMICO Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| FEATURES | ||||||||||||
| Weight (kgs) | 8.6 | 7.5 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 10 | TBA | TBA | 18.5 | 15.8 | 18 | 498 |
| Size (l x w x h - mm) | 440 x 360 x 200 | 453 x 296 x 220 | 420 x 290 x 220 | 420 x 290 x 220 | 420 x 290 x 220 | 534 x ? x 386 | 534 x ? x 386 | 534 x ? x 386 | 533 x 533 x 333 | 635 x 464 x 330 | 784 x 536 x 330 | 1200 x 977 x 372 |
| Noise (dBA) | 65 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 60 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 63 | 65 | 69 |
| Warranty | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2+4 | 2+4 | 2 |
Trusted Robotic Mowing, Built to Last
Ambrogio Delivers Precision, Durability, and Smarter Lawn Care Every Day
Longevity
Ambrogio Robot mowers part of Zucchetti Centro Sistemi family was founded over 20 years ago and have been have been manufacturing robot mowers in Italy since 2002 and was one of the first three brands sold in Europe in the early days of robotic mowing.
Specialisation
Ambrogio specialises in the development and manufacture of garden robots, both for lawns and swimming pools.
Innovation
Ambrogio have a large research and development site in Tuscany where as well as bringing new products to market, are committed to the continuous improvement of the existing products. Updated software for the mowers is released on a regular basis and via the dedicated App can be installed by the owner.
Build Quality
Ambrogio is renowned for its build quality which is very important as your mower will be outside all season long and will be mowing every day.
