Robotic lawn mower buying guide: how to choose the right model

RTK, NetRTK, LiDAR, cameras, automatic mapping, drive wheels and cutting width: robotic lawn mowers come with no shortage of selling points. The key is knowing which ones matter for your garden. In this buying guide, the Presse-citron editorial team unpacks the essential criteria for finding a robotic lawn mower suited to both your plot and your budget.

If you are looking for a robotic lawn mower, knowing where to start can be difficult: prices range from modest to five times as much, while specification sheets are packed with acronyms. Navigation, mapping, traction, mowing performance and customisation options within dedicated apps are all among the many criteria to consider before reaching for your bank card.

Having thoroughly tested numerous machines for our roundup of the best robotic lawn mowers, the Presse-citron editorial team examines the factors that genuinely matter in this buying guide, helping you select a robotic lawn mower that fits your garden and your budget.

Installation and navigation: the first criterion to assess

For years, industry pioneers such as Husqvarna and Gardena followed the same routine. You had to unroll and bury a perimeter wire around the entire lawn to define the mowing area, often adding a guide wire to help the robot find its charging station. The first generation of wire-free robots later replaced this setup with an RTK antenna placed in the garden, although it still had to be connected to the charging station.

Today, robotic lawn mowers promise a completely wire-free experience, making both installation and day-to-day management as simple as possible. While current robots no longer need a perimeter wire, they must solve three problems in return.

First, they need to locate themselves within a few centimetres, while also detecting and avoiding obstacles, whether that is a permanent tree or a toy left in the grass. Their movements must also be consistent enough to cover the whole lawn without repeatedly mowing the same areas.

To achieve this, four major technologies now coexist on the market. The real complication is that they are not mutually exclusive. Each manufacturer develops its own combination, then frequently gives it a proprietary name. The aim is to impress customers while trying to stand apart from competitors.

Take Segway Navimow as an example: in 2026, it promotes its new EFLS system, combining tri-frequency network RTK, vSLAM and VIO. In plain English, the brand is describing antenna-free satellite positioning supported by cameras that take over when the signal weakens. The same principle applies across manufacturers, from Mova and Dreame to Ecovacs and Roborock.

We will therefore help you decode these labels, so you can distinguish meaningful technical differences from terminology that can sometimes be rather overblown.

The RTK antenna: traditional satellite precision

Let us start with the oldest technology used by wire-free robots. Despite appearances, it has not disappeared from shop shelves altogether. Some models launched in 2026 still require it, including the Roborock RockNeo Q105 that we tested.

In theory, the principle is straightforward. An antenna installed in the garden receives satellite signals, calculates positioning errors and sends corrections to the robot in real time. Accuracy then improves from one to two metres with standard GPS to just a few centimetres.

Its benefits are far from insignificant. Navigation is highly dependable, and the technology is thoroughly mature. More importantly, a satellite signal can be received in bright sunshine, at night and beneath an overcast sky.

Unlike robots relying solely on cameras, an RTK-antenna model can therefore mow at any time without becoming less reliable. Better still, this technical choice can allow manufacturers to offer keen prices, sometimes below €1,000.

Its drawbacks are mainly practical. The antenna needs a clear location with an unobstructed view of the sky, and it rarely enhances a garden’s appearance. Signal quality also drops when the robot works beneath large trees with dense foliage or runs alongside a building.

NetRTK: identical precision without installing anything

NetRTK, sometimes written as NRTK or wireless RTK, uses exactly the same satellite-correction principle. There is one important difference, however: no antenna needs to be installed in your garden.

The process takes place in two stages. Satellites first give the robot a raw position accurate to within one or two metres. A network of fixed stations distributed across the country then calculates the current error and sends it to the robot, enabling it to refine its position to within centimetres. To receive this continuous correction stream, the robot must remain connected to the internet, either through Wi-Fi or an integrated mobile connection, depending on the model.

The good news is that the trend is towards free access. Major manufacturers now include NetRTK access without extra charge, including the required data, while some even removed subscriptions they had previously charged for in 2026. A few brands still take a different approach, including Husqvarna, so this is an important point to check on the model’s product page.

Do not confuse this free service with a 4G plan for remote control, alerts and tracking the robot if it is stolen. That separate service may become chargeable after the manufacturer’s complimentary period. We will return to this in the section on apps. NetRTK’s greatest strength is, as you may have gathered, how easy it is to install: place the charging station, connect the robot, and the first mapping run can begin.

That said, it is not flawless. If your broadband router’s signal does not reach the far end of the garden and mobile coverage is unreliable where you live, accuracy can collapse. This is why Segway lets you check, using your postcode before purchase, whether its NetRTK network is reliable at your garden.

One final point to remember: positioning still depends on satellites and has the same blind spots as a conventional RTK antenna. When vegetation or building façades block the sky, the robot loses its bearings.

LiDAR: the most independent option, but not the cheapest

LiDAR represents an entirely different approach. Satellites are no longer involved. A laser continuously scans the robot’s surroundings and builds a three-dimensional model of the garden. It maps trees, walls, flowerbeds, furniture and unexpected obstacles, allowing the robot to position itself according to what it can genuinely see around it in real time.

This self-sufficiency makes all the difference in places that cause problems for satellite technologies: beneath a densely leafed tree, beside a low wall or in a narrow passage, for example. LiDAR also does not care about ambient light, retaining its accuracy as conditions get darker.

There is one point to note when reading technical specifications, as brands are often happy to create confusion. Many machines list both LiDAR and satellite positioning. There is no contradiction here; the two systems simply divide the work between them.

Satellite positioning gives the robot a broad location within the garden, while LiDAR refines it and takes full control whenever the sky signal weakens. Other machines take this logic to its conclusion and do not use satellites at all, such as the Dreame A3 we tested, whose 360° 3D LiDAR handles all navigation.

The obvious downside is financial. A LiDAR-equipped robot is expensive to manufacture, and models with this technology start at around €1,200. It is clearly a luxury for a simple, unobstructed rectangle of grass. On a complex garden, however, it is the market’s most reassuring investment.

Cameras: the shared feature of every robotic lawn mower

Finally, cameras are the most widespread building block connecting virtually all wire-free robotic lawn mowers today. The real question is not whether your prospective robot has cameras, but exactly what role they perform.

On the most affordable models, cameras do all the work on their own. The robot navigates entirely through its vision, assisted by artificial intelligence that interprets camera data to identify the lawn, plot boundaries and obstacles. This simplified formula is what brings wire-free robots below €800, as with the Mova ViAX 250.

The weakness of an all-camera setup is light. Without infrared illumination, their vision becomes less accurate as brightness falls. On the relevant models, night mowing is therefore impossible, as their vision loses accuracy when light levels drop.

Elsewhere, cameras act as supporting systems. Paired with an antenna or NetRTK positioning, they spot what satellites entirely miss: obstacles such as a forgotten toy, a hose left lying around or moved garden furniture. Combined with LiDAR, they add object recognition to the laser’s 3D map. In every case, they make the wider array of technology more dependable.

The number of cameras typically ranges from one to three, and manufacturers readily advertise viewing angles of 150, 300 or even 360 degrees. A wide field of view is chiefly helpful for manoeuvring and narrow passages, but it says nothing about the quality of obstacle detection.

Above all, remember that whether they are labelled HD, HDR or AI-enhanced, not all cameras are equal. With the same number of camera units, the real difference lies in recognition algorithms and the robot’s processing power. Those factors are invisible on specification sheets and can only be separated through real-world testing.

Mapping: the stage that determines mowing quality

This stage deserves careful attention if you want to give your robot every chance of mowing properly from its first runs. Mapping sets out where it should work, where its wheels must never go, and how it can travel between different areas.

Automatic mapping: the robot explores on its own

The newest method relies on complete autonomy. Once its station is positioned at the lawn’s edge, the robot explores its new territory, identifies boundaries, flowerbeds and obstacles, and creates its map without any intervention. The Eufy E18 robotic lawn mower impressed us greatly in this respect. Its fully automatic mapping is among the most accomplished we have tested.

Although appealing on paper, this approach remains most suitable for straightforward lawns with clearly square or rectangular shapes. Each robot’s tutorial also advises clearing the ground and starting with short grass before exploration, proof that the machine prefers uncomplicated conditions.

On a fragmented plot, one overrun with long grass or with unclear boundaries, the generated layout will often need some manual adjustments.

Manual mapping: like a remote-controlled car

For the vast majority of gardens, we still recommend manual mapping. Using a virtual joystick on your smartphone, you guide the robot along the edges to trace the lawn’s outline, much like a life-sized remote-controlled car. It is rather enjoyable, but requires some dexterity once the garden has numerous corners and awkward spaces.

Most apps let you pause the route, while some allow the robot to travel faster if you are short of time or your lawn consists only of long straight lines. Whatever the case, our testing has taught us one lesson: take your time. A rushed boundary route, particularly near edges, affects every subsequent mowing session.

Improving the map: the real key to stress-free mowing

Drawing the boundaries is actually only the first layer. What matters most comes next, in the details added to the map. The first task is creating no-go areas around flowerbeds, exposed roots, children’s trampolines or vegetable patches: anything the blades must never approach.

Then come passages: virtual corridors showing the robot how to reach a second lawn area separated by a path or patio. Depending on the machine, these settings can be drawn directly in the app’s map. In other cases, you must guide the robot around the object so it can record it. Do not rush this step, especially with camera-based robots without LiDAR. Navigation quality will depend heavily on your precision.

One map or several: the important distinction for fragmented gardens

The final point concerns multiple-map management. Do not confuse it with zones, which every robot can handle by dividing a single map into several mowing areas with different settings.

Multiple maps address different situations, such as lawns split between the front and back of a house, or spread across entirely separate plots. This applies where there is no usable route for the robot between them. A small, flat and clear path is not a problem: it can be declared as a connecting corridor on the map.

A few high steps, a locked gate or a gravel parking area, on the other hand, are enough to stop the machine permanently. This flexibility is generally reserved for higher-end models that can store two maps.

To use it, though, you must carry the robot by hand whenever you move between sections. Some models complicate matters further. Most can mow the neighbouring plot on battery power alone, so one station is enough.

Other models tie every map to a particular station. To make them work on a separate plot, you must then buy a second base, generally priced between €150 and €250.

Traction: an essential criterion for gardens with slopes

In theory, every robot moves without complaint once it is charged. In practice, a damp bank, cross-slope, large root or hole can quickly upset its finely engineered mechanics. Broadly speaking, traction falls into three distinct categories, based on the number of driven wheels.

Before looking at these in detail, here is a useful reference point. Slopes are expressed as percentages, not degrees. When a robot claims it can climb a 30% slope, it means it can travel up ground that rises by 30 cm for every horizontal metre covered.

Two-wheel drive: the conventional configuration

The overwhelming majority of robots share the same layout: two large driven wheels at the rear, often treaded for grip, paired with one or two caster wheels at the front.

Being much smaller, the front wheels move freely like those on a shopping trolley, simply following the movement to steer the machine through turns. On a flat or slightly uneven lawn, this arrangement works perfectly well.

As soon as the ground becomes a little more difficult, this way of moving reveals its first limitations. Caster wheels can jam in hollows, slip on soft ground and cause the robot to drift downhill on slopes.

Manufacturers generally state a maximum incline of 40 to 45%, but remember that these figures are measured in ideal conditions: short, dry grass. In wet weather, or the day after overnight rain, real capability is no longer the same.

The same two wheels also manage U-turns. To pivot, the machine brakes one wheel and turns the other, rotating almost on the spot.

Three-wheel drive: a sound compromise for winding gardens

This recently introduced intermediate layout tackles the weak point of the front caster wheel. It becomes powered in its own right, bringing noticeable gains in three specific situations. First, on climbs, where the added traction reduces wheelspin. Next, around uneven edges, where conventional models end up rubbing against fences.

Finally, it improves U-turns, because that on-the-spot rotation has a hidden cost. On a slope, it tends to tear at the turf and leave unsightly marks. An additional driven wheel makes the manoeuvre more decisive and considerably gentler on the lawn. This setup costs somewhat more than the conventional design, but it is worthwhile on an undulating garden full of borders and corners.

All-wheel drive: the lawn’s 4×4

At the top end are all-wheel-drive models, with four driven wheels that may each have an independent motor, as on the Dreame A3 AWD Pro 5000. Power is continuously distributed across all four contact points, almost completely eliminating wheelspin, even on slippery ground.

These machines can therefore tackle claimed slopes of up to 80%, or even a little more from certain manufacturers. Such figures are simply beyond the reach of the two previous categories.

This abundance of traction does have trade-offs. First is size: expect a weight of well over 20 kg, which can mark waterlogged ground and makes the machine unpleasant to lift. Then there is the price, as these robots sit firmly in the premium segment, often starting at €2,500.

Mowing: cutting width and edge management

Since wire-free robots arrived, mowing itself has paradoxically almost been pushed into the background. Yet it deserves close attention, especially because one principle changes everything compared with a petrol or electric mower.

A wire-free robotic lawn mower collects none of its cuttings. It uses mulching, meaning grass is chopped into pieces just a few millimetres long. These then remain on the ground as natural fertiliser.

Customisation is also worth considering before purchase. Some robots adjust cutting height directly through the app, while others still require you to reach for a physical dial hidden beneath the cover. This height generally ranges from 2 to 6 cm, although certain models extend to 9 cm.

The best-equipped machines go further, offering different settings for every mapped area, including cutting height, mowing frequency and stripe direction.

One disc or two discs with pivoting blades

Nearly every robot has the same component spinning beneath it: a disc fitted with three to six small blades as sharp as razors. They are not rigidly fixed, as each blade pivots freely on its screw. At the first contact with a hard object, they fold back instead of forcing through it. This arrangement reduces breakages and accidents, although it does not prevent their cutting edges from wearing down.

Manufacturers recommend replacing them every four to eight weeks during peak season, but you do not have to follow that timetable exactly. It depends on your ground and how often you use the machine. The clearest sign is grass that is torn rather than cleanly cut, with tips that turn yellow within a few days. In any event, the job takes only a few minutes with an ordinary screwdriver, and blades cost around €20 per set.

Disc diameter generally ranges from 20 to 25 cm. This width directly determines mowing time: the larger it is, the fewer passes the robot must make. It is a figure worth watching closely if your lawn exceeds 500 m².

Models designed for large plots go further with two cutting decks installed side by side. This can increase the cutting width to between 35 and 44 cm. Each pass then takes in almost twice as much grass, a decisive advantage beyond 1,000 m², where a single disc would force the robot to make repeated trips to keep the lawn under control.

Edges: the Achilles’ heel of almost all robotic lawn mowers

First, it is important to understand why edges are so troublesome for these robots. For obvious safety reasons, blades sit inboard from the chassis rather than flush with the bodywork. The direct result is that the machine cannot cut where its wheels cannot take it.

Not all edges are equal, either. Alongside a path or patio level with the lawn, the issue remains minor. The robot can overhang the hard surface with its wheels, allowing the blades to reach almost to the grass edge. The strip left behind is therefore limited to a few centimetres.

Against a wall, fence or planter, matters become more difficult. The robot cannot overhang the boundary, so it stops before its blades can get close; the uncut strip can then reach 10 or even 15 cm. If you want a finish worthy of an English garden, you will still need to do some work yourself with an edge trimmer from the shed.

How robotic lawn mowers attempt to manage edges

The most common answer is software-based. It takes the form of an edge-mowing option activated in the app. When enabled, the robot makes one final pass around the perimeter at the end of its session. On the hardware side, some models shift their disc towards one side of the chassis to gain a few additional centimetres.

In 2026, Ecovacs takes the idea much further with its GOAT A1600 LiDAR Pro. It is the first robot to include a genuine edge trimmer on its side. There is no blade here, but rather a nylon line rotating at high speed.

This line strikes the grass in exactly the same way as a gardener’s strimmer. It is an ideal design for working right up to walls and stones without damaging itself. It does, however, share the same downside as its handheld relative: operation is markedly louder than conventional mowing.

The final option, and the cleverest as well as the least expensive, is manual control offered by some apps. Here, you complete the job yourself. The robot becomes a remote-controlled mower, as it does during mapping, while you finish awkward angles and corners.

This can admittedly take time, depending on the size of your garden. It is more of a fallback than an ideal solution, but it has the merit of being available.

The app: your robotic lawn mower’s remote control

Once the robot is installed and the map has been created, its app becomes your main way of communicating with it. It is worth knowing immediately that not all apps are equal. Some offer only the bare essentials, while others enhance the experience with a wide range of features.

The most common options

A core set of features is now found on almost every new model. Scheduling prevents the robot from starting unexpectedly, with settings available day by day, zone by zone and even across the seasons. Choosing stripe direction, alternating it between sessions, stops the grass from always lying in the same direction.

Some apps even let you adjust obstacle avoidance, from a cautious machine that gives every possible danger a wide berth to a bolder one that is willing to pass close to larger flowerbeds.

In every app, the robot is also always within reach. Its location is displayed in real time, and one button sends it back to its base whenever required. Work can also be organised from this screen, from the centre of the lawn to the edge finishing mentioned above. The map is never fixed in stone, either: a flowerbed planted in spring or an inflatable pool set up for summer can be added within seconds.

On the security front, a PIN code and lift alarm are standard on most of the market: the machine sounds as soon as someone lifts it off the ground. Many models also narrate their actions in a small voice, always available in French. This can be very useful for understanding why the robot is reluctant to begin work.

Add notifications if it becomes stuck, mowing history and manufacturer updates, which sometimes introduce genuinely useful functions months after purchase.

Premium features

The most ambitious, and often most expensive, models add some more sophisticated extras. The most common is a rain sensor that sends the robot back to shelter at the first drops. The smartest machines do not even wait for rain, checking online weather forecasts to postpone their session.

Hedgehogs and cats also receive attention, as small-wildlife protection softens the machine’s behaviour after dark. Other examples include low-branch detection to prevent the robot becoming trapped beneath a shrub, mowing modes matched to seasonal growth, and voice control through Alexa or Google Home from a few brands.

None of these functions is essential, but some are closely suited to real-life situations, such as a garden surrounded by low hedges or a home in a particularly rainy region.

4G module and camera feed: remote monitoring

Two features deserve separate explanation because they can be confusing. The first is the 4G module: an integrated SIM card that keeps the robot connected when it is out of Wi-Fi range. It allows remote control and delivers notifications wherever you are. You can therefore start a mowing session from anywhere.

Another benefit is that the module can locate the robot in the event of theft. It can then be tracked from your smartphone. Be mindful of charges, though. This service is often free for the first year before becoming subscription-based. Expect to pay between €20 and €30 per year, depending on the brand.

Meanwhile, the camera feed turns the robot into a mobile sentry. From the app, you can see what its cameras see, making it possible to check that a gate is shut or keep an eye on the garden while you are on holiday. Some models even include a patrol mode. The robot then makes rounds between mowing sessions and sends you a photo whenever it encounters an unknown presence. A few even allow you to speak through the machine to deter unwanted visitors.

One final subtlety: not every robot with cameras offers a video feed. Navigation and surveillance are two separate functions. If this feature appeals to you, check the robot’s product page before buying.

After-sales support and spare parts: buyers’ understandable concern

These issues still put off many buyers, and the concern is justified given how many brands that are new to Europe have filled the market in only a few seasons. A few checks can nevertheless clarify matters before you buy. First, confirm that spare parts are available, including blades, wheels and batteries, and that they can be ordered easily.

This information is generally shown on the product page or in the brand’s online shop. A battery that can be replaced with just a few turns of a screwdriver, without involving after-sales support, is a major advantage. It will extend the machine’s working life by several years.

Next, check whether the manufacturer has a repairer or after-sales support contact point in Europe. The best apps help in this area too, offering direct support contact, step-by-step maintenance guides and tracking for consumable wear.

Battery life: a matter of size

As with a smartphone, the logic is mechanical. The larger the machine, the bigger the battery it carries. A small robot designed for 250 m² only needs a modest cell. By contrast, a 24 kg 4×4 contains a battery built for several dozen ares. There is no point comparing battery life in isolation; what matters is the area covered per charge.

Be alert to manufacturers’ vague claims on this matter. A robot advertised for 5,000 m² plainly does not cover that entire area in a single run. In our tests, the best-equipped machines manage 800 to 900 m² per charge. Full maintenance of a very large plot will therefore be spread over several days. Terrain also plays its part, as slopes consume far more energy than flat ground.

The good news is that you do not have to manage this process yourself. Like a robot vacuum, modern mowers return to recharge automatically when their battery nears 15%. They then resume precisely where they stopped. Allow roughly two hours for charging on most models, although some smaller machines complete it in under an hour.

Choosing a robotic lawn mower is no small task

By the end of this guide, one thing is clear: there is no universally perfect robotic lawn mower, because every garden has its own requirements. An overpowered machine adds nothing on a small, flat patch of grass, whereas an entry-level model will quickly struggle on a large, uneven property.

Area, slope, obstacles, plot fragmentation and network coverage should therefore carry far more weight in your decision than the flashiest specification sheet. To move from theory to practice, see our roundup of the best robotic lawn mowers, where we recommend a model we have tested for every type of lawn and budget.