Electric mower Archives - The Lawn Review

Q: How do the sensors work on robotic lawn mowers?

Robotic mowers mostly use underground guidewires to sense where they are and set a boundary.

Q: How long do robotic lawn mowers last?

Robotic mowers haven't been around very long but can expect to last 5-7 years.

July 16, 2023April 9, 2024

5 Battery Mowers with Durable Metal Cutting Decks

My favorite battery powered mower with a metal cutting deck is EGO’s new aluminum deck mower. I’ve used this battery powered mower extensively and it is easily the best value for the money. I also made a full YouTube review video highlighting the top battery mowers here.

Battery-powered mowers with metal cutting decks simply provide too many benefits and have the best comparison to their gas-powered counterparts. I love them for a lot of reasons, which I will get to – and have also used dozens of battery powered mowers. You can grab the number one choice, the Greenworks 80V mower here.

So here are my favorite battery mowers with metal decks:

EGO 56V LM2200SP Walk-Behind Mower
Greenworks Pro 80V Battery Powered Mower
Milwaukee M18 18V Battery Powered Mower
Dewalt 20V Max Self Propelled Mower
Toro 60V Recycler Battery Mower

Honorable mention, but a little expensive: Stihl RMA 510 V battery powered mower.

5 Sweet Electric Mowers with Metal Decks

Alright y’all – let me start with my very top choice. I’ve been reluctant to name this electric mower brand number one because I had an initially rocky experience, but after using dozens of others AFTER this one, it turned out to actually be the best for the price.

1.) EGO 56V LM2200SP 22-Inch Walk Behind Mower

Folks this new mower from EGO – the LM2200SP – is the best electric mower on planet Earth. It is the newest EGO mower and has a nice 22-inch aluminum cutting deck that makes it the most durable EGO mower. The LM2200SP also comes with Touch Drive technology and Select Cut (two blades). Touch Drive technology is simply an easy way to control the speed of the self-propelled mower.

We don’t just sort mowers by the best seller and then regurgitate the specifications to you. We are actually going to break down exactly why this one is our absolute favorite.

If I could draw up the perfect lawn mower in a lab, this one would be darn near close. It has all of my favorite things including:

The only EGO mower with a metal deck – which rockets it up the list in my opinion. Metal decks are way more durable, temperature resistant, and provide a little more weight to keep the mower balanced.

Of course it has the brushless motor and 56V battery system with a massive 10 Ah battery
Easy push button start that gets you going
Folds in half for storing in the winter or tight spaces around the garage or shed
A top run time at over an hour! (70 minutes)
More powerful than the average gas push mower at 11.1 lbs of torque

This mower is incredible and easily gives any mower – gas or electric – a run for their money. You can check the price here on Amazon.

2.) Greenworks Pro 80V Brushless Electric Mower

I love the Greenworks Pro 80V electric mower, although I didn’t always. The first one I purchased had some sort of error that made it difficult to learn. But I swapped it out and had a great experience with the replacement.

Greenworks makes this mower with a nice 21 inch steel cutting deck that looks and feels like a gas-powered push mower. A few other things I like about this mower:

A really nice dashboard that shows you battery life and allows you to toggle the speed of the self-propelled function
A brushless motor
It also has a turbo button that allows you to amp up the power (literally) to take on thicker grass
Great battery life
An 80V battery lineup that can also accommodate their 80V blower

This one has really grown one me, to the point of it being my go-to every weekend mower. Yeah, that’s right. I own 11 push mowers and this is the one I grab every time.

You can grab yours on Amazon for a great price or get it at your local Costco if you’re a member.

3) Milwaukee M18 Battery Powered Mower

Honestly, the Milwaukee M18 mower is the best battery powered lawn mower I’ve ever used.

It has everything I look for in a mower: a steel deck, really great battery life, batteries that can be used across hundreds of tools, supreme power, and all the bells and whistles. I got to use it extensively when I did a full review of it on Youtube.

My favorite thing about this mower is that it is built solid as a rock. It is heavier than most electric mowers on the market, which I actually like. Some of the lighter electric mowers have a propensity to bounce around with every little divot in the grass. With the M18, you will have an experience extremely similar to a gas powered mower.

You’re probably wondering, “If he is so obsessed with this mower, then why is it not number one?”. And that would be a great question.

The only – and I mean ONLY – downside to the Milwaukee M18 mower is that it has a hefty price tag. If you don’t own the batteries already then you can expect to pay well over a grand for this bad boy.

Don’t worry – it goes on sale from time to time at Home Depot if you want to check it out.

4.) Dewalt 20V Max 21.5 inch lawn mower

I gotta say, I love Dewalt. They make some great tools – from their sweet Dewalt weed eaters, their leaf blowers, and even their air compressors – all of which I’ve had the opportunity to review.

Their mower is really well built. They made it to mimic a gas-powered mower and it actually looks exactly like one. It has a lot to like, including:

A wide 21.5 inch steel deck which is right in the gas-powered range
Some nice functionality, like a self-propelled function and increased torque when you get to thicker patches of grass
Some cutting heights that give you a lot of range for short grass like Berumuda

But my favorite part is that it comes with two massive 12 Ah batteries. This gives you an absurd amount of run time. I’m talking well over an hour of run time.

Where most mowers fall short and die after about 30-45 mins, this one will lap them completely and get you on to your next task faster. The mower is dang sweet and comes in at a reasonable price point if you grab it at Home Depot online.

5.) Toro Recycler SmartStow Battery Mower

Toro’s 60V Recycler Mower has a lot of really great bells and whistles. Frankly, it has all the features I would want in a battery powered mower. It has:

A steel deck
A nice 6 Ah battery
This cool function that pulls air up so you can cut the grass better
Patented LawnVitamins mulching system
Personal Pace technology, which adjusts the speed of the mower on your ability to push the mower

But it also has a few downsides. For example, Toro doesn’t have a huge selection of battery tools. That means you don’t get the upside of buying a battery kit and using it across power tools and outdoor power equipment.

I also felt like some of the features of this mower were a bit gimmicky. The “Vortex” air flow technology doesn’t really seem to do anything. The Personal Pace feature was kind of annoying and unsettling, and the batteries took FOREVER to charge.

This is a good option if you already own a Toro battery or are for some reason a Toro loyalist. Otherwise, there’s a reason it is number five on this list.

You can check the price at Home Depot here.

My experience with battery powered mowers with metal decks

When it comes to evaluating battery powered mowers, I’m VERY seasoned. For starters, I filmed a Youtube video of me testing out five of the most popular in a head-to-head matchup. On top of that, I’ve done countless other Youtube reviews of battery mowers.

Given all this personal experience with electric mowers, I feel pretty confident that I can tell you exactly what you should be looking for in an electric mower. And most importantly – what to avoid. There is a lot of garbage and marketing gimmicks out there, so let me break down for you exactly what to look for.

What I look for in battery powered mowers

If you’re looking for a new battery powered mower (which you are), you need to make sure you understand what things matter. You will get hit with a lot of technical specifications and people throwing acronyms at you. If you’re like me, you will tune them out.

Below are my recommendations:

Battery-powered mower brand quality

Quality is going to be super important here. Just about everyone is in the electric mower game these days and there are a ton of junky mowers out there. Avoid anything from a weird brand on Amazon that takes 9 years to ship. It is probably being 3D printed in a Laotian bathroom. Go for brands that have consistent quality and focus on the details, not just flashy colors.

Some brands I trust off the top of my head are: Greenworks, Milwaukee, Makita, Toro, EGO, and Kobalt. SOME Ryobi mowers, although myself and others have had some problems with reliability. Brand quality matters, but it’s also important to look at the specs on each.

Metal where it matters: the deck

Most electric mowers are plastic-y. Probably to reduce the weight of the mower so that the battery can get you further, but it feels cheap. Make sure to get metal where it matters – namely the deck. The deck is the part that covers the blades. Don’t get plastic here – a rock can rip through it.

Battery interoperability.

A ten dollar word used here, but really just make sure to buy a mower with a battery that is compatible with other electric tools. You’ll see a bunch of these brands that have battery lines that work with a ton of tools. Milwaukee, Makita, and Dewalt are all great options because you can use them for all lawn tools AND power tools – saving you a ton of money on extra batteries.

If you have more questions, check out our purchasing an electric lawn mowers, where we break this down into a lot more detail.

Self-propelled or not

Self-propelled mowers are lawn mowers that slowly crawl forward when mowing the lawn. They propel forward the mower, taking off a lot of the “pushing power” required by traditional push mowers.

Self-propelled mowers are ALWAYS more expensive because they have the additional power and functionality that makes life easier. They have their place, but because of the cost can often seem not totally worth it.

Why we started The Lawn Review

The reason we started this website in the first place was because we had so much trouble trying to find reasonable, understandable, honest reviews for lawn equipment. And it’s not cheap! After hours and hours of research, trying products and returning them, and messing up our yards – we started this site.

As people who had to learn the hard way, we want you to know exactly what you are signing up for before you purchase a piece of equipment. That’s why we are committed to providing honest, easy-to-understand reviews that mean something.

March 7, 2023April 3, 2024

5 Lawn Mowers Designed for Bermudagrass: Ranked

The Toro Recycler SmartStow is the best lawn mower for Bermudagrass because it has super adjustable cutting heights that let you cut bermudagrass down to its appropriate low height plus a super wide deck.

Personally, I hate Bermuda grass. I have some nice tall fescue and live in a transitional zone. My neighbor has Bermuda so that they can be “different”. Okay.

Anyways, I consider Bermuda grass a weed. But my friends just south of me and one of my The Lawn Review colleagues live in Texas – which is home to a lot of Bermuda. And he gave me his list of the best mowers for Bermuda grass.

So, let’s add some background on why this is important and get right to it.

Here are the best lawn mowers for Bermudagrass:

Toro Recycler SmartStow Battery Mower
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Mower
Dewalt 20V Max 21.5 inch Battery Mower
Toro TimeMaster 30 inch Mower
EGO Power+ LM2021 Mower

Honorable mention but a tad pricy: Stihl’s new RMA 510 V electric mower.

5 Lawn Mowers for Bermudagrass

As you can see – with Bermuda grass, you have to be a little bit more selective about what you want in a mower. This is exactly why we spent dozens of hours researching and testing the mowers that are going to be super tailored to Bermuda lawns. Let’s check it out.

Toro Recycler SmartStow 22 inch Battery Powered Mower

We ranked the Toro Recycler SmartStow 22 inch battery powered mower as the best mower for Bermuda grass for a few reasons. First of all, Toro is a well-known name that makes some freakishly popular and powerful mowers.

This one is flat out sweet – and a good price.

But there are many more reasons than just the fancy name. As we referenced earlier in this article, this one has everything you could want in a mower for bermudagrass. Like these key features:

A slightly wider deck at 22 inches (the standard is usually 18-21 for push mowers)
Bagging ability (most have this, though)
I like that it is battery powered because you won’t have to run to get gas if you are mowing more than once per week.
It can cut between 1 to 4 inches, getting you great results for your 1.5 inch bermuda grass
Toro created this airflow technology that pulls the air up on grass, allowing it to be more evenly cut – this mower has that.
It stores super easily, folding in half and being placed in a tight spot in the garage to get you through the dead season of bermudagrass, which seems to last forever

Toro nailed it with this mower. You know they had bermuda grass folks in mind when they created it – which makes sense given how popular these are in the South.

You can grab this one from Home Depot for a great price – check the most recent price here.

Check out our top mowers at Home Depot.

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Brushless Mower

What can we say? We are obsessed with this mower and have featured it on all of our favorite battery powered mower posts.

The reason?

It’s a freak of nature. And we also love that it is the only mower that Milwaukee makes. We frequently joke that they just decided to put all their chips on this hand and walked away from the table a winner.

The Milwaukee M18 Fuel mower is great for Bermuda grass and has a lot of the same features as the Toro one above, but also costs about twice as much. It has bagged discharge capabilities, 1 to 4 inch height adjustment (that is single point, by the way), a wonderful self-propelled function, an extremely efficient brushless motor that accelerates faster than any other mower, and more torque than most gas mowers.

Yes, it is the cream of the crop and the perfect mower for any of you that already own an M18 battery-powered tool.

This one is quite expensive though. Milwaukee is definitely a premium brand and hands down has the best mower on this list – but the price is steep.

You can check the most recent price at Home Depot, where it is exclusively sold, right here.

Dewalt 20V Max 21.5 inch Battery Mower

The Dewalt 20V Max mower is one that definitely surprised me. I know Dewalt has been in the power tool business for a long, long time, but are relatively new to the lawn tool space.

The reason this one isn’t higher up on the list is that Dewalt simply doesn’t have a massive line of lawn tools. They have this 20V brand but also have a 60V line. So you don’t get the same efficiency and battery savings that you do with other brands like Ryobi.

But there’s still a lot to like about the Dewalt battery-powered lawn mower, like:

21.5 inch deck gives you a little more width for cutting Bermuda grass
10 Ah batteries – which is INSANELY high
Self-propelled function
1.5-4 inch cutting heights – so you’ll have to drop it way down for Bermuda
Sweet metal cutting deck
Reasonable price – even better if you already have a dewalt 20V Max battery

This really is a great mower, with one of the main downsides being that it’s really hard to find replacement blades because of the unique size. If they get dull, you can sharpen your mower blades instead of buying a new one.

This one is also available at Home Depot for a great price – even less if you get the tool-only version.

Toro TimeMaster 30 inch Mower

Some of you are getting super mad right now because I haven’t featured any gas-powered mowers….until now!

The Toro TimeMaster 30 is the Ray Lewis of mowers. It’s absolutely massive and packs a ridiculous punch. Yes – the 30 in TimeMaster 30 is how many inches wide it is. And if you’re thinking that the width is like a riding mower, then you’d be exactly right. It’s extremely wide.

The TimeMaster is a gas-powered masterpiece that’s amazing for Bermuda lawns. The cut height ranges from 1.25 to 4.25 inches and everything in between. This level of detail is unmatched. Here are some other bells and whistles on the TimeMaster that truly set it apart.

223 CC Engine
Self-propel function with traction assist
Spin-Stop function that means you can deactivate the blades but keep the engine running. Great if you have to move a rock out of the way without having to stop and restart the mower.
Two side-by-side cutting blades
A cool deck wash port that allows you to connect your hose to a tube and it will clean out the deck.

The only downside to this mower is the price. It is the Cadillac of push mowers which means it carries a Cadillac price tag. It does occasionally go on sale so you can check the price here at Home Depot.

EGO Power+ LM2021 Mower

I had to put this EGO mower in here in the ranking of great mowers for Bermuda because we just love EGO products. And we recommend this mower the most because it has a steel cutting deck whereas most other EGO mowers don’t.

We like this EGO mower for bermuda because it is a great battery-powered lawn system that can be used all across your bermuda lawn. From EGO’s weed eaters to their super powerful blowers, you’ll be covered once you get into this system.

It’s also got a great run-time and charges quickly, so you can mow a larger area and do it more often without worrying about trips to the gas station. Great for bermuda grass.

This one is available at Amazon for a super good price relative to most other EGO mowers.

Bottom line on mowers for Bermudagrass

It’s not hard to find a good mower for Bermudagrass – but since you are going to be mowing more often than most folks, want to collect grass clippings, and need a short cut, there are some mowers that are just flat out more suited for you.

Looking for a mower somewhere else? We were surprised to see some of these at Walmart.

Why we started The Lawn Review

Why is Bermuda grass different for mowing?

Truth is, you can roll any old mower out there and it will get the job done. But if you want not only good-looking green grass but HEALTHY green Bermuda grass, then you should be careful how you cut it. Here’s what to look for:

Flexibility with cutting heights

Bermuda needs to be cut at a height of 1 to 1.5 inches. That’s short. For example, I cut my fescue lawn at about 3 inches. You’ll want to grab a mower that can cut that low but also has more intervals between 0-2 inches that let you customize it based on your needs. Getting a mower that has wide intervals may not allow you to mow with any real sensitivity.

Bagging capabilities

Most of the time, I don’t recommend bagging your grass while mowing. I let the clippings fall into the yard and provide nutrients to the soil. Bermudagrass grows like a weed (and I consider it one), meaning it grows really quickly. If you aren’t bagging the clippings, you’ll find that fungus will begin to thrive in your lawn.

A wider deck

Bermuda grass grows really quickly. My neighbor is out there about 1.5x a week mowing his lawn (conveniently when my daughter is trying to take a nap). If you have a small mower, say 16-18 inches, then you are going to be out there making a LOT of passes. Getting a mower with a slightly wider deck will help make you a lot more efficient while mowing.

January 22, 2023March 19, 2024

Ultimate Robotic Lawn Mower Buying Guide

Robotic lawn mowers still seem like a crazy concept, but just about every major mower manufacturer is moving in this direction. If you’ve ever used a robotic vacuum, you can understand what is appealing about a robotic lawn mower.

You set it and forget it. You can leave for work and come home to a clean floor, or in this case, a mowed lawn.

So we spent weeks scouring the internet, talking to manufacturers, and reviewing trends to compile the ultimate buying guide for robotic lawn mowers. We will also take a look at some of the robotic lawn mowers from all of the major brands.

Bottom Line: Robotic lawn mowers are here to stay and will only improve in technology. My favorite robotic lawn mower that I have tested is the Husqvarna Automower because it is super durable, efficient, and hassle-free. You can grab it for a great price on Amazon.

Ready? Let’s get started.

Robotic mower essentials
Pros and cons of robotic mowers
Robotic mower market outlook
Best Robotic Mowers: 2024
FAQ

What to look for in a robotic lawn mower

Robotic lawn mowers are becoming more common and look and sound the same, except they have drastic variations in price. Yikes. So how do you know what to look for when comparing? I’ll say a big part of this comes down to convenience and the associated bells and whistles, but here are definitely some non-negotiables.

Cutting height and width

Please don’t buy a robotic lawn mower that can’t cut your grass. Sadly, there are some options out there that max out at 2.5 inches of grass length. If you have fescue or other transitional grasses that are supposed to stay at least 2.5 inches long, you will be in steep trouble.

Cutting height and width of robotic mowers is extremely important for assessing how the machine will be able to cut your lawn. The bigger cutting height, the taller the grass it can take. Measure twice, buy once.

Width is also a consideration. The average push mower width is about 21 inches. Most of these robotic mowers are less than a foot wide, often boasting cutting widths of 9 inches or so. Take this into account if you have tighter nooks and crannies or a wide open yard. The larger the cutting width, the more efficient the mower will operate.

Run-time and maximum yard size

Robotic mowers operate using a rechargeable battery. They can’t run all day without having to charge. If you have a larger yard, there may be times when the mower has to stop mid-way through a cut to recharge for over an hour. Not the best time to have visitors over with a half-mowed lawn!

Most robotic lawn mowers have the recommended yard size displayed, so make sure it vibes with your yard size.

Ease of use

This is a super broad category, but how easy is this to use. The number one reason people buy these is because they want to take mowing their lawn off of their plate. If the robotic mower is adding a bunch of set-up time, moving around, re-calibrating, etc. it may be more trouble than it’s worth.

The set-up process is generally laborious for every one of these. Many also come with an app that notifies you of the job progress. Make sure these are seamless to use and make your life easier, not more complex.

Safety features

Obviously super important to have a safe robotic lawn mower. The last thing you need is a puppy puree after a horrific robotic mower incident. Each of these have safety features but make sure they are thoughtful about your specific needs: kids, animals, gardens or anything else of importance. See if there’s a way to have a remote kill-switch to make it stop on command.

Advantages of robotic lawn mowers

Robotic lawn mowers can be EXTREMELY convenient. Once they’re some of the coolest tools on the planet, with a few exceptions. If everything is humming along nicely, you can get your yard mowed to the exact specifications without lifting a finger – and it can even mow in the rain.

Here are some advantages to robotic lawn mowers:

Able to cut lawn to exact length
Quiet and can mow at night
Connect to your smartphone or even Alexa
Self-charging feature available
Able to mow in the rain
Can connect to other apps to sync up with watering schedule
Tons of safety features

Disadvantages of Robotic Lawn Mowers

Robotic lawn mowers are really cool tools, but with every rose comes a thorn (or more). Let’s check out some of the downsides to owning a robotic lawn mower:

Expensive, much more than traditional mowers (5-10x)
Difficult to install
Can’t bag your grass well
Can’t stripe your lawn (runs in random patterns)
Unknown durability
Unable to perform most maintenance yourself

Robotic mowers essentially take away the control you have over your yard. Similar to robotic vacuums, they often run in random patterns, which means your grass will get cut but not appear in neat rows. This also doesn’t replace trimming and edging your yard, which are the final steps of making a decent looking lawn.

The Future of Robotic Lawn Mowers

Despite some of the negatives associated with robotic lawn mowers, their future is promising. Just about every lawn tool brand we’ve spoken with (including Greenworks, Husqvarna, Worx and more) are investing heavily in autonomous lawn mowers. Worx even recently announced an upgrade to their top-seller Landroid model that includes a neural network. And these are not just for homeowners.

Massive dollars are flowing into commercial, robotic mowers that simply require landscapers to drop them off in certain locations and pick them up when the yard is done. A future landscaping company might simply be setting robotic mowers in various properties, then picking them up at the end of the day.

Thanks to the folks at Custom Market Insights!

Robotic lawn mowers as a percent of the total lawn mower market are expected to dominate, growing from a sliver of the market today to around a quarter. The overall market growth is extremely impressive as people look to save money on lawn care by ditching landscapers and going robotic.

There also may be new lawn tool entrants from companies like Shark or iRobot who already have the technology to create a safe, smart sensor that could create a safer robotic mower.

4 Best Robotic Lawn Mowers: 2024 Edition

Now that we have a good picture of what you’re going to get with a robotic mower, let’s break down some of the best residential robotic mowers on the market. Obviously quality is important here, but I want to make sure it’s balanced by still being relatively affordable.

1. Husqvarna Automower 115H

While this robotic lawn mower isn’t the fanciest one on the market, it has all of the bare minimum basics at an extremely affordable price. When I think of Husqvarna products, I automatically assume high quality but also higher price.

But man, the Automower is changing the game. For reference, Husqvarna has some robotic mowers that go for about 10x the price of the 115H. While it is designed for smaller yards less than half an acre, it can handle tall fescue and other grasses up to 3.5 inches tall. This is going to be great for those of us that live in transitional or cool season grass zones.

Grass zones to help explain robotic mower length.

Here are a few other features we liked about the Husqvarna Automower 115H:

Automatically makes its way back to the charger
Super quiet
Onboard display lets you set the schedule directly on the mower
The price
Theft protection
Control from any app-capable device
The price…again

So for a robotic mower, this is a really good price. For a Husqvarna robotic mower, this price is ludicrous. If you are wanting a low-risk way to dip your toe into the water, this is the easiest and most affordable way to get quality.

You can grab this straight from Husqvarna or get it on Amazon for a really good price.

2. Worx Landroid L Series Robotic Mower

Worx is the biggest surprise of the bunch. The tool company known best for making products that are affordable and light-duty randomly came out with a really, really nice robotic mower. What I love about Worx’ Landroid L model is that it uses rechargeable batteries that can also be used with their other lawn tools. Not only does this help it run for a long time (up to ½ acre), but can be popped off when you need to use a Worx weed eater or other Worx tools.

Worx was way ahead of the game when they started working on robotic mowers, and many thought they were crazy. But their Landroid series is one of the most popular (if not the most popular) robotic mowers on the market. They have several different models as a part of their Worx Landroid S series as well, which we’ve reviewed and compared extensively.

The main downside to the Landroid is the same common downside to a lot of robotic mowers – you have to lay a wire to help it way-find around the yard and back to the charger. Newer, auto-sensing robotic mowers will become the wave of the future.

Either way, the Worx Landroid robotic mower is a great starting point and can be found on Amazon for a really competitive price.

3. Stihl iMow RMI 422 PC-L Robotic Mower

I love Stihl’s line of products outside of their recent battery-powered line. But it looks like they’ve actually put quite a bit of thought into their new iMow Robotic mower. It is definitely one of the more tech-enabled robotic mowers on the market, giving you a peek into the future of this technology.

The Stihl iMow is unique in that it has cellular connection that lets you control it from just about anywhere – including your phone. You can program it to have certain active times where it can quietly mow your lawn. This is a great feature for the middle of the night to ensure your lawn gets mowed without worrying about kids or animals being in the yard.

Stihl will come install this in your yard (for a price), which makes the most painful part about robotic mowers totally gone.

One major downside to the Stihl iMow is that it will be best for warm season grasses that stay shorter but thrive in the summer. If you have a taller grass like fescue, this will not maintain it at the appropriate length.

4. Greenworks optimow 50H Robotic Lawn Mower

Greenworks is one of our favorite brands for traditional battery-powered lawn tools so we were not surprised to see their optimow robotic mower in our top five. One thing that I consistently love about Greenworks’ products is their commitment to quality on the essentials.

The Greenworks optimow robotic mower has an intelligent TruBrushless mower, which is at it’s core the best motor for battery-powered tools. My other favorite part about this mower is that it is designed for transitional and cool season grasses, so it can easily maintain tall fescue and others that Stilh’s iMow cannot handle. It gets more intense:

32 height options (somehow)
Can navigate as narrow as 2 feet
Blades that self-pivot away from hard objects
App connectivity and GPS (in case of theft)

This thing is sweet and if I know the guys at Greenworks (I do), then I know that they are going to be jumping to the number one spot VERY soon across all robotic landscaping equipment.

You can grab their mower from their website (we have no affiliation) for a great price.

Common questions about robotic mowers

As experts in the field of all things outdoor power equipment and battery-powered lawn tools, we are often asked by journalists and industry specialists about robotic mowers. We’ve started compiling a list of the most common questions that we will continue to expand upon over time.

How do robotic lawn mowers work?

Most robotic lawn mowers use guidewires that set the perimeter that they can mow and guide them back to the charging station.

They then mow random patterns within the perimeter until the job is complete, taking several hours each day over the course of a week to complete. They are essentially always running on the schedule you set to maintain the height of the grass.

Newer technology from companies like iRobot will allow for sensing the area without the use of guidewires, which will be a huge step up in future models.

How much does a robotic lawn mower cost?

Robotic lawn mowers start at a little over $500 and up to $5,000 (or more).

Each company has several different models where cutting width, run-time, and programmability all impact the cost of the robotic mower.

What are the safety features for robotic lawn mowers?

Most robotic mowers have safety features that will stop the blades when the mower is lifted or otherwise disturbed.

These mowers also have self-protective mechanisms that prevent them from taking on water damage. To keep them in a specific area, the use of guidewires as boundaries ensure they don’t wander off and cause damage.

How do the sensors work on robotic lawn mowers?

Many robotic mowers still don’t have great sensors for determining the boundary of the yard, but do use underground guidewires that serve as an “invisible fence”. Some robotic mowers have sensors that can indicate moisture and predict rain. There are even other sensors that help stop the blades when the mower is picked up.

Are robotic lawn mowers worth buying?

Robotic mowers are worth buying if you are a tech nerd who prefers to not spend time mowing their lawn.

It totally depends on how you view your yard work. I prefer to mow my lawn myself because I’m obsessed with the aesthetic of having a striped lawn. But for those that can’t stand spending their weekends doing yard work, then robotic mowers can be a great option.

How long do robotic lawn mowers last?

Robotic lawn mowers have not been around very long, so it’s hard to say. The first thing to go will likely be communication issues with the ground wires and the sensing technology, especially if the robot has a brushless motor.

In my experience, the network connection can be spotty and less reliable – which I believe will be the least reliable function of robotic mowers in the long run, until new technology is readily available.

Why we review lawn tools

February 23, 2022April 21, 2024

The Worx Landroid is a Great Budget Robot Mower for Small Lawns

The Worx PowerShare Landroid Robotic Lawn Mower has just been gifted to us from the future. The Jettson’s lawn mower has finally made an arrival and we are here for it. If you have a Roomba or Shark robotic vacuum, then you get the idea. A mower that does your lawn for you.

Thought we would have flying cars and world peace by 2024? Even better – we have autonomous lawn mowers.

Bottom Line: The WORX robotic mower is not my cup of tea, but is a great option for those with small yards. A similar and better robotic mower is the Husqvarna Automower which you can check out here.

Who should buy a robotic lawn mower?
Work WR165 Feature Review
Worx Landroid model and costs
The official review

WORX WR165 Landroid S 1/8 Acre Robotic Lawn Mower: Feature review

Alright, these things are immensely complex and technical, so we are going to do our best to simplify it for you.

How does the Worx WR165 Landroid lawn mower work?

Similar to robotic vacuums, the Landroid requires connectivity to Wifi to operate and can be controlled from your smartphone. Again, if you have ever used a Roomba, this is super similar. The Landroid will map your yard and work on a set schedule, feeding you real-time information about the mowing job it is doing.

What really sets the Work WR165 landroid mower apart is that it takes into account weather data in addition to your personal preferences to find the best schedule to mow your lawn. Another super interesting thing is that the mower does not mow in straight lines. Weird, right?

An interesting device that is more powerful than it looks.

Well if you have used a robotic vacuum, you know why it does this. It goes in zig-zags that ensure it doesn’t miss any spots in your yard. Yes, you might lose those precious stripes in your yard – BUT – the landroid cuts super evenly, so you end up with a smooth finish.

One thing to know is that the Landroid will require you to lay down a wired perimeter (think electric fence for a dog) to keep the Landroid out of your neighbor’s yard. This part is really important. It isn’t simply a self-mapping set-it-and-forget-it lawn tool. It requires a bit of preparation and planning to ensure you are giving it the proper boundaries.

Power

Power and cutting width are important for traditional mowers because they are ways of communicating one important thing: your time!

Conventional wisdom goes out the window when evaluating the Worx Landroid because time matters WAY LESS. You just turn it on, go watch the game, and let the robot do its thing.

The Worx Landroid WR165 S ⅛ acre has a 7 inch cutting deck. Which is small. But again, who cares? You don’t need a massive steel cutting deck that can clear your whole lawn in a few passes. This robotic mower requires you to operate it for ZERO passes.

Performance

The Worx Landroid comes with a floating blade disc that automatically lifts when encountering rough terrain. This means you won’t end up with big bald spots in your yard if you let this mower do its thing. Many riding mowers have the same feature on a much larger scale.

The Worx Landroid also comes with a brushless motor, which are longer lasting, more efficient motors in battery-powered equipment. Interestingly, the Worx landroid comes equipped with intelligent navigation, meaning it can quickly navigate narrow paths (instead of getting stuck).

The full installation kit, see video below.

The last neat tidbit I will give you on this is that it takes the same batteries as any of your other 20V battery Worx tools. This is huge.

What about the bag on the Worx landroid?

What about it? It doesn’t come with one and quite frankly, doesn’t need one. Before you bag-lovers have a conniption, let me explain.

The Worx Landroid does not come with a bag, but cuts the grass into fine pieces – which is actually better for your grass’ nutrition. Many lawn experts actually recommend not using a bag ever because of the nutritional benefit of recycling the clippings.

How long does the Landroid take to mow my lawn?

Well, it depends and also doesn’t really matter. Just like robotic vacuums, it gets to cutting your yard when it gets to it. Basically, it will make sure your lawn is cut over the course of a week to ensure that it is evenly mowed.

That is a super weird concept to me, but it makes a lot of sense if you think about it.

The battery life depends on the density of grass and terrain, but generally can go for about two hours.

Can the Worx Landroid mulch leaves in the Fall?

Again, it depends. It can definitely chop up leaves as it moves through your yard, but will probably have a tough time with big leaf piles. Too much density will kill the battery.

WORX Landroid models and costs

The WORX Landroid comes in quite a few sizes and variations that impact the cost. See our guide below:

Category	Worx Landroid WR165	Worx Landroid WR140	Worx Landroid WR143	Worx Landroid WR153	Worx Landroid WR155
Cutting width	7 in.	7 in.	7 in.	9 in.	8 in.
Cutting Capacity	⅛ acre	¼ acre	¼ acre	½ acre	½ acre
GPS locating if stolen	No	No	Yes	Yes	No
Work Landroid Cost	$912	$814	$1,189	N/A	$1,385
Best deal	Amazon	Amazon	Amazon	N/A	Amazon

The official review: Worx Landroid WR165

As you can see above, the WR165 is the best bang for the buck for smaller yards. This is a weekend-changing product that can save you a ton of time, provide a quality cut, and make all your neighbors jealous.

**At the time of this post the WR165 went on a MAJOR sale (down almost $300). Make sure to check the below link to Amazon to check the price. If its not on sale, I recommend the WR140, which covers more yardage for a better price.**

We recommend grabbing it on Amazon while it is still on sale. You can grab it today and start cutting ASAP by following this link directly to the Amazon deal.

Why we review lawn tools

Worx brand reputation

Something that many of you may be scratching your head around is….what is Worx? It isn’t quite the household name that Dewalt, John Deere, or some of the other big name brands. Worx has quietly been creeping into the marketplace and has found a niche in electric lawn tools.

They also sell this crazy ergonomic wheelbarrow.

And also sell this cool standing leaf blender.

They offer low price, medium-to-high quality products that….work. Worx is super popular on places like Amazon, but also have a presence in some of the big box stores. Worx started off in lawn equipment and took off like a rocket, but are now transitioning into new products. One hallmark of Worx’ brand is that of innovation. And let me tell you – the autonomous lawn mower is innovation.

Who should buy a robotic lawn mower?

This is a question we get a ton from our visitors. Robotic lawn mowers are good for a few people:

You have a lot of money and don’t want to spend time mowing
- How much do you make per hour? How much are you willing to pay to not have to get in the yard? Most lawn care companies cost around $40-50/week to come mow your grass. The robotic lawn mower can cost around $1,000 or less. You do the math!
You are older and don’t want to schlep around a mower
- Perfect population here. If you are older and don’t want to push a mower over your dense grass, just set the robot mower down and let it do its thing. No worries about falling or staining your shoes or any of the other pains associated with mowing.
You are a tech nerd/early adopter/lawn tool enthusiast
- I mean, it’s pretty cool. You don’t even need to be a nerd to appreciate how cool this is. Has anyone started a business where they buy a bunch of these and go set them in people’s yards and charge them for lawn care? You could mow several yards at once. Did I just give away a billion dollar idea?

January 17, 2022March 15, 2024

4 Best Lawn Mowers for Under $200: 2024 Update

Cheap lawn mowers are the staple for every new homeowner that doesn’t really care about their lawn, but needs to keep it short. Luckily, you don’t have to drop $600 for a crazy nice mower.

Mowers are relatively simple machines – they require blades that can spin and cut the grass. Heck – they don’t even need gas or batteries, some of them can just be powered by elbow grease. Before you break the bank trying to keep up with your neighbors (their grass is always greener), check out our list of mowers for under $200.

**Spoiler: we recommend the Sun Joe MJ401RE corded electric mower that can be found for mega sale here.**

Best lawn mowers for under $200

Remember those old push mowers with the spinning blades? Can you imagine using those? If you can’t, then you should try harder because this is your price range. You may spend a tad more and get one that plugs in.

American Lawn Mower Company 1204-14

If you ever got bored at your grandparents’ house and went surfing through their shed, you may have dusted off a manual reel mower. Yes, these used to be the dominant residential mowers back in the 40s and 50s, but times have changed – for some people.

The American Lawn Mower Company makes the classic reel mower still – and it is actually pretty popular. It has over 9k reviews on Amazon and comes in well below our $100 price point.

When you think of inexpensive lawn mowers, you are thinking of a reel mower, of which we will review a few of today.

Check out the positives and negative of the American Lawn Mower Company 1204:

Positives:

Quiet
Inexpensive
Adjustable height
Foam handles

Negatives:

Slightly smaller frame
Things can get stuck in the reel (true of any reel mower)

It is super popular on Amazon for a reason (I suspect nostalgia) and on sale for those interested.

Sun Joe MJ500M

One of my personal favorites in this space is the Sun Joe MJ500M 16-inch manual reel mower.

Here are a few positives and negatives of the Sun Joe MJ500M

Positives:

Reputable brand
Removable grass catching bag
Adjustable cutting height
Price (can find super cheap used ones)
Decent width
Environmentally friendly

Negatives:

Plastic wheels
Wobbly handles

The good thing is that this is 100% emissions free :). And it has no battery or anything that can clutter up your garage.

If you’re looking to save a quick buck and aren’t afraid to use a little bit of muscle, check it out for a super low price on Amazon – Sun Joe MJ500M.

Greenworks RM1400 Reel Lawn Mower

The next best (in my opinion) manual mower is the Greenworks 14-inch Reel Lawn Mower RM1400. This is almost identical to the Sun Joe MJ500M listed above, but is slightly more narrow. A more narrow blade width simply means you will have to do more passes in your yard.

Some things I like about the Greenworks RM1400:

Positives:

Great company
Removable grass catching bag
Adjustable cutting height
Environmentally friendly

Negatives:

Plastic wheels
Not super sturdy handles
Narrower
Slightly more expensive than Sun Joe

Greenworks is a great brand and very well-trusted in this space. If you want to boogie outdoors and use this mower, you can find it on Amazon for a great price.

Give your child the gift of upgraded nostalgia.

Sun Joe MJ401E-RM

One thing I love about Amazon is that it has a renewed/refurbished store. If you are one of those who returns about 50% of your purchases to Amazon and wonder, “what happens to it?”, then here is your answer. It gets cleaned up and sold for a discount.

That’s what is happening here with the MJ401E-RM. It is usually a little over our price point of $100, but can be purchased on the cheap if it is refurbished.

Although it has the appearance of a large tortoise, this is a nice electric mower that will be able to tackle a decent-sized job. Sun Joe is a great brand and this is a wonderful all-around mower.

Things to love about the Sun Joe MJ401E-RM

Positives:

Easier to push than a manual mower
Comes with a nice little bag
Lightweight, easy storage
No gas fumes
Easy to start

Negatives:

Corded, so requires an extension cord
Plastic decking which is less durable

This is honestly a great, great deal and can be found on Amazon for super cheap right now.

Summary: Super cheap lawn mowers are still around

Well, there you have it folks. These are going to be the best bang for your buck and some of your only options if you are looking to save a buck. You can do a great job with any of these mowers, but if I had to pick one – I would probably go with the Sun Joe electric mower. The price point is just too good considering it isn’t a manual reel mower.

Why we review lawn tools

Expectation setting

Before we start envisioning a crisp, cool afternoon while crafting a beautiful lawn, let’s check in with reality. When you buy an inexpensive mower, you are paying for the pieces, not the power. You are the power! So cross off self-propelled, riding mowers, or zero-turn mowers from your list. These mowers are going to be the dial-up of the lawn care world.

You are going to get a cheap piece of lawn equipment – and that is fine! You aren’t paying for a lot! But before you open up the wallet for just anyone, let’s find the one that is right for your needs.

Interested in what other tools cost? Check out our cost guide.

December 31, 2021April 1, 2024

Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V Mower Comparison Guide

If you are in the market for a new battery-powered mower, you are probably choosing between the Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V mowers. These are two of the most popular battery powered mowers on the market. I like the Greenworks 80V mower because it has a strong metal cutting deck that EGO’s mower does not have.

Before you make your decision, make sure to read my word of caution on both of these and understand what you are buying. Lawn mowers are investments, so be sure to understand where your money is going.

Jump ahead:

Pros and cons of battery-powered mowers
Greenworks vs EGO brands
Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V
Price comparison
The winner

SPOILER***: We went with the Greenworks 80V mower because of the steel deck and cheaper price point.

Greenworks 80V vs EGO 56V mower: Breakdown

Okay – enough about the brand, let’s figure out the fundamental pieces of knowledge we need to make an informed decision about these two mowers. We need to understand power, battery-life, durability, and the bells and whistles. Let’s get started.

Power of Greenworks mower compared to EGO mowers

Greenworks has a handful of 80V mowers, so I am going to pick one of the most popular (and our #1 ranked), the 21” brushless self-propelled mower with two batteries. Each battery has about 4 Ah of power coming out, giving this a total of 8 Ah. This is about all the power you will need for small-to-medium sized jobs around the yard.

The EGO 56V 21-in self-propelled mower is their best selling mower on Lowes website. The EGO 56V 21-in mower has about 7.5 Ah of power in its battery, just slightly below the Greenworks mower. While these are comparable, the Greenworks has a bit of an edge.

To be fair, it is hard to call a winner in this battle because both have almost identical power output. At the same time, they are both on the upper end of power when it comes to self-propelled battery-powered mowers. I can tell you from using the EGO, it feels powerful. It is relatively heavy and when you engage the self-propelled function, it really jerks you forward.

Both have a brushless motor, which means their motors provide more torque, a cooler running motor, and a longer life than their brushed counterparts (shoutout Dennis for the correction!).

I think we have a tie on our hands, with EGO perhaps having a slight edge in the “feel” of power, especially if you get the Select Cut XP version – which just means it has extra torque.

Battery life: EGO 56V vs Greenworks 80V mowers

The Greenworks 80V mower has a battery life of up to 60 minutes, as does the EGO 56V mower. One thing that gives the EGO a slight edge here is that its power system is just a single battery. The Greenworks requires two separate batteries and two separate chargers (which means two separate wall plugs).

Their batteries last a long time and fit many tools.

One thing that I would recommend for both of these is to not use the self-propelled function if you have a big job on your hands. While it can be kind of nice, the self-propelled function will massively drain the battery.

Nice side by sides on the Greenworks 80V mower.

If you want to finish the job, turn the dang self-propelled function off. If you have spare batteries, then make sure you’ve got a stack of them fully charged before activating self-propelled functions.

Because of the single battery, I am going to give the EGO 56V 21-in mower the edge here.

Durability: EGO’s plastic deck vs Greenworks’ metal deck

When I am evaluating durability on a mower, I am looking at spots where the mower can easily break. The most frequent spot here is going to be the deck. The deck is the area of the mower that covers the blades as they spin. Traditional gas mowers have a metal decking to help prevent rocks or roots from ripping through the engine.

The Greenworks 80V 21” mower has a nice steel deck, making it highly durable and long-lasting. Unfortunately, the EGO+ 56V 21-in mower has a plastic deck. This leaves it vulnerable to stress and breakage.

I am also a huge fan of simplicity. If you put the Greenworks and the EGO 56V right next to each other, the Greenworks mower would look much simpler. The EGO 56V has a ton of extra parts that make it look cool and robotic, but ultimately add weight, more things that can break, and probably extra cost.

The Greenworks mower has a 4 year warranty whereas the EGO mower has a 5 year limited warranty.

I am going to give Greenworks the medal because of the metal. Gotta go with Greenworks steel deck.

Bells and whistles

It is definitely important to have bells and whistles – but they have to matter. This means they need to add value to the mower and to the task at hand.

Some of the bells and whistles on the Greenworks 80V 21-in mower (that we tested extensively here) are the EZ fold handles that allow for easy storage, a turbo button that sets the mower at full speed, 7-position height adjustment, an on-board battery indicator, and some nice LED headlights.

The EGO 56V mower has headlights, foldability for storage, 6-position cutting height adjustments, and push-button start.

While Greenworks might just have better marketing, they seem to have more bells and whistles that actually help. I can’t see much on the EGO 56V besides it looking like it might have more functions because of how bulky it is.

The advantage here is going to Greenworks once again.

Price comparison: Greenworks 80V 21-in vs EGO 56V 21”

The Greenworks 80V 21in with two batteries is currently on sale for about $530 (now $499). The EGO 56V 21” is for sale for almost a slight bit more than the Greenworks over on Amazon.

The advantage here is obvious: Greenworks is less expensive and can be found for a great deal on Amazon.

The final comparison: Greenworks 80V 21-in vs EGO 56V 21”

The winner is clear: Greenworks 80V 21-in is the superior mower to the EGO 56V 21″. It isn’t a huge margin of victory, but due to the steel deck and price, I have to hand this one over to Greenworks.

Why we review lawn tools

We also compared the EGO and Kobalt lawn mowers that are found at Lowes and the Greenworks mower from this post to a comparable Ryobi mower.

About battery-powered mowers

Before buying a battery-powered mower, make sure you understand the pros and cons. They are hot tamales right now and a bunch of folks are buying them. Below, I list out the pros and cons of battery-powered mowers:

We wrote an extensive buying guide for people interested in electric mowers.

Pros of battery powered mowers

Easier to store and start:
- After a long winter, starting up a traditional gas mower requires the pull cord to be pulled no less than 1.4 million times. It usually has some stale gas and blows out a cloud of thick black smoke. Electric mowers, however, you simply attach the battery, press the button, and continue on with your day.
No emissions:
- Tired of breathing in fumes? Are you the type of person that throws blood on people wearing furs? Well, battery-powered mowers might just be for you.
Less noise
- Most folks wear ear protection when mowing the lawn because it is pretty dang loud. Electric mowers make way less noise, to the point where you can’t really hear them going around. I’m about to buy one for my neighbor who mows his lawn every Monday morning when I’m on work calls.

Cons of battery powered mowers

Less durable
- Many of the battery powered mowers have plastic decking, or the piece that covers the blades. This leaves them vulnerable to rocks ripping through them or other accidents that can crack the deck, leaving the whole mower useless
Batteries
- Batteries drain. You won’t always be able to cover the whole yard (depending on the size) in one trip AND use the batteries for anything else after. Charging takes a while as well.
Expensive
- Compared to simple gas mowers, electric mowers are generally more expensive. You can save a bit of money if you already have the batteries for another tool and buy the tool-only version.

Greenworks vs EGO brand review

Personally, I am more familiar with Greenworks’ line of products. They have some of the top selling battery-powered equipment, and advertise a ton over there as well. EGO is pretty big with Lowes and with a handful of online retailers

EGO has a distinctive brand look – very transformerish.

Greenworks is what I would consider a higher-end product line. They have some pieces of equipment, like one of their blowers, that has tremendous power and quality. EGO is less established and has a little bit of a plastic-y toy feel to it. Both are great, however.