Reviewer pits 2 top robot lawn mowers vs. each other — will you ever have to mow again?

Mowing the lawn may be getting way easier as autonomous grass-cutting robots improve. But because the technology behind these robots is relatively new, it can be hard to know what's just hype versus what is actually useful.

That's why one tech reviewer, a YouTube content creator with over 200,000 followers, ManShed, took two of the top models and had them face each other in a head-to-head (or sensor-to-sensor) competition to see which is best. 

In the challenge, the reviewer compared the Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD and the Navimow X430, asking the question "which one actually does the job better?" 

He started by unboxing and constructing both robotic lawn mowers before describing their ideal lawn size and type, acknowledging both perform similarly well in lawns with slopes and tough terrain.

The Navimow works great for lawns up to 1.5 acres in size, while the LUBA 3 can cover 1.25 acres. While both bots have 4-wheel drive, the Navimow has "zero turn AWD steering," which allows it to make incredibly sharp turns, and can handle terrain slopes of 40 degrees (compared to the LUBA 3 AWD's 38.6 degrees).

Next, he compared their navigation systems. The LUBA 3 AWD relies on lidar and AI vision, while the Navimow uses satellite navigation combined with camera vision. 

ManShed then went through the actual grass-cutting trial, concluding that "performance feels pretty similar." 

"The truth is both the Navimow X430 and the LUBA 3 AWD are excellent robotic mowers, and in my testing, I would be happy to choose either one," he said. "They both offer advanced navigation systems, four-wheel drive traction, intelligent obstacle detection, and automated mowing of large yards."

However, ManShed did provide examples of when each model might make a bit more sense. For homeowners with a yard that has complicated terrain and obstacles beyond just hills, the LUBA 3 gets the edge since its lidar system may help it detect and avoid more issues. But for people desiring a robotic mower that can easily handle larger yards with more consistency, even with some bigger hills involved, ManShed gave the Navimow X430 the edge.

Importantly, he concluded that "Robotic lawn mowers are here for good, and they've come a long way in their technology and features." They still aren't exactly cheap, at north of $2,000 each, but for those with large lawns, a robot mower can quickly pay for itself if paying landscapers is the status quo. Plus, as they say, time is money. 

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While robot mowers may still seem futuristic despite evidently already being ready for prime time, the rising popularity of electric yard tools has been very firmly in the present for many years. Beyond drastically reducing maintenance and operational costs, the electric versions of most yard tools don't spew out fumes that are surprisingly bad to inhale; it's why hundreds of cities, towns, and states have put restrictions or bans on them. 

So whether you want to keep your neighborhood air clear, save some cash (and time) on fueling and maintenance, or just don't want to mow the lawn yourself, your options are only getting better if robots can now do the job for you.

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