A few tweaks to a tried and tested formula helps this small robot lawn mower continue to lead the way
Cons
More expensive than predecessor
Some features cost extra
The Worx Landroid S400 WR184E is the natural successor to the Landroid S300 WR130E. In fact, except for the product name, the two mowers appear to be indistinguishable. With the S300 disappearing from retail shelves, however, and no longer available in the UK from the Worx website, the S400 is now the Worx unit you’re looking for if you want the most affordable model for a small lawn.
If you’re concerned about the concept of rebadging an old mower, you really shouldn’t be. We gave the S300 a Best Buy when we reviewed it and the S400 maintains everything we liked about its predecessor. However, it can now handle a larger lawn and has received a few worthy software tweaks.
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Worx S400 WR184E review: What do you get for the money?
Just like the previous version, the Worx S400 WR184E is a relatively compact mower. The unit itself is identically sized at 361 x 507 x 205mm (WDH) and weighs 8kg. It has two large wheels at the back, which drive and steer the robot, and a smaller coaster at the front that keeps the base off the ground.
On the top of the robot is a large red stop button and a control panel, consisting of a monochrome LCD screen and four membrane-style buttons. There’s also a rain sensor on the top that, if it detects moisture, will stop the mower from heading out or send it home if it’s already started.
The left side of the mower has a dial for setting the height of the cutting blade, which can be adjusted in 10mm increments between 20mm and 50mm. The right side is reserved for the charging contacts, which connect to extending arms that reach out from the supplied base station.
This side-charging arrangement is unusual but all Worx’s robot mowers use it. It’s a good system, because it lets the mower roll on and off the base plate from either side, keeping the connection tower as close to the edge of the lawn as possible. The upshot is you don’t get an overgrown area inside the perimeter that the mower can’t access.
Although the only way to charge the S400 is by docking the mower, the 20v battery is easily removable from a door at the rear. It’s a standard Worx battery design that can be used across the company’s range of power tools and it can be charged outside the mower if you have a separate charger.
Also included in the box are the various bits and bobs you’ll need to connect the device. This includes the cabling you’ll need to connect the charging station to an outdoor three-pin socket, 100m of perimeter wire, a load of pegs to secure it to the ground and a handful of spare parts (replacement blades and wire repair connectors).
As with the previous model, Worx offers modular upgrades, so you can add obstacle detection, virtual fences to block areas off, a Wi-Fi booster and an anti-theft device. These additions aren’t particularly cheap, though, ranging between £120 for the anti-theft alarm, up to £220 for collision detection.
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Worx S400 WR184E review: Is it difficult to set up?
As with most robot lawn mowers, the Worx S400 WR184E takes a bit of setting up. You need to be able to connect the charging station to a permanent outdoor power socket, so the mower can charge every time it returns home. You also need to lay a perimeter wire around the edge of any lawn areas that you want the mower to cut.
How long this will take will depend entirely on how large and complex your lawn is but you probably want to set aside a couple of hours for all this if you’re new to robot mowing. And the details do vary depending on the type of edge your lawn has. For instance, you can lay the wiring as close as 10cm from the edge if that edge is at the same height as the lawn – sunken paving, for instance, and this will leave a 1cm strip of uncut grass between the lawn and the path.
However, if your lawn butts up against a raised border, such as lawn edging, the recommendation is to leave a larger 26cm gap, which leaves a 17cm strip of unmowed lawn. Running up to dropped edges and water features, the suggestion is upped to a cautious 30cm, leaving 21cm untrimmed. Once the wire is laid and pegged down, all that remains is to connect the base station, switch on the power, pop the mower on to charge.
The mower’s advanced functions can only be accessed by connecting it to your home Wi-Fi network and downloading the Worx app and that’s the next job. Once you’ve done this, you can set up your own scheduling with two time slots available for each day of the week.
Alternatively, switch on Auto Schedule and the app will set up a schedule just for you, depending on the size of your lawn, the soil type and the grass species. It will even measure it for you, if you pace it out while the app is switched to measuring mode and, if you want to tweak the schedule or increase or decrease the mowing time, you can do that in the app, too.
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Worx S400 WR184E review: How well does it mow the lawn?
Despite the fact that Worx S400 WR184E is compact, its cutting disc is actually the same size as most other robot mowers, so it isn’t any less capable. In fact, the S400 is rated for lawns up to 400m2 in size (up 100m2 from the previous model) and, when it came to testing it on my garden, it did a fine job.
The S400 cuts around the perimeter wire twice a week by default and leaves a neater, cleaner edge than you’d get from a drop and mow rival, such as the Lawnmaster VBRM16, which doesn’t have a perimeter wire it can follow. And sending it out for two to three hours per day on weekdays was more than enough for its random mowing pattern to cover all areas of my 100m2 lawn.
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Larger, more complex gardens might prove more of a challenge, however, and if there are bits it regularly misses on your garden you can use the mower’s “Multi-zone” feature to ensure more even coverage. Using this useful feature, you drop markers around the perimeter wire and assign a percentage of its mowing time to each one, the end result being it spends at least some time in each of those areas.
I spotted one thing that struck me as different to the previous iteration of this mower. With the previous model, the robot would perform a change of direction when detecting a boundary wire by stopping and rotating in place by moving both rear wheels in opposite directions.
The S400 starts turning like this but then softens the turn when it gets perpendicular to the wire, starting to roll forwards and away, rather than simply driving straight out again when it reaches the required angle.
This is a nice touch. The robot’s wheels can wear the grass down in places where they spend a lot of time and this slight tweak to how it moves away from the boundary wire should reduce the problem.
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Worx S400 WR184E review: Should I buy it?
Overall I was as delighted with the Worx S400 WR184E as I was with its predecessor, the S300. It’s the robot lawn mower that delivers the very best in price/performance balance and, while it isn’t the cheapest you can buy, bear in mind that most cheaper models aren’t rated for gardens as large as the Worx is. Overall, it’s simply a brilliant robot mower.
However, it won’t be perfect for everyone. For those with even larger gardens, the Worx M500 WR165E is a better choice. This isn’t only rated for larger gardens; it also has a few different features. The best of these is its offset cutting blade, which lets it cut a little closer to the edge, leaving you with less additional trimming to do.
If you’d prefer a mower that cuts your lawn more efficiently, meanwhile, the Bosch Indego S500 covers the ground in a controlled manner, rather than cutting randomly. This means it only has to go out once and you can be sure it’s been everywhere. It is more expensive than the Worx S400, though.
If you have a smaller garden, you can get away with a cheaper mower. The £260 Yard Force EasyMow 260B is our budget pick, and will cope with lawns up to 260m2 in size. It doesn’t have all the features of the Worx but can still be scheduled using an app.
And on the subject of small gardens, if you’d rather not lay wires, theLawnmaster VBRM16could be for you. It can cope with grassy areas up to 100m2in size and it’s a “drop and mow” model that scans the ground ahead of itself and turns around if it runs out of grass, instead of having to rely on a perimeter wire to tell it where to stop.
FAQs
How long does a Landroid last? ›
With a brand-new 4.0Ah battery, I'm getting about 2 hours of runtime and it needs right at 1 hour, 30 minutes to recharge. So if you want 8 hours of actual cutting, plan on scheduling it for a 14-hour day.
What are the disadvantages of a robotic mower? ›- Stripes, Robotic lawnmowers cant achieve stripes.
- Robotic Lawnmowers can get stuck in holes or on objects which may have been left out on the lawn.
- You can only cut grass in the designated area.
- Its not practical to use one robot on multiple properties.
2 to 5-Acre Robot Mowers
Thanks to this technology, you no longer have to worry about spending hours under the hot sun every few days. Simply program your mower, designed to cut 2 to 5 acres which will cover the desired area, and let it do all the hard work!
Home / How long do robotic lawn mowers last? In theory, as all the parts on a robotic lawn mower are replaceable, they should last more than 10 years.
How long does it take a robotic mower to mow an acre? ›| Area (acre) | Worx Landroid M 20V W140 | Robomow RS622 |
|---|---|---|
| 0.3 | 15:10 | 24:16 |
| 0.4 | 20:14 | 32:22 |
| 0.5 | 25:17 | 40:28 |
| 1 | 50:35 | 80:56 |
- The use of robots can create economic problems if they replace human jobs.
- Robots can only do what they are told to do – they can't improvise.
- High initial investment. Robots typically require a large upfront investment. ...
- Expertise can be scarce. Industrial robots need sophisticated operation, maintenance and programming. ...
- Ongoing costs.
Unlike a lawn mower, which collects grass clippings directly in a bag, the robotic mower leaves the cut grass directly on the lawn. There, they decompose within a short time and thus supply the soil with important nutrients. However, the mulch only serves as a fertilizing function if the lawn clippings are very fine.
What lawn mower did Forrest Gump use? ›In the movie Forrest Gump, actor Tom Hanks cuts grass on a football field riding a Snapper mower that was manufactured and built in McDonough. The mower has handlebars similar to those of a bicycle.
Which robot mower cuts best? ›Best Premium Robot Mower: Husqvarna 430X
The Husqvarna 430X is top of its class and comes with quite a cutting appetite—able to mow up to 0.8 acres (~35,000 square feet) of grass per week. With a runtime of 145 minutes (about 2 and a half hours), it goes the distance before having to charge for 50 minutes.
Can robotic lawn mowers go up hills? ›
Yes, they do,
Some robot mowers are designed specifically for hills, they have 4 wheels (latest models now come with 4WD) with zero turn capability, and can handle up to 70 degree slopes, but these mowers tend to cost more and maybe more than you need.
Matching Riding Mowers to Lawn Sizes
1-Acre to 2-Acre Lawn: Look for a mower with a 42-in to 52-in cut width. 2-Acre to 3-Acre Lawn: Look for a mower with a 50-in to 54-in cut width. 3-Acre to 5-Acre Lawn: Look for a mower with a 54-in to 62-in cut width.
For a 1-acre lawn, choose a lawn tractor with between 17 and 24 horsepower, or a zero-turn mower with between 20 and 25 horsepower.
Do robot mowers use a lot of electricity? ›Different models of robot mowers consume power at different rates, but the numbers can be anywhere from 2.5 kWh to 34 kWh per month. In normal use, an average robot mower takes around 15 kWh per month (that's almost nothing).
When should I stop my robotic mower for winter? ›When the grass stops growing in late autumn, it's time to bring your robotic lawn mower in for winter storage. The grass stops growing when the nights become frosty.
Does John Deere make a robotic mower? ›Take a hands-off approach to mowing with the ultra-quiet Tango robotic mower by John Deere. It's advanced robotic technology makes changes to dodge obstacles, adjust to grass height requirements and offers a highly reliable cut to save you valuable time.
Will a robot mower cut to edge? ›Most robotic lawnmowers do not reach the edges due to their design, as the blade is centered underneath the device. There is a gap between the blade and the housing, which is especially noticeable when the robot drives along a wall. A strip of about 10-20 centimeters remains.
How often should Landroid mow? ›3.5 hours x 3 = 10.5 hours mowing per week
It is best to have your robot mowing either every day or every second day during peak growing periods. So, you can schedule the robot to mow for either 1.5 hours every day or 3 hours every second day.
To mow an acre of lawn (assumed flat with no landscaping obstacles) with a 21" mower deck at 3 mph, it will take approximately 1 hour and 55 minutes. At this rate you will only be able to mow about 4 acres in about an 8 hour day.
What is the negative side of robots? ›Robots can create economic problems because they continuously replace humans. Robots can only do what they are told to do, meaning they can't do more than expected without any command (by the way, machine learning and Artificial Intelligence are working on it).
What is the main problem with robots? ›
Data privacy and security are some of the most important issues that are currently prevailing in the industry. Robots too need several private data and process sensitive information in order to accomplish their tasks. But there is no guarantee as to how the robot will use this sensitive information.
What are the list of danger using robots? ›There are seven sources of hazards that are associated with human interaction with robots and machines: human errors, control errors, unauthorized access, mechanical failures, environmental sources, power systems, and improper installation.
What can never be achieved by a robot in your view? ›Robots cannot take care of small children or babies in the same way a human being can. Infants and toddlers need real human interaction if they are to learn and grow.
What are the two ethical problems of robotics? ›Robot ethics, sometimes known as "roboethics", concerns ethical problems that occur with robots, such as whether robots pose a threat to humans in the long or short run, whether some uses of robots are problematic (such as in healthcare or as 'killer robots' in war), and how robots should be designed such that they act ...
What do you do with a robot mower in the winter? ›To hibernate your robot lawn mower, you should find a dry place where your equipment and batteries can be stored frost-free and protected from cold and damp at room temperature and normal humidity. We recommend that you also dismantle the charging station and store it safely over the winter.
Can robot lawnmower do stripes? ›Can I still create stripes in the lawn with a robot lawn mower? Not for most robot lawn mowers. Stripes are created by the rollers on the back of mowers. Robot mowers don't have rollers and don't cut in parallel lines except mowers which use the GPS RTK system.
How do you store a robotic mower in the winter? ›It's also important that you keep it in a dry environment above freezing point. Dirty robotic mowers that are stored in cold and damp environments will have a significantly shorter service life. It is highly recommended that you also store the charging station indoors over the winter.
What did Tom Hanks make for Forrest Gump? ›Also: Tom Hanks did not take a salary for Forrest Gump, and instead contracted for a ~5% percent share of the film's gross receipts. The movie ended up making nearly $680 million at the box office (in 1994 dollars!).
What was Bubba Gumps real name? ›Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Bubba's full name is Pvt. Benjamin Buford Blue and is played by Mykelti Williamson.
| Forrest Gump | |
|---|---|
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release dates | June 23, 1994 (Los Angeles) July 6, 1994 (United States) |
| Running time | 142 minutes |
| Country | United States |
What is the number one mower? ›
Honda 21-Inch NeXite Variable Speed 4-In-1 Gas Walk Behind Self Propelled Mower. The Honda 21-Inch NeXite is a natural choice for the best gas engine self-propelled lawn mower, but because this category is generally the smartest choice for the average homeowner, it also becomes the all-around best mower.
Why is Honda discontinuing lawn mowers? ›Statement From Honda Power Equipment
“The decision to end lawn mower production is driven by market forces such as stricter environmental regulations, shifting customer preferences, and our focus on growing profitable products in our portfolio.
If your lawn is small, you could opt for a low-cost reel mower for about $115 on average. However, if you need a riding mower for a large property, it would cost an average of $3,070. The walk-behind mower, which is the most common style for homeowners, costs an average of $475.
Who is the world leader in robotic mowing? ›World leader in robotic mowing since 1995
Ever since the first Automower® was introduced in 1995, Husqvarna has been known as a world leader in robotic mowing.
The best for most is the Worx Landroid Vision M800 WR208E . It is the first robot lawn mower without perimeter wire that you can afford. With its camera it recognizes the difference between grass on the one hand and sand, gravel or flagstones on the other.
What is the best time for robot lawn mower? ›The ideal setting for your robotic mower to mow is during the day when the weather is dry. Additionally, we recommend activating the rain sensor so that your iMOW pauses in wet conditions, allowing for a clean cut and optimal mowing performance.
What is the life of an electric lawn mower? ›In terms of engine life, a gas mower will run for 10 years or more, while a battery-powered mower will need to be replaced after about five years, on average.
How many hours do Automower blades last? ›The normal lifetime of Automower® cutting blades is 3 to 6 weeks when used under favourable conditions, but the lifetime of the blades varies and depends for instance on: Blade model.
What is the average life of a self propelled lawn mower? ›How Long Do Self-Propelled Lawn Mowers Last? A self-propelled mower should last eight years or more, depending on how often it's used. (Most manufacturers rate their mowers for a set number of service hours.) There's no significant difference in the service life of a self-propelled mower versus a standard push model.
How long does an Automower battery last? ›Husqvarna Automower Lithium-ion Replacement Battery will fit in the Automower 430X and 450X models. The battery is rated to last for up to 7,000 charge cycles and estimated to last from 5-7 years.
What is a major disadvantage of the battery operated lawn mower? ›
Con: They are not as powerful
Electric lawn mowers generate substantially less torque on average than a gas mower does. It means a gas mower will be a much better choice to tackle challenging terrains like hills and dips.
Replacement batteries cost between $100 and $300. Depending on use, five years also represents the potential life span of some mowers, according to Misha Kollontai, who tests lawn mowers at CR and helped develop this interactive tool.
Can you leave electric lawn mower over winter? ›Extreme temperatures can shorten the life span of the cells inside batteries and cause them to fail prematurely. Keeping them indoors minimizes temperature fluctuation. Check the owner's manual for an exact range, but most batteries do best when stored between 40° F and 80° F.
Can a lawn mower last 20 years? ›You can expect to get anywhere from six to ten years out of your riding mower, or longer with proper care and maintenance. Like most machines, riding lawn mower life varies depending on a number of factors including terrain, maintenance and upkeep, number of hours used, and more.
How much should I pay for a self propelled lawn mower? ›Here are some factors to consider when shopping for a self-propelled lawn mower: Price: Expect to pay at least $300, with a maximum of around $1,400. Most homeowners end up in the $350 to $900 range.
Do gas lawn mowers last longer than electric? ›Gas lawn mowers generally have a longer lifespan than electric models and are better suited for tackling larger yards or thicker grass. A little gas also goes a long way and you can refill your tank as needed to get the job done.
Can Automower cut long grass? ›Having an Automower® can make long grass a thing of the past. By design, the Automower®keeps the lawn at the desired height, which means the lawn never grows high. The cutting height can be set via the control panel on the machine or via the Automower app.
Why are robot mowers so expensive? ›Setting Perimeter Wire
This item is one of the main reasons for a robotic lawn mower's high price tag. And it's rare to find a mower that doesn't require one to operate. The perimeter wire is a very long cable that connects to the charging station.
How often should the robotic lawnmower mow? Ideally, a robotic lawnmower should go over every patch of lawn every two days.