Normal view

Received before yesterday

Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra review: A robotic pool cleaner like no other

13 October 2025 at 13:00
TechHive Editors Choice

At a glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

  • Impressive cleaning capabilities
  • Epic battery life
  • Easy waterline retrieval means you can put the pole away for good
  • Endless configuration options available in the app

Cons

  • Heavy to lift and unwieldy to handle
  • Relatively useless skimming feature
  • Very expensive

Our Verdict

The price tag on this robotic pool cleaner might be hard to swallow, but Beatbot’s latest high-end offering has few flaws and an extensive warranty that arguably justifies it.

Price When Reviewed

This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined

Best Pricing Today

Price When Reviewed

$3,550.00

Best Prices Today: Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra

Retailer
Price
Amazon
$2,799
Beatbot
$3550
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket

The feature-rich Beatbot AquaSense Pro has been a top seller in the robotic pool cleaner space since its launch, but Beatbot hasn’t been resting on its laurels. The all-new Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra reviewed here is, to put it simply, more, and in every dimension.

Is this even more expensive follow-up too much of a good thing? It all depends on how much you’re willing to shell out to escape the tedium of cleaning your pool yourself.

Specifications

The AquaSense 2 Ultra borrows most of its design cues from the AquaSense Pro I reviewed in October 2024 (which is still available for purchase). It’s a cetacean-inspired design, with fat wheels, treads, and two spinning brushes in between. The Ultra is also much larger and has a new, black color scheme.

Weighing 29 pounds, it is also decidedly heavier than the 24-pound Pro, especially when you take it straight out of the pool, when the water-filled bot can hit 45 pounds. It’s bigger, too, in pretty much every way which (spoiler) makes maneuvering it in and out of the pool and onto its charging dock difficult.

Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra vs Beatbot Aquasense Pro top down

The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra (right) is a beefy upgrade from the Beatbot AquaSense Pro we reviewed in October 2024.

Christopher Null/Foundry

All that heft comes in service of some serious firepower (waterpower?), including a boasted 27 sensors that include ultrasonic, infrared, and AI-powered video to map the pool and actively hunt for debris. It’s the first pool robot that, following a standard full-floor sweep, scans for remaining leaves with a camera the way you or I would with our eyes and a net. Beatbot says the machine can recognize 12 types of leaves by tree type, with more to come via over-the-air firmware updates.

The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra is an exceptional robotic pool cleaner with an extremely long-lasting battery.

A 13,400mAh battery powers the unit to up to 6 hours of running time on the pool floor and 10 hours on its surface. A contact-based charging dock similar to the one that shipped with the Pro is included, so you don’t need to physically connect a cable to top up that battery.

Lastly, the Ultra has a dual-band (2.4- and 5GHz) Wi-Fi adapter onboard, so you can control it with Beatbot’s mobile app. But that’s possible only while the robot is on top of the water or out of the pool, as Wi-Fi signals don’t travel far through water.

Installation and setup

Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra front view

The Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra features a front-mounted camera that searches your pool for any debris it might have missed while patrolling your pool. It will then go back and vaccum up whatever it found.

Christopher Null/Foundry

While most robotic pool cleaners require very little setup beyond an initial charging, the Beatbot Ultra has a little work for the user to do. The charging stand sets up easily, with two legs that snap into place. The more onerous work is setting up the two side brushes. These are small horizontal wheels with rubber brushes positioned in the upper front corners of the robot. They’re used primarily when it’s operating as a surface skimmer and as bumpers for when the robot hits the wall of the pool.

These wheels are bare out of the box, so it’s up to the user to wrap the two rubber brush strips around them. This is achieved by stretching each strip around the wheel and affixing two loops on either end of the strip to a protrusion on the wheel. This takes a little trial and error and some patience, but I got it done in a matter of minutes.

Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra side brush

You’ll need to install these side brushes on the Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra after you take it out of the box.

Christopher Null/Foundry

You’ll also find a retrieval hook in the box (which you shouldn’t need) and a cover for the robot, which is handy for storage. This is the first time I’ve seen this as part of any robotic pool cleaner bundle.

The app sets up quickly over Wi-Fi, being a matter of two button presses on the robot and walking through some basic configuration steps in the app.

Using the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra

Much like the AquaSense Pro, the Ultra can be configured via buttons on the device, via the mobile app, or both. The onboard controls are more basic, with four buttons for cleaning floor-only; floor and walls; floor, walls, and surface; or a custom mode configured in the app. To start the robot, just power it on, pick your mode, set it flat on the pool deck for a few seconds, and then place it into the pool. It will spin to scan the pool from the surface to get its bearings and then sink to the bottom to start its work.

Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra top controls

the AquaSense 2 Ultra has four basic control buttons on its top surface.

Christopher Null/Foundry

The Ultra’s specific operation depends on the mode you set, but if you’re running the most comprehensive option, the robot will do a full sweep of the floor, clean the walls, and skim the surface. After a full sweep of the floor, the robot’s AI debris detection gets to work. This uses the front-mounted camera to literally look around the pool for leaves it might have missed. And it really does that, scooting around randomly until it catches a glimpse of debris on camera, then it adjusts its course to roll over it, stop, then roll back and forward again to make sure it got it.

The good news is that the Ultra is an exceptional cleaner. The unit specifies battery life of 4.5 hours, although as noted above, I easily got 6 hours with it in the water, and my pool was completely free of debris after just 3 hours (I evaluated it with both organic and synthetic test material). I also tested its AI detection mode by adding additional test leaves after the 3-hour mark, scattering them around the pool to see if the robot could find them. Of the 10 additional test leaves I added, the robot picked up all but one before its battery died—and I witnessed it just miss picking that leaf up when it veered a bit too far to one side of it.

Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra dock

The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra’s charging dock. 

Christopher Null/Foundry

While the robot is excellent on the floor, it is not overly effective on the surface, as was the case with the AquaSense Pro. The robot’s design and its narrow profile (compared to standalone skimmers) means floating debris was often pushed out of the way by the bow wave of water in front of the robot rather than being sucked into its mouth.

The new side brushes on this model are supposed to help prevent debris from escaping to the sides, but they weren’t effective at overcoming the power of the wave the bot pushed in front of it. In fact, my testing of the skimmer feature showed that it only captured about 40 percent of the test debris, with the rest being left behind or sinking to the bottom of the pool. That was about the same result I got with the AquaSense Pro.

The app lets you fine-tune just about everything about how the Ultra runs, specifying 0, 1, or 2 cleanings each of floor, walls, and surface (20 possible combinations in all), or you can pick from a quick AI-only mode (a search-and-destroy as described above), a MultiZone Mode designed for pools with multiple large stepped areas, or an eco mode that cleans the floor every two days. Each of these are configurable in the app, and then selectable by pressing the custom mode button on the robot’s control panel.

Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra in its dock

The AquaSense 2 Ultra has thick treads and robust scrubbing brushes..

Christopher Null/Foundry

Every mode offers the option to dispense a water clarifier during the cleaning process, but I don’t use this type of solution in my pool and did not test it; clarifier solution is not included with the device.

Upon completion of a run, the Ultra returns to the surface and docks against the wall of the pool, where it will float for about 15 minutes. If you don’t retrieve it within that window, the robot will then float freely while remaining on the surface of the pool for easier retrieval. (The Park button on the app will call it back to the wall, provided there’s sufficient battery power.) This waterline retrieval option is one of the best features of both the Ultra and the Pro.

Beatbot Aquasense 2 Ultra filter basket

Needing to clean debris from this two-sided basket is a minor hassle.

Christopher Null/Foundry

Debris is stored in a two-piece basket similar to the one on the Pro. It’s relatively easy to clean, though having to clean two different chambers adds a small amount of hassle to the process. The bigger issue is the robot’s nearly 30-pound weight, which is considerably more when it’s full of water. This, combined with its gargantuan size, means it’s difficult to maneuver into and out of the pool, and I found it virtually impossible to avoid getting my lower body wet while retrieving it.

After each run, the Beatbot app pushes a mobile notification and then logs the area cleaned and the length of the run. Floor-cleaning runs also include a map of the pool that’s generated as part of the log. The map isn’t all that useful (and it is in a different orientation each time) but it does at least give you some idea of the robot’s level of intelligence. For what it’s worth, the map it generated mostly looks like my actual pool.

AquaSense 2 Ultra app screenshots
The Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra draws a map of your pool and logs its activity.

Christopher Null/Foundry

Lastly, an on-demand remote control is included in the app, though this can only be used when the robot is on the surface, where it’s in Wi-Fi range. You might find this effective when there are a few wayward leaves you want to pick up and the robot is already skimming; but given this robot’s limited debris-skimming abilities, I found it easier to wait for the leaves to sink or to just grab a net instead.

Should you buy the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra?

With an MSRP of $3,550 ($2,779 at Amazon at the time of this review), the Beatbot AquaSense 2 Ultra is easily the most expensive pool robot I’ve tested. Fortunately, Beatbot’s impressive three-year whole-unit replacement warranty takes some of the risk out of a purchase. But to be honest, it’s probably more robot than most pools need. It’s definitely more than I need, and I have a fairly large pool to clean.

And while it’s easy to fixate on that pricey bottom line, don’t underestimate this machine’s significant weight and bulk. Owners of more petite pools might find the Ultra just too large to wrestle with—even though it will do an outstanding job of keeping the pool sparkling clean.

This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robotic pool cleaners.

Best robot lawn mower deals for October Prime Day 2025

8 October 2025 at 03:00

Achieving that perfectly manicured lawn is a whole lot less time-consuming now that a robot can do the job for you. Over the long term, a robot lawn mower will cost a whole lot less than hiring a landscaper—and it won’t expect a tip every week and during the winter holidays.

Top-of-the-line robot mowers cost a pretty penny, but they can climb slopes and handle very large yards (we’re talking acres of grass). While early robot lawn mowers required you to lay down a boundary wire to prevent them from wandering out of your yard, each of the mowers listed here uses advanced navigation technology to eliminate the need for any wires.

We’ve already spotted some terrific robot lawn mowers deals ahead of next week’s Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, and we expect plenty more as Amazon’s two-day shopping event gets underway. Just remember that the sale runs for just two days–Tuesday October 8 and Wednesday October 9–so don’t wait too long to scoop up the best discounts.

Another choice for smaller yards, the Ecovacs GOAT O1000 RTKcan handle up to 1/4 acres of lawn, and it’s on sale for just $750, a 25% discount. We recommend you take advantage of this deal, especially if you own other Ecovacs products.

Anthbot says its Genie 600 robot lawn mower uses AI to avoid obstacles as it mows lawns up to .22 acres (9,583 sq ft). And since it relies on GPS technology for navigation, it doesn’t require a boundary wire. You can clip a coupon at Amazon to get a $200 discount on the mower, bringing its final price down to $789.

mowrator slope

You’ll need a robot mower with a powerful motor and all-wheel drive–the Mowrator S1 is shown here–to tackle a sloped yard.

Ed Oswald/Foundry

We’ve just finished testing the UBHome M10, which is now on sale on Amazon. While this mower’s GPS has somewhat finicky at times, it mows as well, if not better, than some robots priced much higher. Right now, you can score this mower for $1,139, a 12% discount.

The Sunseeker X3 Plus is on sale at Amazon for 30% off, bringing it price down to $1,116. This RTK mower is rated for small to medium-sized yards up to 0.30 acres and it has a cutting height of 1.6- to 3.2 inches.

We tested last year’s Mammotion Yuka model and currently have the Luba Mini AWD in our test yard. The Mammotion Luba Mini AWD 800 handles up to 0.20-acre lawns with a cutting-height range of 0.80 to 2.6 inches. You can save 25% on Amazon, bringing its price down to $1,199.

The Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15 can handle lawns up to .2 acres in size (8,712 sq ft) and is getting a generous 32% discount on Prime Day, dropping its price tag to $1,300. Need more coverage? The Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E18 can tackle lawns up to .3 acres (13,068 sq ft), and it can climb up to an 18-degree incline. You can pick one up for $1,500–a 42% discount off its $2,600 MSRP.

Segway’s H-series mowers are also on sale. Launched in 2023, these predecessors to the Segway i-series mowers (we tested the i110n) are still very capable. They’re rated to handle larger yards and have slightly better slope capabilities, although with slightly less accurate navigation. The .38-acre Segway Navimow H1500N-VF is on sale for $1,599, a 27% discount, while the .74-acre Navimow H3000N-VF is gets a 23% discount to $1,999.

Husqvarna is getting in on the Amazon Prime Big Deal days, too, offering up its Automower 410 iQ at a 30% discount that brings its final price all the way down to $2,099.99. This mower can hand lawns up to 0.50 acres, and it comes with complete with a set of replacement blades.

While any of the above options would be more than sufficient for most yards and uses, there are those of us who might find these options a little pedestrian. Well, we’ve spotted a few deals for you, too.

The Mowrator immediately comes to mind. Since we tested the original all-wheel drive model, a 2WD model, the S1 AWD was launched. While stock is limited, a 24% Prime Big Deal Day discount knocks its price down to $1,900.

If that’s not enough for you, select configurations of the Yarbo multi-purpose yard robot also have special promotional coupons available through Amazon. The Yarbo Core + Snowblower Module bundle is available with a $500 coupon, bringing its price down to $4,499. A $500 coupon is also available for the Yarbo Core + Snowblower + Lawn Mower bundle, which reduces the price for the robot and two accessories to $5,699.

If you already own the Yarbo Core, the Snowblower Module is on sale for 20% off, slashing its price to $1,039 during Prime Big Deal Days. That’s not much more than most equally sized push snowblowers at your local home improvement store.

We’ll update this list as we find new deals during Amazon’s October Prime Day 2025 sale. And if you’re looking to save money on more of the latest technology, visit PCWorld’s Amazon Prime Day Tech Deals 2025 hub.

Frequently asked questions about buying a robot lawn mower


1.

I’ve seen numerous acronyms in robot mower product descriptions. What do they mean?

  • AWD and RWD are the most obvious. Most mowers will be rear-wheel-drive (RWD), but more expensive mowers come in all-wheel-drive (AWD) models.
  • RTK stands for Real-Time Kinematic Positioning. This technology helps correct for errors present in GPS, due to the movement of the mower itself. RTK mowers will be more accurate in positioning than those that rely on GPS alone.
  • LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging, and uses laser pulses to detect obstructions and reference points by measuring the amount of reflection back. Mowers with LiDAR will have superior low-light and nighttime mowing capabilities.
  • AI, or artificial intelligence, is also increasingly found in robot mowers. The application will vary. While some mowers use it to better detect obstacles, some mowers take it even further and learn and adjust over time using ML, or machine learning.
2.

What does the yard capacity really mean?

Manufacturers measure the maximum capacity by the amount of yard a robot mower can cover over 24 hours, including idle time from charging. In other words, if you had your robot in operation continuously, the maximum capacity is the amount of mowing it could do.

There are a few key points to keep in mind. First, your property acreage includes land occupied by other structures and obstructions (such as your house, trees, garden, pavement, etc.). Additionally, you do not want your robot mower to work continuously, as it will shorten its usable life significantly.

The trick is to find the happy medium between the actual acreage of the grass on your lawn and the capacity of your robot mower. Using tools like Google Maps can also help you estimate your yard space better.

3.

I have a lot of trees or obstructions in my yard. Is a robot mower going to work?

Not if your mower is based primarily or entirely on GPS positioning, unless you have a place to put the GPS antenna above those obstructions. In this case, we’d recommend a mower like the Eufy E15, Eufy E18, or Ecovacs GOAT A3000 (or any mower that uses vision for navigation).

4.

Do I need to lay down boundary wire?

Not anymore. Robot mower technology has advanced far enough that even the most affordable mowers are now boundary-wire-free. We’ve removed boundary-wire mowers from our recommendations based on our experience.

You should keep in mind that not all boundary-wire-free mowers are equal: we recommend models that use more than just GPS to navigate your yard for the best (and most problem-free) results.

5.

I like the idea of controlling my mower, versus letting it run around autonomously, but the price of the Mowrator series is nuts. Are there any other remote-controlled options?

We’re not sure if Mowrator was the catalyst, but such a feature has become quite common in mowers we’ve tested in the past year or two. Mammotion and UBHome both offer this feature at about half the price. You should bear in mind, however, that the Mowrator is controlled by an RF remote. These other options are controlled through your Wi-Fi network, which will not be as responsive.

6.

I hear robot mowers are temperamental. Is that true?

Yes, but nowhere near the degree as we’ve seen in previous years. Of all the mowers we tested this season, only one has had serious issues. In previous years, there were multiple. To minimize this, we recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions and not pushing the limits of your mower until you understand how it handles your yard. While we’ve moved out of the “early adopter” phase, the state of the art is not yet perfect.

We’ll update this list as we find new deals during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days. And if you’re looking to save money on more of the latest technology, visit PCWorld’s Amazon Prime Big Deal Days hub.

Remember, you need to have an Amazon Prime membership to score Prime Big Deal Days deals, but you can sign up for a free trial if you’re not.

This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot lawn mowers.

UBHome M10 robot lawn mower review: Precise positioning for cheap? Maybe

2 October 2025 at 13:00

At a glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

  • Beginner-friendly setup (when its GPS works correctly)
  • Traction Mode mapping is a great innovation
  • Impressive obstacle avoidance

Cons

  • Very low maximum cutting height (for U.S. grasses)
  • Persistent GPS issues
  • Unrealistic advertised LoRa communication range (LoRa depends on line-of-sight)

Our Verdict

The UBHome M10 delivers a lot of features and performance for the price, but its low cutting height and problematic GPS navigation detract from its overall value. That said, a firmware update could probably resolve the problems we had with it.

Price When Reviewed

This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined

Best Pricing Today

Price When Reviewed

$1299.00

Best Prices Today: UBHome M10

Retailer
Price
Amazon
$1,299
UBHome
$1299
Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide
Product
Price
Price comparison from Backmarket

We’ve seen our share of robot mowers from large companies and well-capitalized startups, but very few crowd-funded ones. UBHome is an exception, raising HK $1.6 million (~$200,000 USD) this spring to bring its M10 robot lawn mower to market.

The UBHome M10 features artificial intelligence combined with RTK (real-time kinetics) positioning, which reminds me of the Segway X3 series mowers, albeit with a different price tag and maximum yard size. The M10 costs just $1,499, which makes it one of the lower-priced robot mowers we’ve tested.

The M10 uses a reference station and a LoRa (Long Range) gateway to determine position and communicate with the mower. In theory, no mower should have any problems maintaining a connection anywhere in my yard, but its unusual shape and plethora of obstructions make it a good test location.

Mapping my entire yard with the UBHome M10 was so user friendly I was able to do it for the first time in many reviews.

Installation and setup

Review of UBHome M10 robot lawn mower

My yard quickly looked well-manicured thanks to the UBHome M10’s attention to detail. It spent extra time on the faster-growing portions.

Ed Oswald/Foundry

Getting the UBHome M10 set up wasn’t easy, not because the hardware was difficult to deal with or that the robot’s mapping controls were deficient—in fact, I loved the latter and will discuss them in more detail later—but because the M10 had persistent issues acquiring GPS signals. This occurred even in areas where the robot has a clear view of the sky.

The M10 is super-reliant on GPS positioning, requiring 20 satellites just to install. That is a very high number of satellites to expect—I was maxing out at 15 to 17 at my location in Pennsylvania, which initially meant I couldn’t move forward with the review. I encountered a similar issue with a Yarbo mower, an issue that has plagued that platform for years: a refusal to connect to GPS satellites that are reliably in view.

UBHome M10 robot lawn mower reference station

A view of the sky from the UBHome M10’s reference station, looking due south and tilted approximately 120 degrees. As you can see, apart from the horizon and a portion of the southwestern sky, there is a reasonably clear view at this location.

Ed Oswald/Foundry

The good news? Yarbo’s problems came down to a software issue, and I highly suspect the same thing is happening here. I eventually found another five or so satellites (although this part of the install was done a day later) and was therefore able to map my yard using the M10’s excellent in-app controls.

Unlike many other mowers I’ve tested, the UBHome M10 doesn’t lurch with the slightest tap of its in-app controls. In areas where I wasn’t experiencing issues with GPS connectivity, I was able to map the terrain relatively quickly.

It also has a slightly bizarre yet novel mapping method it calls Traction Mode, which involves looping a rope around the front grille of the M10 and pulling it behind you to create a map. If you struggle with remote control operation, this might be an attractive alternative (and it really works).

UBHome deserves credit for thinking out of the box here.

Mapping was so user friendly that I was able to use it to map my entire property for the first time in many reviews. I was also curious to see how well the LoRa technology could handle the more distant parts of our yard. UBHome says LoRa support endows its mower with a communication range of 576,000 square yards (138,000 square meters), a claim I was rightly skeptical of. What the company’s marketing materials don’t point out is that LoRa networks are heavily dependent on line of sight. So, that range might be achievable if you’re mowing a pasture, but having buildings in the picture quickly changes things.

UBHome M10 robot lawn mower app screenshots

The UBHome app has a great user interface, and the ultra-precise positioning can tell you exactly where your mower has been. The barebones scheduling options, on the other hand, need a makeover.

Ed Oswald/Foundry

UBHome’s infrastructure consists of a gateway, an antenna, and a base station, which isn’t all that beginner friendly, but the company’s instructional materials clearly show all the steps you need to get started. While the production value of its video won’t earn an Emmy, it makes it abundantly clear what you need to do. UBHome’s app will also walk you through the process with helpful text directions.

Using the UBHome M10

The UBHome M10 is a daytime-only mower due to the absence of LiDAR navigation or any headlamps. I assume most people reading this review aren’t likely to mow their lawns in the middle of the night, like I do, so I don’t see this as a negative. What’s most important is the cut, and even with all the installation difficulty, the UBHome redeemed itself in that regard.

The M10 has a very low maximum cutting height of just 2.36 inches (6cm). That might be too low for the types of grass commonly found in American lawns. I generally keep our grass at 2.5 inches or higher, as anything lower tends to expose brown patches. I’ve noticed this quirk in many mowers that initially launched overseas.

Wide shot of UBHome M10 robot lawn mower

The M10’s front wheels move freely, so its rear wheels try to compensate, causing the mower to “waddle” slightly on open straightaways.

Ed Oswald/Foundry

It’s also because the U.S. itself is an aberration: The grasses that make up most of our lawns are a result of homesick American colonists favoring European grass species—and importing their seeds—instead of planting native North American grasses.

The M10 does have a high-grass mode for when you need to cut grass that is significantly above the mower’s maximum cutting height, but UBHome warns that this setting could impair the mower’s obstacle avoidance. That said, I saw no substantial effects, even when the mower got close to the slope in my yard. That slope has been proven to be the Achilles’ Heel of so many rear-wheel drive mowers I’ve tested here.

The mower has three mowing methods, the last of which is optional. The first is your traditional mow, where the mower takes long passes to cover as much ground as possible. In oddly shaped or narrow areas, you can use “spot mowing,” where the mower moves in a manner that covers spots close to the edge of the mowing area or where it may have missed.

Finally, the optional “perimeter mowing” rides the edge of the mowing area to provide that finished look. You can monitor all of this in the app in real time. LoRa helps to ensure that the app’s positioning is exact, and it also results in a significantly longer mowing time than most robot mowers, but the results are worth it.

UBHome M10 robot lawn mower during the day and at night

There are two situations where you’ll encounter trouble with the M10: Roughly 2 to 3 hours before sundown, and in low-light conditions. To avoid this, I recommend mowing in the late morning or early afternoon.

Ed Oswald/Foundry

I experienced issues with sun blindness being misinterpreted as an obstruction when the sun was low in the sky. This is typical of robot mowers that aren’t equipped with LiDAR navigation. To get around the problem, program the mower to cut any portions of the lawn that will have the mower moving directly into the sun at least three hours before sunset.

Mowing the easiest part of my yard went so well that I decided to tackle the more problematic areas next. I tempered my expectations given the amount of trouble I’ve had with other rear-wheel drive (RWD) mowers. Things went well, for the most part. I set the M10 to its slowest setting while cutting narrow strips of grass, which kept it on the median rather than in the street, where so many other mowers have ended up (the mower did fall off the curb while running at its standard speed). On slopes, the M10 seemed to correct the drift of its front wheels to either side much faster than any other RWD mower I’ve tested.

The M10, however, lost its connection to the Reference Station about 300 feet through my detached garage. This wasn’t entirely surprising, given LoRa’s dependence on line-of-sight communication; in fact, it performed better than most of its competitors in this area. That said, it didn’t come anywhere close to the 138,000 square meters of communication range that’s advertised. The mower also had difficulty staying within its assigned boundaries while it was in that section, confusing a small strip down the alley as an edge, likely due to connectivity issues.

Using the UBHome app

UBHome’s app has an excellent user interface; it’s well-organized and clean, and I appreciate how the most critical actions are assigned to buttons at the bottom of the screen, so I can use the app with one hand. The scheduling portion of the app, on the other hand, is too barebones; it shows scheduled mow days and times, but not the areas to be mowed.

UBHome M10 robot lawn mower in charging station

The UBHome M10 is an AI+RTK mower that uses a trio of cameras and seven sensors to navigate your yard and avoid obstacles.

Ed Oswald/Foundry

A log show displays all recent actions and alerts, and there’s a remote control feature if you feel like driving the mower yourself. I experienced sporadic connectivity problems from time to time, which were usually remedied by restarting the app.

While you can set mowing direction within the app, there doesn’t appear to be any type of automatic adjustment for each successive mow. That said, it might not be necessary, as the M10 will switch between modes based on the height of the grass and if it spots areas where grass is growing faster than others.

Should you buy a UBHome M10 robot mower?

With a price tag of less than $1,500, the UBHome M10 punches above its weight. Its dependence on GPS for navigation, however, comes with risks. The mower’s sporadic inability to find satellites in areas where it had a clear view of the sky is disappointing.

Apart from that, the mower is surprisingly flawless and fun to use. I initially thought such out-of-the-box ideas as Traction Mode were silly, but when I used them, I discovered they’re an innovative way to speed up the most irritating part of robot mower setup.

The Ml10 delivers outstanding cut quality, and its obstacle avoidance works well even in high-grass mode. This rear-wheel drive mower’s ability to successfully mow my lawn without falling down its slope is also notable. And for the most part, it stayed within its assigned boundaries, something many other mowers have failed to do, especially on my yard’s median strips.

If you’re in the market for a robot lawn mower, most of your yard has a clear view of the sky, and you have a limited budget, the UBHome M10 is an option to consder. I do hope UBHome solves this machine’s GPS issues with a firmware update, because that’s holding back an otherwise excellent robot lawn mower.

This review is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot lawn mowers.

Best robot lawn mower deals during Prime Day 2025

2 October 2025 at 06:00

Achieving that perfectly manicured lawn is a whole lot less time-consuming now that a robot can do the job for you. Over the long term, a robot lawn mower will cost a whole lot less than hiring a landscaper—and it won’t expect a tip every week and during the winter holidays.

Top-of-the-line robot mowers cost a pretty penny, but they can climb slopes and handle very large yards (we’re talking acres of grass). While early robot lawn mowers required you to lay down a boundary wire to prevent them from wandering out of your yard, each of the mowers listed here uses advanced navigation technology to eliminate the need for any wires.

We’ve already spotted some terrific robot lawn mowers deals ahead of next week’s Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, and we expect plenty more as Amazon’s two-day shopping event gets underway. Just remember that the sale runs for just two days–Monday October 8 and Tuesday October 9–so don’t wait too long to scoop up the best discounts.

The LawnMaster OcuMow is well-suited to smaller yards—up to 1/6 of an acre (7,260 square feet)—and it doesn’t require a boundary wire. You can pick one up this Prime Day at a 25% discount at Amazon, bringing its final price to just $600.

Another choice for smaller yards, the Ecovacs GOAT O1000 RTKcan handle up to 1/4 acres of lawn, and it’s on sale for just $785, a 22% discount. We recommend you take advantage of this deal, especially if you own other Ecovacs products.

Anthbot says its Genie 600 robot lawn mower uses AI to avoid obstacles as it mows lawns up to .22 acres (9,583 sq ft). And since it relies on GPS technology for navigation, it doesn’t require a boundary wire. You can clip a coupon at Amazon to get a $200 discount on the mower, bringing its final price down to $789.

mowrator slope

You’ll need a robot mower with a powerful motor and all-wheel drive–the Mowrator S1 is shown here–to tackle a sloped yard.

Ed Oswald/Foundry

We’re in the midst of testing the UBHome M10, just in time for a significant sale on Amazon. While this mower’s GPS has somewhat finicky at times, it mows as well, if not better, than some robots priced much higher. Right now, you can score this mower for $1,099, a 27% discount after clipping a $200 coupon. That’s the best deal we’ve seen on Amazon this year.

The Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E15 can handle lawns up to .2 acres in size (8,712 sq ft) and is getting a generous 39% discount on Prime Day, dropping its price tag to $1,400. Need more coverage? The Eufy Robot Lawn Mower E18 can tackle lawns up to .3 acres (13,068 sq ft), and it can climb up to an 18-degree incline. You can pick one up for $1,600–a 38% discount off its $2,600 MSRP.

We tested last year’s Mammotion Yuka model and currently have the Luba Mini AWD in our test yard. The Mammotion Luba Mini AWD 800H handles quarter-acre yards, and its cutting-height range of 2.2 to 4.0 inches is more suitable for U.S. yards. You can save 25% on Amazon, bringing its price down to $1,199, a $400 discount.

If you have a larger lawn to mow, the bigger Mammotion Luba 2 AWD 5000HX handles yards up to 1.5 acres and is on sale for $2,399, a 20% discount.

Segway’s H-series mowers are also on sale. Launched in 2023, these predecessors to the Segway i-series mowers (we tested the i110n) are still very capable. They’re rated to handle larger yards and have slightly better slope capabilities, although with slightly less accurate navigation. The .38-acre Segway Navimow H1500N-VF is on sale for $1,599, a 27% discount, while the .74-acre Navimow H3000N-VF is gets a 23% discount to $1,999.

While any of the above options would be more than sufficient for most yards and uses, there are those of us who might find these options a little pedestrian. Well, we’ve spotted a few deals for you, too.

The Mowrator immediately comes to mind. Since we tested the original all-wheel drive model, a 2WD model, the S1 AWD was launched. While stock is limited, a $370 coupon is available on Amazon, reducing its price to $2,129–a 15% discount.

If that’s not enough for you, select configurations of the Yarbo multi-purpose yard robot also have special promotional coupons available through Amazon. The Yarbo Core + Snowblower Module bundle is available with a $300 coupon, bringing its price down to $4,699. A $300 coupon is also available for the Yarbo Core + Snowblower + Lawn Mower bundle, which reduces the price for the robot and two accessories to $5,829.

If you already own the Yarbo Core, the Snowblower Module is on sale for $1,199 after you clip a $100 coupon during Prime Big Deal Days. That’s not much more than most equally sized push snowblowers at your local home improvement store.

We’ll update this list as we find new deals during Amazon’s October Prime Day 2025 sale. And if you’re looking to save money on more of the latest technology, visit PCWorld’s Amazon Prime Day Tech Deals 2025 hub.

Frequently asked questions about buying a robot lawn mower


1.

I’ve seen numerous acronyms in robot mower product descriptions. What do they mean?

  • AWD and RWD are the most obvious. Most mowers will be rear-wheel-drive (RWD), but more expensive mowers come in all-wheel-drive (AWD) models.
  • RTK stands for Real-Time Kinematic Positioning. This technology helps correct for errors present in GPS, due to the movement of the mower itself. RTK mowers will be more accurate in positioning than those that rely on GPS alone.
  • LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging, and uses laser pulses to detect obstructions and reference points by measuring the amount of reflection back. Mowers with LiDAR will have superior low-light and nighttime mowing capabilities.
  • AI, or artificial intelligence, is also increasingly found in robot mowers. The application will vary. While some mowers use it to better detect obstacles, some mowers take it even further and learn and adjust over time using ML, or machine learning.
2.

What does the yard capacity really mean?

Manufacturers measure the maximum capacity by the amount of yard a robot mower can cover over 24 hours, including idle time from charging. In other words, if you had your robot in operation continuously, the maximum capacity is the amount of mowing it could do.

There are a few key points to keep in mind. First, your property acreage includes land occupied by other structures and obstructions (such as your house, trees, garden, pavement, etc.). Additionally, you do not want your robot mower to work continuously, as it will shorten its usable life significantly.

The trick is to find the happy medium between the actual acreage of the grass on your lawn and the capacity of your robot mower. Using tools like Google Maps can also help you estimate your yard space better.

3.

I have a lot of trees or obstructions in my yard. Is a robot mower going to work?

Not if your mower is based primarily or entirely on GPS positioning, unless you have a place to put the GPS antenna above those obstructions. In this case, we’d recommend a mower like the Eufy E15, Eufy E18, or Ecovacs GOAT A3000 (or any mower that uses vision for navigation).

4.

Do I need to lay down boundary wire?

Not anymore. Robot mower technology has advanced far enough that even the most affordable mowers are now boundary-wire-free. We’ve removed boundary-wire mowers from our recommendations based on our experience.

You should keep in mind that not all boundary-wire-free mowers are equal: we recommend models that use more than just GPS to navigate your yard for the best (and most problem-free) results.

5.

I like the idea of controlling my mower, versus letting it run around autonomously, but the price of the Mowrator series is nuts. Are there any other remote-controlled options?

We’re not sure if Mowrator was the catalyst, but such a feature has become quite common in mowers we’ve tested in the past year or two. Mammotion and UBHome both offer this feature at about half the price. You should bear in mind, however, that the Mowrator is controlled by an RF remote. These other options are controlled through your Wi-Fi network, which will not be as responsive.

6.

I hear robot mowers are temperamental. Is that true?

Yes, but nowhere near the degree as we’ve seen in previous years. Of all the mowers we tested this season, only one has had serious issues. In previous years, there were multiple. To minimize this, we recommend following the manufacturer’s instructions and not pushing the limits of your mower until you understand how it handles your yard. While we’ve moved out of the “early adopter” phase, the state of the art is not yet perfect.

We’ll update this list as we find new deals during Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days. And if you’re looking to save money on more of the latest technology, visit PCWorld’s Amazon Prime Big Deal Days hub.

Remember, you need to have an Amazon Prime membership to score Prime Big Deal Days deals, but you can sign up for a free trial if you’re not.

This story is part of TechHive’s in-depth coverage of the best robot lawn mowers.

❌