There are many manufacturers of automowers, also called robotic lawn mowers. But one of the best brands that does this is Husqvarna.
In the past, I have written about a list of the best robotic lawnmowers that money can buy. What I want to do now is to give you a closer look at what Husqvarna has to offer, and this is because several of my friends have been bugging me to give my opinion about the brand.
Today, I want to show you the best Husqvarna automowers. I will give an in-depth review of five of them, and I hope I can help you decide which one fits your lawn mowing needs and budget.
Table of Contents
We Will Take A Closer Look At These Automowers
Who Is Husqvarna?
Believe it or not, Husqvarna has been around for 300 years. Yes, that is three hundred, and I did not mistype an extra zero there.
The company was founded in Sweden in 1689. It started out making muskets, and then it eventually moved into manufacturing motorcycles. But before that, it made bicycles in the late 19th century.
It was in 1903 that the company forayed into making motorcycles, which was aptly named Husky. At first, they used imported engines, but they built their own machines in 1918.
By 1987, Husqvarna sold its motorcycle division to KTM, but the brand still continues to this day. A year after that, the company focused its attention to building outdoor products. They now made garden tractors. By 1989, the company introduced a powerful chainsaw called 3120XP. At that time, it was the world’s biggest chainsaw.
It was in 1995 that Husqvarna released its first robotic lawn mower. They called it the Solar Mower, and its power was 100% derived from the sun. This is the machine that would start the company’s success in the robotic lawn mower industry.
By 2018, Husqvarna expanded its offerings for robotic mowers. Today, we have several models to choose from that that use the patented technology called AWD—these are specialized Husqvarna lawn mowers that perform really well in lawns that have slopes.
What Is An Automower?
An automower is a lawn mower that cuts grass. However, instead of you pushing to do the mowing, you just leave it alone. It is like an indoor vacuum, but it has rotating blades underneath the cut the grass.
A robotic lawn mower relies on sensors. It is not a machine that mindlessly traverses through your lawn. Modern lawnmowers have computers inside—and they work with the perimeter wire and GPS to know their positions in your yard.
These mowers are not new. They have been around since 1969, and the first that was ever released was called the MowBot. The price of the first robotic lawn mower was $800, which is equivalent to $5,600 today if you factor in inflation.
Back then, these mowers could only mow 3,000 square feet. Now, there are mowers that can do the work for 21,000 square feet or more. Back in those days, the craze was to power the lawn mower with solar. As time passed by, many manufacturers have shifted to mowers that have batteries.
Today, solar-powered lawn mowers are a rarity. The reason being is that it is much easier to power the lawn mower with electricity that comes from a socket. Most of the robotic lawn mowers that you can buy today come with a charging dock, and the lawn mower is programmed to come back to this dock once its power is close to running out.
Husqvarna Automower 310
Let’s kick things off with the Husqvarna 310!
Here are the specs:
- Power source: battery
- Dimensions: Length x Width x Height = 24.8 x 20.1 x 9.8 inches
- Weight: 20.3 pounds
Features:
- Has an app
- Can maneuver smartly
- Can go back to the charging dock by itself
- Can mow in different weather conditions
Pros:
The Husqvarna 310 is a mower that is made for medium-sized yards. It can mow a 0.25-acre lawn with no issues. I can say that it is a lawnmower that is perfect for entry-level yard cleaning. What I like about this lawn is that it can maneuver its way out of obstacles without the need for an extra accessory. It can also navigate its way in tight spaces, and can also mow on slopes. The Husqvarna 310 model can mow during the rain. However, the sad reality is that mowers should not be used under these conditions. Mowing during the rainy season shortens the life span of the mower—what with all the water that oxidizes the blades. The water can also seep through the electronics and damage them. Some users still insist on using the mower during heavy rain, and they end up having to replace some parts and buy a new fuse. Even if the product is advertised as such, I still will not recommend it. Because mowers that wok under the rain are just water-resistant, but they are not waterproof. Do not make the mistake of thinking that they are like submarines that you can submerge in puddles and water without the risk of getting damaged. This model features a technology called Automower® Connect@HOME. It is an app that you install on your mobile device, which gives you control over the mower. Unlike many apps, though, this one uses Bluetooth technology, not Wifi. With the app, you can create your mowing settings, give it a command, make it park, and make it stop if you want to. What I like about it is that even if the technology used is Bluetooth, the range capacity is 98 feet. This is good enough if you want to sit on your porch and give it a command to start mowing. However, you may need to follow it around once it has gone too far from your position. This, of course, is not necessary. It will come back to its charging dock on its own even if you leave it alone. I also like the patented technology called Automatic Passage Handling. It is a software program that allows the mower to sense narrow passages in your lawn. Once this is detected, the mower will find its way through these tight areas. However, if the area is too tight, it will not be able to turn around. One thing I also want to mention is that it can manage to mow on slopes up to 40%. Most robotic lawn mowers can only manage 20%. How does it do this? It has large coarse threads that prevent the tire from slipping. The rear tires are the key to this feature. They have the capacity to have excellent traction and help the mower stay on course even if it is on a 40-degree slope. Overall, the Husqvarna 310 is a good model for people who are buying a robotic lawn mower for the first time. It is affordable, and you will get value for your money. The 315x is the successor to the 310 model, and it is one of the best in the 300 series. It looks similar to the 310 predecessor, but it does pack more features. This one looks like the twin of the previous model that we reviewed. However, it can cover a bigger lawn, and it has more features. Like the 310, it uses the Automower® Connect@HOME. The main difference is that this one can connect via cellular radios and it has GPS. The mower is so good that it got the Editor’s Choice award on several home and garden tool websites. The mobile app is the cherry on top of this mower. It allows you to schedule your mowing time, and you can even see the mower in a map of your lawn, which is also in the app. Many users, including me, said that the app is really user-friendly. You do not need technical knowledge to use the app. What you will love in this gadget is the weather timer. The mower will adjust its working time according to the growth rate of your grass. It means that it has a brain inside the app that determines how tall and how fast your grass grows. Like the 310 model, this one can work in both sunny and rainy seasons. If you let the more do its own analysis, it is going to spend less time mowing during sunny weather where grass does not grow so fast. The package comes with a guidewire that also has patented technology. It is not like your common wire where it merely sends signals to the mower to prevent bumps. This one works with the wires to guide the mower to come back to its charging dock. The beauty of this is that your mower can find its charging dock quickly—it is not “guessing” where it is. With this precise tracking system, the mower will find its way to the dock, and it will save time. It can recharge for 60 minutes and then come back to work. It is also not likely for you to find this mower stuck in the middle of your yard, with the battery dead because it did not find its home. The mower has an IPX4 rating as far as waterproofing goes. What this means is that you can leave it out. However, this one does not have a rain sensor. In short, it does not know if it is raining or not. Some lawn mowers know if it is raining, and they will go back to their charging dock. This should not be an issue. It can cut grass even if it is raining. But as I mentioned earlier. All devices that run on electronics and batteries must not get wet. Sure, people say that they are waterproof, but being waterproof does not mean it was mean to work in water. I still strongly encourage you to keep it off the rain. If you ever cut grass during the rainy season, make sure you clean the grass clippings after use, which of course, means more work for you. By the way, the mower is available in white, black, and orange. This is probably the biggest model of Husqvarna lawn mowers. It is just a tad smaller than the 450, which we will review later. Do not be confuse it with the other model. What we are reviewing is the 430XH, not the Husqvarna 430LS. This is one of the top models of the 400 series. It is designed for large lawns and has better battery capacity, which is just as expected from a product that is supposed to mow 0.08 acres. It has a bumper, which is good so it does not get scratches if it ever bumps into obstacles. Upon testing, I can say without a doubt that the mower cuts grass evenly. The lawn looks uniform, and you will not see grass bumps or areas that have uneven cuts. It has a powerful blade and good height clearance, and this is what gives it the capacity to cut up to three inches of grass. Like the previous two models, it has a phone app that allows you to have full control over the device. You can make it start, stop, and set your mowing schedules. On top of that, you can also connect the app to Alexa or Google Home. It means that you no longer have to go outside to give commands to your mower. You can stay inside the house, and then tell Alexa or Google Home to get the mower started. What I particularly like about it is that it has a PIN code. This prevents thieves from using it. Also, I love it that it has an alarm system if it ever gets from you. If the mower gets too far, you will receive an alarm on your mobile app, and you will also know its position. You can go to the police and tell them to retrieve it. It also has a GPS system, which has a 10-year contract baked into it. What the other two models do not have is the LED headlights. This one has a set of lights that give it better visibility in the dark. Yes, it is going to mow your lawn at night. The LED headlights will also flash if the mower has a problem. The GPS system is a patented technology that does not only track your mower if it is lost. The mower also uses it to calculate its position on your lawn. The GPS technology is also applied in the wires, and this is what makes the mower communicate with them accurately. The 300 series models that we discussed earlier could cover slopes up to 40%. This one can cover slopes up to 45%. It is almost like a 50% incline. The wheels have medium threads that have a good grip on the grass and soil, even if it is raining. As far as maintenance is concerned, this one needs serious care like you would for a gas-powered lawn mower. The good thing about this mower is that it does not require an oil change, and it also does not need any maintenance for spark plugs and other things like that. For maintenance, all you have to do is to turn it off and then flip it over. Clean the blades and the plate, and you should be fine. And like the other models, it is waterproof, and it can mow under the rain. However, you already know my position about this—I do not recommend it. And what I like best about this model is that it can work for 145 minutes. Charging time is merely 50 minutes—shorter than the other two models that we reviewed earlier. If you want a super mower, then the 450x model is the best thing you can buy among these four Husqvarna mowers that we reviewed today. Let us take a closer look at why this is the king of all mowers in the Husqvarna series. This one is slightly lighter than its predecessor, but it has more working power. Its cutting width is nine inches only, and its grass cutting height is also smaller than the previous one. However, this shortage is compensated by its power because it can cut up to 270 minutes, and it has a coverage of 1.25 acres. When we first tested this device, what we did was to schedule it to mow 24/7. What it did was to cut small amounts of grass. It is like cutting hair. It trims the grass, but it does not cut long blades. The issue was that it left wheel marks on the grass. We made it cut through the rain. Over time, the lawn was in perfect condition. Like the other mowers from Husqvarna, this one really comes back to its charging port once it is done working. We also loved that the app is so powerful. We tested the different features of the app, and I am happy to inform you that they all worked! This mower is quiet. Seriously, my neighbors would never have thought I had a robotic lawnmower had they not seen it. And as far as safety is concerned, the blades are programmed to stop once they hit something hard. What does this mean? It means that if someone ever accidentally put s a finger in there, like a child or a pet, the mower will stop. The person may have a wound but certainly will not lose a finger. Yes, I would say so. You see, a riding lawnmower can cost you at least $10,000. This one, however, is not even close to that price range. With a riding mower, you will still mow your lawn. But with a robotic one that is properly installed, you do not have to waste your time doing the job yourself. If can say that this is one of the best robotic lawn mowers out there. It has cutting-edge technology with a brilliant mobile app. If you want, you can also ask for professional installation—will cost you more money but it guarantees that the lawn mower works to the best of its capacity. At first, you may find it too costly. But if you do the math, you will be surprised at the amount of money you can save if you use this mower. Just imagine the kind of work you could have done to earn money if you do not mow your lawn. I strongly recommend this model, but only if you have a large yard of at least one acre. Personally, it does not make sense to buy this lawn if your yard is just about half an acre. You are better off with the other models if you have a small yard. The installation kit is a set of physical materials that may or may not come with your Husqvarna lawn mower. Without this kit, your lawn mower is not going to work. The installation kit comes in different prices because they also have different contents. You can go to the Husqvarna site to buy a specific length of wire, and the length you need largely depends on the size of your lawn. Sometimes, it is not enough that you only buy one kit. Some customers had to purchase at least two boxes because they have big lawns. One common feedback is that the staples and are just enough for the length of the wire, which means that the Husqvarna team made a good job in calculating the parts. Never forget that your automower is a machine. It has blades and moving parts, and some of these parts are metal that are subject to oxidation. You must actively participate in cleaning your lawn mower to ensure that it lives a long life. In my many years of doing yard work, I have observed that many people do not care for their lawnmower the way they should have. You should never use moving water when cleaning. Do not use pressure hoses, solvent, or any kind of chemical. Just use a damp cloth, but not a wet and dripping one. The Husqvarna mower has several electronic parts that should never get wet, else they get damaged and they will stop working. If you want, there are some cleaning kits you can buy on Amazon for Husqvarna. These are called cleaning kits, and they are original Husqvarna materials. They include tape with a sealed box for a cable connector, ports that protect your mower from moisture, water, snow, and so much more. Your lawn mower is an expensive investment. It has to last for many years, and it was built to last. However, if you expose it to bad weather conditions, and if you do not remove debris, the blades can get oxidized and they will rust. I want to emphasize here that you have to read your mower’s care manual and follow it if you want to get the best out of your Husqvarna robotic lawn mower. Once you have purchased a Husqvarna lawn mower, the first thing that you want to do is to set up the perimeter wire and the charging dock. What you want to do first is to install the charging station. It is the area where the lawn mower will sit and charge once its battery is out. You need to set this up close to a power source. One good advice is that it is better to have an external power source than using extension cords. Make sure that the surface is flat, and that the clearance towards it is at least 1.5 meters. This distance gives the lawn mower enough room to enter the charging dock. Next, charge the lawn mower. Follow the instructions in the manual. Some mowers require 60 minutes while some need more. You must fully charge the mower as indicated, as many batteries need priming. While your mower is charging, you can now lay the perimeter or boundary wire. The boundary wire is what tells your lawn mower not to go beyond the edges of your yard. The wire sends a signal to the mower, telling it that the mower is close to the edge. This is the part of the installation process where you will need the Husqvarna installation kit. It has pegs and stakes and staples that you can use to keep the wire in place. Not all wires need to be buried underground. Many models today allow you to keep the wire in the soil and just let it be covered with grass. Installation should not be difficult, but it is laborious, especially if you have a big yard. Also, the last thing you want is to realize that you do not have enough wires, so I strongly recommend that you measure the edges of your lawn carefully. Husqvarna, without a doubt, is a premier brand of lawn mowers. With over 300 years of experience in manufacturing engines and robotics, one cannot question the quality of their products. Take a real close look at the four models that I reviewed today. While they share similarities, not all of them are sold at the same prices, and they do not have the same capabilities. Also, make sure you measure your lawn and buy the appropriate number of kits. This should ensure that once you receive your package you can use your brand new Husqvarna lawn mower.
Cons:
Why?
Husqvarna Automower 315x
Here are the specs:
Features:
Pros:
Cons:
What does this mean?
Husqvarna Automower 430XH
Here are the specs:
Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Do you know what this means?
Husqvarna Automower 450x
Here are the specs:
Features:
Pros:
Cons:
Like the 430XH, it has the following features:
Here are some examples:
Now, is this mower worth the money?
The Husqvarna Install Kit 250
It is comprised of the following:
How To Care For An Automower
Here are some tips on how to care for an automower:
How To Install The Perimeter Wire
Summary: The Best Husqvarna Automowers