Robotic Lawn Mower Specs Explained: Battery Life, Cutting Height, Mow Zones

Published February 22, 2026 | By Matt

Spec sheets for robotic mowers are packed with numbers — battery capacity in amp-hours, cutting width in inches, slope percentages, RTK acronyms, and coverage area in square feet. But what do these specs actually mean for your day-to-day experience?

This guide translates the specs that matter into practical terms. We’ll explain what each number means, what range you should look for, and how different specs interact with each other. Because a mower with a huge battery but narrow cutting width might not actually be faster than one with a smaller battery and dual blades.

For the full overview of which mowers fit which situation, see our main guide: Robotic Lawn Mowers: The Complete Buyer’s Guide.

Battery Life and Charging

What the specs say: Battery capacity is measured in amp-hours (Ah) or milliamp-hours (mAh). Run time is typically listed in minutes per charge. Charging time tells you how long the mower sits on the dock between runs.

What it means in practice: Battery life determines how much ground the mower covers before it needs to go back to the dock. But raw runtime doesn’t tell the whole story — cutting width matters too. A mower that runs 60 minutes with a 13-inch cutting width will cover more ground than one running 90 minutes with a 7-inch width.

Here’s how the major models compare:

Worx Landroid M: 20V, 5.0 Ah battery. Runtime varies by model, roughly 60-90 minutes. Charges in about 90 minutes.

Segway Navimow i110N: 5.2 Ah. Approximately 120 minutes of mowing per charge. Charges in about 240 minutes.

Ecovacs GOAT A3000 LiDAR: 5 Ah, 32V platform. 75 minutes runtime per charge, but charges in just 45 minutes. Because of the fast charge and dual 13-inch blades, it covers about 5,400 sq ft every two hours including recharging — one of the fastest effective coverage rates in the market.

Ecovacs GOAT A2500 RTK: 3 Ah battery. About 47-64 minutes per charge (depending on terrain), with a 45-minute charge time. Slightly shorter runtime but the same ultrafast charging.

Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD 5000: Covers up to 10,700 sq ft per charge with its 15.8-inch dual cutting disc. The AWD system draws more power on slopes, so runtime decreases on hilly terrain.

Husqvarna 450XH EPOS: 10 Ah battery. 200 minutes of mowing per charge — one of the longest in the market. Charges in about 60 minutes. Covers up to 2.5 acres.

The key insight: Don’t just compare runtime. Compare effective coverage per cycle (including recharge time). The Ecovacs GOAT series wins here with its 45-minute fast charging — even though its battery is smaller, the minimal downtime means it covers more ground over a full day. The Husqvarna wins on runtime per charge, which means fewer dock trips and more continuous cutting for very large areas.

Auto-charge and resume is standard on virtually all current models. The mower returns to the dock when battery is low, charges, then goes back to where it left off. You don’t need to intervene.

Cutting Height Range

What the specs say: Listed as a range, e.g., “0.8 inches to 3.6 inches” or “1.2 inches to 3.6 inches” with a number of adjustment increments.

What it means in practice: This is one of the most important specs to match to your grass type, and it’s the one people most often overlook.

Warm-season grasses thrive when kept short: Bermuda grass at 0.5–2 inches, Zoysia grass at 1–2.5 inches, St. Augustine at 2–4 inches, Centipede grass at 1–2 inches, and Buffalo grass at 2–3 inches.

Cool-season grasses need to stay taller: Kentucky Bluegrass at 2.5–3.5 inches, Tall Fescue at 2–4 inches, Perennial Ryegrass at 1.5–2.5 inches, and Fine Fescue at 1.5–3 inches.

If you have Bermuda grass and want to keep it tight at 1 inch, you need a mower that goes down to at least 0.8-1.0 inches. The Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD X series (1.0″-2.7″) and Ecovacs GOAT series (1.2″-3.6″) both handle this well.

If you have Tall Fescue or Kentucky Bluegrass and want the recommended 3+ inches, you need a mower that reaches that high. The Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD HX series specifically targets this with a 2.2″-4.0″ range. The Segway Navimow i Series goes up to 3.6 inches. The standard Husqvarna 430X caps at 2.4 inches, which is too low for cool-season grasses cut at recommended heights.

Electric vs. manual height adjustment: Premium models (Husqvarna X-line, Ecovacs GOAT A series) let you adjust cutting height from the app. Budget models require you to physically turn a dial on the mower. If you change heights seasonally (cutting higher in summer heat, lower in spring and fall), app-based adjustment is a meaningful convenience.

Cutting Width and Blade System

What the specs say: Cutting width in inches, and sometimes blade type (single disc vs. dual disc).

What it means in practice: Cutting width directly affects mowing speed. A mower with a 13-inch dual-blade cutting deck covers ground nearly twice as fast as one with a 7-inch single disc. This matters more than you might think — on a medium lawn, the difference can be hours per week of mowing time.

Budget (7-8 inches): Worx Landroid S/M (7-8″), Segway Navimow i Series (7.1″). These use a single small spinning disc with three replaceable razor blades.

Mid-Range to Premium (9-13 inches): Ecovacs GOAT A2500/A3000 (13″), Husqvarna 430X/450XH (9.4″). The Ecovacs models use staggered dual blade discs, which is a significant mowing efficiency advantage.

Premium/Large Area (15-16 inches): Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD (15.8″). Dual cutting discs positioned on the sides of the mower, providing the widest effective cut of any residential robotic mower.

Blade quality matters too. The small razor-style blades used by most robots are designed to slice grass cleanly rather than tear it, which promotes healthier regrowth. They’re cheap to replace (typically $10-20 for a set) and should be swapped every 1-3 months depending on use.

Navigation Systems

What the specs say: RTK, GNSS, LiDAR, VSLAM, Vision, EPOS, EFLS — the acronym soup is thick.

What it means in practice: Navigation determines how accurately the mower knows where it is, how efficiently it cuts (straight lines vs. random paths), and how well it handles complex layouts. Here’s what each technology actually does:

Boundary Wire: The oldest method. A physical wire buried or pegged around your lawn perimeter carries a signal that tells the mower where to stop. Reliable but tedious to install (2-6 hours). Used by Worx Landroid Classic and older Husqvarna models.

RTK (Real-Time Kinematic): Satellite-based positioning accurate to 1-3 centimeters. The mower knows its exact position and can cut in systematic patterns (straight lines, parallel rows). Requires a base station/antenna, usually included. Used by Segway Navimow, Ecovacs GOAT A2500, Mammotion LUBA.

LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging): Uses laser pulses to create a detailed 3D map of the environment. Works in any lighting condition, including total darkness. Not affected by satellite signal loss under trees. Used by Ecovacs GOAT A3000 LiDAR and the new Segway Navimow i2 LiDAR series.

Vision/Camera: Uses onboard cameras and AI to identify grass, obstacles, and boundaries. Works without satellites or external antennas. Used by Worx Landroid Vision and as a backup system on many RTK mowers.

EPOS (Husqvarna): Husqvarna’s proprietary satellite-based system. Similar to RTK in principle — uses a reference station for centimeter-level accuracy. The 450XH EPOS and newer Husqvarna models use this for wire-free operation.

Multi-layered (RTK + Vision, LiDAR + Camera): Most 2026 models use two or more systems simultaneously. If the satellite signal drops under a tree, the vision system takes over. If it’s dark, LiDAR handles navigation. This redundancy is what separates mid-range mowers from premium — the mower almost never gets confused about where it is.

Which matters most: If your yard is open with good sky visibility, basic RTK works great. If you have lots of trees, tall structures, or covered areas, you need either LiDAR or a redundant RTK + Vision system. If you want the simplest possible setup (no antenna, no wire), the Worx Landroid Vision or LiDAR-based models are the way to go.

For specific model recommendations based on your yard’s navigation needs, see: Best Robotic Lawn Mowers Compared.

Slope Handling

What the specs say: Maximum slope percentage or degrees.

What it means in practice: A 20% slope means a 20-foot rise over 100 feet of horizontal distance — a gentle incline. A 45% slope is noticeably steep. An 80% slope is aggressive enough that you’d have trouble standing on it.

Up to 20%: Flat to gentle. Any robotic mower handles this. Worx Landroid, Husqvarna 115H.

20-35%: Moderate slopes. Most mid-range mowers handle this fine. Segway Navimow i Series (30%), Husqvarna 430X (45%).

35-50%: Serious hills. You need a mower specifically rated for slopes. Ecovacs GOAT A2500/A3000 (50%), Husqvarna 450XH (45%).

50-80%+: Extreme terrain. AWD is essential. Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD (80%), Segway Navimow X4 (up to 84% claimed). These are the only consumer models that can handle this kind of terrain.

Important caveat: Manufacturer slope ratings are tested under ideal conditions (dry grass, mowed height, firm soil). Real-world performance on wet grass, thick growth, or soft soil will be lower. If your steepest slope is 30%, buy a mower rated for at least 40%.

AWD vs. RWD: All-wheel drive mowers power all four wheels independently, giving them dramatically better traction on slopes and uneven ground. Rear-wheel drive is fine for flat and mildly sloped lawns. If you have significant hills, AWD is worth the premium.

Mow Zones and Multi-Zone Management

What the specs say: Number of supported zones, no-go zones, scheduling per zone.

What it means in practice: If your lawn is a single, connected rectangle, zones might not matter much. But most real lawns aren’t that simple.

Multi-zone management lets you define separate areas (front yard, backyard, side strip) with different schedules, set different cutting heights for different zones, create no-go zones around pools, flower beds, playgrounds, or garden features, and draw channels that connect separate lawn areas so the mower can travel between them automatically.

The number of zones varies by model. The Mammotion LUBA Mini supports 20 zones. The LUBA 2 supports up to 60 zones. The Ecovacs GOAT A3000 supports multiple zones with customizable speed and cutting height per zone. The Segway Navimow i Series supports multiple zones connected by channels.

Zone setup is typically done through the app — you draw boundaries on a satellite or LiDAR-generated map of your lawn. The better apps let you drag corners, merge zones, split zones, and adjust on the fly. Some apps (Mammotion particularly) also support custom mowing patterns per zone — parallel lines in the front, checkerboard in the back.

App Quality and Smart Home Integration

The app is your primary interface with the mower. A bad app can make an otherwise great mower feel frustrating. Here’s what to look for:

Essential app features (all decent apps have these): Schedule management, start/stop/dock commands, boundary/zone editing, mowing status and history, cutting height adjustment (on supported models), and firmware updates.

Advanced app features (mid-range and premium): Real-time GPS tracking of the mower on a map, custom mowing patterns (parallel, checkerboard, diamond), weather-adaptive scheduling, detailed lawn maps with coverage overlay, remote control/manual driving, and multi-mower management.

Smart home integration: Most mid-range and premium mowers work with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, allowing voice commands like “start mowing” or “send the mower home.” Husqvarna models also support IFTTT for custom automation. Some models connect to smart irrigation systems like the Gardena Smart System.

App ratings by brand (general consensus from user reviews): Husqvarna Automower Connect — polished, reliable, smooth interface. Segway Navimow — clean, intuitive, good mapping tools. Ecovacs HOME — feature-rich, occasional connectivity hiccups. Mammotion — powerful features (lawn printing is unique), interface can feel complex for beginners. Worx Landroid — straightforward and user-friendly, fewer advanced features.

Noise Levels

What the specs say: Decibel level, typically 54-65 dB(A).

What it means in practice: For reference, a normal conversation is about 60 dB, a refrigerator hum is about 40 dB, and a gas push mower is about 90-100 dB.

Robotic mowers are dramatically quieter than any conventional mower. The Segway Navimow i Series operates at 58 dB — quiet enough to run while you’re having a conversation on the patio. Husqvarna’s ultra-silent drive models are among the quietest, enabling night mowing without disturbing anyone.

This matters because the ideal use case for a robotic mower is to run it daily (or almost daily). If it’s loud enough to be annoying, you’ll restrict it to certain hours and lose one of its biggest advantages.

Obstacle Avoidance and Safety

What the specs say: Number of object types detected, sensor types, stopping distance.

What it means in practice: Older and cheaper models use bump sensors — they run into something, stop, and turn around. This works but can damage delicate plants or garden features over time.

Modern mid-range and premium models use a combination of ultrasonic sensors, 3D Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors, cameras, and AI algorithms. The Ecovacs GOAT A3000 claims to detect over 200 obstacle types. Segway’s VisionFence identifies 150+ objects. These systems actively detect obstacles before contact and steer around them.

Safety features worth checking: Lift sensors that instantly stop the blades if the mower is picked up. Tilt sensors that stop blades if the mower tips over. Blade braking time (how quickly the disc stops). PIN lock to prevent unauthorized use. The Segway Navimow has a dedicated Animal Friendly Mode that creates a one-meter buffer around detected pets.

For more answers to safety and practical questions, see: Do Robotic Mowers Charge Themselves? 15 Questions Answered.

Weather Resistance

What the specs say: IP rating (typically IPX5 or IPX6).

What it means in practice: IPX5 means the mower can withstand water jets from any direction. IPX6 means it can handle powerful water jets. Both are adequate for rain. The Ecovacs GOAT A3000 LiDAR is rated IPX6. Most Husqvarna models are explicitly designed to mow in rain.

However, “can mow in rain” and “should mow in rain” are different things. Wet grass clumps, doesn’t mulch well, and can clog the cutting disc. Smart models with weather awareness (either built-in sensors or pulling forecast data) will automatically delay mowing when rain is expected and resume when conditions improve.

Anti-Theft Features

What the specs say: GPS tracking, PIN protection, geofencing, alarm.

What it means in practice: A robotic mower sitting on your lawn unattended is a theft target. Most mid-range and premium models address this with multiple layers: a PIN code that must be entered to operate the mower, GPS tracking visible in the app, a loud alarm if the mower is lifted, and geofencing that alerts you if the mower leaves its designated area.

Some brands (Mammotion, Segway) go further with “lost mode” features that brick the mower for anyone except the registered owner. Husqvarna’s built-in GPS tracking has been effective enough that stolen units have been recovered through the app.

Putting It All Together: What Specs Matter Most

If we had to rank the specs by impact on your actual satisfaction: navigation quality comes first (determines if the mower gets stuck, lost, or misses areas), followed by coverage area vs. your actual lawn size, cutting height range (must match your grass type), app quality, slope handling (if relevant to your terrain), charging time + cutting width (affects total daily coverage efficiency), noise level (if running daily/nightly), and obstacle avoidance quality (saves you from trim work and plant damage).

For recommendations on which specific models deliver the best value at each price point: Robotic Mower Price Tiers: Budget vs Mid-Range vs Premium.