Robotic vs. Remote Controlled Mowers: Which Is Best for Your Lawn?

Keeping your lawn well-manicured doesn’t need you to spend hours pushing the lawn mower. Modern technology has offered you advanced solutions to make your work easier and faster with robotic and remote-controlled mowers. With only the touch of a button, you can have your lawn perfectly mowed. 

This guide explains the differences between remote-controlled and robotic mowers to help you decide which is best for your lawn. 

Quick Overview: What's the Difference Between Robotic and Remote Controlled Mowers?

A robotic lawn mower is a small, battery-powered mower that operates autonomously, using GPS and sensors to mow your lawn without requiring your intervention. 

Once you define the mowing area and program it, the robotic mower will take care of your lawn without your intervention. It works like a robotic vacuum cleaner, allowing you time to do other things. 

On the other hand, a remote-controlled mower will require your active participation while mowing. You control the mower using a remote device or a smartphone. A remote-controlled mower provides you with the flexibility to mow your lawn in the way you prefer. It is beneficial when mowing complicated terrains or areas that need close supervision. 

How Robotic and Remote-Controlled Mowers Work: A Technical Breakdown

Robotic Mowers 

A robotic lawn mower (Australia) may look sleek, but it boasts impressive technology under the hood that enables it to function without human intervention. These autonomous mowers rely on a combination of power systems, cutting mechanisms, and navigation tools to keep your lawn perfectly mowed. 

They are powered by lithium batteries, which are fast-charging, long-lasting, and lightweight. The battery capacity affects the lawn mower's run time, with larger batteries capable of running up to 4 hours. 

The autonomous lawn mower returns to its charging station when the battery runs out. The best robotic mowers in Australia have brushless motors, which enable them to move across your lawn and move the blades. For instance, the Moebot acre eater features floating cutter disks that adapt to uneven terrain, ensuring a consistent cut. 

Electric robotic mowers utilize wireless smart positioning systems, including GPS, RTK (Real-Time Kinematic GPS), and SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping). RTK enables it to create a base station that sends real-time corrections to the mower for accuracy. 

Meanwhile, SLAM allows it to build a map of your lawn and the surrounding area while also locating itself within the map. 

Remote Controlled Mowers

Remote-controlled mowers are manually operated through handheld transmitters that use radio frequencies, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. They are designed for more cutting power and control in rugged environments.

Most remote-controlled lawn mowers in Australia have joysticks or trigger-style inputs for real-time control over the throttle, steering, blade heights, engine start and stop, and emergency stops. 

Remote-controlled mowers can be powered by battery or petrol. Petrol remote-controlled mowers have longer run times and torque for heavy-duty tasks. 

Most remote-controlled lawn mowers have a communication range of between 30 to 200 metres, depending on the model and terrain. For instance, the HT850 remote-controlled lawn mower features a cutting height range of 10 mm to 150 mm, allowing for a perfect cut, depending on the slope gradient.

Performance Comparison: Cutting Power, Precision, and Efficiency

Lawn mower performance is one of the indicators that tell you which machine is best for your lawn. Remote-controlled lawn mowers have more power than autonomous lawn mowers, which enables them to mow long, dense grass and vegetation faster. 

Some models have superior speed and power, five times faster than electric robotic mowers. 

On the other hand, robotic lawn mowers can work independently and precisely even if they can't handle rugged terrains like remote-controlled mowers. 

Once you program them, autonomous lawn mowers can efficiently and precisely mow in the pattern you programmed, ensuring a consistent cut throughout the lawn. 

Ease of Use and User Experience

In the past, most robotic lawn mowers required an initial setup process that involved installing wire boundaries to indicate to the mower where it should not go, such as flower beds or pools. 

However, newer models, such as the FR4000 Smart Robotic Mower, feature RKT GPS and smart vision systems that eliminate the need for wires and reduce setup time. 

However, these systems require precise calibration and configuration of the mowing zones. Once the initial setup of the blade heights and schedules is configured with a mobile app, the lawn mower can run autonomously on your chosen schedule. Setup takes anywhere between 1 to 2 hours. 

On the other hand, remote-controlled lawn mowers are easier to use and are basically plug-and-play. If it’s an electric lawn mower, charge it, and for petrol lawn mowers, fill them with fuel, and you're ready to mow. 

If you prefer minimal tech interaction, remote-controlled lawn mowers are ideal. However, if you want a long-term automated solution, consider investing in a robotic lawn mower. 

Learning Curve 

Robotic lawn mowers come with user-friendly mobile apps that help in scheduling, blade height adjustments, and zone mapping. 

The learning curve may feel overwhelming for non-tech-savvy users, especially when calibrating the GPS, setting up multi-zone lawns, or troubleshooting boundaries, but you can refer to the user manual or call our customer support for help. 

Remote-controlled lawn mowers’ learning curve involves mastering the throttle, turning radius, and blade adjustments. The control system is similar to that of a remote-controlled toy car or drone.

Maintenance  

Robotic grass mowers need blade replacements every 2 to 3 months, depending on usage. Most robotic mowers use small, replaceable blades. You also need to clean the debris from the wheels and the undercarriage every few uses to prevent damage. 

The robotic mower battery life is quite long, with most lasting between 2 to 5 years. You should take good care of the battery, such as avoiding full discharge and ensuring safe storage during winter, to extend its lifespan. 

Petrol remote-controlled mowers require oil changes, air filter replacements, spark plug inspections, and occasional carburetor cleaning. In contrast, an electric, remote-controlled mower requires less maintenance as it has fewer moving parts. 

You need to check the battery and motor cooling systems and keep the control board dust-free. Sharpen the blades regularly and remove debris from the wheel and undercarriage to ensure longevity and optimal performance.  

Supervision 

Once set up, robotic mowers can run on a schedule even when you are not home. You can monitor or pause them via a mobile app, and most units have an auto-stop feature that activates when they encounter obstacles. 

Conversely, remote-controlled mowers require constant user operation. As you drive the mower through the remote, you need to be outdoors, actively monitoring and maneuvering the mower. 

Cost Analysis: Initial Investment and Long-Term Expenses

The initial investment for robotic lawn mowers is slightly higher than that of remote-controlled counterparts, with prices ranging from $500 to $ 1000 for entry-level mowers, which are ideal for small lawns under 300 m².

Mid-range autonomous lawn mowers, such as the G-Force Xpower 800 Robotic mower, cover between 600 and 1500m². Most have smart scheduling and app control and range from $1000 to $2500. 

High-end robotic lawn mowers can cost from $2,500 to over $10,000. They are wire-free, have multi-zone mapping, and have 4WD capabilities. Their annual operating cost is around $150. 

• Electricity Use: About 20–30 kWh/season (≈AU$10–15 annually).

• Blade Replacements: AU$30–50 every few months.

• Battery Replacement: AU$150–300 after 2–5 years.

Remote-controlled mowers, on the other hand, are more cost-effective, ranging from $ 1,000 to $7,000. The price varies depending on the power source, with battery-operated ones being more expensive than petrol remote-controlled lawn mowers. 

Servicing petrol remote-controlled movers is more expensive, ranging between $100 to $300 per year. 

Commercial remote-controlled mowers are more expensive, ranging from $7,000 to over $20,000. However, they are more heavy-duty and have higher torque and slope capabilities. 

• Electric Models: 1.5 kWh/hr (≈AU$0.50/hr of usage).

• Petrol Models: ~0.8–1.2 litres/hr (~AU$2–4/hr depending on petrol price).

• Servicing: AU$100–300/year (including oil, filters, repairs).

Total cost of ownership (TCO) over 3 to 5 years

Lofty Lawn Care offers flexible payment options like ZIP, and most lawn mowers have a warranty of between 1 and 2 years. We have different service centres across the country for hassle-free maintenance. 

Environmental and Noise Impact

Remote-controlled and robotic lawn mowers have a positive environmental impact, reducing noise pollution and producing zero emissions for battery-powered models. Compared to traditional lawn mowers, which emit carbon dioxide, they have contributed to a quieter environment and cleaner air. 

Unlike traditional lawn mowers, which can reach up to 95 decibels, robotic grass mowers produce less than 60 decibels. Robotic mowers comply with Australian residential regulations, while petrol-powered remote-controlled ones may require restricted use hours in some areas. 

Moreover, lithium batteries used to power remote-controlled and robotic lawn mowers are recyclable through local battery drop-off programs, making them a sustainable option. 

Safety and Convenience Features

Robotic lawn mowers feature obstacle-avoidance capabilities, such as ultrasonic, IR, or mechanical bumper sensors. They also have lift and tilt protection, which automatically shuts off the blade when the mower is lifted. 

They also have weather detectors, which allow them to return to home base automatically when it starts raining. Many premium models come equipped with GPS tracking and anti-theft systems, including PIN codes and smartphone alerts. 

Remote-controlled lawn mowers, on the other hand, have emergency stops to immediately shut down when needed. They also have manual overrides that allow start, stop, and throttle control from the mower itself. 

Additionally, remote-controlled mowers have lock mechanisms to prevent accidental operation by children or untrained users, as well as range limits that enable auto-cutoff if the mower exceeds its signal range. 

Which Mower is Best for Your Lawn Type?

If you have a smaller lawn that is less than 500 m² with flat or simple terrain, a small robotic lawn mower in Australia like the Gardena Sileno Minimo 250 Robotic Lawnmower will do the job. 

If you have a larger lawn, consider a mid-range to high-end robotic mower, such as the LUBA 2 AWD 1000 Perimeter Wire-Free Robot Lawn Mower, or a remote-controlled mower. 

For larger lawns or commercial spaces with complex terrains, such as uneven, rugged lawns or slopes, a remote control lawn mower like the Hightop HT850 is ideal.