LawnBott LB3200 Evolution

Lithium-ion batteries give the LawnBott LB3200 a longer run time and wider coverage, and it can handle slopes of up to 27 degrees. You can also program this robotic mower to automatically cut grass at a particular height or to mow three separate areas. A second battery (*est. $300) can be added, allowing it to mow up to 1.25 acres. Like all robotic mowers, it requires setting up perimeter wires. But after that, it requires little attention. If you need a robotic mower for four separate areas or to handle a bigger lawn, consider the high-end LawnBott LB3500 (*est. $3,250), which can accept extra batteries to mow two or three acres. Note that earlier LawnBott Evolution mowers were recalled; new models are not affected.

We found the best review of the LawnBott LB3200 Evolution at Bamabots.com, a retail site, where Kerry Clabaugh compares it in detail with other robotic lawn mowers, describing drawbacks as well as estimated repair and maintenance costs. Tests at the Christian Science Monitor are more detailed than those at Consumer Reports magazine, but both reviews cover safety and performance. Owner-written reviews at Grit.com and Amazon.com are also useful for getting a sense of what it's like to set up and use the Evolution.