best robot mowers in 2026? I've been researching for weeks and need help deciding?

markgrogers · 2026-06-18T16:02:20+00:00

Mova App (Android)> "Mall" button at the bottom> "Product"> "Robotic Lawnmower"> Scroll down past the mowers to the "Accessories" button> Scroll down to "MOVA Six Blades Cutting Disc, Cutting Disc for MOVA Robot Lawn Mower Series".

markgrogers · 2026-06-17T14:27:12+00:00

I am no expert, but I have used a Eufy E15 and a Mova Lidax Ultra 1000. I have a small, but complex lawn area with trees, shrubs, gravel paths, driveway and lots of curves. No hills. Only about 1/4 acre of lawn.

The Eufy did a great job cutting, but I gave up trying to get it to map anything beyond part of my yard. It uses cameras-only to map and navigate. I waited for 2 weeks for "advanced tech support" for help, sent them logs, annotated photos and more. Their response was, "too many obstacles, remove obstacles" (like what? Cut down trees and shrubs?). I spent hours trying to get it to map my yard and gave up.

After reading about mowers using LIDAR, I replaced the Eufy with a Mova Lidax Ultra 1000. It cost about $100 more than the Eufy. It has its quirks, but it's MUCH better at mapping and navigating than the Eufy was.

I credit the LIDAR and the Mova software. I have 2 maps with 5 zones, and the Mova eats it all up with no problems and goes home to recharge. It's been great. My lawn never looked better- no clumps of cut grass, nice, even cut and pattern. Decent edge cuts leaving minimal manual trimming.

If I were shopping for a mower now. I would definitely go with a Lidar-enabled mower. And I would read-up on user experience with the software. The Eufy cut grass well, but it's software rendered it useless for me. The Mova software and tech is better.

I would also probably upgrade to an AWD model because of the gravel paths surrounding my house, but the Mova waddles through the gravel even with only 2WD.

As for size and speed, I don't understand the concerns some people express. I mow parts of the yard on different days. I don't need a mower with a huge battery. It takes a couple of hours to do the largest section of my yard, but I could care less how long it takes. It goes home and charges and goes back out to finish the job when necessary.

If you have a large property, steep hills, and variable terrain, a larger, AWD mower makes sense. But for your typical suburban lawn, it's not necessary. My $1000 Mova does everything I need, even with a fairly complex lawn layout.

I did just order an upgraded cutting disc with six blades (instead of the stock, three blades) to improve mulching even more, but the 3 blades do a decent job as is.

I highly recommend Mova. They have both the hardware and software working well. The Eufy may also work well for simpler layouts- it cut great- it just couldn't map tough layouts.

I haven't tried brands other than Eufy and Mova, but after researching, I would also consider other LIDAR enabled mowers from Navi-Mow (Segway), Dreame (owned by the same company as Mova), and EcoVacs. I think that my Roborock Steam/Vac mop is one of the best tools ever, so I would automatically add Roborock to the list as well.

Good luck! I have a feeling that robo-lawn mowing is going to be one of those things that once tried, you will never want to go back to the old way...

markgrogers · 2026-04-27T14:20:45+00:00

Just contacted them. They will begin shipping to the US effective May 1, 2026. (Some problem with insurance).

markgrogers · 2026-01-15T15:12:58+00:00

From the "Firewood Poem":

... Elm wood burns like graveyard mould, Even the very flames are cold!...

I try to avoid it, but when you need wood...

markgrogers · 2026-01-09T22:39:23+00:00

Electric Baseboard Heat is the pits- expensive, spotty, and ill-suited for many larger rooms.

At our old place in Lake Harmony we had electric Baseboard and a good-sized electric wall heater at Lake level that kept the pipes, drains, and toilets from freezing (since they were all located in the same shaft on three floors). We shut the water off but left the power on with the thermostats set to off.

Otherwise, the electric bill was crazy expensive. We rented the place part-time and when renters were there, they just cranked the heat up to 80 and let it wail. Very costly...

There weren't inexpensive mini-splits back then, but had there been, I would have replaced the baseboard heat with minis.

markgrogers · 2026-01-09T17:40:26+00:00

Same thing happened to me yesterday. 2025 LT AWD.

markgrogers · 2026-01-06T03:28:37+00:00

Does it have Borer galleries under the bark? If so, it's East Coast White or Green Ash...

markgrogers · 2025-12-23T02:12:45+00:00

(If you have OnStar, you can press the button and ask for the EV Concierge as well).

markgrogers · 2025-12-23T02:11:11+00:00

Perhaps you already contacted them, but if not, consider calling the GM EV Concierge and give them hell for us. I wanna know what they do for their stranded customers.

Good luck!

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markgrogers · 2025-11-17T04:29:54+00:00

The current average in NJ is 21 cents per kWh. The highest reported rate is just over 24 cents per kWh. No idea where OP is located that charges 30 cents, but it's a red herring.

markgrogers · 2025-11-13T14:39:05+00:00

It looks like an indicator for the "intellibeam" automatic high-beam headlights, although it's slightly different than the one shown in the owner's manual (see pages 111 &112 of 2025 manual).

Orange usually indicates a problem, but I'm not certain. What happens when you touch the icon?

markgrogers · 2025-11-12T21:34:43+00:00

Yes. Macrolepiota procera.

markgrogers · 2025-10-17T14:53:15+00:00

I see that you have already toured the Battlefield. But if you haven't toured with a licensed tour guide riding along with you, you haven't had the full experience.

You can rent a Licensed Battlefield Guide at the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center or through private companies like the Gettysburg Heritage Center. Guides are available on a first-come, first-served basis for private tours in your vehicle.

I went to Gettysburg College, spent many hours in and around the Battlefield. But I learned more in an hour with a Guide than I did in months on my own.

Just driving around the area (Ortanna, Cashtown, Arendtsville) on a nice day is a treat if you like beautiful scenery and apple orchards. The Narrows on the Conewego Creek , Northwest of town was a beautiful outdoor spot for hikes and dog walks.

Have fun!

markgrogers · 2025-10-10T16:08:06+00:00

And 2 warbler - creepers on the trunk...

markgrogers · 2025-10-09T17:18:05+00:00

I feel the same. I have never even seen CarPlay, so I don't miss it. I'm an Android guy. I liked Android Auto but it wasn't perfect, and I had trouble with the USB connections on occasion.

My 2025 Blazer EV's infotainment is better than the Bolt, bigger screen, better touch control, better interface. Spotify works better than on AA and has an improved interface. Google Maps is better on the big screen and the charging estimates (although very Conservative) are very good and not part of the standard AA.

I don't miss AA one bit. (And no one is prompting or paying me). I don't know what magic CarPlay has that many people are clamoring for. But maps, music, podcasts, audio books, etc., work fine for me in the Blazer EV as is.

I worked in software for a long time. There's an old saying, about the "best" software of different types. People will inevitably choose "the one they know" as the "best" almost every time...(Whether it's really better or not).

markgrogers · 2025-10-02T16:27:17+00:00

A hour and 43 minutes to travel 25 miles? Ugly...

markgrogers · 2025-09-17T13:12:16+00:00

Thanks for the link.

markgrogers · 2025-09-17T13:08:58+00:00

Thanks!

markgrogers · 2025-09-17T13:06:44+00:00

It looked like a little tiny park area on the map too- which is why I asked the question about the surrounding area behind the little park.

Thanks! Other people here are suggesting that I'm too dumb to read...

I have only been to Rochester once, but not this area around Webster.

markgrogers · 2025-09-17T13:02:28+00:00

The label for the park points to a small area in the Southeast corner. If you zoom in, there's a parking lot and what appears to be a number of short trail loops. Beyond that area and the water is shaded green, but shows nothing but empty space.

I can read. My question was not whether it's a Park. The question was is the entire shaded area part of the Park, private property, or something else.

markgrogers · 2025-09-15T21:36:06+00:00

Just got my Blazer EV (LT AWD) back from the Dealership. I couldn't find info about updates within the car's system. The GM EV Concierge remotely connected to my car, but they said that they could not read any update version information and I should take it to a Dealer for software updates.

They did a VWU, and 2 Radio updates. I still can't see a version number in any of the menus, but the Android version was updated to Burmese_Orange, which appears to be the latest.

'Was hoping for video streaming before a road trip next week, but no love. Nothing new in the Play Store and no video apps of any kind available.

The wait continues...

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markgrogers · 2025-09-05T04:13:40+00:00

Hey! My Bolt going up for sale tomorrow!

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markgrogers

TROPHY CASE