Husqvarna Automower 430XH review: Set up is a chore, but mowing won't be

Over the past few years, robot vacuums have become more and more common, with devices ranging from basic floor cleaners to ones packed with artificial intelligence. A number of companies hope the same thing will happen for robotic lawnmowers. The brand that has been at the center of these products is Husqvarna.

The company makes power tools for outdoor projects and knows what it takes to survive the elements. I have been using the Husqvarna AUTOMOWER 430XH on my rural farm stead for a few months and I am ready for it to become more common.

Husqvarna AUTOMOWER 430XH review: Price and availability

The Husqvarna AUTOMOWER 430XH went on sale for $3299.95 through a number of retailers. The lawnmower is currently retailing for $2499.99 at many of the same launch retailers.

There are today's best Husqvarna deals.

Husqvarna AUTOMOWER 430XH review: What's good

I was both excited and skeptical when I was given the chance to review a robotic lawnmower. When I got my first robot vacuum cleaner, I didn't want to know what my life would be like if I didn't use it. It takes care of a task I wouldn't have done if it hadn't given my family back.

The vacuum situation was the same as the lawnmower situation. I like to mow my yard in the spring, but it becomes a chore in the summer. It's great to get something to take the task off my mind. Though I didn't expect a robot mower to take on my entire property, anything would be appreciated.

I've used a lot of the outdoor power tools from the company. Most people know of the brand for those tools, but that isn't always the case. These devices have been made for 25 years. The time spent was celebrated this summer, but it was also the 10th anniversary of the Mars robot. Happy Birthday to some models of automowers on August 5, 2022. I received a compatible model to test the event. You can see a video of it here.

One of the larger consumer models is the automOWER 430XH. Many of the conveniences found on basic robot vacuums can be found in it. Instead of spinning brushes, you get three spinning razor blades.

The mower can be stopped if it gets lifted or tilted, thanks to the unit's sensors. The Husqvarna AUTOMOWER 430XH requires you to set boundaries and guide it.

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There are two ways to purchase an automOWER, professional installation or self- installation. I wanted to install it myself since I like to do things myself. There is a lot of stuff inside the box for the 430XH.

Before you start installing the loop wire, make sure to walk your property and get a clear game plan for where you want the axe to cut. It will allow you to lay the wire more quickly.

The loop wire is used for two things. The provided wire was used by my wife and I to cover the entire yard. We secured the wire on top of the ground to the mower's boundary using the ground stakes. The wire was run to the farthest corner from the charging station.

The stronger wire will help the mower find it and get the 430XH back to the charging station as quickly as possible. The loop wire is used to create islands around areas you don't want the mower to go to.

The charging station needed to be connected to the boundary and guide wires. I used the primary power of the Husqvarna AUTOMOWER to charge it. It was ready to pair with the app on my phone when it kicked up.

You can use the app to monitor the mower's power status, schedule mowing, change cutting height, and more. You can use the app to get different insights into what your mower has done. You can see how far yourOWER has traveled, how much time has been spent charging, cutting, and searching for the base station, and many more.

You will get a notification from the app if the mower gets stuck or lost. I can use the map to see where the bot went wrong. The map can show the location of the AUTOMOWER 430XH.

There is a bubble over your property. The size of the area can be adjusted. You will get an alert if the robot is taken from your yard. If the battery gets low, the mower will reduce its gps ping.

How good is it as a lawnmower? It's pretty darn good. It is not loud. It was like a quiet horror movie. You have to listen to the motor spinning to hear it. After watching a football game, my brother and I were sitting outside and the mower came up and frightened us.

My wife and I watched the mower for a while to see if it was working. It is difficult to see if grass is being cut because it is not being shot out of a chute. Unless it is in a large patch of grass. The mower will stop and begin cutting in a spiral pattern if it encounters an area that is particularly overgrown.

The mower will cut until it crosses the wire. In the app, you can decide how far past the wire your mower will travel. The mower will turn around if it comes in contact with something. The included wire can be used to create islands around objects and areas you don't want the mower to hit. The included wire is helpful for things like trees, bushes, or gardens.

The Husqvarna AUTOMOWER 430XH does not clean in an orderly pattern. The mowing path is not logical. The mower knows where it is and where it's not. It will eventually cover your whole yard. I did not have to mow manually, but a few patches of my yard from July to October.

Husqvarna AUTOMOWER 430XH review: What's not good

The AUTOMOWER 430XH is a device that is designed to cut your lawn. The unit works well and the app compliment it. There are some things that can go wrong right from the beginning.

The boundary wire is being installed. It is very labor intensive to lay out the wire. Installation of the wire isn't that bad if you live in an area that doesn't get too hot or if you set up your mower in the springtime. It is difficult with the hard and dry ground if you install it when I did.

The amount of wire you run can affect how tiring the process is. If the ground is soft, you can install the wire in a few hours if you have a small lawn. It took my wife and I ten hours to do the job.

It is possible to have it installed for you if you don't want to do it yourself. You can't get around it if you don't install the wire. The mower won't work unless the wire is installed with a complete loop. If there is a break in the boundary wire yourOWER will stop.

The display on the mower will tell you that it isn't cutting the grass. If the boundary wire loop is broken, the charging station's status is displayed on an LEDs light. The location of that break is not known. You can more easily find it if you're lucky. You can either purchase a piece of equipment to tone the wire to find the issue or you can walk and try to find the break.

The AUTOMOWER 430XH is easy to get stuck and caught on. My yard has more than a few dips in the grass, sticks, and roots to contend with. I think it's okay. The mower can go over small twigs. If the mower gets stuck between its wheels or gets into loose dirt, it will need help.

A wide, shallow hole with loose dirt would capture it almost every time. I saw ruts and spirals carved into the dirt when I went to rescue the 430XH, but it couldn't escape. If your yard has exposed tree roots or areas of loose dirt, you'll want to put an island around them.

Husqvarna AUTOMOWER 430XH review: Competition

Even though it has been in the robot lawn mower game for a while, it's only just now starting to get some new competitors. Worx is a brand that makes affordable outdoor power tools and lawnmowers. The Landroid L is the closest to the AUTOMOWER.

The Landroid L is rated for up to.500 acres, the Husqvarna model is.8 and it uses a motor. There are some accessories that can help you install the boundary wire. The antic-collision system is attached to the mower to give it the ability to detect sound. It will be able to sense objects and avoid them. If you don't purchase the ACS, it will respond in a similar way.

There is an 8-inch cutting path and up to 3.5 inches of cutting height. It's possible to control the mower with your mobile device. You won't be able to see it on a map or find it if it's stolen. Add-on accessories can be used to solve that issue. The Landroid L costs $1300 at Amazon, but won't cut as much as the 430XH.

Gardena is one of the most popular options. The company is part of a larger organization. Gardena lawnmowers offer the same amount of productivity but with less features. They are much cheaper than the AUTOMOWER 430XH. The SILENO Life is a half-acre model with an 8.7 inch cutting path. The mower doesn't have a gps or wi-fi, but you can use the companion app to manage it.

Lifts and tilt sensors are included in the mower. The boundary wire needs to be installed to define the mowing area. The SILENO Life is easy to carry. If you have a small yard, this is an option that is worth considering.

Husqvarna AUTOMOWER 430XH review: Should you buy it?

If you do, you should purchase this.

• You don't want to manually mow your yard.
• You don't have a yard over one acre.
• You have a yard that stays most debris free and doesn't have areas of loose dirt.

If you buy this, you should not.

• You don't want to run a boundary wire.
• You have exposed tree roots.
• You have a yard larger than one acre.

The portion of my yard that was tested was too small. The mower kept the grass in good shape. There wasn't much downtime for the robot. It had to run non-stop. It will do a great job for you if you have a yard under oneacre. You should have an already tidy yard.

I like using this mower. If I had to rescue it many times from getting stuck on a stick or in a hole, it would have taken me a lot of time. To use the mower, you will need a boundary wire. It isn't a simple task. If you don't want to do that, you'll have to pay the installation cost.

Hopefully, robot lawnmowers will be cheaper in the future. Is the Husqvarna automOWER not worth it? It is not possible to say yes. It is wonderful. I would like to forgo the wire and define the mowing area with gps. If you have a budget and a yard that is suitable for the robot lawn mower, it is a great way to get some time back.