No stranger to outdoor appliances, Sweden-based Husqvarna offers a variety of robot lawn mowers for yards of all shapes and sizes.
We got our hands on the Automower 315X, a high-end, feature-packed model with a premium $1,999.95 price.
The 315X works with a well-designed mobile app that lets you use your phone to start and stop the mower, monitor its progress, create schedules, and see where it's been on a map of your property.
Its user-friendly programming options, outstanding cutting performance, and quiet operation earn it our Editors' Choice for robotic lawn mowers.
Automower 315X Design and Features
The Automower 315X is a sleek-looking machine.
Its two-tone plastic shroud with slim headlights and stylish wheels make it look more like an exotic race car than a lawn mower.
It measures 9.8 by 20.0 by 24.8 inches (HWD), weighs 22.2 pounds, and is designed for lawns of up to 0.4 acres.
Husqvarna offers seven different models for smaller (up to 0.25 acres) and larger (up to 1.25 acres) lawns, ranging in price from $1,499.95 to $3,499.95.
The 315X has an IPX4 weatherproof rating, which means you can leave it out in the elements.
Unlike the Worx Landroid and the Robomow RS622 mowers, however, the 315X lacks a rain sensor that will send the mower back to the charging base when it detects rainfall.
The 315X has no trouble working in the rain, but you'll have to keep the cutting deck free of wet grass clippings to ensure proper operation.
The top of the mower has one hatch that opens to reveal the control panel, another that hides the cutting height adjustment dial, and a large red Stop button.
The control panel has 19 buttons (including a numeric keypad) and a 2.6-by-1.5-inch color screen.
As with the Honda Miimo HRM310, the 315X uses a floating deck design that allows it to navigate the contours of your lawn without scalping the grass when it hits high spots.
It also uses the same three-blade spinning disc cutting mechanism as the Miimo, that turns clippings into fine mulch so there's no bagging involved.
It has a cutting width of 8.7 inches and you can adjust the cutting height from 0.78 to 2.36 inches, and it handles slopes up to 22 degrees.
The mower uses a 2,300rpm, 58dB electric motor and is powered by an 18V/2,100mAh lithium ion battery that gives it 70 minutes of power and requires 60 minutes of charge time.
The Automower 315X doesn't come with a remote, but it is the only robotic mower we've tested that offers GPS, cellular, and Bluetooth technology (the Robomow RS622 is equipped with a Bluetooth radio and a remote).
It comes with a 10-year cellular plan that lets you connect to it from anywhere using the excellent Automower Connect mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
The GPS radio tells the mower where it has already cut so it doesn't keep going over the same spot, and it uses Google Maps to give you a satellite view of the last cycle of cutting activity, defined by red lines.
Better yet, it allows you to track the mower's location if somebody decides to liberate it from your propert—you also need a PIN security code to restart the mower if it is stopped suddenly or lifted from its base.
You can control the 315X using the onboard panel, which offers a straightforward menu system with sub-menus that are easy to navigate, but it's much easier to use the mobile app.
That said, you have to use the onboard controls for initial setup and pairing with the mobile app.
The app opens to a Dashboard screen that shows the current status of the mower (parked, charging, mowing), battery level, and the next scheduled start time and date.
At the bottom of the screen are Park, Start, Timer, and Map buttons.
Pressing the Park button sends the mower back to its base and gives you the option of park it until further notice or the next scheduled cutting time.
You can also select a parking duration of three hours up to seven days.
The Start button lets you override the timer.
The Timer button takes you to the scheduling screen where you can create cutting schedules for specific days of the week at specific times of the day.
And the Map button opens a Google Maps screen that shows an aerial view of your property with GPS navigation lines that indicate where the mower has traveled recently.
You can access the Map and Timer screens by tapping the three-bar icon in the upper left corner of the Dashboard screen.
Here you can also access the Settings menu to enable the Weather Timer, which allows the mower to automatically adjust cutting times based on seasonal growing conditions.
The Eco Mode setting turns off the perimeter wire signal when the mower is charging or parked, and the Spiral cutting setting allows the mower to cut in tight spirals when it hits an area where the grass is longer than usual.
There are five intensity (grass length) levels to choose from ranging from Very Low to Very High.
Other settings include GPS Assisted Navigation, Corridor Width (for navigating through narrow passage ways), Exit Angles (which make it easier for the mower to reach the largest working area depending on the shape and size of your lawn), Reversing Distance (how far back the mower will have to go when leaving the base station), and Drive Past Wire (how far past the perimeter wire the mower will travel before turning around).
Included in the box are the mower, a charging base, nine extra blades, a power cable, and an owner's manual.
You can install the mower yourself, but you'll have to purchase an installation kit ($99.95) that contains almost 500 feet of perimeter wire, stakes for holding the wire in place, and an assortment of connectors and splicers.
Or, you can have a Husqvarna dealer install the mower.
Installation rates vary depending on the dealer and the complexity of your lawn.
For example, on Long Island where I tested, some dealers charge 50 cents per foot of wire being laid, while other dealers charge an hourly rate.
Additional costs may be incurred if it's necessary to run wire under driveways or sidewalks.
Installation and Performance
A Husqvarna rep came to my home to install the 315X, which was relatively easy since I already had perimeter wire installed from a previous review (most mowers use the same type of wire).
That said, count on spending anywhere from an hour or more on your knees (depending on your lawn size), measuring and installing the perimeter wire.
Once the base station was installed and powered up, we went to the Installation menu to enter my lawn size, enter the correct date and time, and create a schedule.
After the installation was complete, I downloaded the app and created an account.
I received a verification email, went to the Accessories menu on the mower, and selected Automower Connect.
I tapped New Pairing to generate a paring code, opened the app, tapped Add Automower, and selected the 315X from the list.
I entered the pairing code when prompted and was immediately connected.
As we saw with the Robowmow RS622 and the Honda Miimo HRM310, the Husqvarna 315X worked wonderfully.
It never failed to go out and do its job according to my schedule, and like the other mowers, it covered my entire 1,950-square-foot lawn in around one hour without missing any spots.
Edging performance was also very good: The 315x managed to navigate my curb line without getting stuck or tumbling into the street, and it handled several large divots with ease, as did the Honda Miimo.
It always stopped immediately when it came in contact with large branches and other objects.
And it's very quiet in operation, which is a huge plus.
The Automower Connect app makes it easy to do things like start and park the mower, change timer settings, and track the mower's progress using your phone, but you can't steer it from the app like you can with the Robomow RS622 app.
That said, you have to stay within Bluetooth range to use the Robomow app, whereas the Husqvrna's cellular radio gives you control from anywhere.
Moreover, scheduling is much easier with the Husqvrna app than the Robomow app, which uses a somewhat confusing, unconventional method.
The Honda Miimo does not come with a mobile app and must be controlled using the onboard panel.
Conclusions
With the Husqvarna Automower 315X, you can spend your weekend barbecuing, swimming, or on other fun activities instead of pushing a loud gas-powered mower around your lawn.
Its $1,999.95 price is steep, but if you put a premium on downtime and don't want to put up with the cost and noise of landscapers, it's money well spent.
It did a fantastic job of cutting in our tests, and was so quiet that I was able to run it at night without disturbing anyone.
It's also the only mower we've reviewed that uses cellular technology so you can control it remotely, and GPS to ensure even cutting cycles and provide an extra layer of anti-theft security.
All this earns the Husqvarna 315X our Editors' Choice for robotic lawn mowers.
Pros
Excellent cutting and edging performance.
Slick mobile app.
Includes Bluetooth, cellular, and GPS radios.
Quiet.
View More
The Bottom Line
The Husqvarna Automower 315X is a state-of-the-art robot lawn mower that is packed with features, including GPS, Bluetooth, and cellular technology.
No stranger to outdoor appliances, Sweden-based Husqvarna offers a variety of robot lawn mowers for yards of all shapes and sizes.
We got our hands on the Automower 315X, a high-end, feature-packed model with a premium $1,999.95 price.
The 315X works with a well-designed mobile app that lets you use your phone to start and stop the mower, monitor its progress, create schedules, and see where it's been on a map of your property.
Its user-friendly programming options, outstanding cutting performance, and quiet operation earn it our Editors' Choice for robotic lawn mowers.
Automower 315X Design and Features
The Automower 315X is a sleek-looking machine.
Its two-tone plastic shroud with slim headlights and stylish wheels make it look more like an exotic race car than a lawn mower.
It measures 9.8 by 20.0 by 24.8 inches (HWD), weighs 22.2 pounds, and is designed for lawns of up to 0.4 acres.
Husqvarna offers seven different models for smaller (up to 0.25 acres) and larger (up to 1.25 acres) lawns, ranging in price from $1,499.95 to $3,499.95.
The 315X has an IPX4 weatherproof rating, which means you can leave it out in the elements.
Unlike the Worx Landroid and the Robomow RS622 mowers, however, the 315X lacks a rain sensor that will send the mower back to the charging base when it detects rainfall.
The 315X has no trouble working in the rain, but you'll have to keep the cutting deck free of wet grass clippings to ensure proper operation.
The top of the mower has one hatch that opens to reveal the control panel, another that hides the cutting height adjustment dial, and a large red Stop button.
The control panel has 19 buttons (including a numeric keypad) and a 2.6-by-1.5-inch color screen.
As with the Honda Miimo HRM310, the 315X uses a floating deck design that allows it to navigate the contours of your lawn without scalping the grass when it hits high spots.
It also uses the same three-blade spinning disc cutting mechanism as the Miimo, that turns clippings into fine mulch so there's no bagging involved.
It has a cutting width of 8.7 inches and you can adjust the cutting height from 0.78 to 2.36 inches, and it handles slopes up to 22 degrees.
The mower uses a 2,300rpm, 58dB electric motor and is powered by an 18V/2,100mAh lithium ion battery that gives it 70 minutes of power and requires 60 minutes of charge time.
The Automower 315X doesn't come with a remote, but it is the only robotic mower we've tested that offers GPS, cellular, and Bluetooth technology (the Robomow RS622 is equipped with a Bluetooth radio and a remote).
It comes with a 10-year cellular plan that lets you connect to it from anywhere using the excellent Automower Connect mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
The GPS radio tells the mower where it has already cut so it doesn't keep going over the same spot, and it uses Google Maps to give you a satellite view of the last cycle of cutting activity, defined by red lines.
Better yet, it allows you to track the mower's location if somebody decides to liberate it from your propert—you also need a PIN security code to restart the mower if it is stopped suddenly or lifted from its base.
You can control the 315X using the onboard panel, which offers a straightforward menu system with sub-menus that are easy to navigate, but it's much easier to use the mobile app.
That said, you have to use the onboard controls for initial setup and pairing with the mobile app.
The app opens to a Dashboard screen that shows the current status of the mower (parked, charging, mowing), battery level, and the next scheduled start time and date.
At the bottom of the screen are Park, Start, Timer, and Map buttons.
Pressing the Park button sends the mower back to its base and gives you the option of park it until further notice or the next scheduled cutting time.
You can also select a parking duration of three hours up to seven days.
The Start button lets you override the timer.
The Timer button takes you to the scheduling screen where you can create cutting schedules for specific days of the week at specific times of the day.
And the Map button opens a Google Maps screen that shows an aerial view of your property with GPS navigation lines that indicate where the mower has traveled recently.
You can access the Map and Timer screens by tapping the three-bar icon in the upper left corner of the Dashboard screen.
Here you can also access the Settings menu to enable the Weather Timer, which allows the mower to automatically adjust cutting times based on seasonal growing conditions.
The Eco Mode setting turns off the perimeter wire signal when the mower is charging or parked, and the Spiral cutting setting allows the mower to cut in tight spirals when it hits an area where the grass is longer than usual.
There are five intensity (grass length) levels to choose from ranging from Very Low to Very High.
Other settings include GPS Assisted Navigation, Corridor Width (for navigating through narrow passage ways), Exit Angles (which make it easier for the mower to reach the largest working area depending on the shape and size of your lawn), Reversing Distance (how far back the mower will have to go when leaving the base station), and Drive Past Wire (how far past the perimeter wire the mower will travel before turning around).
Included in the box are the mower, a charging base, nine extra blades, a power cable, and an owner's manual.
You can install the mower yourself, but you'll have to purchase an installation kit ($99.95) that contains almost 500 feet of perimeter wire, stakes for holding the wire in place, and an assortment of connectors and splicers.
Or, you can have a Husqvarna dealer install the mower.
Installation rates vary depending on the dealer and the complexity of your lawn.
For example, on Long Island where I tested, some dealers charge 50 cents per foot of wire being laid, while other dealers charge an hourly rate.
Additional costs may be incurred if it's necessary to run wire under driveways or sidewalks.
Installation and Performance
A Husqvarna rep came to my home to install the 315X, which was relatively easy since I already had perimeter wire installed from a previous review (most mowers use the same type of wire).
That said, count on spending anywhere from an hour or more on your knees (depending on your lawn size), measuring and installing the perimeter wire.
Once the base station was installed and powered up, we went to the Installation menu to enter my lawn size, enter the correct date and time, and create a schedule.
After the installation was complete, I downloaded the app and created an account.
I received a verification email, went to the Accessories menu on the mower, and selected Automower Connect.
I tapped New Pairing to generate a paring code, opened the app, tapped Add Automower, and selected the 315X from the list.
I entered the pairing code when prompted and was immediately connected.
As we saw with the Robowmow RS622 and the Honda Miimo HRM310, the Husqvarna 315X worked wonderfully.
It never failed to go out and do its job according to my schedule, and like the other mowers, it covered my entire 1,950-square-foot lawn in around one hour without missing any spots.
Edging performance was also very good: The 315x managed to navigate my curb line without getting stuck or tumbling into the street, and it handled several large divots with ease, as did the Honda Miimo.
It always stopped immediately when it came in contact with large branches and other objects.
And it's very quiet in operation, which is a huge plus.
The Automower Connect app makes it easy to do things like start and park the mower, change timer settings, and track the mower's progress using your phone, but you can't steer it from the app like you can with the Robomow RS622 app.
That said, you have to stay within Bluetooth range to use the Robomow app, whereas the Husqvrna's cellular radio gives you control from anywhere.
Moreover, scheduling is much easier with the Husqvrna app than the Robomow app, which uses a somewhat confusing, unconventional method.
The Honda Miimo does not come with a mobile app and must be controlled using the onboard panel.
Conclusions
With the Husqvarna Automower 315X, you can spend your weekend barbecuing, swimming, or on other fun activities instead of pushing a loud gas-powered mower around your lawn.
Its $1,999.95 price is steep, but if you put a premium on downtime and don't want to put up with the cost and noise of landscapers, it's money well spent.
It did a fantastic job of cutting in our tests, and was so quiet that I was able to run it at night without disturbing anyone.
It's also the only mower we've reviewed that uses cellular technology so you can control it remotely, and GPS to ensure even cutting cycles and provide an extra layer of anti-theft security.
All this earns the Husqvarna 315X our Editors' Choice for robotic lawn mowers.
Pros
Excellent cutting and edging performance.
Slick mobile app.
Includes Bluetooth, cellular, and GPS radios.
Quiet.
View More
The Bottom Line
The Husqvarna Automower 315X is a state-of-the-art robot lawn mower that is packed with features, including GPS, Bluetooth, and cellular technology.
