How we research and rank robot and battery mower

Every guide on Mower Guide Australia follows the same process. We publish it so you can judge our picks for yourself.

1. We start with what Australians can actually buy

We only consider products stocked by Australian retailers, sold in Australian dollars, with Australian warranties. A product that is brilliant overseas but grey-imported here with no local support does not make the list.

2. We check the specifications that matter

For mowers that means the numbers the maker publishes and a retailer repeats. For robot mowers: the lawn area it is rated for in square metres, the maximum slope (and whether the maker quotes it as a percentage or in degrees, because 45 percent is about 24 degrees, not 45), how it finds its way (boundary wire, RTK satellite positioning, camera vision or LiDAR), whether RTK needs a base station in your yard or a network service, whether 4G is included and for how long, cutting width and height range, the IP rating, the app and anti-theft features, battery capacity and run time per charge. For battery push mowers: deck width, the battery platform (volts and amp-hours), whether the battery and charger are in the box, the catcher size and the cutting height range.

3. We check certifications and Australian standards

Robot mower charging stations and battery chargers run on mains power, so they should carry the Regulatory Compliance Mark (RCM), the electrical safety mark used under the Electrical Equipment Safety System (EESS); where a listing is unclear we check the public EESS register. For a robot that lives outside we look for the maker's stated IP rating. Safety claims about blades, children and pets are reported only as the maker states them (lift and tilt sensors that stop the blades, PIN locks, obstacle detection); no robot mower is a substitute for keeping children and pets off the lawn while it runs. Slope and area figures are compared only after converting them to the same unit. A claim that appears only in marketing copy, with no test condition behind it, is treated as unverified.

4. We read owner reviews for patterns, not scores

Star ratings are easy to game. We look for repeated complaints and repeated praise across retailer reviews and owner forums, and we weight long-term ownership reports more heavily than first-week impressions.

5. We re-check prices

Prices in each guide are what we found at named Australian retailers on the date shown at the top of the guide. Prices change, and sales come and go, so always confirm on the retailer's site.

What we do not do

• We do not accept payment, free products or other consideration for inclusion or ranking.
• We do not write fake reviews or present opinions as tests we have not done. Where a pick is based on specifications and owner reports rather than our own hands-on use, the guide says so.
• We do not make health, safety or performance claims that the manufacturer's own documentation or a recognised certification does not support.