the life of a reviewer can be harsh. Tennyson once said, “It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all,” but he never owned a robotic lawnmower. Trying amazing gadgets that you can never afford is great, but after a summer with the Husqvarna Nera, the thought of ever using a push mower again makes me anxious. Sometimes it’s better not to know what you’re missing.
He Husqvarna Automower 410XE Nera (€3,097) It’s as stylish and feature-packed as robotic lawn mowers. The closest equivalent model sold in the US is the slightly more capable one EPOS 450X Package ($5,900). With thoughtful design and satellite navigation, these lawnmowers are designed to be the ultimate in hands-off chores, quietly and efficiently maintaining the regulation height of your lawn without complaint and, more importantly, without you having to move a finger.
robot wars
I can’t look at a robotic lawnmower without thinking about he robot wars showbut Husqvarna’s design is smart and stylish, with built-in headlights and a big H for the Husqvarna logo, like you’d find on the front of a car. It has two large rear wheels with a thick, knobby tread to ensure easy traction on slopes and muddy terrain. (Can withstand slopes up to 30 degrees).
Photography: Simon Hill
The two front wheels of the Nera are like multi-directional wheels for office chairs. They are cleverly positioned back so that the front edge, which contains three rotating razor blades, juts out to extend over the edges of the lawn and eliminates the edge of uncut grass that most robotic lawnmowers leave behind because they can’t get close enough. .
Although a boundary wire is not necessary, setting up the Nera 410XE took a bit of time, as you have to find a good position for the satellite dish and charging base, connect both, check that you can get a clear signal, and run the cable to Plug everything into an outlet. I had help from a Husqvarna representative, but the process is something you can easily do yourself. The limitation of this mower is that it needs an open line of sight to the sky. Tall buildings, trees and other obstacles will prevent you from navigating accurately, so if you have dense forests around or near your garden, it is not suitable for you.
Photography: Simon Hill via the Husqvarna app