Editors’ note, July 31: On July 27, the Federal Communications Commission issued an update clarifying how its national security restrictions on equipment from foreign companies would apply to robots. The FCC confirmed to CNET that it applies not to just humanoid robots but also to household devices like robot vacuums, robot lawn mowers and pool cleaners and requires them to obtain FCC authorization to be imported, marketed or sold in the US. However, it won’t affect previously purchased devices. CNET will not change our recommendations at this time until we have more information about conditional approvals. We will revisit our recommendations as more information emerges.

Save $500: If you’re looking for a way to cut back on yard work without sacrificing the health of your lawn, you can pick up the Roborock RockMow X115H for a nice $500 discount at Amazon right now. That drops the price down to $1,800, a record low for a robot lawn mower with a lot of bells and whistles.

Roborock already makes some of our favorite robot vacuums, and the company’s recent segway into robot lawn mowers left our reviewers impressed.

Roborock RockMow X115H: $1,800 (Original price: $2,300)

The Roborock RockMow X115H can handle up to .37 of an acre (or 16,117.2 square feet) of lawn. The mower boasts Quad-Camera AI vision, which allows it to operate no matter the light conditions or space. The rugged wheels and four-wheel drive system can tackle uneven areas, and the mower can even handle a slope of up to 80%. This mower even boasts a suspension system to help ensure every nook and cranny of your lawn receives the same, even cut.

One of the unique aspects of the RockMow X115H is the dual mapping options. You can choose AI automapping for a hands-off approach, but if you’re in the mood for a BattleBots experience, you can also use the app-controlled manual mapping experience that enables you to steer your mower like a remote control vehicle. Not only is this a fun perk, but it can also give you that added control if you’re targeting a specific part of the yard or want to avoid another.

CNET expert Chris Wedel noted in his guide to choosing a robot lawn mower that, during his own tests, “because of their reliability and effectiveness, I’m saving about 65 hours per summer not mowing.” Depending on the size of your yard, this could be more or less time, but investing in a robot lawn mower will get you more than the equivalent of a work week back to do other fun things.

Unless, of course, you choose the remote option, in which case you can mow from a porch swing and pretend you’re a kid again.

If you’re seriously considering a robot lawn mowers, be sure to check out more of Wedel’s detailed advice.

Alternatives you may like

Roborock makes two other models of robot lawn mowers, both of which are on sale right now. CNET editor Ajay Kumar reported on the specs of the Roborock RockNeo Q110H, which is ideal for smaller, more even lawns as it covers a quarter of an acre, but can only tackle slopes of 45%. It’s currently on sale for $1,000, a modest savings of $169.

CNET expert Adam Doud gave the Eufy 15 robot lawn mower an editor’s choice, calling it the best robot lawn mower for ease of use. Normally priced at $1,800, you can pick it up for $1,200 at Amazon right now.

When not writing up the best deals for CNET readers, Amber Guetebier writes about plants, gardening, folklore and pirates. She is the author of several books and currently writing several more.

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