ECOVACS GOAT A3000 LiDAR PRO

Should you buy the ECOVACS GOAT A3000 LiDAR PRO?

The ECOVACS GOAT A3000 LiDAR PRO is for someone with up to three quarters of an acre who wants a wire-free mower that needs no RTK antenna and finishes the edges itself. At $2,499.99 it ranks #1 of 10 robot lawn mowers. The dual-LiDAR navigation means it works under trees and along fences where GPS-based mowers lose signal, and the built-in string trimmer is unique at this level. If your lawn is a full acre or has steep banks, the Segway Navimow X430 at the same price climbs 84 percent grades. If your lawn is a quarter acre, the O1000 does the same trick for $999.

Where it earns its score

• Highest Features score in the category. Features hit 96 on HoloScope 360-degree dual-LiDAR, 2 cm positioning, and recognition of more than 200 obstacle types.
• Integrated edge trimmer. The TruEdge string trimmer gets to 0 cm at borders, so you are not walking the perimeter with a weed whacker.
• No antenna, no wire, no sky view needed. LiDAR does not care about tree cover.
• Long runtime. About 160 minutes per charge with a 70-minute fast charge.

What to know first

• Warranty is the weakest ViperScore factor. Two years scores 66, below the 3-year Segway and 4-year Husqvarna coverage.
• Value is the trade-off. At 72, the score reflects a $2,500 price for a 0.75-acre mower.
• Slope limit is moderate. Rated for 50 percent (27 degrees), well under the AWD Segway and Mammotion units.
• 4G is extra. Cellular tracking requires a $99.99 module.

Questions buyers ask