Key Points
- Robotic lawnmowers are a popular alterative to a traditional lawnmower.
- Both GARDENA and Worx are leading manufacturers of robotic mowers.
- GARDENA robotic mowers are best for small lawns up to 3/8 acres, while Worx robotic mowers cater to small and medium lawns up to 1 acre
- Worx Landroid mowers use advanced navigation systems like AIA technology and neural networks for improved lawn coverage and obstacle avoidance
A quality robotic mower is a great replacement for the more traditional, walk-behind kind, especially when you have a small lawn with narrow spaces. While there are many brands out there, two top contenders are GARDENA and Worx. Both manufacture a range of lawn care tools, including autonomous models.
To find out which is best for your lawn, check out this head-to-head between GARDENA robotic mower vs. Worx robotic mower.
GARDENA Robotic Mower vs. Worx Robotic Mower: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Gardena SILENO Robotic Mowers | Worx Landroid Robotic Mowers | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for… | Small lawns, up to 3/8 acres | Small to medium lawns, up to 1 acre |
| Control | Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (on selected models) | Bluetooth and Wi-Fi |
| Cutting Width | 6.2 to 8.5 inches | 8 inches |
| Cutting Height | 0.8 to 2 inches | 1.5 to 4 inches |
| Blade System | 3 pivoting blades | 3 pivoting blades |
| Mulching Function? | Yes | Yes |
| Max Slope Performance | 35% | 35% |
| Voltage | 18V | 20V |
| Max Runtime Per Charge | 65 minutes | 80 minutes |
| Charge Time | 60 minutes | 240 minutes |
| Price | $671.99 to $1,399.99 | $999.99 to $3,499.99 |
- Ideal for small lawns
- Boundary wire included
- Run time of up to 65 minutes
- Controlled via Bluetooth App
- Quietest in its class
- Suitable for larger lawns up to 0.5 acre
- Connect and control your mower remotely
- AIA Cutting technology for easy navigation
- Better clearance on uneven surfaces
- Powerful brushless motors that run 50% longer
GARDENA Robotic Mower vs. Worx Robotic Mower: What’s the Difference?
Based in Germany, GARDENA is one of the biggest garden care companies in Europe. It is represented in over 80 countries, and since 2007, it has been part of the Husqvarna group. The brand launched its first robotic mower in 2012. Four years later, GARDENA started to incorporate smart systems into its lawn care and watering tools, which are now app-controlled. Today, the German brand features a range of robotic mowers designed for various lawn sizes and different types of terrains.
Worx is a commercial brand distributed by Positec Tool Corporation. The Chinese manufacturer, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is primarily known for its battery-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, and other handheld or push-behind gardening tools. Worx released its first fully robotic mower, dubbed the Landroid, in 2014. Similar to GARDENA, Worx robotic mowers are easily controlled via a mobile app and are designed to make your life easier.
Today, both brands feature multiple models in their respective robotic mower lineups. While there are some similarities between the two, the differences may help you choose one brand over the other.
Covered Area
GARDENA and Worx’s lineups include various robotic mowers, but they are all compact in size. Add the fact that a battery-powered tool has a limited runtime per charge, and it’s easy to understand why these mowers are best suited for small lawns. However, there are some crucial differences between the two.
GARDENA’s lineup suits lawns between 2,700 square feet on the SILENO minimo to 16,200 square feet on the SILENO life. While still compact, Worx’s robotic mowers are designed for larger lawns. For instance, the Landroid S, Worx’s smallest robotic mower, suits lawns up to 5,445 square feet. However, the upcoming Landroid Vision 20V Boundaryless is designed for lawns up to one acre. Earlier versions of the Vision 20V Boundaryless are ideal for yards up to half an acre.
Cutting Performance
A similarity between SILENO and Landroid is in their cutting performance. Both brands equip their mowers with triple-blade systems that can easily cut through all types of grass. However, the brands differ as far as the cutting height is concerned.
GARDENA mowers feature cutting height adjustments between 20mm and 50mm (around 0.78 to 1.97 inches), with 5mm increments, for a total of seven height settings. The height adjustment knob is located next to the main control panel, under a flap on top of the mower. Worx Landroid features cutting heights between 1.5 and 4.0 inches, depending on the model. Increments on all models are 0.4 inches.
Similar to GARDENA, Worx robotic mowers feature a height adjustment knob that is as intuitive as it gets. For the best mowing results, you should select the highest cutting setting on your robotic mower during the first use, then lower the height gradually each time you mow until the desired cutting height is reached.
Navigation System
A crucial feature of any robotic mower is the navigation system. In this aspect, both GARDENA and Worx use smart technologies and advanced systems to map your yard and optimize mowing.
The entry-level robotic mowers from GARDENA come with a boundary wire that allows you to determine the mowing area. Anti-collision sensors combine with wire detection sensors to keep the mower inside the set perimeter and avoid obstacles.
All these sensors combined allow the mower to navigate lawns of all sizes, including tight corners and narrow spaces. The higher-end versions of SILENO, such as the Smart City and Smart Life, use the intelligent LONA technology developed to map, learn, and adapt to individual gardens better than the systems that lack it; however, you still have to use boundary wire.
Worx Landroid mowers utilize similar but not identical technologies. Like GARDENA, the entry-level versions of Landroid rely on boundary wires to stay within the mowing zones. A difference is that these mowers are equipped with proprietary AIA technology that improves navigation and lowers the risk of over-mowing and lawn scalping.
For the Landroid Vision mowers, Worx developed a neural network that records and uses real-world data to improve navigation. This technology makes Landroid Vision a better choice for complex lawn areas but also a better choice if you don’t want to use boundary wire for one reason or another.
Battery and Runtime
A difference between GARDENA and Worx robotic mowers is the type of battery they use. GARDENA mowers use internal 18V batteries with a runtime of just over one hour per charge. The mower returns to the docking station automatically when the battery runs low and resumes mowing when the battery is charged – although you can schedule mowing times if you don’t want the robot to cut the grass continuously. The charge time is relatively short compared to Worx, at only 60 minutes.
Landroid mowers use 20V interchangeable batteries. This is a great selling point if you already own other battery-powered garden tools from the brand since buying the naked mower (without a battery) can save you some bucks. You can also extend the runtime by replacing the drained battery with a charged one; another advantage is the extended runtime of these batteries compared to GARDENA. Depending on the actual amp hours, Worx robotic mowers have a runtime of about 80 minutes per charge. However, they take longer to recharge, too, requiring around 240 minutes.
©SiljeAO/Shutterstock.com
Terrain Ability
Robotic mowers don’t have large cutting swaths and are best suited for lawns under an acre. However, both GARDENA and Worx robotic mowers have the ability to tackle all types of terrains. While the actual abilities vary from model to model, GARDENA SILENO mowers can work on sloped terrains with inclines up to 35%. Worx Landroid mowers are capable of similar performance. Moreover, both SILENO and Landroid can adapt to complex lawns, navigate around obstacles, and find their way back to the docking station after mowing narrow corridors.
Handling and Control
Robotic mowers are designed to manicure the lawn for you, but some handling and control are still needed. As you’d expect from advanced equipment, both GARDENA and Worx feature proprietary apps that allow you to control the mower, schedule mowing sessions, and monitor the performance on your smartphone.
However, there are some differences in connectivity. Entry-level SILENO mowers feature Bluetooth connectivity alone, meaning that you have to stay within a certain range to control the robotic mower from a distance. Higher-end models feature Wi-Fi connectivity, which basically means that you can connect to your mower from anywhere. Worx Landroid mowers feature both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
In terms of handling, robotic mowers do almost everything on their own. Safety functions stop the blades when the mowers are picked up, and both SILENO and Landroid can easily find their way back to the docking station.
Price
An important difference between GARDENA and Worx robotic mowers is the price. While both brands use advanced systems, the former manages to keep costs low. If you don’t want to break the bank, an entry model such as the SILENO minimo won’t cost you more than $680. High-end options like the SILENO life smart will set you back around $1,400.
Worx Landroid S, the smallest robotic mower from the brand, is currently priced at around $999.99. Landroid Vision 20V Boundaryless is expected to cost between $1599.99 and $3,499.99, depending on size. These differences in price are explained by the superior navigation system.
- Suitable for larger lawns up to 0.5 acre
- Connect and control your mower remotely
- AIA Cutting technology for easy navigation
- Better clearance on uneven surfaces
- Powerful brushless motors that run 50% longer
- Auto-scheduling and easy configuration
- Collision sensors ensure safe mowing
- Mows in rain and sunshine (all-weather)
- Navigates narrow spaces and tight corners
GARDENA Robotic Mower vs. Worx Robotic Mower: 6 Must-Know Facts
- GARDENA is one of the most popular brands of gardening tools and robotic mowers in Europe. Its SILENO range includes mowers developed for small lawns.
- Worx is a popular brand of power tools and gardening equipment. Its robotic mowers can tackle lawns up to one acre in size.
- Entry-level mowers from both brands rely on boundary wires to stay within the perimeter. However, more advanced models use different mapping technologies that eliminate the need for a boundary wire.
- Spot mowing is one of SILENO’s unique features. This function is perfect if you want to cut the grass under outdoor furniture or in other spots.
- Worx Landroid mowers are designed to cut perfect edges, reducing or eliminating the need for edging or trimming.
- Both brands offer similar mowers in terms of cutting swaths and cutting heights.
GARDENA Robotic Mower vs. Worx Robotic Mower: Which One is Better? Which One Should You Buy?
Both GARDENA and Worx offer reliable robotic mowers, but differences in runtime, navigation, and price could make you prefer one over the other. The SILENO range is a good choice for lawns no larger than 3/8 of an acre. Navigation is not as good as Worx, but these robotic mowers do what they’re supposed to do and are relatively affordable.
Worx robotic mowers are ideal for lawns between 1/8 and one acre. Advanced navigation and a longer runtime ensure efficient results, while no-boundary technology and vision mapping are perfectly adapted to complex lawns. While all these functions come at a cost, they are well worth it.
GARDENA and Worx Robotic Mowers in the News
As of 2023, GARDENA has updated it’s mowers with a GPS system that allows users to program their robotic mowers to only mow a designated area. Worx now offers a new app that enables users to control their mower from a smartphone or a tablet, making it simpler and easier to control where their robotic mower goes.
Looking Ahead
GARDENA has announced a handful of features to add to their upcoming robotic mowers, including new software that improves their mowers navigation, a new warranty program, and anti-theft features. Worx is currently working on new enhancements, including a more powerful motor and long battery life.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Andrej Privizer/Shutterstock.com.
