Of all the new 2026 robot lawn mowers, these are the 3 I'm most excited to try out

There are plenty of outstanding robot lawn mowers heading your way this year. I got a sneak peek at all the major brands' new models at CES, and it looks like lawnbots are seriously leveling up this year (and I've also written separately about the 2026 robot mower trends that I think could take these automated yard assistants truly mainstream).

So which models piqued my interest the most? Of all the lawnbots I saw at CES, these are the three I'm most excited to try out...

1. Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD

This lawnbot's predecessor blew my writer away when he tested it for our Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD review. The 2026 version is broadly similar but just a bit better all round – for me, it looks like the lawnbot to beat this year.

One of Mammotion's USPs is its Tri-Fusion Navigation system, which combines three navigation technologies, so that the lawnbot can pick the one that best suits each situation – and it (theoretically) never ends up losing its way. So there's traditional satellite-based navigation (ideal in wide, open spaces), LiDAR (great for cramped areas with obstacles) and camera-based Vision (perfect for precise object recognition).

All of those technologies have had an upgrade on the LUBA 3. The satellite positioning has been switched up so there's now no need for a separate RTK station, which removes one big pain point from getting set up. Mammotion now promises ±1 cm positioning precision, and an ability to react almost instantly to surroundings.

Read more: I watched Mammotion's new flagship lawnbot scale an astroturf mountain, and it was mesmerizing

• Check out the LUBA 3 AWD at Mammotion US / Mammotion UK

2. Segway Navimow i2 AWD

In the compact lawnbot corner of the market, my one to watch is the Segway Navimow i2 AWD. It's far from the flashiest of the 2026 fleet of robot mowers, but it has some clever tricks that help it really stand out from competitor models.

All-wheel drive (AWD) is rare in compact lawnbots. Here, it's not for scaling especially treacherous terrain, but to enable the bot to treat your yard with the care it deserves.

A rep for Segway Navimow explained to me that on non-AWD lawnbots, the wheel tread can drag on the grass when the bot needs to pivot. Having each wheel powered independently negates this issue. It can make the hairpin turn at the top of each neat lawn stripe without churning up your turf.

On top of this, Segway Navimow has added an 'Adaptive drive' feature to maximize battery life. Essentially, the front, guide wheel will only be motorized when it's specifically required – the brand says this can boost runtimes by up to 30%.

Read more: Segway Navimow has finally created a compact robot mower that'll treat your lawn with the meticulous care it deserves

• Check out the i2 AWD at Segway Navimow

3. Roborock RockMow X1 LiDAR

My third pick is a bit of a curveball. Roborock is known for making some of the best robot vacuums around – it unveiled its first lawnbots at IFA in September 2025.

I haven't had a chance to test any of the debut lineup out yet (it's not mowing season in the UK), but I am intrigued to see if this brand can work its robovac magic on the lawnbot arena. At the top of my to-test list is the Roborock RockMow X1 LiDAR, which is a brand new 2026 addition to the range.

LiDAR in lawnbots is going to be one of the big trends of 2026, but it's typically used as a complement to satellite-based navigation tech. It's very rare for a robot mower not to use satellites at all, but that seems to be the case on this new Roborock model.

The RockMow X1 LiDAR uses LiDAR and VSLAM to find its way about. These are two major robot vacuum navigation technologies, so Roborock has plenty of expertise in its back pocket to draw on. LiDAR builds a 3D map of a space by bouncing light off obstacles, so it won't work in wide open, unenclosed lawns. However, in yards that have lots of obstacles and features, it could be ideal.

• View the RockMow X1 LiDAR at Roborock

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