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ZDNET’s takeaways
- Roborock has introduced its first robot lawnmowers.
- Three models will be available, each with a different purpose.
- The company hasn’t revealed pricing or release date yet.
Roborock is headed outdoors.
The company best known for its robot vacuum cleaners (including the recent viral one with a mechanical arm that picks up small objects) has unveiled its first robot lawnmower.
In an announcement today, the company revealed three new robotic lawnmowers — the RockMow Z1, RockMow S1, and RockNeo Q1.
Each model specializes in different situations.
Also: Ecovacs’ new robot vacuum never runs out of power – and that’s not even the best part
Roborock advertises the Z1 as the rugged premium model, capable of cutting 54,000 square feet a day (for reference, a football field is 57,600 feet) and handling nearly 40 degree slopes. Every wheel has its own steering motor, and its design enables it to get within 1.2 inches of walls.
The mid-level RockMow S1 doesn’t have all-wheel drive, can cut about 10,000 square feet a day, and handles about half the slope — it still has AI mapping though. The RockNeo Q1 is the most affordable model, as it gives up edge cutting (you can buy an additional attachment) and requires you to adjust your cut height manually.
If you take your lawn seriously, you can use the companion app to have your robot lawnmower cut specific patterns or designs, Roborock says, and use the app for a suggested mowing schedule based on your lawn zone.
Also: Best robot mowers: From Husqvarna to Segway, here are the top performers
Roborock hasn’t revealed information about pricing or a release date yet; I’ve reached out for more information. The company also revealed details of new vacuums today, which it says will be available in Europe in “the coming months.” Based on that, it seems likely the company’s robot lawn mowers will be available overseas before they will in America.
If the company’s lawnmowers are anything like its vacuums, these might be products to keep an eye on. Roborock vacuums generally perform very well in ZDNET testing, earning significant praise from our team.
