Last Updated: 16 / 3 / 2023
Today in our lab, we have Automower 315X from Husqvarna. With products ranging from ride-on mowers to chainsaws and cultivators, Husqvarna Automower is considered as one of the best robot lawn mowers in the world, and the 315X model comes on top of their Automower line.
- 2-year limited warranty
- Amazon Alexa or Google Home device
- Suitable for yards up to 0.4 acres
- You get extra support when bought from a dealer
- You need to install it yourself
On the one hand, Husqvarna is one of the best manufacturers of mowing robots available in 2020. On the other hand, you could buy a used car for the price you will need to invest in a robotic mower from Husqvarna could.
The Automower 315X, which we are going to be reviewing today, is one of the cheapest models in Husqvarna's Automower line, surprising but true!
But there's a reason behind the enormous price tag. This model comes with huge equipment add on package, and works up to slopes of 40%, covers up to 20,000ft², has GPS capabilities and integrates with your smartphone! Making it one of the best commercial robotic lawnmowers available in 2020 today.
But nevertheless, two grand is quite money for a robot mower, especially when there are cheaper alternatives that offer similar features from brands such as John Deere, Honda, McCulloch, and even other models from Husqvarna's same product line such as Automower 115H.
What extra features and capabilities does 315X offer to justify the investment?
That's what we're going to find out today.
At a glance: Husqvarna Automower 315X Robotic Lawn Mower
At 24.8 x 20.1 x 9.8 inches, it's a relatively large piece of machinery so it's good for a large working area, weighing at 20.9 pounds. But the size and weight necessary when you need to handle inclines up to 40% and mow relatively large-sized yards and even sports fields.
Husqvarna has deployed four-wheelers, hard plastic, and shiny looking desk for this model. The front has two independently moving wheels for easy maneuverability, while the rear side has two fixed wheels that are connected to a motor, which powers the device.
It also has an app called Automower Connect that allows you to control and schedule the device from your smartphone, which makes it the perfect device for hands-off grass cutting for people in all yards.
As far as the design's concerned, Husqvarna has clearly orientated itself somewhat towards space ships!. The 315X totally looks like a NASA rover designed to look for extraterrestrial life on some alien planet! It even has two headlights to see in the dark! This is no surprise when you think about it because 315X is designed to handle similar challenges Curiosity Rover has faces on Mars surface; Uneven surfaces with steep inclines...
Husqvarna uses a mixture of matt plastic and black high gloss elements on Automower 315X. Add the blue display, start/stop, and configuration buttons on top. It is a very attention-grabbing machine.
One problem I had during my two days with this machine is, glossy cover material scratched a lot when it touched hard bushes we have for decorative purposes here at Columbia Florist. But luckily, it's not a huge problem, and Husqvarna offers replacement cover if you want it to stay shiny forever.
Husqvarna Automower 315 vs 315x
Both products belong to Husqvarna's Automower robotic lawn mower family line. The only difference between Automower 315 and 315x is, the former supports Automower Connect which is a smart home application that allows you to control your lawn mower through your IOS or Android smartphone. You can schedule, run and update your mower via Connect any time and anywhere you want.
Operating the Husqvarna Automower 315X
The 315X is operated via a small control panel on top of the device, which is hidden under a small case to avoid accidentally opening it. It easily pops up with a single touch. Besides various keys including a number field for the comfortable input of the PIN, there is also a large display that I haven't seen on any other models out there. The menu navigation may require some patience, but you get used to it after some time. There's definitely a bit of a learning curve, though, as any other high tech device out there.
As you would expect from a machine at this price point, it automatically drives to its garage when it is running out of battery juice and locks itself in place via two contact points on the front. The charging station is, as usual, a large plastic parking platform that hosts the mower during charging.
Both charging station and the mower itself is weatherproof! The cold or hot weather won't bother them, but you might want to purchase a cover or install the dock indoors to avoid any possible rain damage.
Installing the Husqvarna 315X
Husqvarna seems to rely on a direct sales concept for its Automowers. Meaning that you can buy these mowers from certified Husqvarna dealers. They'd help you pick the right model for your needs and also lay and bury the cables if you chose to.
I purchased my 315X from Amazon, delivered by Husqvarna, and it arrived the next day. But I'd recommend buying your device from a certified Husqvarna dealer. We'd never be able to install it ourselves if I hadn't had any experience with laying cables, we would not have been able to complete it without professional help.
You'll also need to call customer service to obtain your security PIN before you can actually do anything with it. Fortunately, it took us less than 10 minutes to receive it and get started. PIN comes pre-installed when you're buying from a dealer, which saves you the same headaches.
Inside the box, there's the 315X itself, charging station, charging cable, 1x li-ion battery, spare blades, and a bunch of screws to install the charging station in place. And that's about it.
Unfortunately, nothing to lay down the boundary wire around your yard.
Luckily there are many Husqvarna dealers and services near you, certified to do this task for you, which could result in expensive mistakes if done by inexperienced hands. As expected, it costs around 150 t0 $300, including the cable.
But if you still like to do the installation yourself, you could purchase the Husqvarna Automower installation kit separately, which comes with X feet cable, hooks, and connectors that'll get you started in no time.
Performance
315X moves around using the random selection principle. It is the best mowing method for robotic mowers if you want a natural-looking yard.
It basically starts mowing what I can tell in a random direction and keeps driving until it reaches an obstacle or its boundary wire. It then turns again in a random direction until it hits another obstacle or its boundary wire. When it's done with its task, you'll be greeted with an evenly cut lawn that looks the same regardless of where you look. (Although it might not be the desired outcome for sports fields)
Like any other mowing principles, different types of mowers are using, this model too, has its own advantage and disadvantages. Mowers that work in *random* principle are entirely blind. Apart from the sensors for the boundary lines, they have no idea about their location on your garden or what even the garden looks like overall. Therefore a random back and forth movement is the easiest way to reach all areas.
Given enough time, a mowing robot working in a random mowing principle will theoretically drive over every spot at least once by pure chance. Surprisingly, this usually works really quite well!
To make up for the shortfalls of random movement principal, Husqvarna equipped this model with GPS capabilities. Thanks to GPS, the mower has at least an idea of places it has mowed before. According to its past mowing data, it adjusts future mowing patterns accordingly, thus saving you time and battery.
Another feature I haven't seen in any other robot mowers before is the lawn height detection capability, the only mower I used that featured a similar system was the battery-powered Snapper XD. What it basically does is, when the 315X encounters unusually overgrown grass, it hikes up the engine power, speeds up the blades a little to handle the load better. If it still can't get the desired result, it updates driving patterns accordingly in real-time.
With these additional features, the Automower 315X does an even better job of cutting the lawn than most typical mowing robots do.
My garden is very complex with many small hills, slopes, plants that have been planted in the middle, etc.
The cheaper McCulloch mower had a little problem with this, and the same applies to the Husqvarna Automower 315X.
Normal to tall lawns are cut quickly and also very cleanly by the Automower 315X. Cleaner than most normal lawnmowers, in fact.
Though make sure grass doesn't grow taller than 7-8 inches or else it won't be able to mow efficiently.
Robot lawn mowers are simply designed to keep your grass short. This is also the secret of mowing robots in general. Ideally, they should run several times a week and prevent the lawn from getting too high. In this way, only the tips are cut. But even if the grass gets a bit thicker, the Automower 315X can handle it!
Husqvarna Automower 315X Manual
Get the owner's manual for Automower 315x if you don't have yours anymore.
Conclusion
In short, I am delighted with the Husqvarna Automower 315X! Only the price keeps me from recommending this device to everyone. Other than that, it's literally one of the best robotic lawnmowers out there with up to 60 minutes of mowing, and 60 minutes of charging time.
But if you want the Ferrari of mowing robots, Husqvarna is the way to go.
