If you’re in the market for a robot lawnmower, there are a large number of options to choose from. The Ecovacs Goat GX-600 positions itself as a plug-and-play mower, which requires almost no installation.

Traditional robot mowers require a physical wire installation to define the boundaries, and wireless models work using a reference station, beacons, or even a LiDAR like the Dreame Roboticmower A1. To understand where they have to mow, most models require you to create boundaries. This can either be done using a wire, or virtually with wireless systems. It typically means remotely driving the mower on the lawn edges for it to understand where it should stop. Unfortunately, this process can be time-consuming for big lawns, making the initial setup painstaking.

The Goat GX-600 takes this hassle away, thanks to a fully autonomous setup. By using its built-in camera, the robot automatically identifies the lawn boundaries and obstacles and can start mowing without further intervention. In essence, it mimics the way Ecovacs robot vacuums work, by automatically mapping its work area.

With such an easy setup process, the GX-600 is much easier to install than competing mowers. However, how does it compare when it comes to navigation and cutting the grass? Let’s explore its performance in this detailed review.

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Smart and compact design

The Ecovacs Goat GX-600 boasts a sleek, modern design with a sturdy build. It’s relatively compact, measuring 650x432x420cm and weighing 20kg.

The mower’s body is predominantly made of durable plastic with a matte green finish. The top panel features a large, easily accessible STOP button for emergency shutdowns, a control panel with a display, and a dial for adjusting the cutting height. The built-in 150-degree wide-angle fish-eye camera is prominently positioned, with a raised position over the front bumper. This enables the mower to accurately identify lawn boundaries, obstacles, and navigate efficiently. The large wheels can handle various terrains, including slopes up to 40% or 21 degrees.

The docks serves as both a charging station and a storage unit. Its top part opens up to provide storage space for blades and other accessories. The dock itself is sturdy and weather-resistant, designed to blend seamlessly into your garden environment.

Plug-and-play setup

Before buying a Goat GX-600, it’s essential to ensure it can work with your lawn. Indeed, setup is a breeze, there are a few prerequisites to make sure the mower can function properly. Most importantly, your lawn needs to be continuous, in the sense that the GX-600 can’t handle zones and paths. It therefore needs to be placed on or right next to the lawn, and can only mow the continuous area it identifies. Also, your yard needs to be properly delimited with fences or pathways. Otherwise, the robot won’t be able to identify where your lawn ends. This also applies to flowerbeds and pools, which need to be either separated by a pathway or fenced off, as the robot could otherwise venture off the lawn.

If you meet these requirements, setting up the Ecovacs Goat GX-600 only takes a few minutes, much less than most other models. The absence of boundary setup significantly reduces installation time, and you only need to respect the guidelines on how and where to place the dock. The mower then uses its camera to survey the lawn, identifying edges and boundaries. This intelligent setup process saves hours compared to other models that require manual boundary setup.

Unfortunately, though, there is no option to review the map to confirm whether the robot’s boundaries are accurate. This isn’t necessarily an issue when using it, but it’s a bit confusing.

Basic app with few customization options

The Ecovacs app lets you control your mower remotely, in an intuitive manner. Since there is no mapping functionality, it may seem limited, but you can still launch a mowing cycle remotely and check its status, in addition to adjusting some settings. The interface is user-friendly, and setting up a mowing schedule is straightforward. In fact, the app automatically creates a suggested mowing schedule for you, which you can edit according to your needs. However, just like other mowers, the Goat GX-600 requires you to set a start and end time, which means you have to make sure you give the robot enough time to complete the mowing cycle.

Notifications keep you informed of the mower’s status, including when it returns to the charging station or encounters an issue.

However, the app does not offer extensive customization options for mowing patterns or zones. Also, it doesn’t display where the robot has encountered obstacles, meaning you have to check your yard for potentially unmowed areas due to forgotten objects.

In addition to the app, you can also launch the robot directly from the control panel. Similarly, you can adjust some settings on the mower, without having to use the app.

Excellent mowing performance, especially edges

The Goat GX-600 delivers impressive mowing performance, capable of precision cutting even in challenging terrain, thanks to the large wheels. When working, it follows an S-shaped path, covering the entire lawn with precision. You can choose between a single pass or a crossed pattern to ensure thorough coverage with no missed spots. The cutting height is adjustable, ranging between 30mm and 60mm, with 25mm increments. However, this needs to be physically done on the robot, as there is no option to change the setting on the app.

The mower effectively trims grass close to edges, which most competitors tend to struggle with. Similarly, it manages corners well, without leaving a large unmowed area. Still, you need to manually trim edges, but it does a better job than other competing mowers.

Additionally, it has a rain sensor that automatically pauses mowing during wet conditions to prevent lawn damage.

Reliable navigation and obstacle detection

Thanks to its advanced camera and sensors, the GX-600 excels in navigation and obstacle detection. If you respect the guidelines and have a compatible lawn, the robot senses the boundaries automatically and precisely. It then mows the lawn without requiring any boundary setup, not even virtual. However, it needs clean physical separations to understand where the lawn stops, such as a pathway, a wall, rocks, or a fence, as it could otherwise mow the flowerbeds or even fall into a pool.

The 150-degree wide-angle fish-eye camera also helps it detect and avoid obstacles. These include toys, pets, and garden furniture. Similarly, it can automatically detect trees, garden furniture, and sheds making sure you don’t have to manually add no-go zones.

In addition, you can adjust the mower’s sensitivity when it comes to obstacle detection. This lets you pick whether to ignore obstacles less than 10, 15, or 20 centimeters, which is particularly convenient if you have flowers that lean on the lawn, for instance.

Quiet mowing but limited battery life

The Ecovacs Goat GX-600 is particularly quiet, producing about 60db when mowing, which is barely audible. The wheels are a bit noisier, but you can’t hear them unless you’re close to the robot. This means you can schedule your mowing cycles whenever you want, even at night, without bothering anyone.

As for battery life, the mower can run for up to 85 minutes on a single charge, which is decent, but not impressive. Thankfully, it can automatically return to its charging station and resume working when it’s full.

Is the Ecovacs Goat GX-600 the right robot lawnmower for you?

The Ecovacs Goat GX-600 is a reliable and user-friendly robot mower that simplifies lawn care. Its easy setup, efficient mowing performance, and advanced navigation make it an excellent choice if you’re looking for an easy-to-use and capable robot mower. However, it comes with specific prerequisites, such as clearly defined boundaries, which can be drawbacks if you have a complex lawn. However, if you have a well-defined lawn and prefer a hassle-free setup, the Goat GX-600 is worth considering, especially given its competitive price of $1,300.

In comparison to other models, the GX-600 offers a unique balance of ease of use and advanced features. Its ability to navigate and mow complex garden layouts without the need for boundary wires sets it apart from traditional robot mowers.

Pros	Cons
Easy installation	Only works with simple lawns
Mowing performance	Mowing height is only adjustable on the robot
More affordable than competition	No map in app

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