Segway Navimow i210 LiDAR review: Easy setup, effortless mowing

Price When Reviewed

$1,299

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In just a few years, robotic lawnmowers have evolved from requiring buried boundary cables to navigating with satellites, cameras, and advanced sensors. The problem is that many of the cordless models still involve a fair amount of installation and configuration. Segway’s new Navimow i210, however, is among the simplest machines I’ve installed.

Here, LiDAR technology is combined with a camera to create a digital map of the yard. There’s no need to install an external RTK antenna, either. As long as you have a suitable spot for the base station, you’ll be up and running in no time.

Segway Navimow i210 LiDAR: Getting started

The first thing that strikes me is how straightforward the whole process is.

You can choose between manual or automatic mapping. The latter naturally only works where there are clear boundaries, but it’s quick and easy to guide the machine along the outer edge and teach it where it can and cannot mow. And it’s easy to adjust boundaries, create no-go zones, or add more zones.

Segway says the robot can handle up to 20 zones, and for larger or more complex plots it also supports isolated areas that can be mowed after moving the robot there manually. This can be particularly useful if, for example, you have an extra patch of grass where it isn’t possible to create a passage.

The app is also one of the better ones I’ve tested. The features are logically organized, and it’s easy to understand how everything works, even for someone who’s never owned a robotic lawnmower before.

Segway Navimow i210 LiDAR: LiDAR makes a big difference

The LiDAR sensor on the robot is the model’s major new feature. Unlike traditional robotic lawnmowers, it creates a detailed map of its surroundings using laser pulses. The technology works in all weather conditions, and it gives the robot a strong sense of its position. The robot moves methodically and systematically without wandering off course or missing any areas. Narrow passages and more complex parts of the garden are handled without any problems.

Segway Navimow i210 LiDAR: Obstacles

What impresses most during the test period, however, is the obstacle handling. Segway’s VisionFence system uses a 140-degree AI camera which, together with the LiDAR sensor, is designed to recognize over 200 different types of objects.

One of my favorite examples is a garden hose that I’ve left lying across the lawn. Many robotic mowers would have tried to drive over it or gone wide around it. It identified the obstacle and navigated around it time and time again with impressive precision.

It’s the same story with garden furniture, dog toys and other temporary objects. After a few days, I almost stop thinking about what’s lying around on the plot because the robot seems to handle the situations itself.

On paper, the Navimow i210 LiDAR looks rather modest compared to today’s more extreme models. It doesn’t have four-wheel drive and it isn’t built for the most brutal terrain challenges. The plot I’m testing the robot on is far from perfect. There are small potholes, uneven surfaces, and areas where robotic lawnmowers often struggle. Despite this, it never got stuck during the test period.

Segway Navimow i210 LiDAR: Noise level

Another detail that is appreciated is the noise level. At 59 dB, the robot is significantly quieter than a traditional lawnmower. During the testing period, it also never once failed to find its way back to or dock at the charging station. It may sound obvious, but not all robotic lawnmowers manage this well.

Segway Navimow i210 LiDAR: Conclusion

The Segway Navimow i210 LiDAR isn’t the robot lawnmower for those with the most extreme yard on the street. But for more standard backyards, it’s hard not to be impressed. The installation is among the simplest I’ve tested, the app is well thought-out, and the navigation impresses time and time again. The fact that it also handles obstacles so smoothly and never got stuck on my test plot makes for a very strong overall impression.