ANTHBOT M9 Pro Review: Robotic Lawn Mower with AI and HoloSense Quad-Fusion Technology

Every yard is different, and it’s not uncommon to have a sloped area that demands more from a robotic mower than flat sections of lawn. This is exactly where the ANTHBOT M9 Pro comes in—it not only operates without a boundary wire and is designed to navigate without getting lost, but it can even handle slopes of up to 45% (24°). We put it to the test to see if that’s really true.

What’s Included with the ANTHBOT M9 Pro

In addition to the robotic lawn mower itself, the large package contains the charging station, including an installation kit. This includes six mounting screws, ten different mounting pegs for the adapter cable, a charger adapter, and an extension cord to extend the power connection up to ten meters.

Also included is the Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) installation kit, which, in addition to the RTK reference station, provides a mounting stake to securely anchor the station in the ground with a mounting post. It also includes an additional power cable and an RTK extension cable, also ten meters long.

The complete package is rounded out by two cable ties, a security lock, and a hex key, as well as a small screwdriver and a detailed user manual.

Technical Specifications

Model	ANTHBOT M9 Pro
Navigation	HoloSense Quad-Fusion, 360° LiDAR, RTK/NetRTK & Dual AI Vision
Limits	Wireless, no boundary wire
Cutting width	20 cm
Cutting height	30 to 70 mm
Mowing unit	Blade disc with 5 blades
Drive	Rear-wheel drive (RWD), traction control (TCS)
Max. Grade	45% (24°)
Obstacle clearance	up to 3 cm
Recommended lawn area	up to 1,000 square meters
Area coverage	Up to 150 square meters per hour
Noise level	Up to 58 dB
Zone management	Up to 32 mowing zones
Protection rating	IPX6
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 4G
Safety	AI Obstacle Detection (1,000+ different objects), Emergency Stop, GPS Tracking
App	ANTHBOT App
Price	€1,299*

Design & Build Quality

Visually, the ANTHBOT M9 Pro is really appealing—it’s compact and comes in a subtle gray-black color, which is enlivened by the purple accents on the rear wheels and the large red STOP button on top. The simple control panel on top also serves its purpose well and provides a clear overview of the most important functions.

In terms of build quality, there are no negative aspects to mention. Quite the contrary, in fact: All components are IPX6-certified and are therefore protected from rain. In addition, all the control sticks feel comfortable to the touch and provide strong feedback. The large STOP button, in particular, can be located and pressed immediately even during use, allowing it to fulfill its purpose perfectly.

Another plus is the large rear tires, which—thanks in no small part to their deep tread—can handle inclines of up to 45%. In our test, it even easily navigated slightly rocky sections, small branches, and a few larger potholes. So if you have somewhat rough terrain, you don’t have to worry that anything on the ANTHBOT M9 Pro might break.

Setting Up the ANTHBOT M9 Pro in the Test

When you open the package, the first thing you see is a quick start guide in DIN A5 format, which can also be downloaded to your smartphone or tablet and redirects you to the Anthbot website. Here, ANTHBOT promises that the robotic mower will be ready for use within 3 minutes via plug-and-play.

In our test, however, it took significantly longer to get the ANTHBOT M9 Pro up and running. First, you need to find a spot for the charging station and, if necessary, secure it with the mounting screws. Next, the RTK reference station must be mounted on the pole and tripod before being connected to the charging station via cable. The charging station also needs to be powered up before setup via the app can begin.

Next, the robot must be connected via Bluetooth before a Wi-Fi connection can be established. The latter can sometimes be a bit tricky, because depending on how far the charging station is from the router or the nearest repeater, reception in the garden isn’t always ideal. In our test, however, even nearby trees only reduced the signal minimally.

Finally, the latest firmware update must be installed before the robot can be used for the first time. However, the mowing zones should be set up before the first actual mowing session. This is initiated via the app, and while there is generally an automatic mode available, manual boundary setting is often advisable depending on the circumstances. The free app is also used for this purpose.

Setup and installation are indeed straightforward, but they take noticeably longer than the advertised 3 minutes. However, those who take the time will achieve correspondingly better results when using it later on. On the other hand, anyone looking to get a starter robot lawn mower should take a look at the Eufy C15 (see our review).

Getting Started with the App

To define a zone optimally, the robot should map out the corresponding boundaries. In this process, your smartphone or tablet acts as a control unit, guiding the ANTHBOT M9 Pro along the edges of the desired zone. These boundaries are saved, and mowing takes place only within them.

This worked quite well in our test, even though we had to go over certain areas again because we drove over boundary stones. This can also be adjusted via the app, so that with a little time and practice, the mowing zone was perfectly defined. Afterward, the mowing process was started, and the robotic mower was able to complete its work entirely autonomously and automatically.

It’s helpful that the zones and maps are stored locally within the app, so a constant Wi-Fi connection isn’t necessary.

Many Features Available: The ANTHBOT App

If you’re setting up the ANTHBOT M9 Pro robotic lawn mower for the first time, you should take some time to thoroughly explore the settings in the app. There are several helpful features hidden here that can enhance its performance. For example, you can select a cutting height ranging from 30 to 70 millimeters in 5-millimeter increments, create a schedule for automatic mowing, or activate anti-theft mode.

We also recommend turning off the “Abnormal Lens Operation Mode.” If the AI camera’s visibility is ever impaired—for example, due to rain, fog, or dirt on the camera—the robot will continue operating until its work is complete. In this case, the robot may cross zone boundaries or fail to detect obstacles, so it’s safer to turn this mode off.

Using the app, you can expand maps and zones, add a new path, or adjust the boundaries. It’s also possible to start the mower cleaning cycle, during which the blades are lowered all the way down before the device automatically shuts off. There’s also a mode for manual control.

Navigation and Obstacle Detection

Navigation within the marked zones works flawlessly. The ANTHBOT M9 Pro begins its work near the base station and then moves up and down the zone in strips. Since the charging station was positioned fairly centrally within the zone in our test, it first mowed the left side, then navigated fully automatically back to the center, and finally mowed the right side. The RTK station does an excellent job here, as the robotic lawn mower never once left the marked zone and wasn’t even deterred by overhanging branches or tree trunks.

Thanks to the built-in AI camera—which, according to the manufacturer, recognizes over 1,000 different objects—the robot even perfectly navigated around a large fallen branch that was protruding slightly into the mowing zone. Smaller branches, on the other hand, were run over by the robotic mower and shredded. People or toys left lying on the lawn were also detected and avoided.

The ANTHBOT M9 Pro also delivered a truly impressive performance in our test when navigating narrow passages. Since it can rotate 180° almost on the spot, it was able to mow even narrow strips of grass between two flower pots without any problems.

Differences from the ANTHBOT M9

The biggest difference from its “little brother,” the ANTHBOT M9 (see our review), lies in the navigation system. The 360° LiDAR system wasn’t available on the predecessor but has been integrated into the Pro version. As a result, the ANTHBOT M9 Pro is less reliant on RTK and satellite-based positioning. Instead, it uses laser technology for spatial mapping and combines it with RTK data. ANTHBOT calls this technology “HoloSense Quad-Fusion.”

In fact, this is the only significant difference from the M9 model, as there are no noticeable differences in the mowing performance itself.

ANTHBOT M9 Pro in a Real-World Test: Mowing Performance

In our ANTHBOT M9 Pro test, the device was tested on a slope with some unevenness and was able to deliver its full mowing performance despite the challenging conditions. The lawn was trimmed as desired, though the 150 square meters per hour specified by the manufacturer was not achieved. This figure is likely only attainable under absolutely ideal conditions. We were still able to achieve a rate of about 70 square meters per hour.

A really handy feature is the option to have the robot mow along the boundary line one more time after finishing the mowing cycle. Here, you can select how far the robotic lawn mower should travel beyond the zone boundary before it automatically mows the edges again. This ensures that the edges are neatly trimmed as well.

Compared to the M9 model, we didn’t experience any issues with unmowed patches during our test with the Pro version. Instead, the lawn was cut evenly and completely.

We also really like how quiet it is—at a maximum of 58 decibels, the robot operates very quietly and won’t disturb any neighbors. This makes it possible to use it in the morning or in the evening.

ANTHBOT M9 Pro Review: Our Conclusion

Ultimately, the most important question is whether the ANTHBOT M9 Pro’s current premium of over 600 euros compared to the ANTHBOT M9 is worth it. The answer is “maybe,” because the more robust and precise navigation is a genuine improvement. Everything else remains the same in comparison.

Whether the LiDAR sensor upgrade is worth it therefore depends on your individual needs and the size of your lawn. If you have a strong RTK signal, you’ll likely be satisfied with the M9. However, if you expect poor signal quality due to trees, houses, or other obstacles and aren’t deterred by the extra cost, this is a worthwhile upgrade.