ECOVACS GOAT O1200 REVIEW: Finally Mowing right up to the edge!

Robotic mowers are now standard equipment in many gardens. Modern devices are increasingly dispensing with traditional boundary wires and instead rely on intelligent navigation including mapping and smart obstacle detection. The ECOVACS GOAT O1200 fits the bill perfectly. As the name suggests, the robot mower is aimed at gardens up to around 1200 m². The manufacturer also promises simple set-up, reliable navigation and convenient control via app. And a small revolution in edge mowing is also included. Find out how well this concept works in everyday use in our ECOVACS GOAT O1200 Review.

Technical data

Model	ECOVACS GOAT O1200 LIDAR PRO
Dimensions and weight	600 x 400 x 276 mm and approx. 13 kg
Mowing area	Suitable for up to 1,200 m² (approx. 180 m²/h)
Navigation	360° dual LiDAR navigation
Obstacle detection	AIVI 3D
Mowing unit	22 cm cutting width, 3-8 cm cutting height
Climbing ability	max. 45%
Rechargeable battery	107 Wh Li-ion battery, approx. 70-90 min. running time, 70-180 min. charging time
Special feature	Tru-Edge edge trimmer
Weather resistance	IPX6
Price	€ 999.00 *

Scope of delivery of the ECOVACS GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro

ECOVACS GOAT O1200 REVIEW: Design and workmanship

The GOAT O1200 first catches the eye with its modern appearance. The shape is flatter and more compact than many traditional robotic lawn mowers. This makes the device look less bulky and blends in well with the garden. Ecovacs uses the same design language as the original Ecovacs GOAT G1 (Review | Price not available *), which is not only due to the color combination of black and white. On top of that, the manufacturer always uses the same material.

The housing is made of sturdy plastic and looks very solid overall. The workmanship makes a high-quality impression: transitions are neatly finished and moving parts are firmly attached. With a weight of around 13 kg, the robot is one of the lighter models in its class. This has two practical advantages: On the one hand, the device is easier to transport, and on the other, it leaves fewer tracks on sensitive lawns.

In addition to the control unit with physical buttons, the display, the LiDAR unit for navigation and a STOP button in striking red for emergencies are also located on the top. At the front, Ecovacs places the obstacle detection system. On the underside, we find more than just the two small steering wheels at the front. The impressively profiled rear wheels are also located here.

The deep grooves give the robot sufficient grip on various surfaces and on slopes (up to 45%). The profile ensures stable driving characteristics, especially on slightly damp grass or small bumps in the ground. The construction is also designed for outdoor use. The housing is protected to IPX6 standard so that the robot is reliably protected against rainwater.

It can also be easily cleaned with a garden hose. On the side is the “True Edge” unit, a system for edge mowing that uses bristles to provide scratch protection for robots and walls. Both mowing units can then be inspected on the underside. In addition to the mowing disc with three blades, you can also see the rotating plastic wire for mowing the edge area.

ECOVACS GOAT O1200 REVIEW: Setup and commissioning

A decisive advantage of the GOAT O1200 lies in its installation. As no boundary wire needs to be laid, setting it up is much easier than with many classic robot mowers. First, the charging station is placed at the edge of the lawn and supplied with power. You then screw the station into the ground using the pegs provided. You need to attach the protective brushes to the robot itself, which should provide scratch protection in the edge area during mowing.

The well-illustrated quick-start guide is a great help during setup and ensures that even beginners should be able to set it up quickly and easily. The robot is then added as a new device via the Ecovacs app and connected to the Wi-Fi. Now simply follow the step-by-step instructions in the app. The most important step is probably mapping the garden. The GOAT gives you the choice between manual and automatic mapping.

Automatic mapping is more convenient, but often more error-prone. Here, the Robo independently creates a map of the area to be mowed. According to the manufacturer, this is almost completely automated. The robot recognizes different types of boundaries independently, so that in some cases there is no need for manual mowing. This may well be convenient for gardens with clearly demarcated lawns. However, if you don’t have clear boundaries in the form of lawn edges or similar, it is better to use manual mapping.

Here you steer the Robo through the garden via the app like a remote-controlled car and drive along the boundaries of the lawn area. No matter what you choose, you’ll end up with a digital map. How long the procedure takes depends not only on the size of your lawn, but also on the layout of your garden. If there are lots of bends and several mowing zones, it will of course take longer than if you only have to follow straight paths and it’s just one area. I was finished after a few minutes and was able to inspect my finished map.

You can now choose to define specific mowing zones, but you can also set up exclusion zones or virtual boundaries if you wish. The desired adjustments can be made extremely easily and self-explanatory via the app and drawn into the map. Make sure you leave enough time for the map creation part. After all, this is the basis for the robot’s later work. A poorly created or inaccurate map can not only result in the lawn not being mowed properly.

In the worst case, it can also cause damage to your plants. This is especially true if you have flowerbeds or other areas worth protecting. However, you don’t have to bury your head in the sand if you make a mistake. After all, everything can be easily undone and set up again. Of course, this not only makes the system more accessible, but also more flexible than the classic robotic mowers with buried perimeter wire.

ECOVACS GOAT O1200 REVIEW: ECOVACS App

The robotic lawnmower is mainly controlled via the ECOVACS smartphone app. It is the central control center for all of the robot’s functions and plays a crucial role in everyday use. While many classic robotic lawn mowers are still controlled via small displays or simple buttons on the device, the GOAT O1200 relies entirely on app-based operation.

Even during the initial setup, it becomes clear how important the app is for the overall system. It is used to connect the robot to the WLAN and then integrate it into your own user account. The application guides you step by step through the entire set-up process – from connecting to the charging station to the initial mapping of the garden. You can not only determine essential things such as the mowing height.

Map view and zone management

The heart of the app is the digital map view. Once the robot has covered the garden, it creates a detailed map of the lawn. This map is then displayed in the app and can be edited there. The map serves as the basis for all other settings. Users can, for example:

• define individual mowing zones
• prioritize different areas
• adjust virtual boundaries
• completely block certain areas

No-go zones are particularly practical. These can be marked directly on the map and prevent the robot from entering certain areas. This is useful for flowerbeds, sandboxes, ponds or sensitive plants, for example. Several mowing zones can also be created. For example, the front and back gardens can be managed separately or certain areas can be mowed more frequently than others.

Scheduling and automation

Another central component of the app is the scheduling of the robotic lawnmower. Users can specify in detail when the robot should work. Various parameters can be defined, such as

• Mowing times for individual days of the week
• Different time windows for different zones
• break times during the day

This ensures that you as a user can rely on the Ecovac’s automatic mowing cycles and don’t have to start them manually via the app every time. You can also rely on the robot to work even when you are on vacation or away from home, for example. Seasonal adjustments are also possible without any problems. If the lawn grows faster in spring, the mowing frequency can simply be increased.

Live status and control

During operation, the app provides comprehensive information on the current status of the robot. Users can see what the robot is doing at any time. For example, the following information is displayed in the app:

• Current position of the robot on the map
• Progress of the current mowing process
• Remaining battery life
• Next planned work phase

This live data increases transparency and makes it possible to monitor the robot at any time. The robot can also be started or stopped manually. If necessary, the device can even be sent to a specific zone. In addition to control, the app also supports maintenance of the device. It informs the user about important firmware updates and reminds them, for example, to change the blades or clean the robot.

Ease of use and user interface

The app’s user interface has a clear overall design. The most important functions are easy to access and the map view makes it easier to find your way around the settings. The visual representation of the lawn area is particularly helpful. Changes to zones or boundaries can be tracked directly on the map, making operation very intuitive. The app is also suitable for beginners. The individual functions are logically structured and many settings are explained with brief instructions.

ECOVACS GOAT O1200 REVIEW: Navigation and obstacle detection

Navigation is one of the most important technical components of a robotic lawnmower. The GOAT O1200 uses a sensor-based system that works without a boundary wire. The LiDAR system relies on laser navigation, which works reliably even in complete darkness. Instead of moving randomly across the lawn, the robot covers the area in orderly paths. This structured approach ensures uniform coverage of the entire area.

The system recognizes the boundaries of the previously defined map and stays within these areas. The GOAT O1200 uses the so-called “HoloScope 360” system, which consists of two LiDAR sensors: a rotating 360° scanner and an additional 3D ToF LiDAR. This creates a particularly precise 3D map of the garden with an accuracy of around 2 cm – even in the dark.

AIVI 3D obstacle detection is also used, which is said to be able to recognize over 200 different types of obstacles with the help of AI and camera – including smaller objects such as animals. However, the Goat O1200 proved to be somewhat unreliable in the test. While it avoided larger obstacles such as a soccer or pot without any problems, smaller obstacles were too much of a challenge.

Not only did my plastic hedgehog family get bumped into at first and then run over on the return trip, but my gardening shoe also became a victim. After we brought the issue to Ecovacs’ attention, however, the manufacturer provided a suitable solution. The app allows users to adjust the sensitivity of the obstacle avoidance system. By default, it only reacts to obstacles measuring 15 cm (6 inches) or taller.

After lowering the threshold to detect objects 10 cm and above, the obstacle avoidance performed noticeably better. The built-in camera also enables another useful feature: the robot can be operated through the app as a mobile security camera. The image quality of its recordings is surprisingly good.
Overall, the navigation system works reliably and ensures a systematic and thorough coverage of the lawn.

ECOVACS GOAT O1200 REVIEW: Practical test

Daily use shows how well the GOAT O1200 actually performs its tasks. Several factors play a role here: mowing performance, everyday navigation, behavior in the event of obstacles and the general reliability of the system.

Mowing performance and cutting pattern

The robot uses a mowing disc equipped with a total of three blades. The blades cut the grass by rotating. As with most robotic mowers, the clippings are not collected, but finely shredded and distributed over the lawn as mulch. This process has several advantages. Firstly, there is no need to empty the grass catcher. Secondly, the fine clippings serve as a natural fertilizer for the lawn.

When used regularly, this results in an even and well-maintained lawn. The robot cuts the grass at short intervals so that the lawn remains at a similar height. The Ecovacs delivers a very clean result, especially on open and even lawns. Even on large areas. As the name suggests, it can cover up to 1200 m² at a time.

The structured mowing strategy also ensures that the area is mowed evenly. According to the manufacturer, the GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro also offers a high cutting performance. Compared to classic robotic mowers, the performance is said to have been increased by up to 150 %. This should ensure faster work progress, especially in denser grass.

Behavior in more complex garden areas

The strength of digital mapping is evident in more winding garden areas. The robot can move to different zones and works through them one after the other. Narrower passages between beds or garden furniture can also be managed. According to the manufacturer, passages must be at least 80 cm wide.

In such areas, however, the robot moves somewhat more cautiously, which can slow down the work progress. Occasionally, very narrow areas or edges may not be completely covered. These areas must then occasionally be trimmed by hand.

Edge cutting – one of the most important features

A classic problem for many robotic lawnmowers is cutting along edges. As the cutting unit is usually located centrally under the device, a narrow strip often remains along lawn edges. These areas must then be regularly trimmed with a lawn trimmer. The GOAT O1200 attempts to reduce this problem with a special edge cutting function.

Technically, this feature is based on the integrated “TruEdge Trimmer”, an automatically extending cutting system that is integrated directly into the robotic lawnmower for the first time and works specifically on the edge area. When trimming edges, the robot moves along the edges of the lawn and positions itself as close as possible to the edge. This means that a significantly larger part of the edge area is mowed than with many conventional robotic lawnmowers. In practice, this feature works particularly well on clearly defined lawn edges, for example:

• along stone slabs
• along paved paths
• next to patio areas

Here, the robot can drive very close to the edge and cut the edge area largely cleanly. However, the result depends heavily on the design of the lawn edge. If the lawn is slightly raised or there is a small edge to the adjacent path, the GOAT O1200 may still leave a narrow strip.

In such cases, a manual lawn trimmer is still occasionally required. Nevertheless, the edge cutting feature significantly reduces the amount of finishing work required. This can make work noticeably easier, especially in larger gardens with many straight lawn edges. Ecovacs has come up with a useful innovation that we may soon be able to admire in the competition.

Behavior on different lawns

Thanks to the large wheels, the robot also copes well with slightly uneven terrain. Small bumps or unevenness are usually no problem. The floating mowing disc also pays off here, as it reliably adapts to uneven surfaces.

Even moderate inclines of up to 45° can be mastered without any problems. Only on very steep or particularly wet surfaces can the wheels spin a little. In such situations, the robot occasionally needs several attempts to make a clean turn or reach a certain position.

ECOVACS GOAT O1200 REVIEW: Noise level and suitability for everyday use

Another plus point is the relatively quiet operation. During mowing, the robot only makes a moderate noise. Ecovacs states an operating volume of 61 dB. This makes it possible to leave the robot running during the day or in the evening without it being a nuisance. The automatic return to the charging station also proves to be reliable in everyday use. As soon as the 5,200 mAh battery runs low, the robot automatically returns to the charging station and continues its work later. The battery is then fully charged again after just under 70 minutes. Overall, the system is stable and reliable in everyday use.

Looking for help deciding? Click here for our list of the best robotic lawn mowers.

Conclusion

The ECOVACS GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro impresses in the test above all with its strong price-performance ratio. Installation without a boundary wire simplifies set-up considerably and makes the robot particularly flexible if the garden changes over time. The workmanship and operation also leave a positive impression. The robust design, the clear ECOVACS Robotics app and the structured mowing strategy ensure that the robot works reliably on a daily basis and produces an even cutting pattern.

A special highlight is the edge cutting feature. Here, the Ecovacs skillfully makes up for the weakness of many robotic lawnmowers and thus reduces the amount of manual reworking required. Although small strips can still remain depending on the design of the lawn edges, the edge cutting works very well overall. Minor limitations are particularly evident in very complex garden layouts or on wet or steep terrain. Overall, however, the GOAT O1200 offers a modern and convenient overall package and is particularly suitable for medium-sized gardens.