As a big fan of robotics and automation and as someone who, as a hobby, also leaves things to technical assistants that could perhaps be done faster by hand, I am very excited to test the top model from Mammotion extensively. In a garden that is anything but low-maintenance. Hedges running seamlessly along the edge of the lawn, slight bumps in the lawn, a climbing frame for kids and sometimes the odd toy left lying around will certainly challenge the LUBA 2 AWD 5000X. Can this garden helper behemoth (with a shipping weight of 30 kilograms, it can definitely call itself that), armed to the teeth with gadgets, replace the classic lawn mower? And is it easy to use and safe for vegetable patches and small animals? We will find out.
| Model | Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD 5000X |
| Robot dimensions | approx. 700 × 520 × 300 mm |
| Robot weight | approx. 24 kg (30 kg shipping weight incl. accessories) |
| Charging station | RTK module included, requires stable, level surface |
| Cutting width | double, with 2x 6-blade system (44 cm) |
| Cutting height | flexibly adjustable |
| Area output | up to 5000 m² |
| Navigation | RTK + camera + ultrasound + impact sensor |
| Max. Slope | 80 % (approx. 38°) |
| Water protection | IPX6 |
| Safety features | AI obstacle detection, rain sensor, night mode (can be switched off) |
| App functions | Mapping, schedules, FPV control, mowing tattoos, zones |
| Special features | All-wheel drive, 4G option, camera, AI, mowing pattern |
| Price | 2,999 € (RRP) |
Unboxing and first impression: Well-packaged heavyweight
A shipping weight of 30 kilograms is a statement. And this statement greets me in the form of a monstrously large parcel right on my doorstep thanks to a drop-off permit. So will the robotic mower arrive undamaged? Yes, absolutely. Embedded in generous padding, a huge quick start guide (who wants to read the thick manual, we want to see the thing in action right away!), the lavish accessories and a small opening give us a first glimpse of the object of desire.
Everything is neatly sorted, from the RTK antenna (for satellite reception) including the mounting rod, camera unit to the bumper, which still needs to be installed before the first start-up. Otherwise, the packaging would probably have been even larger or the part would have been damaged during transportation when assembled. Level 2 of the box contains the LUBA 2 AWD 5000X and the accompanying charging station. And that’s it – but that’s all you need. And if protection against wind and weather is required, this can easily be ordered as well. Just like the racing decals offered by the manufacturer to tune the Mähi (at least visually). But we are drifting off course.
When you take it out, it immediately becomes clear that it’s not just plastic, but that the device looks absolutely high-quality. 2 people are therefore highly recommended for lifting it out. For the subsequent assembly of the camera unit and the bumper, a high-quality 2.5 mm hexagon socket screwdriver is also included, so you don’t have to go to the workshop or even the DIY store.
Fitting the components is straightforward. The instructions show clearly and unambiguously where exactly what goes. And there are even stickers on the robot itself to underline this. A good 10 minutes later, the Luba 2 AWD is ready to go – but it’s not off to the green track just yet.
Setup & installation: fine-tuning with GPS and a little patience
When it comes to outdoor installation, Mammotion promises a quick and uncomplicated setup. Is that true? Yes and no. Let’s start with positioning the RTK antenna. Its job is to receive satellite signals and provide the robot with exact positioning data.
For this to work, the antenna must be set up with a clear view of the sky. In our test, this procedure required three attempts. The first location was a little too close to the eaves, the second a little too close to a huge juniper tree and the third directly in the vegetable patch – you just have to set priorities. A big plus point at this point: a long extension cable for the antenna, as well as a claw with which the mounting pole can be anchored in the ground.
Since the RTK antenna apparently stores its own position as a reference for correct functioning and the robot then navigates relative to the antenna, a new mapping is required after each attempt. It is therefore better to search for the best location directly and only then continue. Once this hurdle has been overcome, however, the rest of the installation is simple.
Charging station and power supply for the Luba 2 AWD 5000X
Next up is the charging station, which should ideally be set up near the RTK antenna. The antenna can be connected directly to the charging station and then requires no additional power supply (which is nevertheless included). It is important that the charging station is placed on level ground and cannot be moved by the heavy robot. Various mounting aids are of course included for installation on unpaved ground. In our test, however, the robot’s home base ended up in the corner between the house wall and the conservatory – relatively protected from wind and weather, although the mower is weatherproof to IPX6. If the 1 m maneuvering distance to all sides is maintained, parking and unparking is no big deal and requires no further user action.
All in all, this part of the installation takes around an hour. An absolute gain compared to conventional robot mowers that rely on boundary wires or similar. This is not necessary with the Luba 2.
The Mammotion app as a clear control center
The best hardware is useless if the associated app is no good, and we have already had several such cases. However, Mammotion shows that there is also the other side: Uncomplicated control, intuitive operation, and all settings clearly summarized in one app. But first install it (simply scan the QR on the quick guide) and then register.
The required authentication code is sent by email after you have entered your email address in the registration form – fully automatically, but with a slight delay. It would therefore not have been necessary to try to register with 4 different e-mail addresses. A little patience or a look in the spam folder is required here.
The search for the robot and setting up the WLAN connection for the mower begins immediately afterwards. Once this is done, a message pops up immediately informing you that the Luba 2 would like to perform a firmware update. It then shouts this loudly across the garden – good, now the neighbors have also been warned. It takes a little longer than expected because the Wi-Fi coverage in the garden is rather poor, but after around a quarter of an hour, the excitement was great.
Once the app setup is complete and the Luba 2 is connected, numerous useful functions can be accessed via the app: Mapping, schedules, manual control (via Bluetooth – more on this later), battery status and other settings. And the latter are quite varied, for example the front headlight can be activated there so that the robotic lawnmower can also be seen in the dark.
Speaking of darkness: although the robot’s internal AI is supposed to recognize obstacles and animals/people, we didn’t want to take this risk, especially at night – keyword hedgehogs and other nocturnal animals. So we had to create a schedule that only allows the mower to mow during the day. Wildlife protection can be activated via the settings menu with two taps, so that either the speed of the robot is reduced or night operation is deactivated completely.
Map creation: Racing sim in the garden?
With the LUBA 2 AWD 5000X fully installed and the RTK antenna correctly positioned, it is now time to virtually map out the garden. The entire mapping process runs conveniently via the Mammotion app on your smartphone. This means that before the first automatic mowing run, the area must first be marked out – i.e. mowed in a circle. The app turns into a controller that can be used to control the robot’s movements more or less precisely. For experienced drone pilots, this is probably a child’s birthday party. For me, who last piloted an RC car in the early 2000s, there is a certain delay before the Luba 2 reacts:
In the app, however, the maximum speed for the learning mode can be reduced precisely for such cases. And at 0.2 meters per second, the steering works perfectly for me.
In addition, several no-go zones can be set up, i.e. areas that are not mowed – such as vegetable patches or islands for wild flowers and bees. This function is also worth its weight in gold if there is a garden pond or pool in the mowing area. And once these areas have been defined, the robot sticks to them meticulously.
Playing around with the Mammotion app: what else the LUBA 2 AWD 5000X can do
An absolute highlight of the app is the flexible planning of mowing times. You can set in detail the times and days of the week when the robot can be out and about. This is particularly useful if there are animals in the garden or children playing in the garden.
Another interesting feature is what we call “first-person mode”, in which the robotic lawnmower can be controlled directly via two virtual joysticks on the smartphone display. Image transmission included, of course. What was initially ridiculed more as a nice gimmick, however, turns out to be extremely practical in order to see if the robot is stuck somewhere or – if it has not returned to the charging station – to determine where it is. For larger lawns, and if the WLAN signal does not reach that far, operation via 4G mobile radio is even possible, but of course requires a SIM card in the device.
As a special extra, the Luba 2 can even cut a kind of tattoo into the lawn. Various symbols can be selected via the app and placed on the map. The robot then mows these into the lawn by adjusting the cutting height. Letters can also be displayed in this way. Due to the mowing width, however, this feature requires a larger lawn area – but that’s what the mower was designed for.
Overall, the Mammotion app is impressive across the board. It offers a clearly structured user interface, many useful functions and works reliably and smoothly throughout. This shows that Mammotion has not only done its homework when it comes to the hardware. And now that we are familiar with the app, we can finally get started: The first test drive is about to begin.
First ride & mowing experience
With a mapped area, set no-go zones and a suitable mowing schedule in the app, the Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD 5000X is ready for its first real ride. According to the app settings, LUBA first drives along the outer edge of the permitted area twice – apparently for calibration. It then devotes itself to the inner area in even tracks. If you want, you can also set alternative cutting patterns via the app, but I’m sticking with the classic longitudinal cut for now, which should be completely sufficient for flat terrain.
What is particularly noticeable is that the LUBA works pleasantly quietly. Definitely even quieter than some robot hoovers. And worlds quieter than a classic lawn mower, and it also lacks the authentic smell of petrol.
Our test lawn had deliberately not been mowed for a while so that the Luba could demonstrate its skills directly under the most realistic conditions possible. According to the manufacturer, the robot mower can also handle grass up to 9 centimetres long – and it proved this impressively. With its all-wheel drive, the robot ploughed through dense vegetation and automatically trimmed it to 60 millimetres. Clean and precise cut included. After the first (and only necessary) pass, there are no streaks or scattered blades of grass to be seen. The double mower with a total of 12 blades definitely does a great job here.
Thanks to the optimum interaction between the camera, ultrasound and bumper, the Luba 2 is also able to avoid small and large obstacles in its path. Even narrow passages (the charging station and lawn can only be reached through a narrow corridor) and bends are precisely controlled thanks to the all-wheel drive. Slopes of up to 80% (38°) are also no big deal for the mower.
After the ride is before the ride
If the battery drops below 15% during the mowing process, the robot automatically returns to the base, charges briefly and then finishes its job. Only then does it go into full charging mode. This is well thought out in everyday use, as the mowing job is completed reliably even if the battery runs low in the middle of the job.
However, the best results can only be seen when the LUBA 2 AWD 5000X regularly plows the meadow, about every other day. This allows denser vegetation to form and the lawn looks cleaner and better maintained. And all without manual intervention.
The only downside at this point is that a grass catcher would definitely be a nice-to-have. The clippings remain as mulch, which is not really a problem. In damp weather, however, the clippings can easily stick to your shoes. In view of the clean cut, however, this is more than bearable.
Conclusion: A clean start with minor limitations
On its first outing, the LUBA 2 AWD 5000X delivers exactly what you would expect from a robotic lawnmower in this price range – and even a little more. The navigation is well thought out, the mowing pattern is impressive and the background noise remains pleasantly unobtrusive. Obstacles are also reliably detected and elegantly avoided.
Thanks to its clear lines and consistent cutting quality, the robot does exactly what it is supposed to do – and does so very independently. If you have it mowed regularly, you benefit twice over: from a healthier lawn and a cleanly distributed mulch.
If you are looking for a powerful, intelligent and all-terrain robot mower without tangled cables and are prepared to invest a little more for comfort and performance, the LUBA 2 AWD 5000X is an absolutely convincing solution.
- Navigation without boundary wire thanks to GPS control
- Very good cutting performance & even mowing pattern
- All-terrain capability thanks to all-wheel drive
- Intuitive app with numerous functions (e.g. FPV, tattoos)
- Automatic obstacle detection & wildlife protection
- No grass catcher – damp mulch sticks to mower and shoes
- Initial setup of the RTK antenna requires patience
- Relatively high price compared to the competition
Mammotion LUBA 2 AWD 5000X
Design and processing
Navigation
Obstacle detection
Ease of use
Mowing performance
Price-performance ratio
93/100
The LUBA 2 AWD 5000X scores with powerful all-wheel drive, RTK navigation and intuitive app control. The ideal solution for large, complex gardens and lawns.
