The market for robotic lawn mowers is growing steadily, and the demands of users are increasing with each new model. Anyone opting for such a smart garden helper wants simple operation, reliable navigation, low noise levels and a clean cut. Many homeowners also want an uncomplicated solution for small gardens that does not require complex installation. This is exactly where the RoboUP Raccoon 2SE comes in. It is advertised by the manufacturer as the “Best Value Robot Mower for Small Lawns” – i.e. the price-performance winner for smaller lawns. With promises such as “Zero Setup, Zero Hassle” and “Just Press Play”, the Raccoon 2SE aims to prove that lawn care is possible without technical hurdles. But does the robot mower keep its promises? We’ll tell you in the RoboUP Raccoon 2 SE test.
Technical data
| Model | RoboUP Raccoon 2 SE |
| Area of application | Small to medium-sized gardens up to approx. 500 m² |
| Terrain mobility | – Steps up to 4 cm – Potholes up to 5 cm – Paths from 80 cm wide |
| Gradeability | up to 36% |
| Cutting width/cutting height | – flexibly adjustable – Height 3-8 cm – Suitable for grass heights up to 12 cm |
| Mowing time per charge | up to 150 minutes |
| Weather resistance | IPX6 |
| Battery | Battery capacity: 5 Ah lithium-ion battery Charging time: approx. 70 minutes (quick charge) |
| Special features | – No boundary wire – no RTK – Ride-on edge mode – AI-supported obstacle detection – Automatic mapping – rain sensor – OTA updates |
| price | $299 |
Scope of delivery
- RoboUP Raccoon 2 SE robotic lawnmower
- Charging station incl. pegs
- Bumper incl. screws
- Mowing zone signs incl. pegs
- Spare blades
- Mains cable
- Mains adapter
- Operating instructions
- Quick start guide
RoboUP Raccoon 2 SE Test: Design and workmanship
The RoboUP RACCOON SE 2 is not the first robotic lawnmower from the manufacturer that we have been able to put through its paces in a test. With the RoboUP T1200 Pro (Review | € 1,649.00 *) and the RoboUP T1000 (Review), we have already put two other models from the manufacturer under the microscope. Both models were clearly similar in terms of design.
I was all the more surprised when I took the Raccoon 2SE out of its packaging. RoboUP has shown courage with its appearance. The manufacturer’s latest robotic mower not only looks much more modern than its clunky siblings. It is also more compact and lighter. This is not surprising. While the T1200 and T1000 are suitable for larger lawns of 1,000 m² or more, the Raccoon SE2 was designed for smaller gardens with lawns of up to 500 m².
It retains the virtues of the other models. The Raccoon 2SE also relies on a robust, functional design that conveys professionalism. The construction appears solid and suitable for everyday use. This is of course important, as a robotic lawnmower is in constant contact with moisture, dirt and uneven surfaces. The compact shape is particularly practical and almost unusual for RoboUP.
This enables the device to work precisely even in winding gardens or under trees. Another highlight: the Ride-on-Edge feature. Many robotic lawnmowers leave messy strips along the edge of the lawn, but the Raccoon 2SE is designed to ride along the edges in such a way that no edge remains, according to the manufacturer. Unlike the Dreame A2 (Review | € 1,632.00 *), however, it does not use an extendable mower.
The whole thing is problematic if your lawn is bordered by walls or lawn edges. After all, there are physical limits to the Ride-on-Edge principle if the edge cannot be driven over in the first place. However, if the boundary is level with the lawn, the feature is extremely practical. After all, it saves users annoying reworking with the trimmer.
Overall, the robot lawn mower scores points with its great workmanship and stylish appearance. Although other current models such as the MOVA 600 (Review | € 749.00 *) may look a little more stylish, this is certainly a matter of taste.
RoboUP Raccoon 2 SE test: Setup and commissioning
The RACCOON 2 SE is pleasingly user-friendly during commissioning. As befits a modern robotic lawnmower, you don’t have to bury any annoying boundary wires to define the mowing area. Instead, the robotic lawnmower simply creates a map of your lawn itself and knows where it should and should not mow. But RoboUP goes one step further.
This is already advertised on the packaging. It says: “Unbox in 1. Mow in 2.”. And this promise of “Mow straight out of the box” is certainly kept by the Gartenrobo. Once you’ve unpacked it, you can theoretically get started straight away. But before you can get started, you need to complete one or two more steps. First, you need to screw the bumper to the underside.
You also need to find a suitable place for the charging station, secure it with pegs and supply it with power via a socket. Then it’s time for mapping. This can be started automatically on the robot’s display. The RoboUP then starts mapping on its own. What sounds good in theory did not work so well for me in practice, as only automatic mapping can be started via the device itself.
I therefore opted for manual mapping via the RoboUP app – more on this later. The fact that the smart garden helper doesn’t have an annoying RTK antenna, as is the case with competitors such as a Mammotion Yuka Mini 600 (Review | € 899.00 *), also makes it easy to set up. This is a huge advantage, especially for small areas.
After all, this not only saves space, but also has a very practical advantage. Experience shows that the less technology is used, the fewer sources of error there are. The most important settings such as mowing mode, cutting length or schedules can be conveniently set directly on the device.
RoboUP Raccoon 2 SE test: The RoboUP app
As already mentioned, the Raccoon 2SE works straight out of the box. An app is theoretically not necessary here. However, even if the Raccoon 2SE works without an app, you should definitely download the optional RoboUP app. After all, it offers additional convenience. Here you benefit from extended setting options and practical features such as
- Auto or manual mapping: For clearly defined gardens, the robot automatically creates a map. For more complex or multi-zone areas up to 500 m², you create the map manually.
- Individual mowing schedules: Time-controlled programs, adjustable cutting heights and selection of mowing modes
- Target mowing functions: A specific spot can be approached and mowed at the touch of a finger, e.g. for heavily used lawns.
- Remote control: The robot can be steered manually like a remote-controlled car.
- Over-the-air updates (OTA): Software updates are carried out easily via app, for life and free of charge.
The app significantly expands the range of functions, but always remains clear and intuitive to use. This makes it ideal for users who want a little more control without having to familiarize themselves with complicated systems.
RoboUP Raccoon 2 SE test: Navigation and obstacle detection
Safety plays a major role with robotic mowers. After all, the blades on the underside can pose a danger to people, animals and even your garden equipment. This makes reliable navigation and obstacle detection all the more important. RoboUP relies on a clever combination here.
On the one hand, the robotic lawnmower works with AI-supported obstacle detection based on a camera and LED lighting. The Raccoon 2SE reliably recognizes people, animals and objects and avoids them without any problems. In the test, this even applied to smaller objects such as tennis balls. The garden robot also has special bumper sensors.
Should a collision occur, the physical impact sensors react immediately, stop the device and take it on a different route. The only occasional problem was with plants. For example, a small currant bush fell victim to the robot mower during the test. However, it was overcautious with my hanging grasses, registering them as an obstacle. However, the smart garden helper scored highly when it came to mapping.
Finally, thanks to multi-zone capabilities, several garden sections can be saved and linked so that they can be completed in one mowing job. Thanks to the two enclosed mowing zone disks, a total of three mowing zones can be created and linked together. When mapping, you have the choice between automatic or manual mapping. With automatic mapping, the RoboUP automatically creates a map, which is obviously only recommended for really clearly recognizable boundaries.
In the test, automatic mapping proved to be an unsuitable method, at least for my lawns. The Robo either left too large a margin to the boundaries or sometimes ran over them, which resulted in unsightly imprints of the wheels in the ground. For more complex applications, it is therefore better to use manual mapping. Here you steer the RoboUP like a remote-controlled car over your lawn and drive along the boundaries of the area.
One of the Raccoon 2SE’s main strengths is its flexibility. It can also cope with narrow paths from 80 cm wide and irregular surfaces. Even small potholes (up to 5 cm deep) or steps (up to 4 cm high) are no problem. A particularly positive feature is that it even recognizes dead ends and finds its way out again safely.
This prevents annoying snagging. During the mowing process, the RoboUP occasionally took short breaks, during which it turned in circles a few times. In my opinion, it does this to reorient itself. Personally, this didn’t bother me, but in practice, of course, it does extend the mowing time. Another thing I noticed was the mower’s somewhat confused route planning.
So it didn’t drive in a straight line on one of the lawns, but instead took a kind of zig-zag course. Since I wanted to get to the bottom of the matter, I mapped another lawn. Here, too, I couldn’t see any straight paths. However, this is not a problem that could not be solved in the course of software updates. What is certain is that the Robo ended up covering the entire map. And that’s the most important thing.
RoboUP Raccoon 2 SE test: Mowing performance
Of course, mowing performance is at the heart of every robotic mower. And the Raccoon 2SE cuts a fine figure here. This starts with the cutting quality. The garden robot conjures up a pleasingly even cut on your lawn. You can choose between a grass length of 30 to 80 mm, which you can adjust in 5 mm increments in the app or on the device itself.
The robotic lawnmower performs well even with longer blades of grass. RoboUP promises that the powerful motor can cut blades of grass up to 12 cm. As I hadn’t mowed my lawn for almost a month, I was able to follow up on this promise straight away and was not disappointed. Although the lawn was already quite high, the RACCOON 2SE cut it quite well.
There were only a few places where I had to rework. The edge mowing function is certainly helpful for gardens with even lawn borders. In a corresponding area of my garden, the RACCOON recognized the boundary and mowed the lawn edge cleanly. With higher edges, however, the RoboUP also leaves an unmown edge, which requires manual reworking.
An extendable mower would certainly have been helpful here. The RoboUP is also designed more for flat gardens without off-road sections. It may be able to cope with gentle slopes and uneven areas with its climbing ability of up to 36%. However, higher inclines are the end of the road. Here, competitors such as a Mammotion Yuka 1000 (Review | Price not available *) with its 45% climbing ability are clearly ahead.
On the other hand, the battery life is again impressive. With up to 150 minutes, most lawns with the recommended maximum size of 500 m² should be easily managed. If this is not the case, the quick charge ensures a full battery within 70 minutes so that the Robo can then automatically continue from the last area worked on.
RoboUP Raccoon 2 SE test: Quiet operation
Apart from its largely reliable obstacle detection and solid mowing performance, the Raccoon scores with other advantages that ensure comfort and safety. This starts with its operating volume. At just 56 dB, it is significantly quieter than some other robot mowers.
So it’s no problem to relax in the garden while the smart garden helper ensures a shorn lawn. The Robo also offers reliable rain protection. Thanks to the rain sensor, it detects precipitation and automatically returns to the charging station if this happens. Safety for hedgehogs and the like is ensured not only by obstacle detection, but also by the built-in night protection.
At night, the Robo stops its operation automatically for the sake of the four-legged friends – at least if you switch the feature on. Furthermore, built-in sensors ensure that an immediate stop is triggered when the robot is lifted or tilted. However, you can also trigger this stop by pressing the stop button, which cannot be overlooked.
Conclusion
With the Raccoon 2SE, RoboUP is launching a compact, user-friendly robotic lawnmower that is an attractive solution for small to medium-sized gardens in particular. Its greatest strength lies in its simple start-up: unpack, start and start mowing – without any boundary wire or complicated RTK installation. In combination with the optional but highly recommended app, the largely reliable obstacle detection and the quiet operation, it makes lawn care virtually maintenance-free.
The mowing performance is impressive overall with a solid cutting pattern and good battery life, even if steeper slopes and high lawn edges show its limits. In addition, the obstacle detection is still a little immature here and there and the route planning also seems a little chaotic. However, for users who value convenience, solid workmanship and a fair price-performance ratio, the RoboUP Raccoon 2 SE is still a garden helper worth recommending – especially where ease of use and reliability are more important than high-end features.
PRO
CONTRA The RoboUP Raccoon 2SE is a user-friendly and quiet robotic mower for small to medium-sized gardens, which scores with a good cutting pattern despite minor weaknesses in mapping and in border areas.
RoboUP Raccoon 2SE
Design and processing
Ease of use
Mowing performance
Price-performance ratio
88/100
