If there is one tedious task in the summer, especially in this heat, it's mowing the lawn! We would clearly prefer to enjoy the pool rather than sweating profusely mowing our patch of grass. Fortunately, we live in an era where robotic lawn mowers are becoming more accessible: they are becoming smarter, easier to install (no more perimeter cables to set up), more efficient, and much more affordable! In this range of accessible models, the Mova 600 arrives, a robotic mower that promises to mow up to 600 m² wirelessly, without a beacon, without a GPS antenna, just armed with its 3D Lidar! We set up the base, map the garden as you would pilot a remote-controlled car, and the robot takes care of the rest, even on days when the grass starts to grow very quickly. Let’s unbox, install, and put the Mova 600 to the test of daily life!
Unboxing the Mova 600 Robotic Mower
The Mova 600 box is quite compact compared to other models. It must be said that this model does not have cables lying around everywhere, no beacons to install, nor a satellite-like antenna to plant in the back of the garden.
Inside, you find the robot (relatively light, around 10 kg including the battery), the charging station, a power block with a 10-meter cable (handy for not having the outlet right next to it), a brush to clean the Lidar, a few screws to fix the base, a well-provided manual (and in French, please), and a set of replacement blades.
The design is clearly one of the strong points of the Mova 600. It has a real sports car look, with carbon imitation finishes.
At the back, there is a handle reminiscent of a spoiler.
On top, a magnetic cover protects the robot's controls:
It features the cutting height adjustment wheel, as well as the power, mowing, and return to base buttons.
You can tell that the brand, part of the Dreame group (specialists in vacuum robots), has invested heavily in aesthetics. The robot is compact, quite attractive, and inspires confidence. There are also some similarities with the Dreame A1 tested last year, marketed under the Dreame brand.
As mentioned in the introduction: here there is no perimeter wire to install, no beacon, no silly GPS antenna. Here, everything goes through the 3D Lidar, the famous sensor that scans the garden at 360° and maps everything it sees. It is visible on top of the robot. We'll talk more about it, but it's THE game changer of the Mova 600.
One nice detail: the brush to be installed on the base to automatically clean this Lidar sensor with every pass:
Thanks to this system, the Lidar will always be clean :)
Configuring the Mova 600
Installing the Mova 600 is almost as simple as plugging in an outlet. You place the base on a flat corner of the garden (ideally in the shade, but sometimes you don’t have much choice), fix it with the provided screws, plug in the power, and off you go.
The only real constraint is to keep one meter on each side of the base so that the robot can maneuver freely.
For pairing, you lift the robot's magnetic cover, turn on the on/off button, and then scan the QR code with the Mova app (available on iOS and Android).
You follow the instructions: create the account, Bluetooth pairing, connect to the WiFi (2.4 GHz required).
And as often with this type of device, there is a firmware update (here, you need to be patient, it takes a few minutes, but it’s essential to have all the latest features).
The mapping of the garden is done like a remote-controlled car: you guide the robot by hand (via the app, joystick-style) to draw the boundaries of the mowing area.
It’s fun, a bit entertaining, and very accessible even for the less tech-savvy. You can create multiple zones, narrow passages, restricted areas (to avoid flowerbeds or the pool), and even two different maps (handy if you have a second home or if you share the robot with a neighbor; just buy a second base).
A 3D view of the mapping is also visible in the app. It’s almost mesmerizing to see your garden modeled in real-time, with the robot's progress displayed live.
The app is very comprehensive: you can schedule mowing times (with summer/winter differences), with the option to mow different zones from one schedule to another if desired.
You can enable or disable obstacle detection (adjustable between 5 and 20 cm):
Choose the mowing pattern: crossed, checkerboard…
And even customize the robot's voice (yes, it speaks in French!).
An option even allows you to set charging times, if you want to take advantage of off-peak hours, for example.
You can also track the progress of the mowing in real-time, receive notifications, and consult the task history. In short, the app is extremely comprehensive!
Only the cutting height will need to be adjusted manually directly on the robot, from 20 to 60 mm. But in practice, this is something that doesn't get adjusted much once the right height is configured.
User Feedback: the robot that mows while you sip a cocktail
The real pleasure comes when you start the first mow. The Mova 600 exits its base, does a little spin to calibrate itself, then tackles the lawn with a precision that commands respect. The Lidar scans everything, the robot moves in parallel lines, then finishes with the edges. It sometimes passes over the same area multiple times to miss nothing, which results in a very clean finish (as long as you don't start with a jungle of 20 cm grass, of course…).
On a classic terrain (up to 600 m²), it performs exceptionally well. The cutting width is 20 cm, which isn’t huge, but it compensates with methodical and precise navigation.
It can mow for about 1 hour before returning to recharge (count 50 minutes for 80 m² in standard mode, a bit faster in efficient mode). The recharge takes about 1h30, and it goes back out to finish the job if needed.
Noise-wise, it’s glorious: 59 dB, you can mow on a Sunday afternoon without getting fired up by the neighbors. The robot is truly quiet, especially compared to a gas mower or even some competing robots. The Lidar is almost inaudible; you need to put your ear close to hear it turn.
Obstacle detection is effective: the robot avoids trees, toys, balls, and even hedgehogs (tested and approved!). You can set the minimum detection height, which is useful to prevent it from stopping at every tuft of slightly tall grass. In case of lifting or exiting the mapped area, an alarm is triggered (well, it can be easily disabled, but it remains a nice addition for safety).
On slopes, it manages well up to 45% (24°), especially if you opt for the optional treaded wheels (available for around a hundred euros). On wet ground or with moss, the grip is good, the robot doesn’t crab walk like some higher-end models. You can tell the design is robust, even if the blade fixing system remains conventional (three free blades, to be changed with a screwdriver).
Maintenance is very simple: a brush every now and then (thanks to the brush on the base!), possibly a rinse with a hose (IPX6), and you're good to go. The battery is easily accessible and replaceable, which is not always the case with competitors.
On a complex terrain, with trees, flower beds, a terrace, and even a narrow passage, the Mova 600 performs very well. Just ensure you do the mapping correctly at the start, and the robot scrupulously adheres to the boundaries without scraping its body against the walls (thanks to the well-thought-out bumper). The restricted zones are respected, and if there is ever a small strip of grass left along an obstacle, a quick trim with a string trimmer every now and then suffices to perfect the result.
In use, it’s all about comfort. Imagine: you go on vacation, you program the Mova 600 to mow on Saturday morning. Upon your return, the lawn is pristine, the edges are done, and you didn’t have to lift a finger.
Or you share the robot with the neighbor (each has their base, each has their map), and you split the bill. Convenient, right? And if you have a country house, just transport the robot and set it down on the second base; it recognizes the mapping and goes back to work as if nothing ever happened.
Mova 600: a robot that changes life (and the lawn)
After several weeks of use, the verdict is clear: the Mova 600 does the job, and it does it well. No more wasting time mowing, no more cables to install, no more headaches with adjustments. You schedule, you map, and you let it do its work. The robot adapts to all terrains (or almost), avoids obstacles, and leaves a perfect lawn.
A small downside? The magnetic cover, as stylish as it is, would have benefited from a hinge to facilitate access to the cutting height control. And the anti-theft alarm system, while useful, can be disabled a bit too easily for my taste. But honestly, at this price level (currently at €849 on sale), it’s hard to be picky.
In short, it’s not perfect (no robot is), but it ticks all the boxes for family use on surfaces up to 600 m².
Note that for larger areas, a version supporting up to 1000m2 is also available.
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