Automower Connect 4+

Credit where credit is due; v3 of the app is now excellent following several updates to correct bugs. All those in my original review (in parentheses below) are resolved. I have two robotic mowers; controlling them, viewing their status and altering settings via the app is now clear and straightforward. The move to Google mapping is a welcome enhancement.

(V2 of the app seemed to generally work well. V3 (the current version) has so many bugs: no way to clear alerts; incorrect display of dates; unable to ‘Park Until Further Notice’ despite selecting the option - it shows the next start time in the ‘Timer’ menu; geofence radius doesn’t display etc. etc. I have reported these issues to Husqvarna and await a response and updated app.)

Having paid such a ‘premium’ price I do expect to be afforded the courtesy of at least being consulted, and given the option, before my mower gets broken by a software update. Working fine one day and then the next thinking it had been turned upside down every time it descended an unchanged slope made it virtually unusable. That is until the next update was forced upon MY mower. Anyone would think I’d bought a Tesla! In the world of business tech doesn’t go down well if the end user isn’t able to update, or not, hardware, firmware and software as and when THEY chose. Consumer goods manufacturers need to decide to do the same before legislation forces them to do so in the same way that cookie choices were forced out of web site providers. Wake up and smell the coffee Husqvarna this is not an acceptable state of play.

That might seem like a bold statement but it really is. Now had my Automower for nearly five years and the time it gives you back (not having to mow); the quality of the grass because of the natural mulching and the fact that my kids can go out and play football/rugby/badminton whenever they want is simply fantastic.

Many products promise so much and yet completely underwhelm, but the Husqvarna Automower does deliver. And the App is intuitive and super convenient. Even had to stop the mower once because the dog had left a little parcel and my wife text me to pause it - I was in South Africa at the time - 10 mins later, I set it going again… 😅