Launched at 579 euros, the ViAX 250 undercuts the market in the new-generation robot lawn mower segment in a way we rarely see. Beyond ditching boundary wires and RTK antennas, Mova is pitching accurate navigation and genuinely autonomous mowing. The question is what has been sacrificed to hit such a keen price point. To find out, we spent several weeks living with it.
Much like the robot vacuum world before it, robot lawn mowers have been going through a real upheaval for the past three mowing seasons. Determined to challenge long-established names such as Husqvarna, Gardena and Bosch, a wave of Asian brands has entered the category with serious intent.
Dreame, Mammotion, Ecovacs, Navimow, Mova-and now Roborock as of this year-are all multiplying product lines with the same goal: make wire-free robot lawn mowers, without RTK antennas, far more affordable and far easier to use.
With that momentum in mind, the Presse-Citron editorial team is currently testing a range of models to build a clear picture of what’s on offer, across different budgets and garden types.
Whereas in 2025 the models we tried-such as the Dreame A2 or the eufy E18-were hovering closer to the 2,000-euro mark, we’re starting 2026 with something far more aggressive on price: the Mova ViAX 250. Sold from 579 euros, it targets small gardens up to 250 m², with an appealing promise on paper: effective mowing, advanced obstacle detection and a simplified set-up.
And to get there, unlike the Mova 600 which relied on a 3D LiDAR sensor, the ViAX 250 leans mainly on a dual HDR camera system supported by AI, branded UltraEyes 1.0. After several weeks of mowing, here’s whether that lighter approach holds up-even on the smallest patches of green.
Design and installation: a robot lawn mower designed to make life easier
This is the headline claim for new-generation robot lawn mowers: easier installation, with no perimeter cable to bury and no RTK antenna to position around the garden. On that front, the ViAX 250 delivers exactly what it says-between unboxing and the first map, we needed roughly 45 minutes.
Measuring 59.5 × 38 × 27.2 cm and weighing 9.4 kg, it keeps to a compact footprint. For context, a more premium option like the Segway Navimow i208 LiDAR tips the scales at over 14 kg. In terms of styling, Mova plays it safe: the shell mixes matte and glossy plastics, while the front houses the two HDR cameras responsible for navigation and obstacle detection. It may not look particularly futuristic, but the ViAX 250 feels reassuringly solid rather than like a flimsy gadget.
On the top, a control panel tucked beneath a protective flap provides the essentials. From here you can start or stop mowing, send the robot back to its charging station, and power it on. There’s also a dial to set cutting height manually from 20 to 60 mm. To keep costs down, Mova has skipped an onboard screen. In practice that’s not a major issue, because almost everything is handled through the app.
Once connected to Wi‑Fi, the app walks you through set-up clearly. Unlike certain high-end robots that can map a garden automatically, the ViAX 250 asks you to do an initial lap to define the boundary. It’s fairly fun-more like steering a remote-controlled car-because the mower is nimble, helped by a very tight turning circle.
Mapping: not a step to rush
As mentioned above, the ViAX 250 can’t fall back on LiDAR-based navigation. That makes it especially important to feed it as much extra information as possible so it can orient itself properly. It’s worth taking time to mark no-go areas around flower beds, trees with exposed roots, and garden furniture.
The app also lets you split the space into multiple zones and set up passages if your garden is divided by a path or patio. With this sort of entry-level robot, navigation quality depends heavily on how carefully you handle that first mapping session.
Fortunately, the MOVA app is straightforward-even if you’re completely new to robot lawn mowers. From it, you can schedule mowing times, tweak cutting and edge settings, and check the run history.
Another pleasant surprise at this price is the monitoring side. Beyond simply viewing the camera feed, the app includes a real "Patrol" mode. The robot then follows the edges you choose, for as many laps as you want, taking photos along the way. It’s a handy way to keep an eye on the garden-especially as the mower can even act as an intercom via a "Talk" feature.
Of course, some advanced functions remain reserved for pricier models: 3D garden views, multi-map support, and options that let you fine-tune behaviour more precisely zone by zone. That said, the ViAX 250 can’t do everything.
Navigation: with proper preparation, the ViAX 250 is convincing
If we’ve stressed mapping so much, it’s because we didn’t do it carefully ourselves the first time around. As a result, during the first few runs it behaved tentatively and got stuck several times near an adjacent gravel area. We saw the same near a tree, where it bumped the trunk more than once before ending up immobilised.
Once those areas were properly defined, however, the ViAX 250’s behaviour changed dramatically. The hesitation largely vanished, and its route choices became noticeably more sensible. Even without LiDAR, Mova hasn’t abandoned navigation entirely: the ViAX 250 combines two HDR cameras with additional sensors that assess its surroundings. In real use, it consistently managed to cover the target area without looking like it was wandering aimlessly.
We also liked the big, treaded rear wheels and the mower’s general agility. It handled tighter spaces and small surface imperfections confidently. That said, it’s not a four-wheel-drive machine. On a flat 250 m² garden without major challenges, it does the job. If your garden is very uneven or features steep slopes, this isn’t the right model.
Obstacle detection is another strong point. Over our weeks of testing, the robot recognised objects in its path reliably and steered around them cautiously. The only downside is that real-time tracking in the app lags slightly behind the mower’s actual position. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s worth noting.
Mowing: a manual mode that’s genuinely useful for finishing edges
For cutting, the ViAX 250 sticks to its cost-conscious approach: keep it simple. It uses a disc with three pivoting blades, and cutting height is adjusted only manually-between 20 and 60 mm-via the dial under the top cover. So there’s no way to change height from within the app.
Mowing options are similarly pared back, but sensible. You can start a full mow, target a specific zone, or focus purely on edges. Each can be run in either Standard mode or Efficient mode, letting you choose between a quick tidy-up and something more thorough-like the first mow of spring.
In everyday use, the ViAX 250 largely won us over. It works through the area methodically, producing an even finish without obvious missed stripes. Still, like most robot lawn mowers, edges remain its weak spot. Without LiDAR or a dedicated edge-cutting function, it struggles to get right up against walls and obstacles.
This is where Mova’s workaround comes in. Aware of the limitation, the ViAX 250 can be driven from the app for manual touch-ups. Just as with mapping, you steer it where you need it, start mowing, and finish the job together.
On our roughly 200 m² garden, about 10 minutes was enough to deal with the most stubborn edges. So why buy a robot lawn mower if you still have to help it? Some will inevitably see that as a drawback. For us, it’s a pragmatic feature that makes the overall package more workable.
Battery life: the bare minimum
With no LiDAR, battery life is the other major compromise with the ViAX 250. On our 198 m² test area, it had to return to its charging base multiple times to complete the job. Like its rivals, as soon as the battery drops to around 15%, it heads back to recharge, then resumes mowing from where it left off.
Before needing a top-up, it can cover about 60 m² per hour, followed by 45 minutes on charge. All in, it took close to five and a half hours to finish our patch of lawn. By extension, to cover Mova’s stated maximum of 250 m², you should expect a little over seven hours in total when you add mowing and charging together.
In other words, it’s a solid day’s work-no overtime. Nothing alarming, but if you’ve got friends coming over for a barbecue, you’ll want it to run the day before rather than on the morning itself.
Our verdict on the Mova ViAX 250 robot lawn mower
So what do you really get from a wire-free robot lawn mower-no perimeter cable and no RTK antenna-for under 600 euros? Ultimately, it comes down to a single word: compromise.
The Mova ViAX 250 offers neither LiDAR nor standout endurance. Its mowing customisation also isn’t as advanced as what you’ll find on more expensive competitors. Even so, Mova largely delivers on what it promises. Set-up is quick, the app is pleasant to use, and once mapping is done properly, navigation proves solid. The mowing result is similarly consistent and even. And, as a bonus, you get manual control to tidy up edges.
If your garden is fairly flat, not overly cluttered, and stays within 250 m², the ViAX 250 should do exactly what you need. Conversely, it’s best not to expect it to excel where it’s not designed to: complex, steep or heavily obstacle-filled gardens will be better served by more expensive machines.
Whatever the case, the ViAX 250 is an excellent entry point into wire-free robot lawn mowers-particularly if you have a small suburban lawn. At 579 euros at launch, and sometimes around 499 euros on promotion, it’s simple: no current model offers such a complete proposition at this price.
Mova ViAX 250
Price: 575 euros
Overall score: 8
Design and installation
8.0/10
Ergonomics and app
8.0/10
Mowing and navigation
7.5/10
Battery life and charging
7.0/10
Tech-to-price ratio
9.5/10
What we like
- Quick installation
- Clear, well-rounded Mova app
- Effective obstacle detection and an even mowing finish
- Manual driving mode is very handy for polishing edges
- Unbeatable tech-to-price ratio for a wire-free robot lawn mower
What we like less
- No LiDAR, so initial mapping needs care and precision
- Battery life limited to 60 m² per charge
- Cutting height adjustable only via the dial
- No 3D map, and no fine-tuning by zone
- Edges still require manual touch-ups
Buy the Mova ViAX 250
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