Mammotion YUKA mini 2 vs LUBA mini 2 AWD: which compact Mammotion?

Who each one is for

These are Mammotion's two compact wire-free ranges, and they share more than the names suggest: the same app, the same approach to navigation in each size, no base station and a three-year warranty. The difference is how much ground and gradient each can deal with.

The Mammotion YUKA mini 2 suits small to medium lawns with gentle slopes, gardens split by narrow side passages, and buyers who want wire-free navigation for less.

The Mammotion LUBA mini 2 AWD suits steep, uneven or bumpy medium lawns, and owners who care about tidy edges along paths and walls.

Navigation

Each range has an RTK version and a LiDAR version, and that choice matters more than which range you pick.

• RTK versions (YUKA mini 2 800 and LUBA mini 2 AWD 1000) use cameras plus network RTK corrections over built-in 4G. They suit open lawns with a clear sky and decent mobile signal.
• LiDAR versions (YUKA mini 2 1000 and LUBA mini 2 AWD 1500) use a 360° LiDAR scanner and cameras, with no RTK. They suit enclosed gardens with walls, fences and trees for the LiDAR to range against.

Decide which suits your garden first, using our navigation guide, then choose the range.

Slopes: the main difference

The LUBA mini 2 AWD drives all four wheels and is rated for 80%, the same as the far larger LUBA 3 AWD. The YUKA mini 2 is rear-wheel drive and rated for 45%. If any part of your lawn is steeper than that, the LUBA is the only one of the two that will cope. Our slopes guide shows what these percentages look like.

Lawn size and passages

The YUKA mini 2 covers 800–1,000 m² and the LUBA mini 2 AWD 1,000–1,500 m². The YUKA fits through gaps of 55 cm, according to Mammotion; for the LUBA it quotes 68 cm on the 1500 and nothing for the 1000. If a narrow side path links your lawns, measure it.

Cutting and edges

Both use a single main disc with a similar width: 190 mm on the YUKA and 200 mm on the LUBA. Height is set in the app, from 20 mm to 60 mm on the YUKA and up to 65 mm on the LUBA.

The LUBA adds a separate edge disc, which Mammotion says cuts within roughly 5 cm of walls, though it runs at a fixed height. The YUKA has no edge disc, so expect to trim along borders by hand.

4G, subscription and noise

Mammotion says neither needs a subscription and its network RTK service is free. The LUBA mini 2 AWD has 4G built in on both versions with 36 months of data. On the YUKA mini 2, only the 800 has 4G built in; the 1000 needs an optional module for remote control and tracking away from Wi-Fi.

Quoted noise is 57 dB(A)–58 dB(A) for the YUKA and 58 dB(A)–65 dB(A) for the LUBA, depending on version. The LiDAR LUBA 1500 is the loudest of the four.

Weight, warranty and price

The YUKA mini 2 weighs 10.6 kg–10.9 kg, light enough to carry between lawns. The LUBA mini 2 AWD weighs 15 kg–17.2 kg. Both have Mammotion's 3 years warranty, including the battery. The YUKA mini 2 starts from £799 and the LUBA mini 2 AWD from £1,249, but check YUKA stock before planning around it.

Verdict

If your lawn has slopes over about 45%, bumpy ground or edges you'd rather not trim, buy the LUBA mini 2 AWD. It's the more capable mower and the one Mammotion is currently pushing.

The YUKA mini 2 makes sense for a small, fairly flat lawn, a garden linked by a narrow passage, or a tighter budget, provided you can get one. Whichever you choose, match the version to your garden: RTK for open lawns, LiDAR for enclosed ones.