Sunseeker robot mowers

Because Sunseeker sells the X series in the UK only through dealers. Its UK website for these mowers, branded Sunseeker Elite, has product pages, specs and a support section, but no shop and no prices. The older UK store addresses we found no longer work. So for the Sunseeker X3, Sunseeker X5 and Sunseeker X7, the only way to get a price is to ask a dealer for a quote.

That has some advantages. A local dealer can advise on whether network RTK will work in your garden, may offer to set the mower up, and is who you'd go to for servicing. The downside is that you can't easily compare prices, so it's worth asking more than one dealer and checking what's included, such as installation or a garage.

When you get quotes, ask about two running costs. On Gen 2 models the network RTK and 4G service is included for a set period and then needs a paid subscription, which Sunseeker prices in euros. And the warranty is 2 years as standard, rising to 3 years only if you register online within 30 days of purchase; the battery gets two years either way. Make sure the dealer, or you, registers it in time. The Sunseeker brand page compares the range.

Sunseeker doesn't publish an IP (water resistance) rating for the Sunseeker X3 Gen 2 on its UK spec table, so we can't say how waterproof it is. What Sunseeker does list is automatic rain detection, which is meant to stop it mowing and send it home when it starts to rain.

That's probably the better approach anyway. Cutting wet grass gives a ragged finish, clogs the blades, and reduces grip, which matters on the X3's front-wheel drive even within its 30% slope rating. Over winter, the usual advice for robot mowers is to clean the mower, charge the battery and store it somewhere dry and frost-free; check your manual for Sunseeker's own instructions. Our winter storage guide covers what to do, and our garage guide explains when a cover over the base is worth having.

Lawn size and slope decide it. The Sunseeker X3 is rated for 800 m² and slopes up to 30%, with front-wheel drive. The Sunseeker X5 is rated for 2,000 m² and 60% slopes, with all-wheel drive. If your lawn is flat and under about 800 m², the X3 covers it; if it's bigger or has a proper bank, the X5 is the one to look at.

Some differences are less obvious. The X3 Gen 2's obstacle detection works in daylight only, while the X5 Gen 2 adds an iToF sensor for day-and-night detection. Sunseeker lists Google Assistant for the X3 but both Alexa and Google Assistant for the X5. The X5 has a slightly wider deck at 220 mm against 200 mm, and both use manual height adjustment over the same 20 mm to 60 mm range.

Much is shared. Both Gen 2 models use network RTK over built-in 4G with no antenna to install, include two years of service before a subscription is needed, and carry the same warranty terms. Neither has a published UK price, as Sunseeker sells the X series through dealers, so ask for quotes on both. Our slopes guide helps if you're unsure how steep your garden is, and the lawn size tool will measure your area.

With the X5 Gen 2, yes, after two years. The Gen 2 Sunseeker X5 gets its positioning corrections as network RTK over a built-in 4G connection, and Sunseeker bundles 24 months of that service. After that, Sunseeker's product page states that an active subscription is needed for continued use, so the fee isn't optional if you want it to keep mowing.

Sunseeker quotes the renewal price in euros on its product pages and publishes no sterling figure, so ask your dealer what it will cost in pounds. The subscription covers both the RTK corrections and the 4G link, which also runs the GPS tracking and geofence alerts.

The first-generation X5 works differently. It uses its own RTK antenna in the garden, 4G is an optional add-on, and Sunseeker doesn't require a subscription for it to mow. If a dealer still has Gen 1 stock, that's the way to avoid the fee, at the cost of a more involved installation. Gen 2 does gain day-and-night obstacle sensing, though.

Sunseeker also sells an antenna kit as an accessory, but doesn't say whether fitting one lets a Gen 2 mower keep working without paying. Until Sunseeker clarifies, assume it doesn't. When you're comparing costs over five years or so, add the subscription to blades and electricity; our running-costs calculator can help with the rest.

It should cope better than an RTK-only mower, but there are limits. Sunseeker's AONavi system on the Sunseeker X5 combines RTK satellite positioning with visual mapping from a pair of cameras (VSLAM). The idea is that the cameras help hold the mower's position where tree cover or walls weaken the satellite signal.

Sunseeker doesn't say how large a shaded area it can handle, so a lawn that's mostly under a heavy canopy is still a risk. On Gen 2, the corrections arrive over 4G, so check mobile coverage at the far end of the garden, not just by the house. Gen 1 relies on its own antenna, which needs a clear view of the sky. Our RTK signal and trees explainer covers what to look for before you buy.

Gen 2 can, but you shouldn't schedule it to. Sunseeker says the Sunseeker X7 Gen 2 detects obstacles day and night, using binocular cameras with an iToF depth sensor. First-generation models use cameras alone, and Sunseeker doesn't make the same night-time claim for them.

Being able to see in the dark isn't the same as being safe for wildlife. Hedgehogs are active at night, freeze rather than run when threatened, and are small and low to the ground, which is hard for any obstacle sensor. Wildlife groups advise daytime-only schedules for robot mowers. Sunseeker quotes a noise level of 60 dB(A), so daytime running shouldn't bother neighbours much either. Our hedgehogs guide has the details and links to the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

It comes down to whether you'd rather avoid a running fee or avoid installing an antenna. Both generations of the Sunseeker X7 share the same basics: a 350 mm twin-disc deck, electric height adjustment, all-wheel drive and a 70% slope rating. The standard X7 is rated for 3,000 m² and the X7 Plus for 6,000 m² in both generations.

The first generation uses its own RTK base station, supplied in the box, which you set up in the garden with a clear view of the sky. Sunseeker doesn't require a subscription for it to mow. 4G is an optional module on the X7 and standard on the X7 Plus.

Gen 2 receives its corrections as network RTK over a built-in 4G module, so there's no antenna to put up. It also adds day-and-night obstacle sensing using binocular cameras plus an iToF sensor, where Gen 1 uses cameras alone. The catch is that Sunseeker's product page says continued use needs an active subscription once the included service ends: 24 months on the X7 and 60 months on the X7 Plus. Sunseeker quotes the renewal in euros. It sells an antenna kit, but doesn't say whether that removes the need to pay.

Gen 1 may be getting harder to find: it's still in the menu of Sunseeker's UK site but missing from its product list. Ask your dealer what stock it has. Our network RTK and 4G guide covers the trade-off in more depth.