EGO AURA-R2 robot lawn mower review: decent lawn performance undermined by erratic obstacle avoidance

Welcome to T3's review of the EGO AURA-R2 (RMR1500E), a stylish wireless robot mower from one of the most prestigious of lawn-care specialists.

The new EGO AURA-R2 forms part of a burgeoning new generation of robot lawn mowers designed to eliminate the inherent limitations associated with old-fashioned perimeter wire systems. Using the Chinese company's PATH IQ navigation platform, this model combines RTK satellite positioning, VSLAM visual mapping and VIO motion tracking to navigate lawns with centimetre-level accuracy, negating the need for getting on one's knees to bury a silly boundary cable.

Available in three variants covering lawn sizes from 1,500m² to 6,000m², the AURA-R2 is intended for both conventional gardens and more complex multi-zone layouts, and operates using a systematic striped pattern mowing technique rather than random navigation, which is exactly what you want from a contemporary robot mower.

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So how does the EGO compare to others I've reviewed for T3 and its sister website TechRadar? Well I've had it working on the lawn for the past two weeks and, while it's not up to the specs and navigation standards of the Mammotion LUBA 3 and a few other competitors, it's still worthy of some consideration, especially for those who value brand kudos.

Let's get on with the review.

EGO AURA-R2 review: Price and availability

The EGO AURA-R2 range is now available in the UK and Europe, with prices starting at £1,799 (€2,099) for the RMR1500E we’re reviewing here, rising to £2,199 for the RMR3000E and an extremely lofty £3,299 for the flagship RMR6000E.

According to the EGO website, UK launch offers currently include a free RTK antenna and bonus EGO garden tool package through participating dealers. You can purchase the 1,500m² model reviewed here from The Green Reaper, DTW Tools, Mow With Us and WGM Ltd.

In the USA, EGO has yet to formally confirm retail pricing or a nationwide launch date for the AURA-R2 range.

EGO AURA-R2 review: Specifications

• Recommended Mowing Area: 1,500m²
• Mowing Area Per Charge: 330m²
• Cutting width: 24cm
• Cutting heights: 20cm to 90cm (electronic)
• Number of blades: 3
• Maximum slope: 50% (26.57˚)
• Mowing time between charge: 2hrs
• Multi-zones: 20
• Navigation: PATH IQ (RTK GPS, VSLAM AND VIO)
• 4G data: 3 years included
• Waterproof rating: IP66
• Weight: 15kg
• Machine warranty: 3 years

EGO AURA-R2 review: Set up

I remember how excited I was on reviewing the first robot lawn mower that used RTK GPS for navigation and how easily I accepted the notion of having to stick a simple spike in the lawn with an aerial receiver on top.

Unlike standard GPS we use in our cars – which is accurate to about a metre – RTK is a form of GPS that is accurate to a just a few centimetres. However, it is dependent on the RTK receiver having a good line of sight to at least 18 satellites for accurate navigation around a lawn.

I didn't hold out much hope of a decent satellite signal when I received the original Mammotion LUBA 2 in 2024 since my lawn is bordered on two sides by 80-foot beech trees. And that's precisely where I had to place the EGO’s RTK unit, because it was the only area close enough to my outdoor mains socket for the charging station. I was frankly amazed to discover that there are more satellites up there than I thought and had no issues with placing the RTK station under that bank of trees.

Move on a year, and robot tech has moved so fast that most RTK-equipped robot mowers these days no longer require physical RTK stations. Instead, they use one’s home WiFi signal or 4G for navigation. And amazingly, some models like the Eufy E15 and the very similar TerraMow V1000 just use cameras, sensors and AI to navigate, and nothing else.

It's therefore quite amusing that, in 2026, some users online are already grumbling at the mere thought of having to site an RTK aerial, as if it’s the worst thing on earth. 'What!? It comes with an RTK station? Urgh, that's so last year'. Of course I'm just priming you for the fact that, at the time of writing, the EGO AURA-R2 does indeed require an RTK station to function because Network RTK isn't available for it till summer.

But enough digression, the EGO AURA-R2 arrives in large box containing the mower, the charging station, power supply and about eight metres of cable. It also comes with a manual the weight and thickness of an encyclopaedia, admittedly in every world language.

As of writing, the AURA-R2’s RTK antennae and wall mounting bracket ships with the robot and charging station though there is no mention of this on the product page’s ‘what’s in the box’ section. This is because the RTK station arrives as a separate package.

According to a news item on the EGO website, the RTK unit is available free of charge with the robot until August 2026 when EGO starts introducing Network RTK, which will negate the need for a physical RTK aerial. However, it appears that you will still need to pay an extra £59 for the dedicated lawn spike if that is your preferred option for mounting the antennae.

As usual, I opted to site the charging base and spiked RTK antennae next to the LUBA 3. Before screwing the charging base into the soil using the supplied ground screws, I had to retrieve two cable connectors from behind a sealed hatch that involved unscrewing four star-shaped Torx screws. Lucky I happened to find some Torx bits in my toolbox or this would have scuppered the installation process from the off. I then had to feed a cable connector through the tube for the RTK, mount the RTK and then spike it into the ground next to the charging station. All told, this took me far longer than I expected.

Once wired up with the antenna showing a solid green light, I launched the EGO app, tapped in the default four digit security code on the mower (you can change it anytime) and added the AURA-R2 to the app. The next stage involved driving the AURA-R2 around the lawn’s perimeter using the app’s virtual joystick controls, rather like piloting a remote-control car.

This process allows the mower to create an accurate virtual map of the garden, enabling it to follow invisible boundaries precisely whenever it approaches an edge or performs a perimeter cut. However, I did find that the AURA-R2's two front castor wheels tended to send it off course a few times during the mapping – and I'm good at steering RC vehicles.

Thankfully, if you make a mistake – like I did a number of times – you can simply hold the eraser icon to reverse the robot to just before the steering error and carry on as planned. Hopefully EGO will provide a firmware update in the future to allow this model to map automatically like many of its competitors.

To conclude, I'd say the setting-up process and manual mapping went fairly smoothly though nothing like as slickly as the all-conquering LUBA 3 and the similarly excellent TerraMow V1000, mostly because of all the screwing palaver along with the AURA-R2's aforementioned steering sensitivity.

EGO AURA-R2 review: Design

From a distance the 1,500m² EGO AURA-R2 (RMR1500E) I received looks every inch the modern premium robot mower. Finished in the company’s familiar black, silver and neon-green livery, it has a low, muscular stance with angular bodywork and an almost automotive level of surface detailing. From the front, the integrated bumper and twin headlight arrangement lend it the appearance of a futuristic off-roader rather than a humble lawn mower, while the large rear driving wheels apparently make it suitable for tackling mildly rough terrain and steeper-than-average gradients of up to 50%.

What’s particularly impressive is how clean and uncluttered the whole package appears considering the amount of technology packed beneath the shell. For instance, the cameras, sensors and EGO’s PATH IQ navigation hardware are all integrated rather than bolted on as afterthoughts. However, I’m not a big fan of the top-mounted control system which may be a bit intimidating to newbies. On the plus side, the mower’s IP66-rated construction shows it has clearly been designed for long-term outdoor life.

While the overall aesthetic looks very appealing, on closer hand inspection I wouldn’t say the choice of materials or build quality of the outer shell and chassis are any better than the majority of current wireless lawnbots. As a consequence, it tends to produce a hollow clunking sound when moving on even mildly rough terrain. No, it won’t irritate you but it’s just something I’ve noticed. Put another way, it’s not a patch on the lower-priced LUBA 2, which feels like it was built to marine specifications.

Heading to the minimalistic dock, this one has its charging points on top which may be a good thing for avoiding the robot mower’s arch nemeses: slugs and snails. For some reason these little garden critters are attracted to what I assume is the electromagnetic field coming from a live connector. Who knows?

EGO AURA-R2 review: Cutting system

While the Ego's 24cm cutting width is almost half that of the LUBA range (which sports a 40cm mowing width using twin cutting discs), it is still 4cm wider than the average, and that means slightly less time spent cutting and fractionally wider lawn stripes in the process. The cutting deck itself features electronic height adjustment and a better-than-average cutting height range of 20-90mm in 5mm steps.

The EGO's cutting blade system is comprised of a single 21cm disk with just three pivoting razor blades against the Mammotion LUBA Mini’s six and the LUBA 3’s 12. Three-blade systems allegedly require less torque, which gives the mower better battery life. They are also cheaper to replace. However, there is also a good argument that six blades will cover more surface area per rotation, allowing the mower to power through thick grass with fewer missed strands. I personally think the more blades the merrier and am always disappointed when I see just three blades attached, especially if the mower itself is in the upper price tier.

EGO AURA-R2 review: Navigation

The EGO AURA-R2 comes with a three-way navigation system called PATH IQ that combines RTK GPS satellite positioning, VSLAM (Visual Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) and VIO (Visual Inertial Odometry) motion tracking to guide the mower with centimetre-level precision, even when shaded under trees. Rather than relying on a single positioning method, these three technologies work together to compensate for one another’s weaknesses, theoretically creating a robust navigation system for even the most complex of gardens.

For those unfamiliar with today’s robot tech, RTK provides positional accuracy, using satellite correction data to keep the mower travelling in straight, efficient lines; VSLAM uses binocular cameras to visually map the lawn and recognise landmarks; and VIO continuously tracks movement and orientation using inertial sensors which help the mower maintain stable positioning during momentary signal interruptions.

According to EGO, its fusion-based PATH IQ navigation system is designed not just for open lawns, but for more challenging gardens with trees, narrow passages and awkward terrain. All I can say is that it has worked well on my lawn, but then my lawn has a very simple layout.

AI-assisted obstacle detection, meanwhile, allegedly enables the AURA-R2 to identify and avoid pets, furniture and some garden clutter while providing the ability to manage 20 different lawn zones with the 1,500m² I'm reviewing here and up to 40 zones with the 6,000m² version. However, as my obstacle tests below show, I wouldn't trust this bot to avoid any object under five inches in height because it might not notice it.

For the record, the EGO AURA-R2 also features a full gamut of security measures including a WiFi account binding system, a pin code for locking it to the user, Geo fencing for detecting the mower beyond a preset boundary distance, and GPS tracking with a generous three years of free 4G connectivity.

EGO AURA-R2 review: App

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The EGO Connect's cutting direction function is confusingly buried inside the map editing setting

I can't say that I'm too enamoured of the EGO Connect app but then again I’ve been spoiled by the comprehensiveness of other robot mower apps. While it’s easy enough to change basic functions like work schedules, cutting height, firmware updates, whether you want the rain sensor on or off, or how far you want the geo-fence set before an alarm sounds, other parameters like obstacle avoidance adjustment, route settings and edge-cutting preferences are sorely missing.

Moreover, the all-important mowing direction setting is buried in the map editing section and not in the main settings menu. I really had to look for it so I could make a small adjustment to the robot’s cutting angle, and only chanced upon it when I accidentally tapped the map. It turns out that EGO has opted for a confusing compass-like interface for cutting direction instead of having a map of the lawn with overlayed striped graphics that can be adjusted by swivelling the direction of cut with two fingers. Let’s hope this changes.

EGO AURA-R2 review: Performance

I've had the AURA-R2 studiously trimming my modest sward at a height of 35mm for the past two weeks and I've been content with the cut when looking out at the lawn from the conservatory. Crucially, it has always created straight parallel stripes on the lawn, and that for me is a key prerequisite of any state-of-the-art robot mower.

However, I have noticed that the coverage the app displays on completing the task is just 145m² while every other bot has accurately calculated it at around 170m². I have also noticed that there is nowhere in the app to check its past tasks (an oversight) though I have noticed some RTK signal errors in the messages section even though it has always returned to its charging base when the task has been completed. Did it miss any sections of the lawn during the brief outage? Who knows?

While perfectly acceptable, I personally don’t think the AURA-R2’s cut matches the smooth precision of the LUBA 3 which has always been a tough cookie to beat when it comes to cutting and traction performance. Also, I much prefer the more authentic looking double-width tract that the LUBA 3 leaves in its wake and feel that the wide chassis of the AURA R2 could easily have accommodated two cutting disks like the LUBA range, instead of just one. Perhaps next time.

While the AURA-R2 did perform decent edge cuts after completing the centre section, some of the ragged edges shown on the app’s map make it look like it hadn’t reached some of the boundary lines set during my original mapping run. However, on closer inspection it looks like it did cut those boundary areas so your guess is as good as mine as to what’s going on here.

Sadly I have been unable to test this model's multi-zone ability because I have several steps leading to the front lawn, but this model appears to work to the same pre-programmed pathway principles of others, so that's a good thing. Likewise, I haven’t been able to test this model’s ability to scale inclines of up to 50% because my lawn is perfectly flat.

EGO AURA-R2 review: Obstacles

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Whoops, there goes my dog's favourite toy

I don’t think I’ve come across a robot mower with such inconsistency when it comes to obstacle avoidance. I was frankly gobsmacked that it rode directly over my dog's large turtle toy, slashing it in the process. I found this odd since other robots I've tested have avoided objects the size of a tennis ball and even a bit smaller. However I did notice that I'd set its travelling speed to Standard (i.e. fast) so I set it to Fine Cut (slower) instead, but it proceeded to do the same thing. Thank heavens for the robot's big stop button.

I then put it back to Standard speed and tried it with a large plant pot, but it ran straight into that, too, followed by a second test using the same pot where it avoided it correctly. Expecting the worst, I then put down a smaller four-inch patterned pot and it avoided it with no issues. I then went large and placed a watering can in its path and was relieved that it avoided that, too, with no issue.

I have also been a bit alarmed at the inconsistent differences in distance the robot has covered before avoiding the objects it did detect. In some cases, it has safely swerved from a few feet away while in others it has approached the objects at full speed as if it hadn't seen them until it was about three inches away.

Update! Given its erratic behaviour at collision avoidance, I have just run another final test using multiple objects on the lawn (all less than four-inches in height bar one small tree branch) and, lo and behold, its performance has mysteriously improved to the point that it has deftly avoided everything, including the low tree branch. This suggests to me that its built-in AI may indeed be learning as it operates.

That said, I’m still not impressed that it required so many tests to work out its often bizarre behaviour, and it still won't avoid most small objects that other robots manage to skirt around. After all, a robot mower should just get on with the task without the user ever having to question its working method. Also, I haven't been able to see anything in the app relating to obstacle avoidance so I haven't been able to adjust its sensitivity.

I should add that these were the tests of a pedant looking to see how far the mower's obstacle avoidance could be pushed, as I do with every lawnbot. I'd like to think that no one ever lets their robot loose on a lawn filled with garden toys but then again, you could be at work when it's out doing its job and unaware that the kids had been out playing with small toys.

Whatever, when compared against all the other robot mowers I've been testing since 2024, this one's obstacle avoidance has still mostly disappointed me to the point that I don't think I could trust it to avoid a child's leg sticking out as it went past.

EGO AURA-R2 review: Verdict

The EGO AURA-R2 combines RTK navigation, VIO and camera-based mapping into a genuinely smart-looking package that cut my admittedly simple lawn layout in very neat stripes without ever straying into the borders. However, its detection of different-sized obstacles has been erratic at best, which means you can’t entirely trust it to roam unsupervised if there’s clutter on the lawn.

While there’s clearly a lot of innovation going on under the hood of this robot mower, when pitted against other wireless models like the cheaper Mammotion LUBA Mini AWD and even cheaper Segway Navimow i208 LiDAR and TerraMow V600, the AURA-R2’s current price does seem a bit of a stretch given some of the issues it has presented.