I Tried This Remote-Controlled Lawnmower And It Took The Stress Out Of My Yardwork - Here's How

Mowrator S1 2WD lawnmower photographed on green grass.

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

One of my favorite things to do in the summertime is getting out in my backyard and planting some flowers, making it a lovely place for me to sit and read a book while all the bees enjoy the flowers. But ask me to do any real manual labour and you’ll get a firm "no."

I’ve never been one for cutting the grass, and much to my dad’s dismay, I can always find an iron-clad excuse as to why "I can’t use the lawnmower today." But since getting the Mowrator S1 2WD, I’m the first to volunteer for yard work.

The Mowrator is a remote-controlled lawnmower that is perfect for anyone tired of dragging their lawnmower back and forth across the yard. Thanks to the controller, it makes cutting grass feel like a video game, and I couldn’t wait to get going.

How it works

The initial setup process of the Mowrator S1 2WD is very simple. I only had to attach the four wheels with some screws and install the battery unit. The version I used was the 12Ah battery version, but it's also available with an 18Ah battery if you have a larger yard and need a longer run time.

Mowrator S1 2WD lawnmower — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The controller connects to the mower, and you’re away. It's ridiculously simple. I was able to maneuver the mower onto the grass by steadily using the joysticks on the controller, so I didn’t need to carry the mower.

But if you do need to take it down some steps, you will need a helping hand, as the high-strength aluminum alloy frame makes it pretty heavy.

The blades start up by holding down the two blade buttons at the top of the controller and the LCD screen in the centre of the controller tells you that the blades are working.

Mowrator S1 2WD lawnmower from the front on long green grass — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Changing the speed and height settings of the mower is easy too. To change the speed the mower moves and the speed the blade cuts, there are switches on the remote. For changing the height of the grass cutting action, there is a small gear stick on the side of the mower.

Safety features

I would spring for this mower for the safety features alone; they made me feel secure when doing the yard work, and I knew I could rely on it.

There are four ultrasonic radars around the mower, and these stopped the mower from moving too close to any object. I had to stand a safe distance away from the mower or it wouldn’t move, but this worked out great for me as I could just sit back and relax.

This also meant that if my dog got too close to the mower, it would immediately stop moving, even when the blade wasn't running.

Controller of the Mowrator S1 2WD lawnmower on top of the battery compartment. — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

You need to give the mower your attention at all times, so the blade will only operate if one of the blade buttons on the controller is held down. When this is released, the blade stops immediately.

To get close to the edges of my lawn, I turned off the sensors and made sure to pay close attention to my surroundings. But this doesn’t mean all safety features were off.

The bumper on the front of the mower helps it detect any crashes. This is very sensitive, and when I bumped into a bush, the mower fully stopped.

Bonus: My dad loves it

Sure, I love the Mowrator S1 2WD, but it is my dad who has mowed the grass in our yard every summer, so he is the real test. And when he was using the mower, he looked like a kid on Christmas: it is the ultimate grown-up toy.

Mowrator S1 2WD lawnmower with the controller on top — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

He said it made mowing so much easier, and since we have some slopes in our garden, it took a lot of the strain off. The mower is capable of making climbs up to 45 degrees, so although our garden isn’t that steep, the mower coasted up and down the slopes with ease.

But there's a lot more going on with this garden tool — more than I can pack in here. So if your interest is piqued, check out my full Mowrator S1 2WD review, too.

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Ashley is a staff writer on the the Reviews team at Tom’s Guide. She has a master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and a BA in Journalism, Media and Sociology. She has written for titles including Women’s Health UK, writing health and wellness stories, and Virgin Radio UK, specializing in entertainment news and celebrity interviews. She has reported on a variety of topics including music, literature, motorsport, entertainment and health, and has her own bookish newsletter, Ashley’s Reading Nook.She has previously reviewed live music events, books, and wellness products but finding the best way to listen to new music releases is essential for Ashley, so discovering the top audio equipment on the market is what she does best.When she is not testing out the latest tech, you can find her either curled up with a cup of tea and a good fantasy novel or out hiking.

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