Summary
The Husqvarna 105 model is the most basic robotic mower Husqvarna have released.
Compared to other Husqvarna models, this one has fewer features and less capabilities – making it best suited to those with small gardens. It still keeps the key basics intact – reliability, easy use and a clean & tight finish.
So for those with gardens under 600m², this may well be a good choice for you and your lawn.
In order to do that I’ll be running through all of the 105s features and functions so you can decide for yourself if this model is worth the purchase.
Main Features
- Rating: 9.4/10
- Covers areas up to 600m²
- Unique Cutting System
- Very Reliable
- Minimum Assistance
Husqvarna Automower 105 Video
Have a watch of the video below to introduce yourself to the Husqvarna mowers:
Model Comparison | ||
---|---|---|
Mowers | Flymo 1200R | Husqvarna 105 |
Lawn Coverage | 400 m² | 600 m² |
Noise Level | 58 dB | 58 dB |
Mowing Time | 75 minutes | 70 minutes |
Charging Time | 60 minutes | 50 minutes |
Dimensions | 58x46x25.5 cm | 55x39x25cm |
Weight | 7.4 kg | 6.7 kg |
Mobile App | No | No |
Rating | 9.4/10 | 9.4/10 |
Mowing Features
So that you understand exactly how the 105 maintains your lawn in such an effective manner, I thought I should run through some of its features.
Because of Husqvarna’s vast experience (20 years+) their technology is some of the most efficient in the market. Which is why all their models cost considerably more compared to other brands/models.
Mowing Pattern
The mowing pattern used by the 105 can be seen as a little unorthodox compared to most robotic mowers.
It moves in a random pattern and only cuts off little clippings at a time, producing a clean and even mow. It may work at a slower rate than you would mowing manually but this is intentional as it makes sure the 105 covers every inch of your grass.
So that the mower suits your schedule, you adjust its timer to whichever settings and time you’d like.
If you want the mowing done when you get back from work then you can program it to do so. If you want the mowing done on alternate days or only during the week then you can program it to do so.
You can really do what you want.
Another thing, the 105 is almost completely silent so you won’t be disturbing anyone while it’s at work (you can even put it out at night!).
Blades
Like all Husqvarna models, the 105 is equipped with three free-moving carbon steel razor blades attached to one rotating disk.
This system is much lighter and more effective than the traditional blade you would find on the typical push mower.
The deck size on this model is 17cm, they also do a larger deck of 22cm on the Husqvarna 305.
Mulching Function
When the 105 gets going, you’ll notice that it only cuts the smallest of clippings off your grass. But don’t worry this is no flaw and there is a very good reason for it – to make use of the mulching function.
Because the clippings are so small they can find their way down to the bottom of your soil. It will then begin to decompose there and act as a natural fertiliser (mulch), passing valuable nutrients to the soil.
This promotes much better grass growth and makes your lawn look healthier, greener and fuller.
Height Adjustment
With the use of just one large dial on top of the robot, you can easily adjust the height at which it cuts your grass.
From anywhere between 20mm to 50mm, choose whatever settings you like.
But a word of advice, don’t put it to the shortest settings right off the bat. You want to keep your clippings as short as possible to make use of the mulching function I spoke about above.
So instead, set it at a higher height first and then gradually work your way down. This keeps you lawn looking even as you give the areas of short grass time to catch with the areas of long grass.
But of course this cannot be done throughout the entire year so when the mowing season begins to reach an end you will want to raise the height again.
Power System
The 105 automower is power by a lithium-ion battery and electric motor, producing a mowing time of 70 minutes and charging time of 50 minutes. Considering the area this bot is designed to cover, it should have no problems finishing your lawn within that time.
And even if it doesn’t, a charging time of 50 minutes is more efficient than most competitors. So you would be left with an unmown lawn for a much less time with the 105.
Charging
As you may already know, most robotic mowers come with their own docking station and the 105 is no different. With some assistance from the perimeter and guide wire, it will make its own way back to the station.
So at any point during a mow when the mower senses it needs to be recharged, it will automatically recharge itself without any help from you.
And don’t expect your energy cost to skyrocket at the end of the month because of this robotic mower.
The 105 efficiently manages its energy consumption so as little as possible is used. So it will most likely cost you much less to maintain than a conventional mower, however many owners have an annual maintenance plan.
Eco Friendly
As you have you have probably already realised, this mower is completely environmentally friendly. Because it’s electrically powered, the 105 releases no harmful emissions into the air.
So not only is it cheaper to run then a typical push mower but it is also healthier as well.
The 105 is also very quiet so feel free to set it to mow whenever you like – even during the night.
Have no worries, you won’t have any neighbours complaining about any noise – although they might complain about how good your lawn looks!
Safety Features
To ensure complete safety to you, your children and pets the 105 has several built-in safety features.
Lift & Tilt Sensors
If at any point during mowing you attempt to pick up the 105, or if for any reason it tips over, the cutting disk will automatically stop rotating preventing any injuries to your hand.
And as an extra precaution, the 105 has adequate space between its border and blades. Leaving just enough room for your fingers.
Also when the unit comes into near contact with an obstacle during its route, it will stop, redirect itself and continue mowing in a different direction.
The mower will then know to avoid this area for future mowings.
The mower has built-in object sensors which help it detect any oncoming obstacles much more accurately. So it lowers its speed quicker to avoid hard collisions.
PIN & Alarm System
A PIN and alarm security system has been built-in to prevent operation by anyone unfamiliar with the controls. This should scare off the odd burglar who tries to chance his luck, and will stop the kids trying to use it without your supervision. A very common but equally important and useful feature.
Also, even when the 105 runs out of enough energy to mow the alarm still goes off.
So if the battery does run out before the mower reaches the docking (which is very unlikely) if will be kept completely safe.
All you have to do is re-enter the PIN and the alarm will turn off.
Downsides
Even though I have mainly focused on the positives of this Husqvarna 105 robotic mower, I feel that I also need to make you aware of the negatives as well.
So that you know exactly what you’re getting into and to prove to you that I’m not hiding anything – this mower is brilliant but it does have some flaws.
- As with all robotic mowers, this model cannot mow outside of its boundary line. So in areas beside fences, bushes or the side of your house, you will need to get the trimmer out and cut them yourself. Even though this is still a flaw it shouldn’t take too much effort to fix.
- This model cannot handle separate lawns independently. So if you have a front and back garden that are under 600m² in size that are not connected then you’ll need to carry the mower from one area to the other. Or purchase two units.
And that’s only the real problems with the Husqvarna 105 robotic mower. I know they may be quite annoying at first but you will get use to them. And to be honest, think of all the work you won’t have to do thanks to this mower. Is a little bit of work really too much compared to the amount of time saved by having a robotic mower?
Conclusion
In all honestly, I think the Husqvarna 105 Automower is a competent robotic mower suitable for smaller gardens.
Its technology compares well to other reputable competitors, such as WORX and McCullock, and is one of the most reliable robotic mowers you can buy (I mean Husqvarna in general).
I know it does have some flaws which you wouldn’t expect to deal with considering the price you are paying.
And that’s understandable, but if you take into account everything else you’re getting – more time to yourself, a reliable and consistent cut, less work to do, safety of your friends/family, cheaper mower maintenance, no pollution – I think it’s totally worth it.
Should You Buy This Model?
Of course, this model isn’t going to suit everyone so to help you reach a decision I’ve outlined some categories that you would fall under in terms of suitability:
- Your garden is under 600m² in size.
- Your garden is not separated into different areas (just one lawn).
- Your garden is relatively flat, doesn’t go over 14° in slope.
- You are willing to do some trimming every now and then (weekly).
- You are looking to purchase a basic model from a reputable manufacturer.
- You don’t have the time or don’t want to maintain your garden manually.
Hopefully this has made it clear to whether or not you should purchase this model.
If you consider everything I’ve talked about then I’m sure you will make the right decision.
Also, if you have any questions about this model or choosing your own mower then please leave a comment below and I’ll help you out the best I can.
Additional Specifications | |
---|---|
Working Area | 600 m² |
Max Incline | 14° |
Keypad | 15 Buttons |
Info Panel | LCD display with settings menu |
Timer | Yes |
Wheel Threads | Medium |
Battery Type | Lithium-Ion |
Typical Charging Time | 50 Minutes |
Typical Mowing Time | 70 Minutes |
Charging System | automatic |
Mean energy consumption at maximum use | 5 kWh |
Power Consumption During Cutting | 20W |
Cutting System | 3 pivoting razors |
Cutting Height (min-max) | 20 – 50 mm |
Cutting Width | 17cm |
Sound Level | 58 dB |
Alarm | Yes |
PIN Code | Yes |
Installation Lock | Yes |
Time Lock | Yes |
Lift Sensor | Yes |
Tilt Sensor | Yes |
Product Size LxWxH | 55x39x25cm |
Weight | 6.7 kg |
As a seasoned expert in the field of garden power tools, I have dedicated over a decade to working with and reviewing a wide variety of lawn mowers. My extensive experience has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the benefits and limitations of different types of mowers and garden tools.
Over the years, I have honed my skills in writing informative articles and creating helpful videos for various blogs and publications. This has given me the ability to not only recognise what makes a good lawn mower, but also to help you choose the perfect garden tool for your specific needs and requirements.
With my wealth of knowledge and expertise, I am confident that I can provide you with valuable insights and recommendations when it comes to selecting the right lawn mower for your lawn. So, whether you're looking for a battery cordless, electric, petrol, or robotic mower, you can trust in my expertise to guide you towards the best option for your garden.
Really helpful website, thanks. Noted your lawnmower lives at the bottom of your back garden. Did you run the electrics down your flower bed and did you sink the electric cable?
Hi Claire, sorry but this video is not my video, if you follow the link below you can comment on YouTube and hopefully they will come back to you with an answer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSi9LcaxBuQ
Will this mower able to cut st augustine grass?
Hi Manu
I really don’t see why not, but check with Husqvarna. Take a look at this video of the 430.
https://youtu.be/k-p8WRoYhiE
Thanks
Mark
What mower would you recommend for separate lawns?
HI Anze,
The recommendation would depend on whether or not you have a passage that the mower can travel between the two lawns. If not, you can create separate areas but they will need to be connected to the same charging base at all times.
The alternative is to have a separate charging station but will need to pair up each time you manually change areas.
If you are also looking for the mower to cut to edge I would recommend taking a look at the WORX robotic mowers. Depending on the size of your lawn you can select one best suited to your needs.
https://easylawnmowing.co.uk/category/worx-robotic-mowers/
Also consider the Flymo EasiLife (Hasqvarna) robotic mowers have taken the separate lawns a step further, whereby they have a secondary area mowed. When the mower is mowing in the area without the charge station it will alert you when it needs to be taken to the primary area to be recharged. You can see how to configure a secondary area on page 18 onward in the Flymo user manual below –
https://easylawnmowing.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Flymo-Easilife-User-Manual.pdf
Link to my review is below, please note that this mower does not cut to the edge as the WORX –
https://easylawnmowing.co.uk/flymo-easilife-500-review/
Hope this helps, let me know how you get on.
Mark
Hi , I have read all your review and watched the video , I only have a small lawn about 130 sq mtr , my problem is 3 sides are walled and the other I a concrete path , I can see this is going to save me time and effort , how much grass do you think will be left uncut , from my rectangle lawn , as my patio and pond are other levels , there is no obstacles on my slightly slopping lawn , apart from the edging wall , do you think this is worth buying to do this area of lawn . Many thanks .
Hi Darrel thanks for commenting.
Given the size of your lawn I actually wouldn’t recommend you go with the Husqvarna 105, Robomow’s RX12 model seems to be much more suitable. It covers areas of 150 sqm and is just about as good as the 105. I haven’t reviewed it myself but I have reviewed the RX20 model and they’re pretty much the same.
If you want to learn more about the RX12 model then I would check out Robomow’s website, https://www.robomow.com/en-GB/platform/rx/.
Hope this helps!
One more question. Presume you have to have outside electrics for the docking station?
Hi Cathryn, I found a video on Youtube that shows you a really simple method for measuring the degree of your lawn slope. You can check it out here: https://youtu.be/h0F3pnyDwi0.
And yes, you need a an outside power supply to connect the docking station to – learn how to do this properly here: https://easylawnmowing.co.uk/husqvarna-automower-installation-process
My small triangular garden is on a slope.
How do I measure 14° ??
The rest looks brilliant – thinking of buying for my husbands birthday – just want to clarify the slope degree before purchasing.
So, this kind of works like the invisible fence for dogs.
I can definitely see this growing in popularity. Especially with folks who are as lazy as I am.
I mean, that would be one less choir, boring choir, you wouldn’t have to worry about. Modern technology! You’ve gotta Love It.
Yeah I guess they do!
Definitely, these mowers do such a great job and with the prices coming down, I think you’ll see a lot more people using them.
Thanks for the comment and if there’s anything I can help you with then please let me know :-)
Hi Mark,
I had no idea that these existed! I just recently got a green thumb and want to eventually have an outside garden. This mower would be great to have since it has the perimeter wire. Its also really great that it is eco friendly.
I like that you have included videos and instructions. And thank you for including pros and cons!
Maybe I missed this part but how long is the battery life and does it come with any type of warranty?
Thanks!
Fayelee
Great to hear you enjoyed the review Fayelee, I know you’ll love this mower so keep an eye out for it when you get your garden.
With this model you’ll get 70 minutes of mowing time from the battery, which will take about 50 minutes to fully re-charge. And you get a 12 month warranty, which could be extended to 24 months if the product has been registered. For more info head over to the Husqvarna website, they’re probably in a better position to tell you about it than I am.
Thanks for the comment and I hope to hear from you soon :-)