Mountfield Princess 38 Li Review – Freedom 500

Mountfield PRINCESS 38 Li Review
Mountfield Princess 38 LI
Performance/Cut Quality
84
Features
88
Durability
86
Value
92
Warranty/Support
86
What I Like
Great for lawns up to 350m².
3 mowing options – cut and collect, mulching & rear discharge.
Great range of 6 cutting heights from 25mm to 75mm.
Lightweight at only 14kg.
Excellent build quality.
What I Don't Like
Grass box is a little small for a mower with this deck size.
No grass box full indicator or vision window.
87
My Overall Rating

Summary

Mountfield Princess 38 Li Review

The Mountfield Princess 38 Li is an electric cordless lawn mower weighing just 14kg and is powered by two 2.0Ah STIGA batteries. It has a 38cm cutting blade, a 40 litre grass collection bag and is designed for medium lawns up to 350m². There are 6 cutting heights available that range from 25mm to 75mm and the mower comes with a two year manufacturer’s warranty that includes the batteries.

If you are after a lightweight and easy to use lawn mower that comes with an impressive number of functions, then the Mountfield Princess range might be right up your street. There are three mowers in this range and all of them form a part of the Freedom 500 series. In the case of the Mountfield Princess 38 Li, you’ll be easily able to mow lawns up to 350m² in a variety of ways.

The power of cordless has come a long way in recent years and this mower is the perfect example of this. Running on a powerful 860 watt motor alongside the might and reliability of two STIGA batteries, the Princess 38 Li is not to be sniffed at. Add in the brushless motor and you’ve got yourself a very nifty little machine.

I say little, and by this I mean compact and lightweight. However, with all of the mowing options that this one comes with, I’d definitely say this was a case of go big or go home. But if you’re interested in finding out more, you’ll need to check out my detailed Mountfield Princess 38 Li review below. Let’s get stuck in!

Main Features

  • For lawns up to 350m²
  • Up to 25 minute run time
  • 38cm cutting deck
  • 3-in-1 mowing features – cut and collect, mulching & rear discharge
  • Supplied with 2 x 2.0Ah STIGA batteries and charger
  • 2-year warranty
  • 40 litre solid grass collection bag
  • Folding handles
  • Power sharing batteries

Power System and Battery

One of the joys of buying from the Mountfield Freedom 500 series is that you have the advantage of power sharing with other tools in the range. There are a selection of lawn mowers as well as things like a chainsaw, brush cutter and hedge trimmers among others. If you want to start a bit of a Mountfield collection, the ability to power share is essential for convenience and saving on those pennies.

Moreover, you’re not just getting some half-hearted little battery with this mower. On the contrary; the two STIGA 2.0Ah batteries that come with this model give you the get up and go needed for powerful and reliable performance. That being said, the Freedom 500 series works with a range of 48v batteries including 2.0Ah and 5.0Ah.

Now, the Princess 38 Li is designed to be the middle of the road mower in this collection. If you have a medium-sized garden then you will likely find this to be the ideal cutting width. However, if your lawn is slightly smaller or larger, you can still use the range with either the younger or older brother:

  • The Princess 42 Li Kit features a 42cm cutting deck suitable for gardens up to 400m² and runs on a single 4.0Ah battery.
  • The Princess 38 Li Kit features a 38cm cutting deck suitable for gardens up to 350m² and runs on a two 2.0Ah battery.
  • The Princess 34 Li Kit features a 34cm cutting deck suitable for gardens up to 200m² and runs on a single 2.0Ah battery.
Mountfield Princess 38 LI Cordless 38v Ltihium-ion Battery Lawnmower While you might think that upgrading to the larger 42 model would give you a better run time, you’d be mistaken. The Princess 38 Li comes with 2 x 2.0Ah batteries so you’re getting exactly the same amount of power just spread across a pair rather than in a single battery unit. Moreover, it pays to keep in mind that this model benefits from an additional 5 minutes running time, at 25 minutes. The 42 gives up to 20 minutes and the 34, with its 2.0Ah battery, 15 minutes. So how is the Princess 42 designed to cut a larger lawn compared to this mower if it has a shorter run time? This is purely down to the larger deck/blade being able to cut more grass in each pass.

 

What’s really great is that there is a choice of chargers. Of course, you’ll get the standard charger with your mower but Mountfield also supplies a rapid charger. Using the standard one will get your 2.0Ah battery to 100% in around 90 minutes, whereas a 4.0Ah would need 180 minutes to reach its full capacity. These times can be slashed almost in half when using the fast charger meaning that your 2.0Ah battery will only take 50 minutes and the 4.0Ah will take 110 minutes.

In any case, the battery power that you get with this model is pretty decent and for the size garden that you will use the mower for, it’s more than enough.

But if that wasn’t enough to get you excited, you might also want to consider that the Mountfield Princess 38 Li comes fitted with a digital brushless motor. This is some of the latest technology and means that the motor will have a much longer life. Furthermore, it runs much more quietly and boasts an energy saving ability to deliver consistent and reliable power.

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Performance

Mountfield Princess 38 Li Features

The Mountfield Princess 38 Li really does perform well, and compares favourably to the other brands I have tested such as Bosch, Greenworks and Hyundai. As you would expect from Mountfield, the quality components, good build quality and ergonomic design all contribute to the performance of this mower.

In addition to this, you’ll also notice that, at the front of the mower, there are grass combs. These lift the blades of grass before the blades run over them to ensure that you get a more clean and even cut with each pass. Therefore, the number of times you need to go over any given area is reduced. If you’re in a hurry, this is a good function for your mower to have. These combs also help prevent you “scalping” the lawn, particularly if your lawn is uneven or has bumps and raised areas.

As I have touched upon, the Princess 38 Li is designed for medium lawns measuring up to 350 metres squared. Whether the running time will match the size of the garden will very much depend on the conditions. If you’re trying to tackle long, unkempt grass, it will naturally take longer to work through. But for every day maintenance, you will benefit from quick and reliable performance.

Deck and Blade

The Mountfield Princess 38 Li comes with a 38cm cutting deck. The deck is made from polypropylene and this can be off putting for some people who have been used to using a steel mower. Of course, steel is one of the most weather resistant and durable materials used for garden equipment, but polypropylene is sneaking up behind it in terms of performance.

You won’t need to worry about rust or corrosion because, quite simply, plastic doesn’t rust. What’s more, it has a decent impact resistance so, in the event that you hit a rock or obstacle, you won’t have the fear that your mower is damaged beyond repair.

Mountfield Princess Comparison Table

Princess 34 Li
Mountfield Freedom 500 Princess 34LI c/w 1 x 2Ah Battery...
Princess 38 Li
Mountfield Freedom 500 Princess 38LI c/w 2 Batteries Four-Wheeled/Rear...
Princess 42 Li
Mountfield Freedom 500 Princess 42LI c/w 1 x 4Ah Battery...
Lawn Coverage
200 m²
350 m²
400 m²
Noise Level
77 dB
77 dB
82 dB
Battery / Power Supplied
1 x 2 Ah Lithium-Ion battery
2 x 2 Ah Lithium-Ion battery
1 x 4 Ah Lithium-Ion battery
Mowing Time
15 minutes
25 minutes
20 minutes
Cutting Width
34 cm
38 cm
42 cm
Weight
12 kg
14 kg
15 kg
Grass Box Capacity
35 L - Solid Plastic
40 L - Solid Plastic
50 L - Solid Plastic
Cutting Height Adjustment
Centralised Lever
Centralised Lever
Centralised Lever
Cutting Heights
6 (25mm – 75mm)
6 (25mm – 75mm)
6 (25mm – 75mm)
Wheels
140/170 mm grooved wheels
150/250 mm grooved wheels
150/250 mm grooved wheels
Foldable handlebar
Mulching Plug Supplied
Rear Discharge
Rear Roller
Price
£275.00
£398.80
£499.00
Princess 34 Li
Mountfield Freedom 500 Princess 34LI c/w 1 x 2Ah Battery...
Lawn Coverage
200 m²
Noise Level
77 dB
Battery / Power Supplied
1 x 2 Ah Lithium-Ion battery
Mowing Time
15 minutes
Cutting Width
34 cm
Weight
12 kg
Grass Box Capacity
35 L - Solid Plastic
Cutting Height Adjustment
Centralised Lever
Cutting Heights
6 (25mm – 75mm)
Wheels
140/170 mm grooved wheels
Foldable handlebar
Mulching Plug Supplied
Rear Discharge
Rear Roller
Price
£275.00
More Information
Full Review
Princess 38 Li
Mountfield Freedom 500 Princess 38LI c/w 2 Batteries Four-Wheeled/Rear...
Lawn Coverage
350 m²
Noise Level
77 dB
Battery / Power Supplied
2 x 2 Ah Lithium-Ion battery
Mowing Time
25 minutes
Cutting Width
38 cm
Weight
14 kg
Grass Box Capacity
40 L - Solid Plastic
Cutting Height Adjustment
Centralised Lever
Cutting Heights
6 (25mm – 75mm)
Wheels
150/250 mm grooved wheels
Foldable handlebar
Mulching Plug Supplied
Rear Discharge
Rear Roller
Price
£398.80
More Information
Full Review
Princess 42 Li
Mountfield Freedom 500 Princess 42LI c/w 1 x 4Ah Battery...
Lawn Coverage
400 m²
Noise Level
82 dB
Battery / Power Supplied
1 x 4 Ah Lithium-Ion battery
Mowing Time
20 minutes
Cutting Width
42 cm
Weight
15 kg
Grass Box Capacity
50 L - Solid Plastic
Cutting Height Adjustment
Centralised Lever
Cutting Heights
6 (25mm – 75mm)
Wheels
150/250 mm grooved wheels
Foldable handlebar
Mulching Plug Supplied
Rear Discharge
Rear Roller
Price
£499.00
More Information
Full Review

Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Handles

Mountfield Princess 38 Li Cutting Diameter

Storing a lawn mower is one of the biggest problems for homeowners since many people do not have ample outdoor storage. However, simple innovations like a folding handle can make the world of difference and in the case of the Princess 38 Li from Mountfield, they’ve gone one step further.

Instead of just folding at one point, as many lawn mowers do, the Princess 38 Li, has dual folding handles that fold at two points. This allows you to make the mower as compact as possible which makes storing it a breeze.

Just like the electric corded models of the Princess 38, the handles are ergonomically designed for comfort, and there is a starter lever on both the left and right side of the handles. This makes manoeuvring around obstacles on your lawn, such as flower beds, that much easier either via a left or right turn.

Height Adjustment

The Mountfield Princess 38 Li comes with a choice of six cutting heights. That’s around about average but what really makes it stand out is how quick and easy these are to change. The cutting heights move through the six settings between 25mm and 75mm using a single central handle. If you’ve ever used a mower that needs to be fiddled with just to change the cutting height, you’ll know how much of a welcome feature this is.

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Grass Collection Box

Mountfield Princess 38 Li Rear Roller

If you choose to use the cut and collect option, the Princess 38 Li boasts a 40 litre grass box. Now, this isn’t the largest I have ever seen but it should be enough to tide you over while you mow your medium garden.

The grass collection box also features a handy clear window that allows you to see inside so you know when it is time to empty. If you’re sick of guess work, this is a very beneficial feature.

Roller

Not all lawn mowers, especially cordless ones come with a rear roller. But having one will help you to create a beautifully striped lawn which many people agree gives a much nicer aesthetic. The Mountfield Princess 38 Li comes with a rear roller for this purpose.

It must be noted however, that this mower is lightweight and any stripes produced by this mower, and any lightweight mower, are not going to last for weeks on end.

Mulching

Having the option to mow your lawn in different manners is essential for the modern gardener. In the case of this Mountfield Princess 38 Li, you have the ability to use the included mulching plug. This means that, rather than being collected in the grass collection box, the clippings will be finely chopped and delivered back to the lawn, giving it an important boost of nitrogen and moisture.

This is ideal if you want to maintain a healthy lawn but if you prefer, there is also the option to use the rear discharge function which will also deliver the clippings back to the lawn.

If you are going to use the mulching plug, you’ll be pleased to hear that there are no complicated processes to get it in place. The plug simply pops into the back of the mower and you can be on your way in seconds.

If you want to learn more about the benefits of mulching read my article The Benefits of Mulching. 

Safety Features

Mountfield Princess 38 Li Practicalities

As with all cordless mowers, this one comes with the standard safety button that releases the Operator Presence Control lever. It is also supplied with a removable safety key next to the batteries. When this key is removed, the mower cannot be started.

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Practicalities

One of the greatest things about this mower is how easy it is to move around. Not only is it very lightweight, but it is also very easy to control with its ergonomic fold flat handles, with both left and right starter levers. Of course, the mower will do most of the hard work for you, but guiding it is made simple thanks to its manoeuvrable design.

What’s more, the mower features larger rear wheels which gives you much greater stability. If your lawn isn’t completely flat; and there aren’t many that are, then this feature will make things much simpler.

The Princess range of mowers did have a redesign in 2021 and for some bizarre reason, Mountfield did not include either a vision window or grass box full indicator on this updated model. This is odd as the old model did, now it makes it a little tricky to know when your grass collection box needs emptying!

On a more positive note, you’ll also notice how quietly this mower operates. This is thanks to the powerful brushless motor, so if you want to mow in peace, this is a great tool to choose. Furthermore, it is incredibly robust. This is because Mountfield is owned by STIGA, which as we know, is a brand renowned for its quality and performance. If you are looking for a mower that will stand the test of time, then any of the mowers from this series would be more than sufficient.

All of this impressive construction and performance is backed by a two-year warranty that includes the batteries. There’s very little doubt in my mind that anything would go wrong with a mower of this spec, but in the event that it did, you’re covered.

 

Mountfield Princess 38 Li User Manual

Click here to access the Mountfield Princess 38 Li user manual.

What’s Included In The Box?

  • ● 1 x Mountfield Princess 38 Li lawn mower
    ● 1 x mulching plug
    ● 1 x 40 litre grass box
    ● 2 x 2.0Ah STIGA batteries
    ● Battery charger
    ● User manual

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Great for lawns up to 350m².
  • 3 mowing options – cut and collect, mulching & rear discharge.
  • Rear roller for striped lawn.
  • Good selection of easy to change cutting heights.
  • Comes with a two year warranty (including batteries).
  • Well made machine that is durable.
  • Easy to store – 2 point folding handles and can be hung on a wall.
Cons
  • Grass box is a little small for a mower with this deck size.
  • No grass box full indicator or vision window.

Should You Buy This Model?

Mountfield Princess 38 Li Conclusion

I would have to say that I do highly recommend this lawn mower to anyone with a medium-sized garden. However, there might be people who benefit from it more than others. For example, if you want something that simply gets things done and doesn’t have a wealth of options, then this might be a little too complex for you. But if you want something that will easily replicate the power and versatility of a petrol mower, then you’ll likely get on with this very well, thanks to the various mowing options.

What’s even better is that you are getting all of this without the need for a power cord. If you’ve been looking to replace your electric lawn mower with something of a similar standard, you won’t go far wrong with this mower.

Conclusion

The Mountfield Princess 38 Li is a remarkably lightweight and easy to use cordless lawn mower that comes with an astonishing number of features. It runs on a powerful and reliable battery system featuring STIGA batteries that can be power shared across the entire Mountfield Freedom 500 range, so this is a very convenient start.

Moreover, the Princess 38 is a very versatile machine that allows you to mow the lawn in a way that suits you. The cutting options are varied, and you are getting six cutting heights, as well as a rear roller. All of this coupled with the benefits of cordless, the very good build quality and the powerful STIGA lithium-ion batteries, means that you have a lawn mower that will give you a great experience, making the garden feel less like hard work.

 


Where Should I Purchase This Model?

Mountfield Freedom 500 Princess 38LI c/w 2 Batteries Four-Wheeled/Rear...
  • 48V Lithium-ion Battery
  • Collecting, Mulching, Rear Discharge
  • Cutting Heights 25 - 75mm
  • Grassbox Capacity 40L
  • Weight: 14kg

Last update on 2024-03-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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Mountfield Princess 38 Li FAQs

What is the cutting width of the Mountfield Princess 38 Li?

38cm.

Does the Mountfield Princess 38 Li come with a rear roller?

Yes.

How many batteries are supplied with this mower?

2 x 2.0Ah.

How much does the Mountfield Princess 38 Li weigh?

14kg.

Can the Mountfield Princess 38 Li be stored vertically?

No vertical storage on this model.

What are the dimensions on the Mountfield Princess 38 Li?

Dimensions L x W x H (mm) 1365 x 475 x 1040


Not sure about this electric mower? Click here to see more electric cordless lawn mower reviews.

Lawnmower Product Expert, Reviewer and Author at EasyLawnMowing.co.uk | 01284 615144 | info@easylawnmowing.co.uk | Website | + posts

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.

2 thoughts on “Mountfield Princess 38 Li Review – Freedom 500”

  1. Hi. Can you tell me if the Princess 38 LI runs for 25 minutes on 1 battery or do you need both for 25 minutes?

    Thanks

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