Robolinho 500 Vision
Limited evidenceRead the findings →AL-KO's small camera-guided mower, with no boundary wire or aerial to install. It's meant for small, simple lawns with clean edges. The one owner report describes wide uncut borders, even in the close-edge setting.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in AL-KO’s range
- Robolinho 500 VisionThis model
- Robolinho 500 WWire-guided Robolinho for a similar lawn size
- Robolinho 1000 VisionLarger camera-guided model for lawns up to 1,000m²
Feedback
What we know
The Robolinho 500 Vision's specs come from AL-KO's UK product page, with a few extra details from a Testsieger.de listing. The only first-hand account is a one-star review on Trustpilot from a buyer who owns two. They report wide uncut borders even in the close-edge setting, a flat paved path it wouldn't cross and an app that didn't always respond. AL-KO replied that the camera-only design suits simple lawns with clear edges and promised an update.
Built for simple lawns
AL-KO says the 500 Vision finds the edge of the lawn with a camera rather than a boundary wire or reference aerial. In its reply on Trustpilot, AL-KO said the camera-only design, with no laser or satellite positioning, is meant for simple lawns with clear boundaries. So look hard at your own edges. Grass that meets paving, gravel or bark cleanly suits it, but soft borders that blur into beds may not.
Wide edges left uncut
The one detailed buyer on Trustpilot, who had bought two machines, reported very wide uncut borders even with the setting meant to take it closer to the edge. AL-KO replied that an upcoming software update would improve edge cutting. Until that update shows up and works, budget for trimming round the whole edge by hand.
Paths and second lawns
The same Trustpilot buyer said it wouldn't cross a flat paved path, and that the app didn't always respond to commands. AL-KO's reply pointed to a Multi Zone Marker Kit to guide the mower through a passage to another area. That suggests it won't find its own way between separate lawns out of the box. If your garden is split, check the kit suits your layout before buying.
Small, light and splash-proof
AL-KO lists a 20cm cut adjustable from 30 to 60mm, slopes up to 35%, 64dB(A) noise and IPX4 splash protection. It runs on a removable 18V, 2.5Ah battery. Testsieger.de lists a 2-megapixel camera, LED lights and Wi-Fi control through AL-KO's inTOUCH app. None of the pages we checked gives a run time per charge.
What's not checked yet
We found no independent test, and the only first-hand report is one buyer's review on Trustpilot, in Danish, with AL-KO's reply. Nobody has checked how well the camera finds the lawn edge, whether AL-KO's promised software update fixed the uncut borders, how it copes with paths and second lawns, or how long it runs per charge, which AL-KO doesn't say.
Our take
Should you buy the Robolinho 500 Vision?
Best for: Small, flat lawns with clear borders. Skip it if: You want a mower with independent tests of this exact version.
hold off unless your lawn is a single simple patch with clean edges and you're happy to trim the border by hand. For that kind of garden, the Einhell FREELEXO CAM and the Worx Landroid Vision AI are camera mowers with home tests behind them.
The Robolinho 500 Vision is AL-KO's small wire-free mower. A camera spots where the lawn ends, so there's no wire to bury and no aerial to plant. It cuts a 20cm strip, copes with fairly steep slopes and runs on a removable battery from AL-KO's garden tool range. AL-KO says it's for smaller, simple lawns with clear borders.
The specs come from AL-KO's UK product page with a few details from a retailer listing. The only first-hand account is a one-star review on Trustpilot from a buyer who bought two: wide uncut borders, a flat paved path it wouldn't cross and an app that ignored commands. AL-KO replied that a software update would improve edging and pointed to a marker kit for reaching a second lawn. Until that's shown to work, plan on trimming the edges by hand.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a boundary wire?
No. AL-KO says it spots the lawn's edge with a camera, with no wire or reference aerial. AL-KO itself told a buyer on Trustpilot that this suits simple lawns with clear boundaries, so borders that blur into flower beds may confuse it.
Will it cope with my slope?
AL-KO rates it for slopes of up to 35%, which covers most gently sloping lawns but not steep banks. That's the maker's figure, and we couldn't find a test of how well it grips on a real slope.
Can it handle two lawns or a narrow passage?
Not on its own, going by the one report we have. A buyer on Trustpilot said it wouldn't cross a flat paved path, and AL-KO pointed them to a marker kit for guiding it to a second area. Check that kit before buying for a split garden.
How close does it cut to the edge?
Not very, according to the only buyer report. The Trustpilot reviewer found wide strips left uncut even in the setting meant to get closer. AL-KO promised an update to improve this, but we've seen no check of the result, so plan to trim the edges.
What happens when it rains?
AL-KO rates it IPX4, which means it's protected against splashing water. The page we checked doesn't say whether it has a rain sensor or how it behaves in wet weather, so check the manual before leaving it out in a downpour.
How noisy is it for the neighbours?
AL-KO quotes 64dB(A), far quieter than a petrol mower, though you'll still hear it in a small garden. We couldn't find an independent measurement, so that's AL-KO's own figure.
Alternatives
Other robot lawn mowers to compare.
FREELEXO CAM (350, 500, PLUS 600)
Why consider it: Another camera mower with no wire for small, single lawns, and two German home tests found it easy to set up and trouble-free.
The compromise: heise found a 10 to 20cm strip left at the edges, random mowing and no app.
Landroid Vision AI
Why consider it: It's camera-guided with no wire or aerial, and two UK testers loved how easily it found its own way.
The compromise: An Australian tester found it struggled on a patchy lawn, and it mows in a random pattern.
VISIMOW18V (18V-100 and 18V-200)
Why consider it: A small camera mower on Bosch 18V batteries that Expert Reviews gave a Best Buy for ease of use.
The compromise: It left a wide uncut strip round the edge and doesn't dock and recharge on its own.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the Robolinho 500 Vision?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Sources
Videos
- Mein Heimwerkermarkt: AL-KO Robolinho 500 Vision Mähroboter | Review und Meinung ↗
- AgriEuro International: AL-KO Robolinho 500 VISION Easy - Robot Lawn Mower - Without Installation - Introduction ↗
- Search YouTube for AL-KO Robolinho 500 Vision ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.