Pion 1000
Anthbot's older boundary-wire mower for lawns up to 1,000m², which maps its route in the app and mows in rows rather than at random. We found no full independent test, and it's sold out on Anthbot's own stores.
We re-check daily. Try the manufacturer’s site meanwhile.
The short version
The Pion 1000 came before Anthbot's wire-free Genie and M series, and it works the traditional way: you lay a boundary wire round the lawn, up to 180 metres of it. Unlike many wired mowers, it uses that wire to work out where it is, so it can draw a live map in the app and cut in a criss-cross grid instead of bouncing about at random. Anthbot says that makes it about three times quicker than similar wired mowers.
What you get is a simple, proven way of keeping a mower on your lawn, with no need for a view of the sky. What you give up is an easy setup, since the wire has to be pegged or buried, and flexibility, since changing the layout means moving the wire. Anthbot cuts its rated area to 600m² on uneven grass. It's also sold out on every Anthbot store we checked, and the brand's attention has moved to its wire-free models.
Our take: The Pion only makes sense if you can find one in stock and you'd rather lay a wire than rely on satellites, for example under heavy tree cover. With no full review and no stock on Anthbot's own stores, we can't recommend it over tested wired options such as the GARDENA SILENO minimo, or a wire-free mower such as Anthbot's own Genie if your lawn has a decent view of the sky.
Where it sits in Anthbot’s range
What we know so far
Limited evidence No independent, finished hands-on review of this robot yet. What follows comes from the maker's specifications and early coverage, and says where something is untested.
We haven't found a full independent test of the Pion 1000. RobotMower.Info gives a short verdict, calling it a fairly standard wired mower with a basic app that's good value, but it doesn't describe any testing, so we don't count it as a review. Everything else below comes from Anthbot's product page. The main open questions are how accurate its live map is, how well it copes with uneven grass, and how long Anthbot will support it.
RobotMower.Info, hands-on (A short verdict that doesn't describe any testing)
A wire you have to lay
The Pion needs a boundary wire round the lawn, and Anthbot limits it to 180 metres per charging station. On uneven grass that covers only about 600m², well short of the 1,000m² headline. For a bigger area you buy a second charging station and more wire. The upside is that it doesn't need a view of the sky, so it suits gardens under heavy tree cover where satellite mowers struggle.
Mows in rows, not at random
Most wired mowers wander at random. Anthbot says the Pion uses its wire to pin down its position, so it can build a map in the app, show its progress and cut in a criss-cross grid. It claims about 90m² an hour, three times the rate of similar wired mowers, and that it picks up where it left off after an interruption. None of this has been independently checked.
Adjusts itself, stops for debris
According to Anthbot, the Pion raises or lowers its cutting height between 30 and 70mm and changes blade speed to suit the grass. It says it can spot objects smaller than 5cm and stop the blades to protect them. There's also a spot-mowing mode that clears a circle of about 7m² around the mower. The wire has break detection, so the app tells you roughly where a cut wire is.
An older model, now sold out
The Pion was on sale before Anthbot launched its wire-free Genie, and RobotMower.Info notes the company's focus has moved to the newer range. When we checked, it was listed but sold out on Anthbot's US, European and German stores. Check stock, warranty and spare parts before you buy one elsewhere.
No independent test yet. Details come from Anthbot's product page and are the maker's claims.
Prices
Where to buy the Pion 1000 in United Kingdom
No verified United Kingdom price in the last 7 days. We re-check daily.
We’re still looking for more United Kingdom retailers for this model. Prices shown are read from each seller’s own page.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a boundary wire?
Yes. You lay up to 180 metres of wire round the lawn, per the specifications. The mower uses that wire both to stay on the lawn and to work out where it is, and it alerts you in the app if the wire breaks.
Will it cope with my slope?
Anthbot claims 45% (24°) slopes, per the specifications. That figure hasn't been independently tested, and Anthbot itself cuts the rated lawn area on uneven grass, so be cautious with steep or bumpy gardens.
Can it handle two lawns or a narrow passage?
Only within the wire. Anthbot says a larger area needs an extra charging station and more boundary wire, per the specifications. The maker's page doesn't give a minimum passage width.
What happens when it rains?
A rain sensor on top stops mowing and sends it back to charge, per the specifications. Anthbot says it picks up its last route again once the weather clears.
Compare with
SILENO minimo 500
A tested wired mower for small lawns, and Clubic found it compact and very quiet.
You have to plan and lay boundary and guide wires, and it's controlled over Bluetooth only.
EasiLife Go 500
Gardeners' World found quiet, even mowing on a small, simple lawn, with a basic but usable app.
Gardeners' World found the guide-wire connections fiddly, and changing the cutting height needs a hex key.
E15 Robot Lawn Mower
Wire-free and camera-guided, and one owner was ready to mow in about ten minutes.
A long-term owner had a faulty cutting-height mechanism that caused overheating until the mower was replaced.
Full specifications
Figures come from the manufacturer’s product page unless a source is named. A blank means nobody we trust has confirmed it.
Owner reviews
Own a Pion 1000?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner reviews are shown separately from expert tests and never mixed into the score.
Sources
Everything cited on this page. Expert scores are shown as the reviewer gave them.
- Anthbot: Pion 1000 product page (US)Manufacturer
- RobotMower.Info: RobotMower.Info reviews the Anthbot Pion 1000Hands-on · A short verdict that doesn't describe any testing (not counted towards our two-review minimum)