Automower 405VE NERA
2 independent reviewsRead the findings →Husqvarna's mid-range wire-free mower, with a camera and a second blade for the edges. It cuts neatly on open lawns shared with children or pets. Under trees, it can lose its way without an extra reference station.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Husqvarna’s range
- Automower 308VSimpler camera model, no edge disc or mobile data
- Husqvarna Automower 405XE NERAThe model it replaces, without the camera
- Automower 405VE NERAThis model
- Automower 305E NERASame size and edge disc, but no camera
- Automower 410VE NERASame mower rated for 1,500m²
Feedback
What reviewers found
DigiNytt ran it for three months at two properties, and Bäst i test tested it on a 600m² plot, scoring it 4 out of 5. Both found it cuts neatly and evenly. Reliability is where they split. DigiNytt, relying on Husqvarna's cloud corrections, never had to rescue it, while Bäst i test found that without a reference station it lost its position several times, stopped on the lawn and ran flat. Both saw reception suffer where trees or garden equipment blocked the sky.
DigiNytt, hands-on, Three months (Tested at two properties, one about 800m², without a reference station) · Bäst i test, hands-on (Tested on a 600m² plot)
Cut quality and edges
Reviewers rate it highlyDigiNytt found it left a tidy finish, with the rear edge disc cutting closer to the border than other mowers it had tested, and Bäst i test found it cut neatly, evenly and efficiently. No-go zones still leave some grass to strim.
Setup and boundaries
Not enough evidenceOnly Bäst i test clearly judged setup, finding it very simple and much quicker than laying a wire, though a trampoline had to be moved to get a signal. No other review we use assessed installation.
Navigation
Mixed resultsIt comes down to sky view. DigiNytt ran it for three months without a reference station and never had to rescue it, while Bäst i test, also without one, saw it lose its position several times, stop on the lawn and run flat.
Slopes and rough ground
Not enough evidenceOnly DigiNytt reported on slopes, finding genuinely steep sections a challenge. No other review we use tested hills or rough ground.
Obstacles and safety
Not enough evidenceOnly DigiNytt tested obstacles, leaving toys, a frisbee and a hose on the lawn, and the camera dealt with them effectively. No other review we use tested this.
Weather
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use has tested it in the rain or on wet grass yet.
App and software
Reviewers rate it highlyBäst i test found the app user-friendly, and DigiNytt found it easy to edit boundaries, set up zones and change cutting height remotely, though the design felt dated.
Upkeep
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use has covered blade changes or cleaning yet.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceOnly DigiNytt ran it long-term, for three months without trouble. No other review we use has reported on durability or Husqvarna's support.
Value
Not enough evidenceOnly Bäst i test touched on value, listing the high price as a drawback. No other review we use judged value for money.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
Sky view decides reliability
This is where the testers split. DigiNytt ran it for three months on Husqvarna's cloud corrections, with no reference station, and never had to rescue it or catch it crossing a boundary, though reception got worse as the tree canopy thickened in summer. At Bäst i test, a trampoline had to be moved about a metre to get a signal behind it, and without a reference station the mower lost its position several times mid-mow, stopped on the lawn and ran flat. If tall trees or buildings shade your lawn, budget for the reference station.
A tidy finish, edges included
DigiNytt found it left a tidy finish, and its rear edge disc cut closer to the border than other mowers it had tested, though the disc's height is fixed. Bäst i test says it cuts neatly, evenly and efficiently, and shines on open areas. Stay-out zones are less precise: around a trampoline's legs, Bäst i test was left with a few decimetres of grass to strim. You'll do far less edging than with most robots, but not none.
The camera handles clutter
DigiNytt left toys, a frisbee and a hose on the lawn on purpose, and the camera system dealt with them effectively. That's the main reason to pick this over Husqvarna's cheaper 305E NERA, which has the same edge disc but finds obstacles by bumping into them. Bäst i test doesn't report on obstacles beyond its trampoline. Husqvarna says the infrared light lets the camera work at night too, which none of the reviews we use has tested yet.
Steep ground is a weak spot
DigiNytt found genuinely steep sections a challenge. That fits the spec. Husqvarna rates it for 30% inside the lawn and 20% at the boundary, less than its cheaper 308V and far less than the 320 NERA's 50%. If your lawn has a real bank, look at an all-wheel-drive mower instead. Neither tester reports a problem on moderate slopes.
Easy app, dated look
Editing boundaries, setting up separate zones and changing the cutting height remotely were all easy for DigiNytt, though the app's design felt dated. Bäst i test rated the app user-friendly and installation very simple. You create stay-out zones by steering the mower anticlockwise round the object from your phone, which Bäst i test found worked but wasn't millimetre-precise.
Our take
Should you buy the Automower 405VE NERA?
Best for: Open lawns with little tree cover. Skip it if: Trees or buildings block the sky over much of your lawn.
buy it for a lawn under 900m² that is mostly open to the sky and shared with children or pets, and budget for the reference station if trees shade the grass. On a steep lawn the Mammotion LUBA mini 2 AWD offers better grip, and if clutter is rare the Husqvarna Automower 305E NERA gives a similar finish without the camera.
The 405VE NERA is the smaller of Husqvarna's two mid-range camera mowers, rated for 900m², and replaces the 405XE NERA. It positions itself by satellite, with corrections sent over its built-in mobile data or your Wi-Fi at no extra cost. A camera with infrared light spots things on the lawn, and a rear disc trims close to the borders. The 410VE NERA is the same mower with a bigger rating.
Both testers liked the finish. DigiNytt ran it for three months at two properties and found the edge disc cut closer to the border than any mower it had tested, while the camera dealt with toys, a frisbee and a hose left out on purpose. Bäst i test found it cut neatly and evenly and gave it four out of five. They split on reliability. DigiNytt never had to rescue it, even without Husqvarna's separate reference station, though reception worsened as the summer canopy thickened. Bäst i test, also without a station, saw it lose its position several times, stop on the lawn and run flat, and had to move a trampoline to get a signal. DigiNytt also found genuinely steep sections a challenge. Bäst i test listed the high price as a drawback.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a boundary wire?
No. You draw virtual boundaries in the app by steering the mower round the lawn, and it positions itself by satellite, per the specifications. Bäst i test found installation very simple and much quicker than laying a wire.
Does it need a clear view of the sky?
Yes, over the whole lawn. Bäst i test had to move a trampoline to get a signal behind it and found the mower only dependable with Husqvarna's reference station. DigiNytt managed three months without one, though reception worsened under summer leaves. Husqvarna says the camera helps where the signal is weak, per the specifications.
Will it cope with my slope?
Only moderate ones. Husqvarna rates it for 30% inside the lawn and 20% at the boundary, per the specifications, and DigiNytt found genuinely steep sections a challenge.
How close does it cut to the edge?
Closer than most. DigiNytt found its rear edge disc cut nearer the border than other mowers it had tested. Around obstacles you mark as no-go zones, Bäst i test was still left with a strip to strim.
Do I have to pay a subscription for 4G or anti-theft?
Mobile data is built in, and Husqvarna says its position corrections via Husqvarna Cloud come at no extra cost, per the specifications. The product page doesn't mention an ongoing fee for the mobile connection, and neither tester raised one.
Alternatives
Other robot lawn mowers to compare.
Automower 305E NERA
Why consider it: Two reviews agree it cuts neatly and its edge disc trims borders well, for the same size of lawn.
The compromise: It has no camera, and needs open sky and Wi-Fi across the whole lawn.
LUBA mini 2 AWD 1000
Why consider it: All-wheel drive for sloping, bumpy lawns up to 1,000m², with a side edge disc that leaves little trimming.
The compromise: Raised borders still need a strimmer, and early software limited how far apart your lawns can be.
i2 LiDAR (i208, i210, i215, i220)
Why consider it: Laser guidance built for gardens with trees and buildings, and four reviewers found it cuts neatly and quietly.
The compromise: Setup can take tweaking, and the edges still need a strimmer.
Automower 405VE NERA head to head
Head to head
Husqvarna Automower 305E NERA vs Automower 405VE NERA
Our verdict: Both cover lawns up to 900m² and have an edge disc that testers praised. The 405VE adds built-in mobile data and a camera that dealt with toys and a hose in testing, while the 305E finds obstacles by bumping into them. If the lawn is often cluttered or used by pets, pick the 405VE.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
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Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- DigiNytt: Husqvarna Automower 405VE NERA test ↗Hands-on, Three months · Tested at two properties, one about 800m², without a reference station
- Bäst i test: Robotgräsklippare: 6 modeller i test (Husqvarna 405VE Nera) ↗4 / 5Hands-on · Tested on a 600m² plot
Sources
Videos
- Husqvarna: Husqvarna Automower® 405VE NERA / 410VE NERA - Features and benefits ↗
- Automower Tobel: Husqvarna Automower 430V NERA and 405VE NERA with AI Vision ↗
- Search YouTube for Husqvarna Automower 405VE NERA ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.