RTKn
Limited evidenceRead the findings →Kress's satellite-guided mower, using the brand's own network of reference aerials, so nothing goes up in your garden. It suits wire-free lawns with a dealer nearby. One owner reports signal dropouts that left the mower standing still.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in Kress’s range
- Kress RTKn KR160ESmallest RTKn model, for lawns up to 600m²
- RTKnThis model
- EyePilot ZeroTrim KR271EKress's EyePilot ZeroTrim mower, with a different navigation system
- Kress RTKn KR172E2,000m² RTKn model, sold without the obstacle avoidance system
Feedback
What we know
Most of what's here comes from the Kress product page, plus one owner's post on Trustpilot, which isn't a review. Kress documents the network-guided positioning, obstacle avoidance, self-levelling cutting disc and ratings. The owner, about a year in, describes constant losses of the network signal that left the mower stopped, and says it got bogged down easily. A steady signal matters most for this kind of mower, so ask a dealer how it copes where you live.
No aerial, but relies on Kress's network
Most satellite-guided mowers need an aerial on a pole somewhere in your garden. The KR171E doesn't, per Kress. Kress runs its own network of reference aerials, which sends correction data to each mower for centimetre-level positioning. When trees or buildings block the sky, it switches to dead reckoning, estimating where it is from its own movement, until a clear signal comes back. How well that works depends on your garden and the network, so ask a dealer how it copes where you live.
One owner's signal trouble
The only owner account we found is on Trustpilot, from a buyer who'd had a KR171E for about a year. They describe constant losses of the network signal, after which the mower simply stopped instead of searching again, so they had to stand next to it until it found a signal. They also say it got bogged down easily and didn't follow the cable laid to guide it back to its station. It's a single post, so it shows what can go wrong, not how often.
Obstacle avoidance and cutting height
This version comes with Kress's Obstacle Avoidance System, per Kress, and Kress also sells RTKn models without it. The page doesn't say what sensors it uses or what size of object it should spot. The cutting disc levels itself to follow bumps without scalping, and you set the height from 30 to 60mm with a slider in the app. That 30mm minimum is higher than many rivals, which matters if you like a very short lawn.
Slopes, stripes and what's unchecked
Kress rates the KR171E for 40% slopes, gentler than the 45% many wire-free rivals claim, so steep banks may be off-limits. It mows in straight, parallel lines rather than at random, and it recovers energy into its 4Ah, 20V battery on the way downhill. Kress quotes 1,500m² when mowing every 72 hours, and 59dB of noise. It's IPX5 rated, so you can hose it clean. Nobody independent has checked these figures yet, nor how steady the network signal is in real gardens, how well the obstacle avoidance works or how much grass it leaves at the edges.
Our take
Should you buy the RTKn?
Best for: Open lawns with little tree cover. Skip it if: Your dealer cannot confirm it can find its way around your whole lawn.
consider it if you want nothing installed in the garden and have a Kress dealer nearby to set it up, but you're buying on Kress's word and the one owner report warns of signal dropouts. The Segway Navimow i2 AWD is a tested mower with no aerial, and the Navimow i2 LiDAR suits shady gardens.
The RTKn KR171E is the 1,500 square metre model in Kress's network-guided range. It needs no boundary wire and no aerial in the garden, because Kress runs its own network of reference aerials that send correction data to the mower. Where trees or buildings block the satellites it keeps going by tracking its own movement until the signal returns. This version adds Kress's obstacle avoidance system, and its cutting disc tilts to follow bumps.
The only owner account we found, on Trustpilot, describes signal losses that stopped the mower and a dealer who wanted to charge for adjustments after a paid installation. Ask a dealer how the network signal copes where you live before you buy. Kress's slope rating of 40% is gentler than many wire-free rivals, and the shortest cut is thirty millimetres.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a boundary wire?
No wire and no aerial in the garden, per the specifications. It uses satellite positioning corrected by Kress's own network of reference aerials. A magnetic strip comes in the box, and the owner on Trustpilot mentions a cable laid to guide the mower back to its station.
Does it need a clear view of the sky?
Mostly. Positioning comes from satellites, and the specifications says it switches to dead reckoning under trees or beside buildings until the signal returns. The one owner on Trustpilot found it stopped whenever the signal dropped, so shady, built-up gardens are a risk until a reviewer tests it.
Will it cope with my slope?
It's rated for 40%, per the specifications, which is gentler than many wire-free rivals. The owner on Trustpilot says it got bogged down easily, though not whether slopes or soft ground were to blame. None of the reviews we use has tested it on a hill.
What happens when it rains?
It has a rain sensor and an IPX5 rating, per the specifications, so it can sit out in wet weather and be hosed clean. Kress's page doesn't say how long it waits after rain before going back out.
Will the neighbours hear it?
Kress quotes 59dB, per the specifications, which is typical for a robot mower and far quieter than a petrol one. None of the reviews we use has measured it independently yet.
Alternatives
Other robot lawn mowers to compare.
i2 AWD
Why consider it: Also usually needs no aerial, and testers found its all-wheel drive grips where small mowers slide.
The compromise: It's for smaller lawns up to 1,000m², and you'll still trim the edges.
i2 LiDAR (i208, i210, i215, i220)
Why consider it: A laser scanner keeps it on course near trees and buildings, and testers praised its tidy lines and quiet running.
The compromise: Setup can take tweaking, and the edges still need a strimmer.
Automower 310E NERA
Why consider it: Satellite-guided for lawns up to 1,500m², with a second disc that trims close to the edges; testers loved the finish.
The compromise: It has no camera, so it runs over small objects, and it needs open sky and Wi-Fi.
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 RTKn?
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
- Kress: KR171E RTKn 1,500m² robotic lawn mower with OAS (UK) ↗Manufacturer
- Trustpilot: Kress customer reviews (KR171E owner, June 2026) ↗Owner thread · One owner's short post after a year of use; no test method (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Videos
- Search YouTube for Kress RTKn ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.