iMOW 7 EVO
1 test of the non-EVO iMOW 7 · EVO extras untestedRead the findings →STIHL's biggest app-connected mower, guided by a perimeter wire and reachable over mobile data. It suits very large, complicated lawns, with a superb finish. It runs over small objects, though, and laying the wire on a big lawn is a serious job.
Updated
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
Where it sits in STIHL’s range
- iMOW 5 EVOSame design for lawns up to 1,500m²
- iMOW 6 EVOSame design for lawns up to 3,000m²
- iMOW 7 EVOThis model
- iMOW 7Same mower with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth only, no mobile link
Feedback
What we know
The best guide is one long test of the non-EVO iMOW 7, the same mower without a mobile connection. Trusted Reviews ran it for a couple of months and found it cut brilliantly, handled bumpy ground and suited large, complex layouts, but it ran over small objects and setup is involved. STIHL's own figures in the specifications cover the EVO's lawn size, slopes and connection.
Trusted Reviews, hands-on, A couple of months, Jul 2024 (tested on the iMOW 7)
A superb finish over time
Trusted Reviews let its iMOW 7 run for a couple of months and found it cut the lawn brilliantly. It occasionally missed a patch on a single run, but caught everything over time, and the mulched clippings left the lawn lush and springy. That review used the non-EVO iMOW 7; the EVO has the same three-blade, 28cm cutting disc, per the specifications, so a similar result is likely.
The wire suits big, awkward lawns
You lay a boundary wire round the lawn and a third wire from the dock that guides it home. Trusted Reviews notes the manual asks for the wire 37cm in from edges and obstacles such as ponds, and suggests paying a dealer on complicated layouts. It thinks a wire makes more sense than wire-free guidance on big, complex gardens, and zones in the app help it work efficiently.
Watch out for small objects
Ultrasonic sensors let it slow down near larger objects and cut close round them. Trusted Reviews found it moved gently round big obstacles but would run over smaller ones, and then had to be put back in the dock and reset. So clear cables, tools and balls off the lawn before each run.
Why pay for the EVO
Trusted Reviews points out that on a lawn approaching 5,000m², the plain iMOW 7 is likely to drop out of Wi-Fi range while it works. The EVO adds a built-in mobile connection so you stay in touch anywhere, and only EVO models take the optional traction wheels for steeper ground. Those are the reasons to choose it, though neither has been tested yet.
Trusted Reviews tested the iMOW 7, which is the same mower without the EVO's mobile connection.
Our take
Should you buy the iMOW 7 EVO?
Best for: Large lawns whose owners want dealer installation and support. Skip it if: Toys, hoses or other small objects are often left on the grass.
worth a look if you have a very large, complicated lawn, want a dealer to install and service it, and will keep it clear of small objects. The Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD NERA covers lawns the same size without a wire and has two long tests behind it.
The iMOW 7 EVO is the largest of STIHL's connected mowers, built for lawns up to 5,000m². It is the iMOW 7 with a mobile connection added, so the app reaches it far beyond your Wi-Fi. It follows a perimeter wire plus a guide wire home, cuts a wide strip with three swinging blades, and the garden can be split into zones in the app.
Trusted Reviews ran the plain iMOW 7, the same mower without the mobile connection, for a couple of months and found it cut brilliantly and handled bumpy ground, but small objects got run over. The EVO adds the mobile connection and takes optional traction wheels for steeper ground. Laying the wire on a large lawn is a serious job, and many buyers will want a dealer to do it.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a boundary wire?
Yes, plus a guide wire from the dock. Trusted Reviews found setup quite involved on its large lawn and suggests dealer installation for complicated layouts. The wire kit is sold separately, per the specifications.
Will it cope with my slope?
STIHL rates it for 45%, or 55% with an optional kit, per the specifications. Trusted Reviews notes the optional traction wheels fit only the EVO models, and its non-EVO iMOW 7 pushed through bumpy ground without getting stuck. We haven't seen the EVO tested on a steep bank yet.
Can it handle two lawns or a narrow passage?
You can join separate lawns with the wire or add a second dock, per STIHL UK. Trusted Reviews found you can split a big garden into zones in the app, which helps it work more efficiently.
What happens when it rains?
A rain sensor lets it stay in the dock when conditions aren't suitable, which Trusted Reviews found useful. You set how it reacts to rain in the app, per the specifications.
Is there a subscription for 4G or anti-theft?
Trusted Reviews reports no ongoing costs for the EVO's mobile connection beyond the higher price of the mower. It also sounds an alarm if carried off and disables itself if it leaves its area, per the specifications.
Alternatives
Other robot lawn mowers to compare.
Automower 435X AWD NERA
Why consider it: All-wheel drive and no wire for big, steep gardens up to 5,000m², with a very even cut in two long tests.
The compromise: It runs over small objects and leaves a strip at the edges.
X7 / X7 Plus Gen 2
Why consider it: A wire-free, all-wheel-drive mower for big lawns that two long tests found dependable once running.
The compromise: Setup was bumpy for both testers.
LUBA 3 AWD
Why consider it: Climbs slopes most rivals can't and leaves wide, tidy stripes on big, awkward lawns.
The compromise: It's heavy and can scuff soft ground when it turns.
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 iMOW 7 EVO?
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
Editorial reviews
- Trusted Reviews: Stihl iMOW 7 Review: A great robot for the largest of lawns ↗4.5 / 5Hands-on, A couple of months · Tested on the iMOW 7
Sources
- STIHL: iMOW 7 EVO product page ↗Manufacturer
- STIHL UK: iMOW robotic lawn mower technology ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Jaba: Stihl imow 7 Evo ↗
- Search YouTube for STIHL iMOW 7 EVO ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.