M series (M5, M9)
3 independent reviewsRead the findings →Anthbot's compact wire-free mowers for small and medium lawns. They suit smooth, open gardens, cutting cleanly and dodging small obstacles well. Bumpy or uneven ground can easily throw them, though.
Updated
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Where it sits in Anthbot’s range
- M series (M5, M9)This model
- Anthbot M5 LiDARLaser-guided M5, no aerial needed
- Genie (600, 600E, 800, 1000, 3000)Bigger lawns, four cameras instead of two
- N8Larger wire-free mower that also collects clippings and leaves · £1,339.12
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What reviewers found
Three reviewers tested the M9. On a small, uneven L-shaped lawn, New Atlas found it easy to set up, deft in tight spots and untroubled by bumps. Notebookcheck rated it a best-value pick after finding its obstacle detection impressive and its battery outlasting the claim. Trusted Reviews gave it 3 out of 5 on a lumpy clay lawn, where it balked at dips, strayed over its boundary and missed patches. All three found the cut itself clean. The split is mostly about ground: smooth lawns suit it, lumpy ones don't.
Trusted Reviews, hands-on, Jun 2026 (tested on the Anthbot M9; Tested on a lumpy clay lawn split into two areas) · Notebookcheck, hands-on, May 2026 (tested on the Anthbot M9) · New Atlas, hands-on, Jul 2026 (tested on the Anthbot M9; Tested on a small, uneven L-shaped lawn)
Cut quality and edges
Reviewers rate it highlyWhere it mows, it mows well: Trusted Reviews found the cut neat and uniform, New Atlas saw straight lines and tight turns, and Notebookcheck found it reliably cut to the set height. Notebookcheck measured about 10cm left at raised edges, so keep a trimmer.
Setup and boundaries
Mixed resultsNew Atlas went from box to mowing in about ten minutes, and Notebookcheck found automatic mapping mostly worked. Trusted Reviews got an inaccurate map of two separate lawns, drove the boundary by hand, and warns that moving the aerial means starting again.
Navigation
Mixed resultsNew Atlas found it deft in tight spots on a small L-shaped lawn. Satellite positioning isn't perfect, though: Notebookcheck saw it leave its map once and get stuck, and Trusted Reviews saw it stray onto a kerb and skip about a third of a zone.
Slopes and rough ground
Mixed resultsSmooth ground suits it. New Atlas found slight unevenness no problem, but Notebookcheck found it not particularly capable on rough ground or some slopes, and on Trusted Reviews' lumpy clay lawn it balked at dips and switched its blades off over lumps.
Obstacles and safety
Mixed resultsNotebookcheck saw it avoid a fake hedgehog, a garden hose and a tennis ball every time, and New Atlas saw it work smoothly round a pole. Trusted Reviews had it ram low flower-bed fences several times, though it always turned away from people.
Weather
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use tested how it behaves in rain or on wet grass. It has a rain sensor and an IPX6 rating, per the specifications.
App and software
Mixed resultsNew Atlas found the app unusually friendly for beginners, and Notebookcheck liked its range of zone and edge settings. Trusted Reviews found the manual driving controls jumpy and got no alert when the mower hit trouble.
Upkeep
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use judged its routine upkeep. Notebookcheck notes it can be hosed down and comes with a screwdriver and spare blades.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use covers long-term ownership or judges Anthbot's support.
Value
Reviewers rate it highlyNew Atlas says it delivers unusually good value, working much like mowers costing several times more, and Notebookcheck names it a best-value pick for gardens up to 1,000m² without steep slopes.
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
Bumpy ground threw it on one test
This is where the reviews split. On Trusted Reviews' shrink-swell clay lawn, the M9 kept switching its blades off over lumps, leaving grass uncut, and stopped, beeped and turned away from dips. The reviewer partly blames the free-swinging front wheels, which let bumps knock it off line. New Atlas found slightly uneven ground no problem. Notebookcheck found it not particularly capable on rough ground, and saw it struggle on slopes depending on the surface. If your lawn is bumpy, expect some hand-holding.
Good at spotting small things
Notebookcheck put a fake hedgehog, a length of garden hose and a tennis ball in its path, and the M9 avoided all three every time, something it says pricier mowers have failed to do. New Atlas saw it work smoothly round a clothesline pole, and shadows didn't confuse it. Trusted Reviews had a worse time: it rammed 30cm fences around flower beds several times even though they were left out of the map, though it always turned away from people walking in front of it.
Can stray past its map
Satellite positioning isn't perfect. Notebookcheck saw it leave its mapped area once and get stuck on an edge, and advises leaving a safe gap from hazards when you map. On Trusted Reviews' lawn it cut across a corner onto a kerb it had been kept away from, and the wheels and blades kept spinning against the stone with no phone alert. On one run it also skipped about a third of a zone the app said it had covered. Map with a margin round drops and hard edges.
Easy setup, mixed results on mapping
New Atlas went from box to mowing in about the ten minutes Anthbot claims, and found the app unusually friendly for beginners. Notebookcheck found automatic mapping mostly worked, apart from snagging on a flower bed near the edge. Trusted Reviews got an inaccurate map of two clearly separate lawns and had to drive the boundary by hand with jumpy controls. It also warns that moving the aerial afterwards means redoing setup, and UK buyers got a European plug.
Clean cut, wide edge gap
When it mows, it mows well. Trusted Reviews found the cut neat and uniform, and New Atlas saw tight turns and straight lines. Notebookcheck measured about 10cm left uncut at raised edges, because the disc sits in the middle of the body. Where the edge is flush, you can let it run up to 20cm past the boundary, but along a kerb that left scuff marks on the stone. Budget for a trimmer.
All three reviews cover the M9. Anthbot says the M5 is the same mower with a smaller battery, and Notebookcheck says its findings largely apply to both.
Our take
Should you buy the M series (M5, M9)?
Best for: Small, fairly flat lawns with a clear view of the sky. Skip it if: Your lawn is steep, soft or full of bumps.
buy an M5 or M9 for a smooth, open lawn on the small side. If your lawn is lumpy or full of dips, Trusted Reviews' experience is a warning, and the Mammotion LUBA mini 2 AWD is the safer choice.
The M5 and M9 are Anthbot's smaller, cheaper mowers below the Genie, sharing one compact body and differing mainly in battery. Neither needs a wire. Satellites and an aerial staked by the dock fix their position, two front cameras spot obstacles, and mobile data is built in. The M9 is rated for lawns up to 1,000m² and the M5 for half that.
All three testers tried the M9 and found the cut itself clean. New Atlas was mowing about ten minutes after opening the box and found it deft on a small L-shaped lawn, and Notebookcheck saw it avoid a fake hedgehog, a garden hose and a tennis ball every time and named it a best-value pick. Trusted Reviews, on a lumpy clay lawn, gave it 3 out of 5. There it switched its blades off over lumps, balked at dips, rammed low fences round flower beds and strayed onto a kerb with no alert. Notebookcheck also saw it leave its map once and measured about ten centimetres left uncut at raised edges, so keep a trimmer.
Where to buy
Where to buy the M series (M5, M9) in United Kingdom
No United Kingdom price checked in the last 21 days. We re-check daily.
We’re still looking for more United Kingdom retailers for this model.
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Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a boundary wire?
No. It uses satellite positioning corrected by an aerial near the dock, plus two cameras, per the specifications. Notebookcheck found automatic mapping mostly worked, but Trusted Reviews got an inaccurate map and drove the boundary by hand, which New Atlas did from the start.
Will it cope with my slope?
Anthbot claims 45%, per the specifications. Notebookcheck found it struggled on slopes depending on the surface, and Trusted Reviews saw it stop and turn away from small dips on a lumpy lawn. Smooth, gentle slopes are the safer bet.
Does it need a clear view of the sky?
Yes. Trusted Reviews notes the dock and aerial shouldn't sit near buildings or trees, though New Atlas had no trouble with the aerial under a large tree. Anthbot also sells a network correction service over mobile data, per the specifications, but Notebookcheck couldn't get it to activate on its test mower.
How close does it cut to the edge?
Not very. Notebookcheck measured about 10cm left at raised edges, and Trusted Reviews found even the edging mode couldn't reach a fence. On flush edges you can let it run past the border, per Notebookcheck, but you'll still want a trimmer.
Is there a subscription for 4G or anti-theft?
Both sizes have 4G with three months of data included, then a yearly fee, per the specifications. Notebookcheck puts the renewal at around 40 US dollars a year. The same service carries the optional network positioning, which can replace the aerial where mobile coverage is good.
How noisy is it for neighbours?
Anthbot quotes 58dB or less, per the specifications. From a metre away, Notebookcheck measured about 60dB, sometimes louder when cutting hard, and called that neither quiet nor loud. New Atlas calls it impressively quiet.
Alternatives
Other robot lawn mowers to compare.
LUBA mini 2 AWD 1000
Why consider it: All-wheel drive for rougher lawns, and its side edge disc cut much of the grass other mowers leave along borders.
The compromise: The tested app and a fixed edge-cutting height set some practical limits.
C15 Robot Lawn Mower
Why consider it: Expert Reviews found it unusually easy to get going and effective on even, regularly cut lawns.
The compromise: Rough patches and tall growth tended to interrupt it.
RockNeo Q1
Why consider it: A compact wire-free rival, and Notebookcheck found its everyday navigation solid and its app clear.
The compromise: Notebookcheck found it too cautious near edges and plants, leaving uncut patches.
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 M series (M5, M9)?
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: Anthbot M9 review ↗3 / 5Hands-on · Tested on the Anthbot M9 · Tested on a lumpy clay lawn split into two areas
- Notebookcheck: Affordable, compact robotic lawnmower for smaller gardens: Anthbot M9 review ↗Hands-on · Tested on the Anthbot M9
- New Atlas: Review: robot mower handles lawns like its pricy peers (Anthbot M9) ↗Hands-on · Tested on the Anthbot M9 · Tested on a small, uneven L-shaped lawn
Sources
- Anthbot: M9 product page (EU) ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Search YouTube for Anthbot M series (M5, M9) ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.