Automower Aspire R4
2 independent reviewsRead the findings →Husqvarna's smallest boundary-wire Automower, now being sold off. It gives small, flat lawns a superb cut and has a clever app. Laying the wire takes hours, though, and it's less happy on uneven ground.
Updated
Where it sits in Husqvarna’s range
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What reviewers found
There's one long home test and one lab test. Pocket-lint used it over the summer on a flat front lawn and called the cut exceptional, the running quiet and the app features clever, while grumbling about the wire setup and manual height changes. The CHOICE lab test scored it 70% and liked the app and the sturdy charging station, but rated its work on uneven lawns borderline and its shell flimsy. The Ambient carries a longer version of the same writer's test.
Pocket-lint, hands-on, Oct 2023 · CHOICE, lab test (Full results for members only) · The Ambient, hands-on, Over eight months, Apr 2024 (Written by the same reviewer as Pocket-lint's test, largely in the same words.)
Cut quality and edges
Mixed resultsOn a flat front lawn Pocket-lint found the cut exceptional, though corners still needed a strimmer. The CHOICE lab test was cooler, rating its work on an uneven lawn only borderline, so it suits flat, simple gardens best.
Setup and boundaries
Not enough evidenceOnly Pocket-lint described setup: three hours laying boundary and guide wires, which it advises burying after blades and animals cut the pegged wire, then minutes to connect the app. No other review we use covered installation in detail.
Navigation
Not enough evidenceOnly Pocket-lint reported on coverage, finding it got round bushes, beds, a central path and narrow sections without trouble. No other review we use covered navigation.
Slopes and rough ground
Mixed resultsPocket-lint found it handled the uneven patches of a flat lawn well, but the CHOICE lab test rated its performance on uneven ground as borderline. Neither tested a real slope.
Obstacles and safety
Not enough evidenceOnly Pocket-lint reported on obstacles. With no detection, it ran into anything in its path, including a delivery driver, and will mow over toys and pet mess. No other review we use covered this.
Weather
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use tested it in rain or on wet grass. Pocket-lint used its frost guard and a weather link to skip bad days, but didn't report how it handled rain.
App and software
Reviewers rate it highlyPocket-lint used scheduling, frost guard, voice assistants and IFTTT rules, with only occasional Bluetooth drops fixed by a restart, and CHOICE also liked the app. There's no screen, and cutting height is set by hand.
Upkeep
Not enough evidenceOnly Pocket-lint covered upkeep, advising a hose-down every few weeks because mud and clippings on the wheels and charging pins can cause charging faults. No other review we use reported on it.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use has run it long-term or judged Husqvarna's support. CHOICE found the shell felt flimsy, but that's a build note rather than a long-term report.
Value
Not enough evidenceOnly Pocket-lint weighed the price, saying it isn't cheap but won't be a purchase you regret. No other review we use judged value.
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
A superb cut on a simple lawn
Pocket-lint found the cutting exceptional. On a flat front garden with bushes, flower beds, a central path and some narrow sections, it got round everything, and the lawn looked immaculate enough for the neighbours to comment. The corners still needed a strimmer. The CHOICE lab test was cooler, scoring it 70% overall and flagging borderline performance on an uneven lawn, so it suits flat, simple gardens best.
The wire takes an afternoon
Setup is the price of that reliability. Pocket-lint spent three hours laying the boundary wire and guide wire, and recommends burying them in a shallow trench, because both the mower and animals cut or pulled up pegged wire in the first couple of weeks. Once the wire was bedded in, Pocket-lint found it more dependable than satellite guidance, since the mower simply can't cross it. Connecting to the app took only minutes.
Smart features, basic hardware
The app does a lot. Pocket-lint used scheduling, a frost guard that pauses mowing below 5°C, a weather timer, spiral cutting for long patches, Alexa and Google Assistant, and IFTTT rules that pause mowing for a garden party. The hardware is simpler. There's no screen, and cutting height is set by hand from four settings, which CHOICE notes means unscrewing the blade disc. Choice also found the shell felt weak.
It bumps into things
There's no obstacle detection. Pocket-lint saw it run into anything in its path, including a delivery driver, and warns that it will mow over pet mess and toys left on the lawn, so clear the grass before it goes out. The upside is noise. Pocket-lint found it very quiet, quoting 59dB, so early-morning runs won't bother anyone.
Short runs, full recharges
Pocket-lint got around an hour of cutting before it went back to charge, and it won't leave the dock again until it's back to 100%. A four-hour schedule therefore means about two hours of actual mowing, which is plenty for a small lawn. Pocket-lint also advises hosing it down every few weeks, because mud and clippings on the wheels and charging pins can cause charging faults.
The Ambient's review is by the same writer as Pocket-lint's and covers the same test, so we count it once.
Our take
Should you buy the Automower Aspire R4?
Best for: Small lawns where you are happy to lay a boundary wire. Skip it if: You do not want to install a wire around the lawn.
buy it for a small, flat lawn if you do not mind an afternoon laying wire. To skip the wire, the Husqvarna Automower 305E NERA costs more, and for an awkwardly shaped lawn the Gardena SILENO city copes well with narrow strips.
The Aspire R4 is Husqvarna's smallest boundary-wire Automower, for lawns up to 400m². It follows a wire you peg or bury round the lawn, plus a guide wire that leads it home. It has no screen, just a few buttons, and runs from Husqvarna's app over Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, with Alexa and Google Home support and weather-based scheduling. There is no obstacle sensor, and you change the cutting height by hand. It is discontinued, with remaining stock on sale.
Pocket-lint ran it over a summer on a flat front lawn and called the cut exceptional, with neighbours commenting on the finish, though corners still needed a strimmer. It found the mower very quiet and the app clever, with a frost guard and rules that pause mowing for a garden party. Laying the wires took three hours, and Pocket-lint advises burying them because the mower and animals cut the pegged wire in the first weeks. It also saw the robot run into anything in its path, including a delivery driver. CHOICE's lab test was cooler, rating its work on uneven ground borderline and finding the shell flimsy, though it liked the app. Neither ran it long-term.
Where to buy
Where to buy the Automower Aspire R4 in United Kingdom
Sims Garden Machinery
Best priceAspire R4 with installation kit · Listed in stock
Dealer · Delivery: £29.50 deliveryGoogle Shopping listing ·Prices checked
We’re still looking for more United Kingdom retailers for this model.
Each price shows its source and check date. Prices are ordered by item price plus any stated delivery charge; delivery that needs a postcode or checkout check is not included. Confirm the final price and stock with the seller. Some links are affiliate links and are marked where they appear. Commission never changes the order or the recommendation.
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Price history
Automower Aspire R4 price history in the UK
Tracked since 28 Oct 2026
- Today
- £659
- Lowest seen
- £65928 Oct 2026
- Average
- £659since 28 Oct 2026
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a boundary wire?
Yes, plus a guide wire back to the charger. Pocket-lint took three hours to lay them and suggests burying both, since pegged wire got cut by the blades or pulled up by animals. If you want to skip the wire, look at Husqvarna's NERA models.
Will it cope with my slope?
Only gentle ones. Husqvarna rates it for 25% inside the lawn and 10% at the boundary, per the specifications. Pocket-lint tested on a flat lawn, and CHOICE rated its performance on uneven ground as borderline.
Can it handle two lawns or a narrow passage?
It handled narrow areas well for Pocket-lint. Husqvarna says it detects narrow passages and switches to straight-line mowing there, and you can set up a secondary area for a separate lawn, per the specifications. Pocket-lint used a Lawn Coverage setting to send it to remote corners.
Will the neighbours hear it?
Hardly. Pocket-lint quotes 59dB and found you'd have to stand next to it to hear more than a hum, so an early start won't wake anyone. Husqvarna's own figure is 59dB(A), per the specifications.
What happens when it rains?
Husqvarna rates it IPX5 and says you can hose it down, per the specifications. Pocket-lint linked it to a weather service through IFTTT so it skips heavy rain or frost, and turned on the frost guard, which pauses mowing below 5°C.
Alternatives
Other robot lawn mowers to compare.
SILENO city (250 to 600m², basic and smart)
Why consider it: Another small, very quiet wire mower that copes well with narrow strips and side passages.
The compromise: Laying the wire takes effort, and it leaves a strip uncut at the edges.
Landroid Classic (boundary-wire range)
Why consider it: Testers found these wired mowers quiet, neat and good value, in sizes from 250m².
The compromise: You still lay a wire first, and the reviews are a few years old now.
Automower 305E NERA
£765.17 more than the Automower Aspire R4
Why consider it: Husqvarna's smallest wire-free Automower leaves a superb finish, edges included.
The compromise: It needs open sky and Wi-Fi across the lawn, and finds obstacles by bumping into them.
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 Automower Aspire R4?
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
- Pocket-lint: Husqvarna Automower Aspire R4 review ↗Hands-on
- CHOICE: Husqvarna Aspire R4 review ↗70%Lab test · Full results for members only
- The Ambient: Husqvarna Automower Aspire R4 review ↗4.5 / 5Hands-on, Over eight months · Written by the same reviewer as Pocket-lint's test, largely in the same words. (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
Sources
- Husqvarna: Automower Aspire R4 product page ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Search YouTube for Husqvarna Automower Aspire R4 ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.