A 1500
2 independent reviewsRead the findings →STIGA's wire-free, satellite-guided mower for large, open lawns. It gives an even cut and runs reliably once set up. It has no camera, though, so it bumps into things, and it leaves a strip at the edges.
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Where it sits in STIGA’s range
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What reviewers found
Two home tests, both from when STIGA rated the A 1500 for 1,500m². Gardens Illustrated used a pre-production unit for six weeks on a small lawn, and Instalki ran a loan unit for over two months on a 300m² garden. Both were impressed by how even the cut was and found it needed little attention once running. Both also found it doesn't dodge obstacles well or cut to the edge. Instalki had to raise the aerial to stop connection drops.
Instalki, hands-on, Over two months, Sept 2024 (Polish-language review; tested on a 300m² garden) · Gardens Illustrated, hands-on, Six weeks, Jun 2023 (Tested before launch on a pre-production unit)
Cut quality and edges
Mixed resultsThe cut across the lawn is excellent: Gardens Illustrated was impressed by how level it was, and Instalki found the lawn always looked perfect. Neither got a cut to the edge, and Instalki was left with a 10 to 15cm strip.
Setup and boundaries
Mixed resultsGardens Illustrated had a STIGA manager install it in about an hour. Instalki found the joystick mapping hard to keep straight at first, and had to mount the aerial higher to stop connection drops.
Navigation
Mixed resultsInstalki found it kept to schedule, even during a week away, once the aerial was raised, but it climbed a low border into a bramble bed. Gardens Illustrated thinks it suits fairly regular lawns rather than nooks and corners.
Slopes and rough ground
Not enough evidenceOnly Instalki reported on ground conditions, noticing no trouble on softer, boggier ground. No review we use tested it on a slope.
Obstacles and safety
Reviewers found problemsIt has only collision sensors. Gardens Illustrated found it likely to get stuck on things left out, and Instalki saw it drive over small objects and get stuck in a bramble bed until that was mapped as an obstacle.
Weather
Not enough evidenceOnly Gardens Illustrated saw it in the rain, and a couple of huge downpours didn't trouble it. Instalki advises against mowing wet grass because clippings stick to the body.
App and software
Mixed resultsGardens Illustrated found the app easy after installation. Instalki found it friendly but not intuitive, with some settings buried, zones only added by driving, and no detailed history of each run.
Upkeep
Not enough evidenceOnly Instalki touched on upkeep, noting wet mowing leaves clippings stuck to the body and means more cleaning. No review we use covered blade changes.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceNo review we use has run it long-term. Gardens Illustrated's pre-production unit stopped once and needed STIGA's help, but no second review judged support.
Value
Not enough evidenceNo review we use has judged its value for money yet. Instalki confirms there's no extra fee for the built-in mobile connection.
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
An excellent, even cut
Gardens Illustrated was mightily impressed by the level, even cut, and reckons the lawn looked about 80 per cent better by the end of the test. Instalki rated the cut very good and says the lawn always looked perfect, including after a week away, when the mower kept to its schedule. It mows in parallel lines by default, and you can change the angle. It leaves the clippings to feed the lawn, so it's meant to run often.
Bumps into things
There's no camera, only collision sensors. Gardens Illustrated says it tries to go round things left in its way, but is likely to get stuck. Instalki found it strong enough to drive over small objects, and it climbed a low paved border into a bramble bed and got stuck there, until the bed was mapped as an obstacle. Clear the lawn before each run, and map beds and low borders as no-go areas.
Put the aerial up high
It navigates by satellite, so the reference aerial needs open sky. Instalki had connection problems with the aerial sitting in the dock at ground level, then mounted it on the supplied bracket with the extension cable, and the problems stopped. Gardens Illustrated notes the receiver can be wall-mounted away from trees and buildings. STIGA now also offers an antenna-free setup through the app, per STIGA, which neither reviewer tried.
Mapping takes practice
You map the lawn by driving the mower round its edge with a joystick in the STIGA.GO app. Instalki found it hard to keep straight at first, and zones and obstacles can only be added by driving round them, not drawn on the map. The app is friendly, but some settings are buried and there's no detailed history of each run. Gardens Illustrated had a STIGA manager install it in about an hour, and thinks it suits lawns of a fairly regular shape.
Edges and early glitches
Like most robot mowers, it can't cut right to the edge. Instalki was left with a 10 to 15cm strip along borders and suggests trimming it every two weeks. Gardens Illustrated agrees it can't do edges. Its pre-production unit also stopped working once and needed STIGA's help to reset the mower and app; STIGA said later software had fixed this. A couple of heavy downpours didn't trouble it in that test.
Gardens Illustrated tested a pre-production unit in 2023, and Instalki a loan unit in 2024, when STIGA rated the A 1500 for 1,500m². Neither tested it on a lawn anywhere near 2,500m², or with the antenna-free setup.
Our take
Should you buy the A 1500?
Best for: Large, open lawns with a clear view of the sky. Skip it if: Toys, hoses or other small objects are often left on the grass.
buy it for a large, open lawn that you keep tidy and want mown on a schedule without a wire or a data plan. For a garden with trees and clutter the Segway Navimow i2 LiDAR copes better, and STIGA's A Vista range adds a camera.
The A 1500 shares its body and cutting deck with the A 1000 but carries a battery twice the size, and STIGA now rates it for lawns up to 2,500m². It navigates by satellite with a built-in mobile connection that STIGA includes free, using a reference aerial in the garden or, STIGA says, no aerial at all. It has collision sensors but no camera.
Gardens Illustrated was mightily impressed by the level, even cut, and Instalki said the lawn always looked perfect, even after a week away. Both found it bumps into things: Gardens Illustrated found it likely to get stuck on anything left out, and Instalki saw it climb a low border into a bramble bed and stay there until the bed was mapped as an obstacle. Neither got a cut to the edge, and Instalki was left trimming a strip along the borders every fortnight. Instalki also had connection drops until the aerial was mounted higher, and found some app settings buried. Both tests date from when STIGA rated it for a smaller lawn, so the larger rating is untested.
Where to buy
Where to buy the A 1500 in United Kingdom
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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 follows a virtual boundary using satellite positioning, per the specifications. You set it by driving the mower round the lawn edge in the app. Instalki found the joystick needs practice, but the saved boundary can be corrected later.
Does it need a clear view of the sky?
Yes, for the reference aerial. Gardens Illustrated says it must be away from overhanging trees and large buildings, and Instalki had to raise it off the ground to stop connection drops. STIGA also lists an antenna-free setup, per the specifications, which neither review tried.
Will it cope with my slope?
It's rated for 45%, per the specifications. Neither review tested it on a steep slope, but Instalki noticed no trouble moving over softer, boggier ground. So treat the slope figure as STIGA's claim for now.
What happens when it rains?
It has rain sensors, per the specifications, and Gardens Illustrated found a couple of huge downpours didn't trouble it. Instalki advises against mowing wet grass anyway, as clippings stick to the body and mean more cleaning.
How close does it cut to the edge?
Not very. Instalki had a strip of about 10 to 15cm left along edges, and Gardens Illustrated says it can't do edges at all. Budget for trimming by hand every couple of weeks.
Is there a subscription for 4G or anti-theft?
No. The mower has a built-in mobile connection that STIGA includes free, per the specifications, and Instalki confirms there's no extra fee. You do need mobile coverage in the garden, as it doesn't use Wi-Fi.
Alternatives
Other robot lawn mowers to compare.
A Vista range (A 6v to A 140v)
Why consider it: STIGA's newer range adds a camera and needs no aerial, and testers agree the cut is excellent.
The compromise: The camera, the app and the setup all drew real complaints.
A 1000
Why consider it: The same body, deck and slope rating for lawns up to 1,400m², with a precise, even cut.
The compromise: It has no camera either, so it struggles with obstacles too.
Automower 310E NERA
Why consider it: Satellite-guided for up to 1,500m², with a second disc that trims close to the edges.
The compromise: It has no camera, so it runs over small objects.
i2 LiDAR (i208, i210, i215, i220)
Why consider it: A laser and camera keep it on course near trees and buildings, and testers praised its tidy lines.
The compromise: Setup can take tweaking, and the edges still need a strimmer.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
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Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- Instalki: Stiga A 1500 review (in Polish) ↗Hands-on, Over two months · Polish-language review; tested on a 300m² garden
- Gardens Illustrated: STIGA A 1500 Robot Lawn Mower: does it work? ↗4 / 5Hands-on, Six weeks · Tested before launch on a pre-production unit
Sources
- STIGA: A 1500 product page (UK) ↗Manufacturer
Videos
- Smartlawns Ltd: Stiga A 1500 Robot lawnmower ↗
- AgriEuro International: Stiga A 1500 - Robot Lawn Mower - with 5 Ah E-Power Battery ↗
- Search YouTube for STIGA A 1500 ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.