Ecovacs GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro review

Ecovacs GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro: Introduction

• Type: Cleaning – vacuum only, mopping etc.
• Docking: What type of dock does it come with
• Navigation system: LiDAR, SLAM etc

Robot lawn mowers have come a long way, but edges still trip them up. The Ecovacs GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro aims to solve that with its TrueEdge Trimmer. In the US, the closest version is the Ecovacs GOAT O1000 LiDAR Pro.

It also brings automatic setup and navigation through cameras and LiDAR, so the question is simple: is this the no-fuss robot mower to beat? Read on to find out in my full review.

Design and features

• Uses its cameras and LiDAR for navigation
• Electronic cutting height adjustment
• TrueEdge trimmer

As its name states, the Ecovacs GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro relies on LiDAR and a front-facing camera for navigation and mapping, rather than the RTK GPS systems used by many rivals. The budget LawnMaster OcuMow 18 Autocharging Vision Robot Mower and more expensive Eufy Lawnbot E15 have both taken a similar approach, but the GOAT is a far more refined version.

The difference between LiDAR and GPS-based RTK is worth understanding. Both are wire-free, but RTK needs both strong GPS coverage and it needs correction data, which can either come via the internet (more commonly now) or a reference station (getting less common).

LiDAR and camera-based navigation just use sensors in the robot. RTK can be more accurate and better for large, complex gardens, but LiDAR doesn’t need GPS coverage and is quicker and faster to get started with.

What really sets the Ecovacs apart, though, is the TrueEdge Trimmer on its side. Hidden beneath a brush is a proper trimmer line, designed to cut right up to the boundary in the same way as a manual strimmer.

It’s the first robot lawn mower I’ve seen attempt edge cutting like this. The only other machine I’ve tested with a similar focus is the Husqvarna Automower 305E Nera, which uses a smaller front cutting deck to nibble away at edges over time rather than tackling them in one go.

For regular grass, the GOAT O1200 uses a standard cutting deck underneath, with three blades that will need replacing once they dull.

Setup is straightforward. You place the charging station on the ground (either in your lawn or on your patio if you like) and then pair the mower with the app.

From there, it needs to map the garden. You can do that manually, driving it around the boundary from the app, or let it map itself automatically. For simple gardens with clean borders, the automatic route should be fine. If your layout is more complicated, manual mapping is probably the safer bet.

Once the map is done, you can set no-go zones, define the perimeter for TrueEdge cutting, and schedule mowing sessions so the robot cuts when you want it to.

I’m also glad to see electronic cutting-height adjustment here. At this price, manual adjustment is far more common, so app-based control makes seasonal tweaks much easier. The cutting height choice is between 3cm and 8cm in 0.5cm steps.

That’s decent enough, though a lower minimum setting would have been welcome if you want a more close-cropped finish.

Performance

• Excellent navigation
• Trimming is impressive, but loud
• Some areas can be missed

Navigation is excellent. The Ecovacs GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro had no trouble finding its way around my test lawn, and the front-facing camera did a very good job of spotting obstacles and steering around them, whether that was a person crossing the grass or a ball left behind.

Cutting performance is also very good. Over time, as the grass is cut and mulched down, the lawn should look better and better.

Movement is handled by two large rear wheels and smaller trolley-style wheels at the front. That’s fine on flat, well-kept grass, but if your lawn is rougher or more uneven, an AWD robot would be a better choice.

The TrueEdge Trimmer is the one thing that makes this robot different, and it really does work, with a few minor issues. First, it is loud, and the mower goes from near-silent to sounding very much like a traditional trimmer when it kicks in.

For safety, the trimmer stops immediately if motion is detected nearby, although the main blades keep running. That means it’s best to leave the mower alone when you want it to handle edge cutting.

Overall, TrueEdge is effective, but it may need some adjustment. Using the automatic map, I found that a few border sections were missed, and the mower didn’t quite reach the corner of the garden where the water butt sits. You may still need to tidy the odd patch by hand, but it’s the first mower that I’ve tested that really sorts out the edging.

Final thoughts

The Ecovacs GOAT O1200 LiDAR Pro stands apart from most robot lawn mowers thanks to its TrueEdge system, which reduces the need for a manual trimmer.

If you’ve got a simple garden and want a well-priced mower with plenty of features, it’s easy to recommend. If your lawn is bumpy, or much larger than average, you’ll probably be better off looking elsewhere in my guide to the best robot lawn mowers.

How we test

When we publish our reviews, you can rest assured that they are the result of “living with” long term tests.

Robot cleaners usually live within an ecosystem, or a range of products that – supposedly – all work in harmony. And they are designed to offer a range of different cleaning options. Therefore, it’s impossible to use a robo cleaner for a week and deliver a verdict.

Because we’re testing smart home kit all day, everyday, we know what matters and how a particular smart cleaning machine compares to alternatives that you might also be considering.

Our reviews are comprehensive, objective and fair and, of course, we are never paid directly to review a device.

Read our guide on how we test robot vacuum cleaners to learn more.

FAQs

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