Einhell FREELEXO CAM PLUS 600 robotic lawnmower test

Another robotic lawnmower has come to the test, but it's very different from all the previous ones. The latter were insanely smart, capable of connecting to satellites, equipped with LiDARs, cameras, artificial intelligence and other technological wonders. Einhell FREELEXO CAM PLUS 600 is quite simple in comparison.

Of all the above, it only has a camera and the ability to mow without boundary wires. Simplicity also means a lower price. For around €800 you get a robotic lawnmower that can mow 600 square meters of lawn. To find out what this lawn must be like, I went to Carinthia, where I dropped it on very varied terrain with slopes, beams, hidden corners that could affect the robot's control... In short, a challenge for any lawnmower, even the best ones.

He uses a camera, but is that enough?

The heart of the FREELEXO CAM system is an advanced high-definition camera that constantly monitors the surroundings in front of the robot. Unlike traditional models that bounce off an invisible electric fence, this model analyzes the colors and textures underneath. The algorithm is designed to recognize the green color of grass and distinguish it from the brown shades of soil, the gray color of paving stones or the colorful flowers in the flower beds. I don't know if you've ever had to dig to install a boundary wire. It's not a terribly difficult job, but it is time-consuming and you can only hope that nothing happens in the coming years, because digging is even more of a pain. At least for me it was.

Fortunately, the Einhell FREELEXO CAM PLUS 600 does not require cables, but since it can only rely on the camera, a lot depends on the layout of the yard. Since it relies on visual cues, the boundaries between grass and other surfaces must be clearly defined. Curbs, sand or strongly contrasting boundaries are what tell the robot where it should stop. Well, there was no such ideal garden in Carinthia, so the lawnmower had problems with where to stop, where to mow, and whether it mowed evenly everywhere... It did identify the transitions between different lawns, but often did not mow at the far corners or in those intermediate areas between the beams.

The camera technology is not only used to identify boundaries, but also acts as a primary safety system. When the robot approaches an obstacle, such as a garden chair, a forgotten toy or a pet, the camera (and the built-in ultrasonic sensor) detects this faster than mechanical collision sensors. This allows for a smoother ride, as the mower avoids obstacles with a gentle maneuver, instead of crashing into them and then finding a new path. This not only extends the life of the housing and motor, but also ensures greater safety for all garden users.

The downside of the camera is that without help (satellite, LiDAR), it cannot mow at night or in thick fog, for example. It will only mow (mow) when there is really enough daylight, which means it will work when you are at home, instead of when you are sleeping.

You still get a magnetic cable in the package.

You don't really need a wire for the main boundaries, but you do need it to set up virtual fences (excluded areas) and to return to the charging station. That's why the package includes 5 meters of magnetic tape, which acts as a virtual fence for those parts of the garden that are too complex to control with the camera.

This tape is useful for temporarily protecting beds with young seedlings or areas where work is currently underway. Sensors on the bottom of the robot detect the magnetic field of the tape and avoid it without the need for visual confirmation. Installing this tape is a matter of minutes, as you simply lay it on the surface and secure it with the included pegs. When you no longer need it, you roll it up and store it away for the next season. It's not as user-friendly as if the robot could already recognize all these variables, but it's not so annoying that it can't do it a couple of times a season.

The mower uses a 12-meter guide wire to return to the charging station. This is the only piece of wire you'll actually need to run, but its function is only to guide the robot the last few meters before it plugs in to charge. Again, there have been robotic lawnmowers for years that don't need this, but at this price point, you'd expect some compromises.

When the battery runs out or when the rain sensor detects precipitation, the robot finds the guide wire and connects to the charging ports with extreme precision. The rain sensor is important for maintaining the health of the lawn, as mowing wet grass often causes stems to break and an uneven cut.

If you don't want to wait, you can replace the battery

One of the biggest advantages of Einhell devices, including this robotic lawnmower, is their integration into the Power X-Change family. The FREELEXO CAM PLUS 600 uses a standard 18-volt battery that is completely interchangeable with your drill, jigsaw or leaf blower. Of course, you have to be part of the Einhell ecosystem, but in the long run, this flexibility can save you some headaches.

If after a few years the battery loses its capacity, you don't have to look for a specialized service or an expensive robot-specific replacement part. Simply buy a new standard PXC battery or use the one you already have in your workshop.

The drivetrain of the device is based on a brushless motor, with which the FREELEXO can overcome slopes of up to 25 %, which is only enough for small slopes. There is also no all-wheel drive, so do not expect it to be able to overcome climbs on wet grass. Otherwise, it is relatively quiet (around 55 decibels), resistant to the conditions that await it outside, and for cleaning, despite the IPX4 rating, I recommend not cleaning it with a high-pressure cleaner. Instead, use a brush.

How do you control it?

The mower is controlled via a keypad with an LED display directly on the housing, and for more functions, the Einhell Connect app is available, for which you will clearly need a Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection. In the app, you can set precise mowing schedules for each day of the week, monitor performance statistics, and receive notifications if the robot gets stuck or needs attention.

The cutting height adjustment between 20 and 60 millimeters is mechanical and quick, allowing you to leave the grass a little longer in the spring, and keep it short and tidy in the summer months. The random mowing system ensures that there are no visible wheel marks on the lawn, as the robot approaches the surface from a different angle each time. This encourages dense and healthy grass growth, as the small particles of cut stems act as a natural fertilizer (mulch), returning nutrients to the soil and reducing the need for additional fertilization and watering.

Einhell FREELEXO CAM PLUS 600 – mainly for normal yards

I set it up for a very tough challenge from the very beginning. Even the more expensive lawnmowers from Husqvarna, Ecovacs, Sunseeker that I have tested so far would not have an easy job. As soon as you have a yard divided into several areas with narrow passages, dark corners, lots of flower beds, trees and other obstacles, Einhell FREELEXO CAM PLUS 600 shows compromises in steering. The camera in this case was not enough and I missed more advanced connectivity several times. Magnetic strips came into play and did their job well, but I still missed just setting the prohibited areas in the app and forgetting about it. Slopes can also quickly become too much. There were quite a few that were too steep for the Einhell FREELEXO CAM PLUS 600. Expected, since it does not have the most powerful engine and all-wheel drive. However, it overcame those smaller climbs without any problems.

I really like that I can easily replace the battery, and it also has basic anti-theft protection (PIN and alarm).

The Einhell FREELEXO CAM PLUS 600 is not a lawnmower for every yard. Based on my experience, I would recommend it to owners of mostly flat lawns with little or no inclines. After a good two weeks of mowing in Carinthia, I moved it to a quieter yard that suits her. And in the last two weeks, she has taken care of a beautifully manicured yard. I put up a magnetic strip around the garden and so far she has not crossed it. It does not mow optimally around the wooden benches in the yard (many lawnmowers do not), but everywhere else, where there are no obstacles or there is enough space between the obstacles, everything is nicely manicured. If you have a similar yard, that is, flat, not too complex, the Einhell FREELEXO CAM PLUS 600 will serve you well.