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In a nutshell

A BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award winner, the iMow has impressive performance, is easy to use, packed with features for the price and comes with a long warranty.

What we tested

  • Set-up/ease of use
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Cut/performance
    A star rating of 4.0 out of 5.
  • Features
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
  • Value for money
    A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
Overall Rating
A star rating of 4.8 out of 5.

Pros

  • Light weight, simple to use & adjust
  • Fast efficient cut
  • ‘Park’ button on docking station
  • ‘Intelligent’ performance and charging
  • Long warranty

Cons

  • No Smart connectivity
  • Occasionally struggled on wet grass

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How is the Stihl iMow 422P Installed?

Installation and set up by your local specialist Stihl dealer is included in the cost of the mower and they will assess your lawn, lay the boundary wire around the perimeter and any features such as trees, water features and a shed and talk you through programming the mower so that it cuts exactly when and where you want it to.

Is the Stihl iMow 422P easy to programme?

The control panel is simple to use and there are clear instructions on the keypad that are intuitive to follow. The fifteen different cutting heights are easily adjusted by turning the rotary knob on the top of the mower. Once the mower is programmed there is little adjustment needed thanks to its autonomous, adaptive cutting (see below).

How well does the Stihl iMow 422P cut?

Nippy and quiet the iMow has a single, steel rotary blade that is excellent for mulching and cuts efficiently and well, with a great finish although it does get stuck occasionally on damp ground. The mower adjusts its speed itself according to the conditions, grass length and terrain tackling slopes up to 40 per cent.

What Features does the Stihl iMow 422P have?

This model has no connectivity although others in the range do. The many features include its intelligent performance which allows it to remember how much it has mown and what is still left to do – if the battery is running low it will recharge quickly and then return to complete the job and when it has finished for the day it will then charge at a slower and more economical rate to save energy and prolong the life of the battery. It can also vary cutting time, determining when the best time to mow is within its programmed time over the week and a rain sensor helps it to avoid cutting in the rain and then make up for it later. All of which means there is minimal additional programming needed once the iMow is set up.

It can also mow within a second lawn area but needs a second docking station to recharge. A PIN code system helps to prevent theft.

Available accessories include heavy front wheel casters, traction wheels and a canopy for the docking station.

Is the Stihl iMow 422P good value for money?

This is a great mower for the price it is well made, cuts to a high finish and easy to use. Following registration and with annual servicing the iMow has a lengthy five-year warranty and during 2019 also comes with a free grass trimmer for finishing the edges the mower can’t reach.

Are there other models available?

There are currently seven robotic mowers in the Stihl range capable of covering lawn areas from 800m² up to 5000m² and three of them have Smart connectivity via the iMOw app.

Prices range from £999 to £2,299.

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For more reviews, visit our guide to the best robotic mowers.

Product Specifications

Product
BrandStihl
NameStihl iMow 422P Robotic Mower
ModeliMow 422P
Price£1199.00
Lawn mower typeRobotic
Features
Powered byLithium-ion battery
Battery charge time90min(s)
Battery life75min(s)
Cutting height20-60
Cutting width20cm
Lawn size suitable for1,500m²
MulchingYes
Smart compatibilityNo
Noise60dB
Weight9kg
Warranty5YEAR
Lifetime WarrantyNo
Feature notes

Maximum slope 40%

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