Husqvarna Automower 430X And 430XH Review

Husqvarna has a good reputation for building rock-solid lawn care machines and they’ve continued that with the Husqvarna Automower 430X and 430XH. They’ve brought their expertise to the growing robotic lawn mower market.

Often when traditional companies like Husqvarna make the jump to high-tech products it turns out badly. Not so in this case, as they’ve built one of the most capable and feature-rich series of Automowers that money can buy.

The Husqvarna 430X and 430XH are robotic mowers designed for medium to large yards of up to 0.8 acres.

With GPS tracking, a mobile companion app, LED headlights, anti-theft alarm and tracking, and great performance to match, it’s no surprise that the Husqvarna 430X/430XH is one of the most widely regarded of all robot lawn mowers.

This article reviews the Automower 430X series, which includes the 430X and 430XH. Both models are identical, except the extra ‘H’ means the 430XH is made for tall grass.

Amazon Alexa and Google Home Compatible – The 430X range is compatible with both these smart home ecosystems.
Mobile App – The 430X and 430XH use the Husqvarna Automower Connect App.
GPS Tracking – GPS assisted Navigation and anti-theft tracking through GPS are both features.
Yard Size –Capable of dealing with yard sizes up to 0.8 acres.
Max Incline – Can cope with inclines of up to 24 Degrees.
Cut Height – 430X is 0.8″ to 2.4″; 430XH is 2″ – 3.6″
Battery Charge Time — 50 minutes
Mowing Time on Single Charge – 145 minutes running time

Table of Contents show

Husqvarna Automower 430X and 430XH Features and Benefits

Except for the cutting height, these are essentially the same robotic mower. When it comes to discussing the features and benefits they are identical for both models unless specified.

Cutting Patterns and Modes

Robot Mowers are made to cut often, so the heights of grass on your lawn are automatically managed. Those small clippings of grass can be left there too, no need to rake them.

Under normal circumstances, the Automower 430X and 430XH uses its pre-programmed schedule and knows which areas need attention to maintain your lawn at a constant height.

Using GPS Navigation the mower builds a picture of where it has already mowed and where it needs to prioritize its cutting. This is a great feature for larger lawns that’re unable to be mowed in one go.

However, there are times when you will need to cut patches of overgrown grass that for one reason or another are longer and thicker. It could be an area covered by garden furniture or other obstacle, or perhaps a separate area of the lawn not usually covered.

In these instances, the automower can be manually moved and using either a ‘Spot Mowing’ or ‘Spiral’ mode. These modes are designed specifically to cater for such instances.

Lawn Size and Cutting Deck

Each automower on the market has specifications that optimizes them for certain lawn sizes and acre capacity. The Husqvarna 430X series is designed for a variety of lawns up to 0.8 acres. Ideally, your lawn size is the same as what the automower can mow on one charge.

However, those one charge estimations are for flat lawns with almost no objects acting as obstacles and causing potential trouble. There are other factors that affect battery life like slope and grass length. That won’t be a real problem though as the 430X series can return to its charging station and finish the mowing job when charged.

Another factor that affects the performance of the mower is the size of the cutting deck, the area that the mower blades cover when cutting grass. The Husqvarna Automower 430XH and 430X models have a cutting width / cutting deck of 24 cm.

Handling Different Types of Lawns – Flat, Slopes, Ditches

Robot Mowers can handle just about any type of lawn. However, there are factors you should be aware of when considering your purchase.

All lawn mowers have a maximum slope that they can handle, in the case of the Husqvarna 430X models the maximum slope is 24 Degrees. If your yard has slopes greater than this then you would need to omit the sloped areas from the mowing schedule, or consider another mower.

The 430X and 430XH automowers do pretty well with tight spaces. But they don’t like things like ditches and holes, for obvious reasons.

The automower can be programmed to avoid those dangers by using a boundary wire, perimeter wire, or by GPS. Avoid those obstacles by setting the boundaries.

Setup and Installation

Initial Setup and Installation are pretty quick and painless, but before you get started, check your lawn for potential obstacles. If your grass is taller than 4″ then it is recommended you do a first cut with a traditional mower first, because the 430X and 430XH aren’t made to go to that height.

Once the lawn is prepped, then you need to select where to place the docking station. This should be placed in a location within reach of a power outlet, out of direct sunlight and out of the range of any sprinkler system. Once installed, then you can start charging your battery.

The next step is to lay your boundary and guide wires. The boundary wire is laid out to define the edges of your cutting area. The perimeter wires can also be placed around flowerbeds and bushes to prevent accidental mowing in those areas. The guide wire is also what the mower uses to return to its charging station.

Once this is done, next is programming the cutting height and schedule, which can be done with the keypad or the Husqvarna App.

Since installation does take a bit of time, Husqvarna offers a professional installation service through any of its dealers.

Design and Build Quality

Husqvarna has a reputation for producing robust and rugged equipment that is built to last. Add nice design features like replaceable top covers and it’ll feel like the future of lawn care is here on its 4 wheels.

The top covers allow you to customize the color of your Husqvarna 430X if you don’t like the standard granite gray. Other options are polar white and Husqvarna orange.

Excellent lawn mowers should last for many years and the 430XH series should be good for ten years or more with regular cleaning and maintenance.

Battery Life and Power Source

One of the outstanding features of the Husqvarna 430X and 430XH models are the charge and run times on its battery. This model will mow for 145 minutes on a 55-minute charge. The batteries themselves are usually good for about 3 years before they need replacing.

Most models from other lawn mower companies on the market will run for more or less the time it takes to charge (i.e. a 60-minute charge equates to cutting time of 60 minutes).

The docking station needs to be powered too and should be placed within 50 feet (15.24 m) of a power source.

Mower Controls and Programming

The mower can be programmed from its 19 button large LED display or from within the Automower Connect app. Using either method you can adjust the cutting length, and set the mowing schedules.

Smart Technologies

These models can be used in conjunction with smart home ecosystems like Google Home and Amazon Alexa, this enables them to be used through voice control. They can also be controlled remotely through the mobile app.

The app can also send alerts if it gets stuck, or send maintenance reminders, like “it’s time to replace the blades.”

Safety and Security

There are a number of built-in safety features. The Automower 430X and 430XH stop instantly if it bumps an object or if it’s picked up by children. Te blades are recessed so it’s more difficult to touch them when lifting the device.

For anti-theft protection, it requires a PIN code to start the machine once it has been lifted, it can also set off an audible alarm and be tracked with its GPS.

Noise Levels

These mowers are so silent you can program them to cut through the night. Both the Husqvarna 430X and 430XH have a decibel level of 58dB, which to give you an idea is about the sound level of a normal human conversation.

Weather Protection

These mowers are designed to cut in all, but the most extreme weather. However, cutting grass in wet weather is not a great idea. It’s advised that the mower is stowed away when it’s raining.

You might think these expensive automowers are made to withstand a little rain, and they are, but I still prefer to delay cutting a few hours or a day. That’ll help prolong the life of these mowers and I get to enjoy the automower experience for a longer time.

Maintenance and Cleaning

Regular maintenance is crucial to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the mower. For proper lawn care it is recommended that the razor sharp blades are replaced about every two months, although this can vary depending on factors like size of lawn etc.

Keep the underside clean by removing clumps of grass and anything else that might be stuck. You won’t be able to use the automower until debris is cleared.

Accessories

Husqvarna has a number of accessories for the 430X and 430XH, including automower house and wall hanger, a terrain kit for rough ground and steep slopes, installation kit, replacement covers and blades, and wheel brush kits.

When purchasing, do check what comes with the package that you’re looking at.

Other Robot Lawn Mower Benefits

One frequently asked question is Do I have to collect the grass clippings?

One of the great features of automowers is that they cut frequently, so the trimmings are fine enough that they don’t need to be picked up. They’ll become mulch to fertilize future growth of grass.

Husqvarna Automower 430X and 430XH Pros and Cons

Pros

The Husqvarna 430X range is a fantastic model for medium size gardens, particularly when you consider zero emissions, virtually silent lawn mowing. Here are some other pros:

Can deal with complex, intricate lawns
Can navigate through narrow spaces down to 60 cm in width
Can be controlled from anywhere with the mobile app

Cons

Here are some cons I found with the Husqvarna 430XH and 430X:

No wet weather sensor
Can only be used in the area it was set up to operate in (which is also a security theft feature)
Doesn’t mow lawn neat lines

Final Thoughts on Husqvarna Automower 430X and 430XH

The Husqvarna 430X and 430XH are great, all-around models that are packed with features and technology that are designed with one thing in mind, to make your life easier. They certainly achieve that, lawn care has never been easier.

You’ll want the Husqvarna 430X if the height of your grass is between 0.8″ to 2.4″.

The Husqvarna 430XH is for lawns with a grass height between 2″ to 3.6″.

If you’re looking at other top robot mowers, do check out these reviews to help you find the right now for you:

FAQs Frequently Asked Questions

What Are The Benefits of a Husqvarna Automower?

The main benefit of a Husqvarna Automower is the automated mowing of the grass by a trusted brand. Robot mowers keep your lawn at the optimum height all season, so your lawn is always healthy. For real lawns with real grass, these robotic mowers will help keep your lawns in top shop, making your life that much easier.

Is the Husqvarna Automower Easy to Use?

Some people may find the initial set up take some time, but after that it couldn’t be any easier. The robot lawn mowers can be controlled from the onboard display or more easily on the mobile app.

How Do I Install a Husqvarna Automower?

The Husqvarna Automower installation is simple, but does take a little time. Simply lay the boundary and guide wires down to set the perimeter of the mowing area. Next is to charge the automower and set its mowing schedule. Once the area is set, the robot mower charged, and the schedule set, you’re ready to go.

How Long Does a Husqvarna Automower Last?

Depending on usage and mowing environments, you could expect to get ten or more years use from a Husqvarna Automower.

Is a Husqvarna Automower Good for the Environment?

Husqvarna Automowers are great for the environment. Zero emissions and silent operation means it won’t harm the environment and will only benefit, because the grass on your lawn will thrive, producing more oxygen.