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Boundary wire or wire-free robot mower

Updated: October 2026

Stand at the edge of your lawn and look at what separates grass from everything else. A kerb, wall or sharply contrasting path gives a camera something to recognise. A level flower bed, shade or a drop-off may not. That observation is more useful than deciding that newer technology must be better. In this [Yard Force robotic lawnmower comparison](/hub/lawn-and-garden-equipment/yard-force-robotic-lawnmower), the Compact 300RBS uses a boundary loop, while the YARDCARE, Bosch, WORX and SUNTEK rows claim wire-free vision. The MOVA adds LiDAR, and none of the seven listings is an RTK mower. Your choice should follow the garden, not the label. A qualifying purchase can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Stand at the edge of your lawn and look at what separates grass from everything else. A kerb, wall or sharply contrasting path gives a camera something to recognise. A level flower bed, shade or a drop-off may not.

Our top picks

Bosch Bosch VisiMow 18V-100

Best overall

Bosch Bosch VisiMow 18V-100
8.2/10about £296
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YARDCARE YARDCARE V100

Preis-Tipp

YARDCARE YARDCARE V100
8.0/10about £349.99
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Yard Force Yard Force Compact 300RBS

Alternative

Yard Force Yard Force Compact 300RBS
5.6/10about £428.06
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.What the boundary loop is for
  2. 2.What wire-free means in this table
  3. 3.When a loop is the predictable choice
  4. 4.When a camera is the point

What the boundary loop is for

A boundary wire tells the mower where the permitted area ends. Once the loop is closed, it does not need to decide whether it is looking at grass, paving or low plants. That is why a wired mower can still make sense under trees or beside a shaded fence. The Compact 300RBS is the wired row and is rated for up to 300 m². You need a level station site, an outdoor supply and pegs. Yard Force wants at least 2 metres of straight wire in front, outgoing on terminal F and returning on B, corners no tighter than 120°, no coiled spare, and a loop within 300 metres. The installation guide holds the procedure. UK-headed reviews include cases where the 300RBS crossed the loop, became stuck or failed to charge. It has 2.8 stars from 28 reviews. A sound loop still gives a boundary signal when tree cover or weak Wi-Fi would hinder a camera.

What wire-free means in this table

The YARDCARE V100 and V3, Bosch VisiMow 18V-100, WORX WR206E and SUNTEK SRM2025 are sold around camera navigation. They can remove an afternoon of pegging, but the machine still needs a clear answer to where the grass stops. Magnetic strips are not a wired perimeter. The V100 includes two 5 m strips for no-go zones. UK review texts for the V3 mention missed borders. WORX feedback includes magnetic-strip and docking complaints. The MOVA LiDAX Ultra 800 claims 360° 3D LiDAR with AI vision and no RTK base. The extract has no star rating or review text for this mower at about £649, and the battery and station are not itemised. None of the seven rows is identified as RTK, which uses corrected satellite positioning and a view of the sky.
Bosch Bosch VisiMow 18V-100

Testsieger

Bosch Bosch VisiMow 18V-100
8.2/10about £296
View offer

When a loop is the predictable choice

Choose a boundary wire when the lawn is a stable shape, the perimeter is visually unclear, or shade and tree cover are prominent. A basic rectangle beside beds at grass level is a good example. Installing the loop takes time, but the mower is not being asked to infer the edge on every pass. The Compact 300RBS fits that description if its 300 m² rating is sufficient and you accept its review limitations.

When a camera is the point

Choose wire-free vision when the boundary is obvious and avoiding the loop outweighs occasional edge supervision. A 100 m² lawn surrounded by paving or a raised kerb is a stronger camera case than an open lawn merging into a border. The Bosch VisiMow is rated to 100 m² but excludes its battery and charger. The YARDCARE V100 is rated to 150 m² and states an 18 V 4 Ah battery, although its charger is not named. The V3 does not state a rated area in the extracted bullets. A docking robot still needs a powered base, and a tool-only mower needs a compatible battery and charger. Keep children and pets off the lawn while it cuts. For prices and skip conditions, see the best Yard Force robotic lawnmower choices in this set. For area, slope and the box, use the buying guide.

Common questions

Do trees mean I need a boundary wire?
Not automatically, but they strengthen the case for one. A loop continues to provide its boundary signal under tree cover. Cameras may struggle with deep shade or an unclear edge, while RTK systems can be affected by a restricted view of the sky. A LiDAR model is another possibility, but verify its evidence and package.
Is a camera mower the same as an RTK mower?
No. A camera mower uses visual information to recognise grass, borders and obstacles. RTK uses corrected satellite positioning and may require a reference station and good sky visibility. None of the seven listings in this comparison is identified as an RTK mower.
Can a magnetic strip replace the perimeter wire?
Magnetic strips can define a no-go zone or reinforce a difficult feature on compatible models, but short included lengths are not a closed perimeter loop. The V100 includes two 5 m strips, which may protect local areas without surrounding an entire lawn.
Why can a vision mower leave the lawn?
A camera needs a recognisable contrast between grass and the area beyond it. Level soil, low plants, shadow or an abrupt drop can make that distinction unreliable. UK review texts for the V3 mention missed borders, so supervise the first runs and protect hazards rather than assuming the camera will infer them.
Is the Yard Force i600 one of these amazon rows?
No. Yard Force sells the wire-free i600 through its UK shop, but the only Yard Force amazon row in this extract is the wired Compact 300RBS. The i600’s shop specifications and price should not be substituted for the 300RBS data.
Which choice needs an outdoor socket?
A robot that returns to a charging station needs a safe outdoor power arrangement for that station. A detachable-battery model still needs an appropriate charger indoors or in a permitted location. Ask a qualified electrician to install a new outdoor socket rather than using an unsuitable extension as a permanent solution.

Related pages

Boundary wire or GPS mower

Yard force robotic lawnmower

Best Yard Force robotic lawnmower in this comparison

Yard Force robot lawn mower buying guide in the UK

How to install the Yard Force boundary wire safely

Best robot mower for a small UK garden of 100–300 m²

Sources

Sources checked for this comparison; last retrieved on 17 October 2026.

  1. Yard Force UK robotic mower collection (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  2. Yard Force Compact 300RBS (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  3. Yard Force, how to install the boundary wire and charging station (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  4. BSI, BS EN 50636-2-107:2015+A3:2021 robotic lawnmowers (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  5. Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  6. GOV.UK, Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008: Great Britain (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  7. GOV.UK, noise emission by outdoor equipment (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  8. Consumer Rights Act 2015 (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  9. easymower, perimeter wire and wire-free (retrieved 17 October 2026)
  10. amazon.co.uk listings for the ASINs in this comparison (retrieved 17 October 2026)