Dreame A3 AWD Pro Review: A Compelling Case for LiDAR Robomowers

All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers. If you buy something through links on our site, Gizmodo may earn an affiliate commission. Robot mowers have come a long way in the last couple of years, but they’re still guaranteed to be compromise machines. One might be great at navigation, but only if it has good satellite reception in your yard. Another might fit in tight spaces but be two-wheel-drive and unable to deal with difficult terrain. Some automowers have great all-around performance—but they aren’t very affordable. The $3,200 LiDAR-based Dreame A3 AWD Pro, which I tested for about a week, fits in that latter category. It’s got great satellite-free navigation. But although its all-wheel-drive nature means it can handle lumpy yards and steep inclines, it’s more prone to carving bald spots and wheel ruts in your yard than the comparable but cheaper Segway Navimow X430. And unless you have a very big lawn—I tested the A3 AWD Pro 3500, the middle of three range-differentiated models, which can handle more than three-quarters of an acre—it’s hard to justify its hefty price tag. Assuming the A3 AWD Pro fits your circumstances and budget, it’s a