Mowing the lawn every weekend is rarely a fun time. Between the heat, the noise and the endless back and forth, we often say to ourselves that there must be a simpler solution. The ECOVACS Goat G1-800 is one of those robots that promises to free us from this chore. But is it really worth it for a medium-sized garden?
Promo ECOVACS Goat G1-800 Peripheral Cordless Robot Lawn Mower Black Friday
Table of Contents
Discover the promotion on the ECOVACS Goat G1-800 Peripheral Cordless Robot Lawn Mower for Black Friday:
No more buried cable: make way for beacons
The great novelty of this model is that it does not need a boundary cable. You know that wire that you have to bury or fix all around the garden for hours? Here, two tags are enough. They measure 48 cm high, run on batteries and are simply planted in the ground at the ends of the field.
Installation therefore becomes much faster. After connecting the beacons via the app, the robot maps your garden on its own. You can let it do its thing or manually guide it along the edges. Once this step is completed, you create your mowing zones, you define the prohibited places (beds, pond, vegetable garden) and off you go.
Only small downside: the markers remain visible in the garden. They’re not really aesthetically pleasing, but they get the job done. And frankly, between that and spending a day burying a cable, the choice is quickly made.
The application, powerful but dense
Everything is controlled from the ECOVACS Home app. It displays the garden map, battery status, mowing history and allows you to program intervention times. You can even control the mower with Alexa or Google Assistant if you like giving voice commands.
The app offers a ton of settings: sensitivity to obstacle detection, mowing speed, activation of the rain sensor, cutting angle… It’s complete, but also a little dense for those who aren’t very comfortable with this kind of interface. You have to take the time to dig through the menus to understand where each option is located.
The real downside is the cutting height. Impossible to adjust it from the app. You have to bend down and turn a dial directly on the robot. Thirteen positions available between 30 and 60 mm, with no way to program different heights depending on the zone. For a connected mower at this price, it’s a bit cheap.
Very good mowing results
In the field, the G1-800 does its job. Its battery allows it to last around 1h30 before returning to recharge. Once full, it leaves exactly where it left off. No need to hold his hand, he manages it all on his own.
With its three rotating blades and its cutting width of 22 cm, it advances in parallel strips rather than randomly. Result: it covers the entire surface without forgetting any areas. The cut is regular, clean, and the edges are fairly well followed thanks to the on-board cameras.
On the other hand, like all robot lawn mowers, it struggles a little in corners and along fences. You will need to use a trimmer from time to time for an impeccable finish. But honestly, it remains anecdotal compared to the time saved.
The G1-800 climbs slopes up to 45%, which covers most situations. Be careful though if your terrain is wet or clay: its standard rear wheels (less robust than those of the G1-2000) can slip. Nothing dramatic, but it’s something to keep in mind.
What makes the difference with entry-level models is its navigation system. The G1-800 combines GPS, beacon signals and camera vision to find your way around. He optimizes his journeys and never gets lost.
Two cameras at the front, including a fisheye with an angle of 150°, allow it to detect obstacles: toys, tools, forgotten shoes, animals, etc. A ToF sensor completes everything to assess distances. Overall, it works well, although it is better to avoid mowing at night where detection becomes less reliable.
Another good point: the noise. With 59 dB, it remains discreet. You can throw it at the end of the day without annoying the neighbors.
Bonus monitoring function
ECOVACS added a guarding function. The cameras can detect human presence up to 7 meters away and send you an alert. You can even schedule surveillance rounds and start a video call with audio to see what’s going on.
Nice if you often go on vacation or if you want to monitor the garden remotely. ECOVACS has obtained TÜV Rheinland certification for data protection, so your images will not be resold to third parties. It’s reassuring.
A good compromise for tight budgets
The G1-800 is the entry level of the G1 series. Compared to the G1-2000, it doesn’t have 4G as standard, no roof for the charging station and less beefy wheels. Its battery is also smaller (800 m² max compared to 2000 m²).
But it keeps the essentials: navigation by beacons, dual camera, advanced mapping, management of 16 zones… In short, you have a high-performance mower at a more affordable price. Perfect for medium sized gardens.
The Digital tests give it excellent marks, particularly in mowing quality and ease of installation. Its flaws (manual cutting height adjustment, clunky app) do not spoil the overall experience.
For whom?
This robot is aimed at owners of gardens between 500 and 800 m² who want to save time without having to complicate their lives with a cable to install. If you’re comfortable using mobile apps, you’ll get the most out of them.
On the other hand, if your terrain is really uneven, very wet or full of complex obstacles, it is better to aim for the G1-2000 with its reinforced wheels. The same if you absolutely want to program different cutting heights per zone.
For all other cases, the G1-800 does the job. Once configured, it works in total autonomy. Your lawn stays spotless effortlessly, and you finally enjoy your garden instead of mowing it every Saturday.
