How good is the new LiDAR robotic lawn mower? Mova LiDAX Ultra 1200 review

Based on our test impressions, the Mova LiDAX Ultra is excellently suited to average gardens without overly demanding requirements such as steep slopes and uneven ground. Which variant is the right choice depends on the size of the lawn. The robotic lawn mower series can cover up to 1,600 square meters. In our test, we had the mid-range model for lawns of up to 1,200 square meters, priced at around 1,000 euros, which also makes it very attractive in terms of price.

The recommended retail price for the Mova LiDAX Ultra 1000 is $1,299. It is often already available for less from retailers, for example on Amazon.

Important Note: Our review is based on the European Mova LiDAX Ultra 1200. In the USA, slightly different models are available, covering up to 1,000 and 2,000 square meters.

The fact that Dreame and Mova are very closely linked is evident in many products. This is particularly clear with the Mova LiDAX Ultra. Mova's new 2026 robotic lawn mower not only looks confusingly similar to last year's Dreame A2, but is also technically identical in many respects.

However, the Mova LiDAX Ultra is positioned significantly below the Dreame A2 3000 both in terms of price and maximum supported lawn area. While the latter managed up to 3,000 square meters in 2025, Mova is aimed at smaller gardens with a maximum lawn area of between 800 and 1,600 square meters. We tested the mid-range model, the Mova LiDAX Ultra 1200, and reveal what buyers can expect.

Visually, the Mova LiDAX Ultra and the Dreame A2 are extremely similar. However, Mova opts for a gray and matte look, which appears less susceptible to scratches than Dreame's silver high-gloss design. Technically, much is also identical, even if the two manufacturers use different names.

The Mova LiDAX Ultra 1200 comes with UltraTrim 1.0, which allows the mower deck to move sideways to around 5 cm from the edge of the housing. The mowing disc of the Dreame A2 can also do this, only there it is called EdgeMaster. What is different, however, is that the LiDAX Ultra has a 2 cm narrower cutting width of 20 cm, which seems acceptable given its lower area rating. On the other hand, the cutting height can be adjusted much further upward, from 30 to 100 mm. A handle at the rear makes it easier to carry the robotic lawn mower, which weighs around 14 kg.

Both robotic lawn mowers use 3D LiDAR with 360-degree vision to navigate through the home garden, supported by an AI camera (UltraView 2.0) at the front. This means that an RTK antenna does not need to be installed in the garden. This technology is particularly advantageous on plots with lots of trees and other obstacles that can interfere with the GPS reception of RTK models.

Setting up the Mova LiDAX Ultra 1200 worked without problems in our test and was completed quickly. Once the robotic lawn mower, charging station and accessories have been unpacked, all you have to do is place the station in a suitable position near the lawn. As mentioned, setting up an RTK antenna is not necessary.

The connection to the Mova app and the home Wi-Fi network is then established. Here, too, there were no problems in the test, as both the app and the robot's display under the hinged cover guide you clearly through the necessary steps and in German.

As already known from the A2, the Mova LiDAX Ultra 1200 also offers AI mapping. This worked well in the test, in some cases even better than with the Dreame A3, which we will also be presenting in a review shortly. During mapping, it excluded bare areas without grass at the edge that it optionally drives along or over. On one occasion, however, the robotic lawn mower was distracted by a shadow and was led to make a swerve at the edge of the lawn.

Alternatively, the virtual map can be created manually. This is done using a virtual joystick on the display, which enables very precise and sensitive navigation of the robot. Many other manufacturers could learn a thing or two from this.

Changing the blades with Mova is not quite as convenient as with the much more expensive Dreame A2, where this can be done without tools. However, the required screwdriver is included in the package. The LiDAX Ultra can also be easily cleaned with a garden hose, as it is IPX6-rated.

The Mova app is also, as expected, strongly reminiscent of its Dreame counterpart. However, this is not a bad thing, as the template is quite successful in many respects. As usual, the device entry in the overview shows the map including live progress when mowing is in progress.

The options for adjusting the mowing settings are extensive. In addition to the mowing efficiency (standard, efficient) and the individual mowing direction including cross and checkerboard patterns, the cutting height can be adjusted in 5 mm increments between 3 and 10 cm using a finely graduated slider. There are also various options for edge mowing with or without UltraTrim 1.0, as well as for obstacle detection. We will go into these in more detail below in our Mova LiDAX Ultra 1200 review.

Editing the map offers many options, including multiple zones with individual settings and connecting paths, restricted zones and the definition of various mowing shapes, including hearts and the like. Maps can be saved and restored and, if desired, also displayed in a futuristic-looking 3D view.

The Mova app is rounded off by an extensive menu with numerous items ranging from activity logs, rain and frost protection to theft protection and firmware updates. There is also a video function that allows the app to access the robotic lawn mower's camera almost in real time.

As already mentioned, Mova's mid-range robotic lawn mower, which sits between the ViAX and LiDAX Ultra AWD, uses LiDAR technology familiar from robot vacuum cleaners. This is installed in a small dome on the robotic lawn mower and gives it 360-degree all-round visibility.

As a result, the robot usually followed its very straight tracks reliably on our test area and mowed it largely systematically. Overall, there is little to criticize here, even if it occasionally ran into obstacles such as a swing set during its smooth and tight turning maneuvers.

However, the LiDAX Ultra never got stuck during our test period, although the test garden is not particularly demanding in terms of terrain apart from a few narrow sections down to approx. 70 cm. The robotic lawn mower masters smaller slopes with its lawn-friendly rear-wheel drive without any problems. If your garden has gradients of more than around 45 percent, you should opt for Mova's AWD model (available from Amazon).

The LiDAR technology is supported by a camera at the front, which is used for AI obstacle detection. This disappointed us a little at first, as smaller test obstacles were only recognized after contact with the bumper or not at all. But there are still the many setting options in the app.

If obstacle detection is set to the smallest of the four levels (5 cm), the Mova LiDAX Ultra 1200 detected all of our test obstacles, including a piece of garden hose, a tennis ball and a hedgehog dummy. The latter was even identified as a hedgehog by the AI. The artificial intelligence also identified people and, when photos were enabled, even pixelated them for data protection reasons.

Reliable and comprehensive navigation is the basic prerequisite for a good mowing result. Based on our test impressions, this requirement is met. The mower deck, with its modest 20 cm cutting width and three blades, also did a solid job and cut the grass to the desired length. There is nothing to criticize on open areas.

One of the Mova LiDAX Ultra's self-proclaimed strengths is edge mowing with the UltraTrim function. When this is activated, the mower deck moves sideways when cutting edges until it is around 5 cm from the edge of the device. This reduces the strip of grass left standing at uneven lawn transitions from the outset, although inaccuracies and a certain safety distance during navigation increase it again.

The AI obstacle avoidance can optionally be deactivated in the settings when mowing edges, but unfortunately only overall and not for individual areas of the map. In the test, this led to closer edge mowing, but also to the occasional “collision,” such as with a garden gate. In each case, you have to experiment with the settings to find the best solution for your own garden. Ultimately, it is a compromise: more manual touch-up work or the risk of scratches on the robotic lawn mower.

In the practical test, the Mova LiDAX Ultra even slightly exceeded the 90-minute runtime per charge of the 5 Ah battery specified by the manufacturer. However, this also depends on the mowing intensity and the terrain. Nevertheless, it did not quite reach the specified 170 to 190 square meters, but fell slightly short of this.