This robotic lawnmower is really fast: Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK review
Fast mowing robot.
The Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK is a new robotic lawnmower that promises high mowing performance per hour thanks to its 12.99 inch cutting width. Our Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK review reveals whether it delivers this performance in practice and what else the wireless robotic lawnmower with RTK system can and cannot do.Marcus Schwarten 👁 (translated by DeepL / Marcus Schwarten) Published 🇩🇪 🇫🇷 ...
Important note: This is a translation of our test of the Ecovacs Goat A1600 RTK, a nearly identical model for the European market.
Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK test conclusion: Fast, but not flawless
With the Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK, Ecovacs 2025 is moving away from radio beacons towards alternatives such as RTK. In terms of navigation, the GPS-based solution makes its usual good impression. In the test, the robot lawnmower without boundary wire was also almost completely convincing in terms of obstacle detection, assuming the most sensitive setting.
The wireless robotic lawnmower also impressed in the test with its high speed and the resulting impressive mowing performance per hour. It also recharges quickly.
On the other hand, it revealed weaknesses when mowing the edges, even though the 7 cm mower reaches quite close to the edge. We also didn't really like the rather rough handling. Overall, the software does not appear to be fully developed in some areas.
The Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK was not completely convincing in the test, but offers an attractive price/performance ratio overall. It is a good robot mower with useful improvements compared to the 2024 generation, but also a few weaknesses that can be remedied (via a software update). Alternatives for medium-sized gardens include the Mammotion Yuka with optional leaf collection function or the Eufy E18 which manages completely without RTK.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
The recommended retail price for the Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK is $1,999. It is already available for less in several shops, for example at Amazon.
Table of Contents
- Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK test conclusion: Fast, but not flawless
- Equipment and scope of delivery: With RTK, LiDAR and AI camera
- Setup and maintenance: Now with AI mapping
- App and operation: live video, but annoying ads
- Navigation and obstacle avoidance: mostly reliable
- Mowing performance and edge cutting: High speed, but deficits at the edge
- Runtime and volume: Fast charging and high standby consumption
It's been a two years since Ecovacs launched the Goat G1, its first robotic lawnmower, onto the market. Following the addition of further models to the G series for the last gardening season, such as the Goat G1 G2000 has been expanded, the company has for the summer of 2025 has expanded considerably.
A total of five new models have been launched on the European market. In the USA there are four slightly different models. The Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK is the top model with RTK navigation technology above the Goat O1000 RTK and the model for medium-sized gardens in the overall portfolio. In our Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK review, it shows what it can do - and what it can't...
Specifications: Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK
| Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK | |
|---|---|
| Area covered | 27,000 sq ft |
| Navigation and obstacle detection | RTK + 3D-ToF + AI camera |
| Mower | 2 mowing discs |
| Number of blades | 6 |
| Cutting width | 12.99'' |
| Cutting height | 1.2''-3.6'' |
| Cutting height adjustment | electric |
| Slope | 50% / 26.5° |
| Display | yes |
| Dimensions | 26.77''x18.11''x12.20'' |
| Water resistance | IPX6 |
| Dock included | no |
| RRP | $1,999 euros |
Equipment and scope of delivery: With RTK, LiDAR and AI camera
Whereas the Goat G series relied on radio beacons in the corners of the lawn, the Goat A2500 RTK, as the name suggests, relies on a GPS-based RTK system. This has also been tried and tested by many other manufacturers and requires an RTK antenna in the garden (with a clear view of the sky). This is included along with the charging station, the usual accessories and twelve replacement blades.
Ecovacs supports the RTK system, which can establish connections to up to 45 satellites, with the LELS system with 3D ToF LiDAR and an AI camera. So far, LiDAR has mainly been known from robot vacuum cleaners, but also from several robotic mowers such as the Mova 1000 or its big brother, the Goat A3000 LiDAR, which is more expensive. This combination should ensure particularly reliable navigation.
On the unterside, the manufacturer has installed two slightly offset cutting discs with three blades each, resulting in a cutting width of 12.99 inch. These are powered by a 32 V energy system, which ensures a powerful drive for the wheels and cutting discs. The cutting height can be adjusted electronically between 1.2 and 3.6 inch via the app.
The initial mapping of the lawn can now also be carried out automatically and AI-controlled. The next sections of our Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK test report also reveal how well this worked and how the wireless robot mower performed in other respects.
Setup and maintenance: Now with AI mapping
First, the connection between the app and the robot must be established and the Wi-Fi connection set up. This worked without any problems in the test and is also well explained. Here are just a few screenshots.
This is followed by the usual introductory lap for robotic lawnmowers without a boundary wire, in which a virtual map is created in the app. This is where one of the new features of the 2025 models from Ecovacs comes into play: AI.
If desired, the Goat A2500 RTK can explore the lawn on its own by independently recognizing the boundary of the lawn with its camera. This worked well in the test as long as there was a clear border like a lawn edge or adjacent beds.
Should problems arise, the robot can also be controlled manually at any time using a virtual joystick in the app. However, it could react a little more sensitively here to simplify mapping as accurately as possible.
App and operation: live video, but annoying ads
The Ecovacs app shows the current status and mowing progress on the device's start page. A large start button sends the robotic lawnmower to work.
At the top right, three small icons provide access to further options. Here you can not only call up a live video (a PIN must first be set up), but also edit and optimize the map retrospectively and change various settings.
In the settings, all kinds of things can be adapted, including the mowing and robot settings. There is also a log of previous work and the option to install updates.
The adjustment of the cutting height is hidden in a submenu on the second level. You have to search for it if necessary, although you don't usually change it often anyway (once set up). We were also annoyed by the occasional notification and advertising windows for sales that appeared in the app.
As an alternative to the app, rudimentary functions can also be accessed via the controls on the Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK. In addition to a small display that shows the battery status, there are three buttons. These can be used to start the mower and send it to the charging station, as well as to enter the PIN for anti-theft protection.
The red STOP button for the emergency switch-off cannot be overlooked. Below this is the rain sensor, which worked reliably in the test.
Navigation and obstacle avoidance: mostly reliable
LELS consisting of RTK, 3D-ToF LiDAR and camera worked well in practice. For the most part, the Goat A2500 RTK reliably followed its paths over two different test areas during the test. If areas were omitted, for example because one of our test obstacles was in the way, it revisited the area later. However, it sometimes seemed a little unstructured.
As the area of 27,00 square feet and the rather generous size of 26.77 x 18.11 x 12.20'' suggest, this robot lawn mower from Ecovacs is not designed for narrow gardens. In the test, it even successfully negotiated smaller narrow areas up to a width of 80 cm. Overall, however, it feels better with a passage width of one meter or more and, according to our impressions, it usually crosses these reliably. Very rarely it was a little "lost in space" in a 1 m wide and equally long passage and sometimes turned wildly on the spot. But finally he found the exit.
On our test ramp with artificial turf, it easily mastered the maximum gradient of 50 percent (26.5 degrees) specified by the manufacturer. The drive is undoubtedly powerful and the rear wheels have good grip.
During the first obstacle detection test, the Goat A2500 RTK simply disappointed us. Apart from a large soccer ball, it ran over all obstacles. However, a glance at the app quickly revealed that the obstacle detection was set to the highest of three levels: Flat surface with short grass, normal environment and environment with tall grass. There is also an option to activate AI obstacle detection for hedgehogs and the like.
At the lowest setting it successfully recognized the vast majority of test obstacles, including our hedgehog dummy. It even successfully avoided a piece of garden hose lying on the lawn. Only a tennis ball pushed the wireless robotic lawnmower to its limits. Not quite enough for top marks, but a good result overall.
Mowing performance and edge cutting: High speed, but deficits at the edge
The Goat A2500 RTK is designed for efficiency. This is demonstrated not only by the Dual Blade-Disc technology with a cutting width of 12.99 inch, but also by the speed that can be set in the app up to 2.3 ft/s (efficient). This allows it to mow the lawn at high speed if desired, in order to cover up to 4,305 square feet per hour as specified by the manufacturer. In our test, we mainly let it run at the lower speed. It then covered a good 2,200 square meters per hour.
What we did notice somewhat negatively in the test, however, was the rather rough approach. The Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK turns quite rapidly on the spot, which sometimes led to unpleasant encounters and can put a strain on soft ground. It all seems quite hectic. Fans who enjoy watching their robot lawnmower at work will probably find this sight a little less relaxing. However, according to our test impressions, this did not harm the mowing pattern. It mowed in a straight line and reliably cut the grass to the set cutting height.
For edge mowing, the Ecovacs app offers modes. However, the Goat A2500 unfortunately disappoints somewhat here in the practical test.
The manufacturer does advertise TruEdge. And at 2.8 inch, the double mower also reaches relatively far to the edge, so that everything is ready for almost borderless mowing. However, in the review, obstacle avoidance sometimes put a spoke in the wheel in all settings - namely wherever plants from adjacent beds protrude over the lawn.
Various other manufacturers of robotic lawnmowers offer the option of deactivating obstacle avoidance when cutting the edges, for example the recently tested Mova 1000. Unfortunately, Ecovacs does not offer this in its app until the publication of this test. This means that as soon as the robot detects a plant, it makes a wide arc around it - even if the plant is not even on the lawn but hanging over it. This leads to wider unmown areas, even though it could technically do better. The Ecovacs Goat A2500 demonstrates this wherever there are flat transitions that it can drive over for borderless mowing.
Unfortunately, there was another reason for criticism during our time with the Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK. On one test area, the robot mower unfortunately got stuck on a clearly visible border. The robot also ran over two small plants in the lawn, which were actually avoided during the introductory round.
Runtime and volume: Fast charging and high standby consumption
In the test, the Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK, which did not stand out negatively in terms of noise, lasted just under one and a half hours on a single charge on a regularly mowed lawn. This is even longer than the time specified by the manufacturer, which probably also depends on the load on the mower. During this time, it covered a good 3,200 square feet (at a speed of 1.3 ft/s).
After mowing it also charges very fast. In just around an hour, the battery was charged from 15 to 100 percent. During this time, 100 Wh with up to 130 W flowed into the battery. On the other hand, the standby consumption was quite high. While the test device was inactive in the charging station, it drew around 14 W from the mains.
This also means that the energy balance is significantly worse compared to some other competitors. For a fictitious example in which the Ecovacs Goat A2500 RTK mows 5.400 square feet (500 square meters) of lawn three times a week, this results in a calculated monthly consumption of around 11.5 kWh.
Transparency
The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
