Stihl iMow 5 EVOIIAssistedCompare

Released 2023.09Reassessed 2026.08.07Compare

Stihl iMow 5 EVO

Name: Stihl iMow 5 EVO
Brand: Stihl

Perimeter-wire guidance trades installation burden for long-term reliability. The wire-guided approach eliminates boundary-detection failures, but the upfront work and annual wire maintenance are non-negotiable.

Superseded byStihl iMow 6 EVO

List price

$2,529

Retail price not tracked

Released 2023.09Reassessed 2026.08.07

Autonomy Ladder

Why Level II.

One five-rung scale, every category, from acting only on command to working unsupervised anywhere.

VGeneralized AutonomyAny task, any setting. No consumer robot has reached it.
IVEnvironmental AutonomyCopes with everyday clutter and frees itself, shown by independent testing.
IIIConditional AutonomyFinishes whole jobs in familiar spaces; struggles at the edges.
To reach Level IIIMost sessions finish without intervention. Rescue is occasional, not routine.
IIAssisted AutonomyThis robot

Stihl iMow 5 EVO runs preset routines on its own, and the owner is its recovery system.

Navigation and control

Perimeter-wire guided. Boundary signal follows buried wire; no RTK, GPS, or camera-based detection.
Why this level
- Perimeter-wire guidance limits the robot to predefined paths.
- It cannot adapt to novel yard configurations or obstacles without wire relocation.
- The robot operates autonomously within the wire boundary, qualifying as Level II (Assisted Autonomy) because the setup requires human wire installation and ongoing boundary maintenance.
Autonomy dimension 48 / 100 · No independent sources reviewed, 2 from the maker
IManual AutomationOne action on command; no independent operation.

How we assign a level →

Behind the classification

Sources on file.

PendingNo independent sources reviewed, 2 from the maker

Fewer than two independent sources reviewed. Evidence is still being collected. The word says how much we read. It is not a grade.

From the maker, reviewed2

Specification sources2 sources

Pages the published specifications were read from.

Also monitored, nothing listed yet

Manufacturer documentation

Stihl iMow 5 EVO product pages, user manuals, installation guides covering wire setup, blade intervals, seasonal storage.

Owner reports

Stihl dealer forums and consumer review sites documenting installation experiences, wire durability, blade costs, winter prep requirements.

Press & video reviews

Third-party reviews comparing iMow 5 EVO to competitors, testing noise levels, runtime, slope performance, and dealer-installation process.

Firmware release notes

Stihl firmware updates for boundary calibration and motor-efficiency refinements across 2023–2025 releases.

Longitudinal signal

Dealer service records and owner reports tracking wire reliability and seasonal re-calibration patterns.

How we evaluate evidence →

Human Readiness

Ready Now.

One question: what does buying this robot today walk you into? The state is computed from the record, and recomputed daily.

Ready NowThis robot

Stihl iMow 5 EVO is on sale, assessed, and nothing on its record argues for waiting.
How this was derived
- Stihl iMow 6 EVO is shipping as this robot's successor. This record stays current for owners and buyers of this model; the successor is assessed on its own page.
Notes on the record
- Shipping through authorized Stihl dealers.
- Installation is dealer-performed, requiring 4–6 hours of perimeter-wire burial and charger setup.
- Owners report stable operation after setup completion.
On the record
- Shipping since September 2023 · 38 months on the market
- No current new-stock listing confirmed
- Succeeded by Stihl iMow 6 EVO
- No independent sources reviewed, 2 from the maker
What would move it
A documented problem, an announced successor, or a withdrawn listing moves it out; the rating recomputes daily.
New to MarketOn sale under 90 days; the ownership record is still forming.
WaitA successor is announced and has not shipped; re-read the decision when it arrives.
Known IssuesDocumented problems stand on the record; read the case before buying.

How we assess readiness →

Robovations Score

How this number was reached

74of 100

StrongAt or above 84% of the 456 robots we scoreand 87% of the 112 scored robot lawn mowers

DeficientLimitedCapableStrongExemplary

Measured on 8 of the 9 inputs14% not counted

Our assessment did not establish an independent source for software stability on this machine, so that input is left out of the score rather than guessed at, and the rest re-weighted to fill the space. A gap in what we have been able to verify is not evidence against the robot. Where a whole pillar has nothing measured, we publish no number at all.

What moved itpoints gained or lost against a typical robot

Carried by

Support longevity97+3.5
Field failure rate80+1.6
Routine maintenance79+1.3

Held back by

Coverage and navigation52−2.0
Edge-case recovery40−1.3

Capability40% of the score60What it does without you.

Task completion16% of the score75

Evidence

T3's long-term tester reports the mower runs its schedule unattended and closes its own loop on power, "It's all automated as well so if it needs to recharge before finishing the lawn, it will charge and then continue when it's ready," returning to base when the schedule ends, and it mulches so there is no box to empty. The human still closes the loop at the perimeter: "I was slightly disappointed that it couldn't cut right up to the edges, and found myself using a strimmer in a few locations."

Coverage and navigation10% of the score52

Evidence

Gardeners' World, testing the iMOW 5 in a 13,500 sq ft garden, found the wire-bounded random pattern does reach everything but only over repeated runs: "after a few days the whole lawn looked good with no tufts of uncut grass," and "if it comes across an obstacle, it gently bumps into it and then turns away." Nothing is retained or re-planned, and a change to the area means re-laying wire: "Once you've laid the boundary wire, you can't completely alter mowing zones."

Edge-case recovery10% of the score40

Evidence

Between the two states the category's guidance describes. The wire is the failure mode: a break or winter corrosion stops the machine, which is why the record schedules a seasonal wire inspection, and repair is a $100 to $200 dealer job. What lifts it off the found-stalled anchor is the reporting path, since the machine carries Wi-Fi and cellular alongside Bluetooth, so a fault reaches the owner's phone independent of the house network. No self-extraction from entrapment is documented.

Operating envelope4% of the score72

Evidence

T3 found it "can handle uneven ground and slopes well, which is something that a lot of robotic mowers fall short on," and Gardeners' World records 22 degree slopes as standard, 31 degrees with the EVO upgrade wheels, plus an adjustable rain sensor that decides whether to start. The one documented degradation is object detection: T3 notes "bump and ultrasonic sensors don't always pick up lighter/smaller objects such as toys and sleeping dogs."

Dependability40% of the score87Whether it keeps doing it.

Field failure rate16% of the score80

Evidence

Three years since the September 2023 release on a major brand with a dealer service network and no recall, evidenced by four manufacturer documents, three completed press reviews and dealer service records. The recurring modes are architectural rather than defects: perimeter wire breaks and corrosion, which the record schedules an inspection for after every winter, and dock charging pin fouling that needs monthly contact cleaner. Both stop the job and both are repairable at proportionate cost, which is the recurring-mode anchor.

Software stabilitynot countedno source verified77

Evidence

Above the ordinary silent case, though not by much. Updates demonstrably ship and the record names both their span and their subject, STIHL firmware releases across 2023 to 2025 covering boundary calibration and motor efficiency, and the annual routine includes taking one through the My iMOW app. What is missing for the next anchor is any owner body reporting on regressions across a season, and the release notes are not shown to be inspectable, so no no-regression finding can be claimed.

Support longevity10% of the score97

Evidence

The strongest support position among the mowers here. The machine is sold, installed, calibrated and serviced through STIHL's authorized dealer network, spring re-calibration is an offered priced service at $75 to $150, wire relocation is a $100 to $200 dealer job, and genuine blade sets are stocked and openly priced at under $10 for three. The one restriction is real and noted: the battery is not owner-serviceable and STIHL permits its removal only by a dealer, which is a channel rather than a dead end.

Ownership burden20% of the score76What it asks of you.

Routine maintenance12% of the score79

Evidence

There is no per-run handling at all, which is the whole point of a docked mower, and the blade interval is unusually long at roughly 200 mowing hours. What remains is calendar work rather than daily work: monthly dock pin cleaning with contact cleaner, a seasonal walk of the perimeter wire looking for breaks and corrosion, an annual battery check and firmware update, and hauling the 32 lb machine indoors each winter to keep it between 0 and 40 degrees C.

Consumables8% of the score71

Evidence

The blade cost is close to trivial and it is published: three blades changed as a set after roughly 200 mowing hours, genuine STIHL spares under $10 a set and sold in nine-packs, so a season runs to tens of dollars. What pulls this back is everything that is not a blade: a possible $75 to $150 dealer re-calibration each spring, $100 to $200 for a wire repair, and a battery whose replacement price is unknown because only a dealer may remove it.

middle half of the databaseits medianthis robot

Reported, not scoredneither measures how well the robot works

Five-year cost$3,474

top of the mower market here at $2,529, and the obligatory dealer wire installation at $400 to $600 is part of the purchase rather than an option, so the real entry is around $3,000; add roughly $75 in blades, one $150 wire repair and two spring re-calibrations over five years. No subscription is documented for the cellular link

Data postureCloud-linked

Account required. Maps and telemetry leave the home; core function survives an outage.

What leaves the homeNot documented

Read the full methodology →

FIT CHECK

Will the Stihl iMow 5 EVO work on your yard?

Describe your yard using the controls. Each choice reads the spec sheet for you, flagging where the Stihl iMow 5 EVO is built for your space and where it isn’t.

Yard size

Terrain

Grass type

Boundary setup

See every robot mower suited to these conditions

A classification of fit for the conditions you set, not a recommendation. Verdicts describe engineering design intent, not test results.

OWNERSHIP

Living with it.

Wire-guided operation eliminates vision and GPS failures; dock connection and blade maintenance are the dominant failure points.

Stableowner-reported arc

The record so far

Owner reports since 2023 show stable wire-following with rare out-of-bounds incidents. Blade dulling and dock-contact corrosion are reported occasionally; firmware updates have steadied motor-shutdown thresholds. The brushless motor design contributes to durability relative to brushed competitors.

What goes wrongnot yet documented independently

The independent record is still forming. Failure modes are listed once an outside source reports them.

Upkeep routine

Monthly12×/yr

Dock charging pins cleaned with contact cleaner and dried. Blade inspection for dulling or debris damage.

Seasonal4×/yr

Perimeter- inspection for breaks or corrosion, especially after winter. Spring re-calibration by dealer may be required ($75–$150).

Yearly1×/yr

Battery health check and firmware update via the My iMOW app. Winter storage: store the whole machine between 0 and 40 degrees C. The battery stays in the mower; STIHL restricts its removal to authorized dealers.

When duewhen worn or full

Replace all three as a set so the cutting disc stays balanced. Replace rather than sharpen; STIHL documents no sharpening procedure for these pivoting blades. Genuine spares run under $10 per set of three.Typical for robot mowers: seasonally

Cost over timeabout $450 past the sticker over three years

PurchaseRunning cost

Year 1

$2,679

Year 3

$2,979

Year 5

$3,279

$2,529 to buy, then about $150 a year for the replaceable parts below. Over three years that is roughly $450 past the sticker price. Excludes electricity and any repairs.

What you replace

Typical for robot mowers: seasonally

Replacement cadence from the maintenance schedule; prices shown where the source documents them.

Safety notes1 caution · 1 note

CautionSpinning blade during dock entryBlade continues spinning briefly after docking. Keep hands clear of dock cavity and blade area during operation and maintenance.
Buried perimeter wire hazardPerimeter wire is buried 2–3 inches deep. Mark wire location; avoid deep digging, planting, or landscape changes without locating wire first.

SPECIFICATION

The full spec sheet.

Priced above the category median, with every figure charted against the category below.

Dimensional drawing

Key specificationsManufacturer-publishedSources: Product page

FootprintThe width, depth and height of the robot itself, without its dock.: 22 × 28.5 in, 9.8 in tall
WeightThe robot alone, without its dock, as the maker states it.: 32 lbs
BatteryStored energy in watt-hours; a larger pack runs longer, not harder.: 83 Wh · Li-ion
Wi-FiThe bands the robot can join; many models need a 2.4 GHz network to set up.: Supported
NetworkA radio the robot carries besides Wi-Fi, so it reaches the maker without your router.: Cellular
Cutting width: 11 in
Cutting height range: 0.8-2.4 in
Max area: 16,100 sq ft
Max slope: 45%
Blade system: 3 free-swinging blades
Boundary method: Buried perimeter wire•
Drive layout: Rear-wheel drive•

Where it lands · position among 134 robot lawn mowersThis robotMedianTypical range

RuntimeThe maker's stated running time on one charge, at a standard setting.65min

30 min240 min

Near median

PriceThe maker's list price, not a price found in a shop.$2,529

$549$5,999

Near median

NoiseLoudness at the maker's stated distance, in decibels; ten more decibels reads as about twice as loud.63dB

50 dB75 dB

Above median

Charge timeTime from empty to full on the dock, as the maker states it.180min

30 min300 min

Above median

WeightThe robot alone, without its dock, as the maker states it.32lbs

13 lbs88.2 lbs

Near median

Position shows where the figure sits across the tracked category, not a quality judgment.

Official referencesProduct page

RECORD

How the assessment has moved.

Every announcement, release and reassessment behind the current classification.

Coming soon

Just launched

Active updates

Settled

Discontinued

Aug 2026 · AssessmentRecord status: Verified → Pending
Aug 2026 · AssessmentRobovations Score rescored under v4.2: 59 → 74
Jul 2026 · AssessmentRobovations Score recorded at 59 of 100
Oct 2023 · ReleaseEnters North American dealer network for 2023 season

Questions

What people actually ask.

6 answered

OperationDoes the Stihl iMow 5 EVO require a perimeter wire?

Yes, absolutely. The iMow 5 is wire-guided; it follows the buried perimeter boundary. Dealer installation of wire and docking station is required at purchase.

OwnershipWhat does Stihl iMow 5 EVO dealer installation cover and cost?

Dealer installation typically includes 100–200 feet of perimeter-wire burial, docking-station placement, and system calibration. Cost ranges $400–$600 depending on yard size and terrain; labor time is 4–6 hours.

OperationCan I move the perimeter wire if I expand or reconfigure my lawn?

Yes, but it requires dealer service or professional wire contractor. Typical relocation costs $100–$200 per adjustment. Wire removal and re-burial are labor-intensive.

OwnershipWhat is the blade replacement interval for the iMow 5 EVO?

STIHL’s guidance for the iMOW EVO disc-cut system is to change all three blades after roughly 200 hours of mowing. Change them as a set so the cutting disc stays balanced, and replace rather than sharpen: these are small pivoting razor-type blades on a machine that runs unattended, and STIHL documents no sharpening procedure for them. Genuine STIHL spares sell in nine-packs, three complete sets, for around GBP 16.50 including VAT, so a set of three costs under $10.

OperationHow quiet is the iMow 5 EVO compared to gas mowers?

At 63 dB, it is roughly 20 dB quieter than gas mowers (typically 85–95 dB). Manufacturer specs and owner reports confirm operation during early morning or evening without noise ordinance violations in suburban areas.

OperationWhat winter storage do I need to perform for the iMow 5 EVO?

Leave the battery in the machine. STIHL states the AAI battery is installed in the robot mower and must only be removed by a STIHL authorized dealer, so it is not an owner-serviceable pack. The manual’s storage instruction is to store the whole machine between 0 and 40 degrees C (32 to 104 F), which means bringing it indoors somewhere that stays above freezing. Clean the underside and cutting disc and store the mower dry. The docking station should be sheltered from rain and snow; perimeter wire and docking station remain buried and installed year-round.

Cite & Embed

Reference the Stihl iMow 5 EVO classification.

Embed the Autonomy Ladder™ mark or copy the citation. The mark is served from this record, so a reassessment updates it on your page automatically.

Get the embed code and citation

124161

268112

Clear space 3222 on all sides

Embed code

Scale proportionally only, up to 2× (536px wide)(224px wide). No recoloring, cropping, rotating, or re-typesetting.

Citation

Robovations. "Stihl iMow 5 EVO: Autonomy Level II (Assisted Autonomy)." Autonomy Ladder™, assessed August 2026. https://robovations.com/robots/stihl-imow-5-evo/

Link it. The mark must point at this record. An unlinked mark is not authorized.
Hot-link it. Never download, self-host, or re-upload the image. A saved copy stops updating, and a mark that has stopped updating is a claim we no longer stand behind.
A classification, not an endorsement. It may not appear beside language implying Robovations recommends, rates, or approves the product.

Where to next

Three ways to keep going.

For evaluators

Compare with a peer.

See the Stihl iMow 5 EVO and Robomow RT300 side by side: autonomy level, Robovations Score, readiness, and price. Classification, not a verdict.

See the full comparison

Or compare with Husqvarna Automower 305, Stihl iMow 6 EVO, Yard Force Compact 400Ri.

For browsers

See every Level II.

Every robot we’ve classified at assisted autonomy. Sorted by readiness, score, and price. Filter by category, manufacturer, or release date.

Browse every Level II robot

Updated weekly with new entries and reclassifications.

Stihl iMow 5 EVO

Will the Stihl iMow 5 EVO work on your yard?

Living with it.

The full spec sheet.

How the assessment has moved.

What people actually ask.

Stihl iMow 5 EVO in the analysis archive.

How safe are consumer robots around kids and pets?

Other robot lawn mowers we have classified.

Stihl iMow 6 EVO

Worx Landroid S 20V

Husqvarna Automower 115H

Husqvarna Automower 305

Reference the Stihl iMow 5 EVO classification.

Three ways to keep going.

Get the next reassessment.

Compare with a peer.

See every Level II.