Gardena smart SILENO free review: a wire-free robot mower without a subscription

The Gardena SILENO range has been one of Europe's most popular robot lawn mower lines for years, and in 2026 the model most buyers ask about is the smart SILENO free. It is Gardena's boundary-wire-free robot mower: instead of burying a perimeter cable around your lawn, you define the lawn boundary once in the app and the mower uses satellite navigation to stay inside the lines. It comes in three sizes, for lawns up to 600, 800 or 1,200 m².

This Gardena SILENO review is based on Gardena's own specifications and published information about the range. We cover setup, navigation, cutting quality, slopes, noise and the app, and explain when the cheaper SILENO minimo or the new camera-based SILENO sense might suit you better.

Which Gardena SILENO is current in 2026?

Gardena's current robotic mower line-up has three families. The SILENO minimo is the entry model for 250 or 500 m² and still uses a boundary wire, with Bluetooth app control. The smart SILENO free is the wire-free model for 600, 800 or 1,200 m². The newest addition, the smart SILENO sense (400 and 600 m²), combines satellite navigation with a camera and object recognition.

Older names such as SILENO city and SILENO life are still found in shops and on the second-hand market, but for a new purchase the free is the model most people should consider. This review focuses on the 800 m² version, which shares its hardware with the 600 and 1,200 m² models; the main difference is how many hours a day each needs to cover its rated area.

Setup: no boundary wire

Laying and pegging a perimeter wire is the job most robot mower owners dread, and it is the part that fails later when a spade or a mole cuts it. The SILENO free skips it completely. There are no wires, antennas or separate beacons to place. You install the charging station, connect the included smart Gateway to your router, and map the lawn in the Gardena smart app. The box also includes an installation aid and a 20 m low-voltage cable for the charging station.

The trade-off is that the system depends on satellite reception and your home internet. Gardena states that the mower needs GNSS reception, a sufficient internet connection and the app, and that you must register an online account with Gardena or the Husqvarna Group. Lawns surrounded by tall buildings or dense trees are generally harder for satellite-guided mowers, so check your garden before buying.

LONA Intelligence, zones and the Gardena smart app

Gardena calls its navigation software LONA Intelligence. It maps the garden, shows the mower's position live in the app, and lets you draw mowing zones and no-mow areas with their own settings. That is useful for flower beds, a play area or a patch of wildflowers you want left alone. You can also set schedules, and firmware updates arrive over the air.

Gardena stresses that the app features come with no subscription fee, which is a real advantage over some connected garden products. Because the mower is part of the Gardena smart system, it can sit alongside Gardena's smart watering products in the same app.

• Live position tracking in the app
• Custom mowing zones and no-mow areas
• Schedules and over-the-air firmware updates
• No subscription for app features

Cutting performance, edges and slopes

Unlike many compact robots with a single small blade disc, the SILENO free has two cutting discs, each with three pivoting blades, for a 22 cm cutting width. It can mow in both directions, and Trim-to-Edge lets it cut close to solid edges such as walls and fences. You will still need a trimmer for some borders, as with any robot mower.

Cutting height runs from 25 to 45 mm. That suits most family lawns kept short and neat, but people who like a longer lawn in dry summers may find 45 mm limiting. On slopes, Gardena's specification table lists up to 35 percent both inside the lawn and at the boundary, while its feature text says 30 percent. Plan around the lower figure if your garden is steep.

Gardena SILENO noise, battery and running costs

Noise is a SILENO strength. Gardena quotes a perceived sound level of 58 dB(A) and describes the free as one of the quietest mowers in its class. That makes evening or early-morning mowing far less likely to bother neighbours than a petrol mower.

A typical charge gives about 140 minutes of mowing and a recharge takes about 100 minutes. To cover its full rated area, the 600 m² model needs around 9 hours of daily activity, the 800 m² model 11 hours and the 1,200 m² model 17 hours, including charging. Energy use is modest: Gardena lists 4, 6 and 10 kWh a month at maximum use for the three sizes.

Safety, security and maintenance

The mower has a PIN code and a lift sensor that stops the blades if it is picked up. There is no audible alarm, so it is less theft-proof than some rivals with GPS theft alerts and sirens. For extra protection against bumping into garden furniture or toys, Gardena sells an Anti-collision Radar accessory that fits without tools.

Maintenance is simple. The mower is rated IPX5, so you can rinse it with a garden hose, and the blades are cheap, standard replacement parts. Optional extras include a garage, wheel brushes and a storage bag for winter.

Who should buy the Gardena smart SILENO free?

The SILENO free makes most sense for owners of open lawns between roughly 300 and 1,200 m² who want to avoid a boundary wire and are comfortable with an app-based setup. It is also a good upgrade for anyone whose old wired robot keeps losing its signal because of a broken cable.

If your lawn is small and simple, the wired SILENO minimo is cheaper and does not need internet access. If your garden has lots of obstacles, the camera-equipped SILENO sense or the radar accessory is worth a look. Very shaded gardens are the main case where a wired robot may still be the safer choice.

Key specs

Lawn size

600, 800 or 1,200 m² depending on model

Navigation

Wire-free, satellite-based (GNSS) virtual boundary with LONA Intelligence

Cutting system

2 discs with 3 blades each, 22 cm cutting width

Cutting height

25 to 45 mm

Slope

Up to 35% in Gardena's spec table (30% in its feature text)

Noise

58 dB(A) perceived

Battery

About 140 min mowing, about 100 min charging

Weight and rating

13.8 kg (800 m² model), IPX5

Alternatives to consider

• Gardena SILENO minimo: A cheaper wired option for small, simple lawns up to 500 m² that works without the internet.
• Husqvarna Automower NERA series: Gardena's sister brand offers wire-free models with more premium features for larger or more complex gardens.
• Segway Navimow i Series: A popular wire-free rival for small and mid-size lawns that also relies on satellite navigation.

Frequently asked questions

The Gardena smart SILENO free is a strong choice in 2026 for anyone who wants a quiet robot lawn mower without the hassle of a boundary wire. Setup is simpler, zones are easy to change in the app, and there is no subscription. The catches are its reliance on satellite reception and the internet, a modest maximum cutting height and basic theft protection. If your lawn is open and between a few hundred and 1,200 m², it is one of the most convenient wire-free mowers you can buy.

How we research: Reviews are based on the maker’s specifications, published independent tests and owner reports. Scores compare the product with others in its class.