I remember the Sunday morning ritual all too well. Dragging out the heavy old petrol mower from the back of the shed, wrestling with the pull-cord, checking the oil, and inevitably spilling a bit of fuel. Then came the noise and the fumes. Later, I switched to an electric corded model, thinking it was an upgrade. It was quieter, yes, but the constant battle with the extension lead became its own special kind of garden purgatory. Snagging on rose bushes, getting tangled around the patio furniture, and that ever-present, nagging fear of accidentally mowing over the cable. It turned what should be a peaceful, satisfying job into a frustrating chore. This is precisely the scenario that drives gardeners towards the promise of cordless freedom. The dream is simple: a lightweight, quiet, powerful mower that just works. No cords, no petrol, no fuss. The question is, does a budget-friendly option like the Ark Mat Cordless Lawnmower 330mm deliver on that dream, or does it introduce new frustrations of its own?
- WIDE CUTTING WIDTH: With a 330mm cutting width, this cordless lawnmower covers more ground in less time, making it perfect for small to medium-sized gardens. Achieve a clean, even cut in fewer passes...
- LARGE COLLECTION BOX: The 30-litre grass collection box reduces the need for frequent emptying, allowing for longer mowing sessions with less interruption. The easy-to-remove container that makes...
What to Look For Before Buying a Cordless Rotary Mower
A cordless rotary mower is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for reclaiming your time and sanity in the garden. For those with small to medium-sized lawns (typically up to 250-300 square metres), these machines offer the perfect balance of power and convenience. Their main benefits are untethered freedom of movement, significantly lower noise levels compared to petrol engines, minimal maintenance, and zero emissions during operation. This transforms lawn care from a noisy, messy task into a quicker, cleaner, and more enjoyable experience, allowing you to maintain a pristine lawn without disturbing your family or neighbours.
The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the limitations of a small urban or suburban garden. You might have limited storage space in a shed or garage, making a compact, folding design essential. You value simplicity and want to avoid the complexities of mixing fuel and oil. It’s for the homeowner who wants to get the lawn done in 20-30 minutes without a major production. However, it might not be suitable for those with very large, sprawling lawns that would require multiple battery charges to complete. Likewise, if your garden has very tough, dense, or frequently overgrown grass, a more powerful, larger-deck petrol or a high-end cordless model might be a better investment. For those users, corded models can offer unlimited runtime, while petrol mowers provide raw power for challenging conditions.
Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:
- Cutting Width & Deck Size: The 330mm (or 33cm) cutting width of the Ark Mat model is a sweet spot for smaller lawns. A wider deck covers more ground faster but is less manoeuvrable in tight spaces or around complex garden beds. Conversely, a narrower deck requires more passes. Measure your lawn’s main open areas and consider the complexity of your garden’s layout before deciding on the ideal width.
- Battery Performance & Motor Type: Battery capacity, measured in Amp-hours (Ah), dictates runtime. A 4.0Ah battery, like the one included here, is generous for this class of mower and should handle a small to medium lawn on a single charge. Critically, we always look for a brushless motor. This technology is more efficient, produces more power, runs cooler, and has a much longer lifespan than older brushed motors, making it a non-negotiable feature for us.
- Build Quality & Durability: The main body of most mowers in this price range is made from a durable polymer or plastic. While metal decks are tougher, they are also much heavier and prone to rust. A well-designed plastic deck is perfectly adequate for domestic use, being lightweight and resistant to corrosion. Pay attention to the wheels and handle construction; these are high-stress points that need to feel solid and secure.
- Ease of Use & Ergonomics: This covers everything from the weight and balance of the mower to the simplicity of adjusting the cutting height. A single-lever height adjustment is preferable to adjusting each wheel individually. We also scrutinise features like a folding handle for storage and, crucially, how easy it is to insert and remove the battery and the grass collection box.
Considering these factors will ensure you choose a mower that not only cuts your grass well but also fits seamlessly into your gardening routine. The Ark Mat mower aims to tick many of these boxes, but the real test is in the hands-on experience.
While the Ark Mat Cordless Lawnmower 330mm is an excellent choice for its target audience, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For those with larger lawns or different power requirements who might need more robust solutions, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:
- Utilises a powerful 1500 W motor so you can tackle your lawn with ease.
- Extra-long 11m detachable power cable: Provides excellent working range without becoming reliant on an extension cable.
- CUSTOMISABLE CUTTING HEIGHTS FOR A PERFECT FINISH – Choose from four adjustable heights between 16mm and 40mm to achieve your preferred grass length, ideal for maintaining a neat and well kept lawn...
Unboxing the Ark Mat: First Impressions and Key Features
Pulling the Ark Mat Cordless Lawnmower 330mm from its box, the first thing we noticed was its weight—or lack thereof. It’s impressively lightweight, a feature that immediately suggests easy manoeuvrability. The vibrant orange and black colour scheme is modern and striking. Assembly was refreshingly straightforward; the handles connect with quick-release levers, and the two-part grass box clips together intuitively. From sealed box to ready-to-mow, the entire process took less than ten minutes with no tools required. The materials are predominantly hard plastic, which is expected at this price point, but it feels robust enough for regular domestic use. The handle feels comfortable, and the dual-switch safety start mechanism is standard and easy to operate. Compared to some established brands, the plastic may feel a little less premium, but the core components—the brushless motor housing and the solid-feeling wheels—inspire confidence. It’s a compact machine designed clearly for efficiency and ease of storage, a promise it seems to fulfill right out of the box.
Key Benefits
- Impressively lightweight and easy to manoeuvre around obstacles.
- Efficient brushless motor provides ample power for its size.
- Generous 4.0Ah battery and charger included in the kit.
- Compact, folding design is perfect for limited storage space.
Potential Drawbacks
- Battery removal mechanism is extremely stiff and poorly designed.
- Only three cutting height positions, offering limited flexibility.
A Deep Dive into the Ark Mat Lawnmower’s Real-World Performance
A mower’s true worth is only revealed on the lawn. Specifications on a page mean nothing if the machine can’t deliver a clean cut, handle real-world garden conditions, and provide a user-friendly experience from start to finish. We put the Ark Mat Cordless Lawnmower 330mm through its paces on a typical British lawn—a mix of fine grass, some tougher rye, and a few pesky weeds—to see if its performance lives up to its promising features. We tested everything from its raw cutting power to its battery endurance and, most importantly, its day-to-day usability.
Cutting Power and Lawn Finish
The heart of this mower is its brushless motor, and we were keen to see how it performed. Paired with the 330mm cutting blade, the results were genuinely impressive for a machine of this size and price. On a regular weekly cut, the mower glided through the grass, leaving a remarkably clean and even finish. The blade speed remained consistent even when we pushed it into slightly thicker patches, a testament to the motor’s efficiency in delivering power when needed. The 30-litre grass collection box did a commendable job of packing in the clippings, thanks to good airflow from the deck design. We found we could cover our entire 150-square-metre test lawn without needing to empty the box until the very end.
We then tested the three cutting heights. The adjustment mechanism involves moving the wheel axles into one of three slots—a system that is simple but less convenient than the single-lever adjustments found on more premium models. The 25mm setting provides a very neat, close cut for a pristine look, while the 65mm setting is useful for the first cut of the season or tackling slightly overgrown areas. However, with only three options, the jump between heights is quite significant. We would have preferred five settings for more nuanced control over lawn length throughout the year. Despite this, the quality of the cut at each height was excellent, producing a healthy, sharp trim rather than tearing the grass blades. For a small to medium lawn, its cutting capability is more than sufficient and is a core strength of this mower’s value proposition.
Battery Life, Charging, and a Critical Design Flaw
Cordless convenience lives and dies by the battery. The included 4.0Ah lithium-ion battery is a significant plus, offering double the capacity of many entry-level competitors. On a full charge, we comfortably mowed our 150sqm lawn and still had charge to spare, suggesting it could likely handle up to 250sqm of light to moderate cutting before needing a recharge. The charger provided is a standard unit, taking around 90-120 minutes to bring a depleted battery back to full, which is perfectly reasonable. The power delivery was consistent from start to finish, with no noticeable drop-off in performance as the battery drained.
However, it is here that we encountered the single biggest issue with the Ark Mat Cordless Lawnmower 330mm, an issue that was also highlighted in user feedback we analysed. The battery removal mechanism is deeply flawed. The battery is housed in a tight compartment, and to release it, you must simultaneously press a stiff yellow button and pull the battery outwards. The space is so confined that there is simply not enough room to get a proper grip. We found it incredibly difficult to remove; it required an awkward combination of pressing with a thumb and trying to hook fingers around the battery’s edge to pull. As one user noted, even a strong individual can struggle with it. This is not a minor inconvenience; it’s a significant design flaw that could make the mower almost unusable for someone with less hand strength or larger hands. It’s a frustrating bottleneck in an otherwise smooth user experience and a critical point for any potential buyer to consider before making a purchase.
Manoeuvrability and Ease of Storage
Where the Ark Mat mower truly excels is in its handling. Its remarkably low weight is its superpower. Pushing it across the lawn feels almost effortless, and navigating around trees, flowerbeds, and tight corners is an absolute breeze. This is a huge advantage over heavier petrol or even some larger cordless mowers, reducing user fatigue and making the task of mowing feel less like a workout. The wheels, while plastic, are large enough to handle slightly uneven terrain without getting bogged down, providing a smooth ride across the lawn.
This lightweight nature also pays dividends when the job is done. The handle features tool-free folding levers that allow it to collapse down over the mower’s body in seconds. This transforms the machine into a very compact package that can be stored vertically against a wall, on a shelf in the garage, or tucked into a small shed. It takes up a fraction of the floor space of a traditional mower with a fixed handle. For anyone with limited storage, this space-saving design is a massive selling point. The ability to easily lift and carry the entire unit with one hand further enhances its practicality, making it easy to transport up and down steps or store away for the winter. The combination of nimble performance and compact storage makes it an ideal choice for modern, smaller homes and gardens.
What Other Users Are Saying
Our findings, particularly regarding the battery, are strongly echoed in the experiences of other buyers. The most prominent piece of feedback we found aligns perfectly with our own testing: a significant struggle with the battery removal process. One user described it in detail: “I’m a chunky 17st builder and I’m struggling to remove the battery, there’s not enough room to grip it, press the yellow release button and pull it all at the same time in order to pull it out.” They called it a “real design flaw” and were so frustrated they intended to return the product.
This is not an isolated opinion but a crucial piece of corroborating evidence. It confirms that the difficulty we experienced isn’t a one-off defect but a fundamental issue with the mower’s physical design. While many users would likely praise the mower’s light weight and cutting ability, this single, frustrating point of interaction can overshadow all the positives for some, especially those for whom the product is otherwise perfectly suited, such as an elderly parent. It’s a critical piece of feedback that balances the product’s otherwise positive performance attributes.
How Does the Ark Mat Mower Compare to the Competition?
No product exists in a vacuum. To truly understand the value of the Ark Mat Cordless Lawnmower 330mm, it’s essential to see how it stacks up against some popular alternatives. We’ve selected three distinct competitors that cater to different needs and budgets.
1. BOSCH ARM 3200 Electric Lawnmower
- The ARM 3200 lawnmower – the powerful all-purpose lawnmower
- Offers three cutting height settings (20 - 40 - 60 mm), while the innovative grass comb enables close-to-edge mowing along walls, flower beds and lawns
The Bosch ARM 3200 is a direct rival in terms of cutting width (32cm vs 33cm) and target audience (small gardens). The key difference is the power source: the Bosch is a corded electric mower. This presents a classic trade-off. With the Bosch, you get unlimited runtime and consistent power from its 1200W motor, and you never have to worry about charging a battery. However, you are tethered by a power cable, which can be cumbersome and restrictive. The Ark Mat offers total freedom of movement. If your garden is a simple, open rectangle with a conveniently located power socket, the Bosch is a reliable and often cheaper alternative. If your garden has trees, furniture, or multiple levels, the cordless freedom of the Ark Mat is a significant advantage.
2. swift 40V Cordless Lawnmower 32cm Mulching
- [Easy to start 40V power] This cordless lawn mower is equipped with a 40V 2Ah lithium battery, which can efficiently mow up to 200 m². It‘s quick and easy to start. Just press the button and pull...
- [ BRUSHLESS MOTOR] The direct drive brushless motor makes the machine more durable, more efficient and quieter.
The swift 40V model is perhaps the most direct cordless competitor on this list. It also features a brushless motor and a similar 32cm cutting width. The swift pulls ahead in a couple of key areas: it offers five cutting heights for finer control over your lawn finish, and it includes a mulching function, which returns fine clippings to the lawn as a natural fertiliser. However, it typically comes with a smaller 2.0Ah battery, which means less runtime compared to the Ark Mat’s generous 4.0Ah battery. The choice here comes down to features versus endurance. If you value mulching and more precise height adjustment, the swift is a strong contender. If you prioritise longer runtime for a slightly larger lawn, the Ark Mat’s superior battery capacity gives it the edge.
3. Makita DLM432Z Cordless Lawn Mower
- Recommended for lawns of up to 575 square metres
- 3 in 1 for cutting, collecting and mulching
The Makita DLM432Z represents a significant step up in both size and class. With a much wider 43cm cutting deck and powered by two 18V LXT batteries (run in series for 36V power), it’s designed for medium to large lawns and semi-professional use. Its build quality and performance are on another level. However, the ‘Z’ in the model name means it’s sold as a “body-only” tool—batteries and a charger are not included. This makes it an excellent choice for someone already invested in Makita’s 18V LXT power tool ecosystem. For a new buyer, the cost of adding two batteries and a dual-port charger would make it significantly more expensive than the Ark Mat. The Makita is for the user who needs more power and has a larger area to cover, whereas the Ark Mat is a complete, all-in-one package for smaller, simpler jobs.
Final Verdict: A Capable Mower Hampered by One Glaring Flaw
The Ark Mat Cordless Lawnmower 330mm gets so much right. It’s wonderfully lightweight, making it a joy to push around the garden. Its brushless motor and 330mm blade deliver a crisp, clean cut, and the included 4.0Ah battery provides ample runtime for the small to medium lawns it’s designed for. Add in the incredibly simple assembly and compact, folding storage, and you have a machine that seems almost perfect for those with limited space and a desire to ditch the cord and petrol can for good.
However, we cannot overlook the deeply frustrating battery removal mechanism. It’s a baffling design choice that turns a simple task into a genuine struggle and could be a deal-breaker for many potential buyers, especially those with limited grip strength. If you are confident you can handle this quirk, then you’ll be rewarded with an affordable, effective, and convenient lawnmower. But if the thought of wrestling with the power source every time you need to charge it fills you with dread, you may be better served by looking at the alternatives. Ultimately, it’s a capable performer with a single, significant asterisk. If you’re willing to work around its one major flaw, you can check the latest price and see if the value proposition works for you.
Last update on 2025-10-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API