Bosch robot mowers

Bosch in the UK

Bosch, founded in Germany in 1886, sells garden tools in the UK under its green DIY range. For several years that range included the Indego, a wired robot mower known for cutting in neat parallel lines rather than at random. That has changed. Bosch's UK robot mower category now lists only the VISIMOW18V, and every Indego product page has gone. Bosch hasn't announced the change or said what it means for owners of connected Indego models.

So the Bosch robot range is really two stories: one small, unusual new mower, and a discontinued range that still turns up as old stock and second-hand.

The range explained

VISIMOW18V (current). The Bosch VISIMOW18V is a different kind of machine from most robot mowers. It has no boundary wire, no charging dock and no app. A camera tells grass from non-grass, backed by ultrasonic and bump sensors, and it runs on a removable 18V POWER FOR ALL battery. It comes in two sizes, the -100 and -200, rated for 100–200 m², each sold as a bare tool or as a kit with battery and charger. It mows in a random pattern and only in daylight.

Indego (discontinued). The Bosch Indego XS, Bosch Indego S and Bosch Indego M were wired mowers for lawns of up to 700 m², using Bosch's LogiCut systematic mowing. The S+ and M+ versions added a built-in cellular modem for the Bosch Smart Gardening app. All three are rated for 27% slopes.

Which Bosch should I buy?

• Very small lawn with clear edges, and you don't mind starting it yourself: the VISIMOW18V, from £299.98. Choose the -200 for anything over about 100 m², and the bare tool only if you already own a suitable POWER FOR ALL battery. Bosch says lawn edges need a physical border over 6 cm high or a non-grass strip over 35 cm wide, and passages must be at least 120 cm wide.
• You've found a discounted Indego: only buy at a clear discount, with a valid guarantee, and prefer the plain XS, S or M to the connected versions, given the uncertainty over the app.
• Anything else: if you want a mower that docks and runs on a schedule, or your lawn is over 200 m², look beyond Bosch. The GARDENA SILENO city and Flymo EasiLife are current wired mowers for similar lawns to the smaller Indegos.

The VISIMOW isn't for anyone who wants to forget about mowing. Because it has no dock, it's closer to a cordless mower that walks itself; our robot vs cordless mower guide is worth reading first.

Tech and app

The VISIMOW has no wireless connection at all. Settings, including a four-digit child-lock code, are made on the mower's panel, and software updates come from a USB stick. Cutting height is set with a rotary control up to 60 mm, and Bosch says it leaves an uncut strip at lawn edges, so you'll still need a trimmer.

The connected Indego S+ and M+ used a built-in modem for the Smart Gardening app, which added remote control, weather-aware scheduling and voice-assistant linking. Bosch's manual lists only 2G bands for that modem, and there's no public commitment on how long the service will run.

UK warranty, support and spares

Bosch gives a two-year guarantee on privately used DIY and garden tools, extended to three years if you register on MyBosch within four weeks of purchase. During the guarantee, Bosch collects the tool for repair and returns it free of charge, which is useful for a mower you'd otherwise have to post.

For Indego owners, Bosch UK still sells an extra docking station, perimeter wire and a wire repair kit, but it no longer hosts Indego manuals on its UK site. Keep your own copy of the manual and your proof of purchase.