Indego range (XS 300, S+ 500, M+ 700)
Bosch's boundary-wire mowers that map the lawn and mow it in neat rows instead of at random. They're efficient on simple, open lawns, but fussy to install, and Bosch no longer lists them.
See the alternatives below, or switch market.
The short version
The Indego range is Bosch's older line of robot mowers that follow a wire pegged round the lawn. Instead of wandering at random, they learn the shape of the lawn and mow it in straight, parallel strips, with a separate pass to trim the border. There were three sizes: the XS 300 for small lawns, the S+ 500 and the M+ 700. The plus models add an app. Bosch's own robot mower pages now show only the wire-free VISIMOW, so the Indego is on its way out.
What you get is a quick, tidy mow with less wear on the grass, because it doesn't criss-cross the same patch over and over. What you give up is flexibility. It wants the wire laid precisely, it doesn't like slopes much over a quarter, it finds obstacles by bumping into them, and it's less happy in gardens split into lots of small pieces.
Any you find now are old stock, so check the exact model and whether the seller still offers a full warranty.
Our take: Buy an Indego only if you find one at a clearance price, your lawn is a fairly open, flat shape, and you like the idea of it mowing in stripes. If your garden is bumpy, sloping or broken into many small areas, or you'd rather not lay a wire, look at a current model such as the eufy E15. For a supported wired mower, GARDENA's smart SILENO life is still on sale.
Where it sits in Bosch’s range
- Bosch Indego S+ 400Earlier-generation Indego for lawns up to 400m²
- Indego range (XS 300, S+ 500, M+ 700)This model
- Bosch VISIMOWBosch's current wire-free, camera-guided mower for small lawns
What reviewers found
Two hands-on reviews: Expert Reviews tested the S+ 500 and gave it a Recommended badge, and Techtest tested the M+ 700 on its own lawn. Both liked the orderly, row-by-row mowing and both found the install fussier than rivals. A 2024 Stiftung Warentest result for the M+ 700, summarised by Testberichte.de, was cooler: a very good cut on dry grass, but it got stuck on uneven ground and failed a safety check.
Expert Reviews, hands-on, Jul 2021 · Techtest, hands-on, Aug 2020
Mows in rows, not at random
This is the Indego's big idea. Expert Reviews found it maps the lawn on its first run, then mows in efficient rows much as you would by hand, which means less wear on the grass. Techtest found it far quicker to cover the lawn than random-pattern mowers from GARDENA and Husqvarna, and that it could find its place again by following the wire when it got confused. On a plain, open lawn, that makes it one of the tidiest wired mowers around.
Fussy about the wire
Expert Reviews had to re-lay the wire because the mower complained the first attempt wasn't straight enough, and found it finicky about the charging station. Techtest had the same experience: the dock wants a corner with clear space around it, the wire has to sit about 30cm from obstacles, and the mower checks the layout and won't start until it's right. Take your time with the install and follow the guide to the letter.
Best in simple, flat gardens
Bosch rates it for slopes up to 27%, per the specifications, and Expert Reviews warns it won't handle anything steeper. Techtest found it only partly suited to sloping ground and less at home in gardens split into many segments. The Stiftung Warentest result listed by Testberichte.de says it got stuck on uneven ground and its orientation wasn't reliable. Put it on a fairly level, open lawn and it's at its best.
It bumps into obstacles
There's no camera. Expert Reviews found it navigates by bumping into things rather than seeing them. Techtest saw it swing well wide of obstacles once it touches them, so it doesn't mow underneath garden chairs. The Stiftung Warentest result listed by Testberichte.de says it passed a hedgehog safety check but failed the test with a child-sized arm lying on the lawn. Keep children and pets off the grass while it runs.
Keep the grass short
Techtest found it struggled in grass taller than about 8cm and sometimes got stuck, so cut the lawn short before the first run. Expert Reviews points out there are only three fixed cutting heights, 30, 40 and 50mm. The Stiftung Warentest result summarised by Testberichte.de praised a very good cut on dry grass. Let it mow little and often and it keeps the lawn looking neat.
Covers the Indego XS 300, S+ 500 and M+ 700. Expert Reviews tested the S+ 500 and Techtest the M+ 700; the Stiftung Warentest result is for the 2021 M+ 700.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a boundary wire?
Yes. The S+ 500 comes with 150m of wire and 200 pegs, per the specifications. Expert Reviews found it can be laid within 5cm of a level edge, but it needs about 30cm from raised or sunken edges, and Techtest found the mower refuses to start until the layout suits it.
Will it cope with my slope?
Only gentle ones. Bosch rates it for 27%, per the specifications, and Expert Reviews says it won't manage anything steeper. Techtest called it only partly suitable for sloping ground, so a steep bank needs a different mower.
Can it handle two lawns or a narrow passage?
The S+ 500 can store up to three lawn areas, per the specifications. Techtest still found it happiest on an open, simple lawn and less suited to gardens broken into many segments, because its row-by-row planning works best on big, regular shapes.
How close does it cut to the edge?
It has a border-cutting pass for the edges, per the specifications. Expert Reviews found it gives a solid cut around the perimeter, but because the wire has to sit 30cm from raised edges, you'll still need to trim those by hand.
How noisy is it for neighbours?
Louder than some. Among magazine tests summarised by Testberichte.de, Heimwerker Praxis found the M+ 700 the loudest in its group, even though it had the shortest mowing times thanks to its planned routes. Expert Reviews didn't comment on noise.
Is it still supported now it's discontinued?
Bosch's UK and German robot mower pages now list only the VISIMOW, though Bosch France still sells some remaining S+ 500 stock, per the specifications. The reviews from Expert Reviews and Techtest date from 2020 and 2021, so check the warranty terms before buying old stock.
Compare with
smart SILENO life 1000
A wired mower that's still on sale, and M3 found a tidy lawn and a handy app once the garden had been prepared.
M3 had to fill holes for its small wheels, and wet clippings could clog the blade disc.
E15 Robot Lawn Mower
No wire at all, and one owner was ready to mow in about ten minutes with automatic mapping.
A long-term owner had a faulty cutting-height mechanism that caused overheating until the mower was replaced.
Landroid Plus (M500 Plus WR165E and sizes)
Another wired small-lawn mower, and one owner mowed through an 80cm gap without traction trouble.
Another owner fought wheelspin on tight turns and uneven, sandy ground.
Full specifications
Figures come from the manufacturer’s product page unless a source is named. A blank means nobody we trust has confirmed it.
Owner reviews
Own a Indego range (XS 300, S+ 500, M+ 700)?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner reviews are shown separately from expert tests and never mixed into the score.
Sources
Everything cited on this page. Expert scores are shown as the reviewer gave them.