Indego range (XS 300, S+ 500, M+ 700)
1 test of S+ 500 · 1 test of M+ 700 · XS 300 untestedRead the findings →Bosch's boundary-wire mowers that learn the lawn and cut it in neat rows rather than at random. They suit simple, flat, open gardens. They're fussy to install, though, and the range is being phased out.
Updated
Check the manufacturer’s site for current availability.
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
Feedback
What reviewers found
There are 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 (tested on the Indego S+ 500) · Techtest, hands-on, Aug 2020 (tested on the Indego M+ 700)
Cut quality and edges
Reviewers rate it highlyExpert Reviews rates the S+ 500's mowing among the best it has tested, with a solid cut round the perimeter. Techtest found the M+ 700's cut very good while the blades are sharp, but it struggles in grass taller than about 8cm.
Setup and boundaries
Mixed resultsInstalling the wire is fussy. Expert Reviews had to re-lay it because the mower judged the first attempt not straight enough, and Techtest found it refuses to start until the wire sits 30cm from obstacles. After that, Expert Reviews found app setup simple.
Navigation
Reviewers rate it highlyBoth liked the row-by-row mowing. Expert Reviews found it maps the lawn on its first run then mows in efficient rows, and Techtest found it far quicker than random-pattern rivals, though less efficient in gardens split into many segments.
Slopes and rough ground
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use tested it on a real slope. Both Expert Reviews and Techtest point to Bosch's modest slope rating, which Techtest says rules out banks and hillside gardens.
Obstacles and safety
Mixed resultsThere's no camera, so it finds things by bumping into them. Expert Reviews says that's fine for a washing line but not for a sleeping dog, and Techtest saw it swing wide of garden chairs after touching them.
Weather
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use tested it in rain or on wet grass. Expert Reviews notes the app schedules mowing around the weather forecast.
App and software
Not enough evidenceOnly Expert Reviews judged the app, finding it solid and simple, able to pick mowing days around the weather for you.
Upkeep
Not enough evidenceOnly Techtest covered upkeep, advising new blades every one to three months to keep the cut clean, and noting a replacement Bosch 18V battery is cheap.
Reliability and support
Not enough evidenceNone of the reviews we use covers long-term ownership or judges Bosch's support, which matters now the range is being discontinued.
Value
Not enough evidenceOnly Expert Reviews judged value, calling the S+ 500 expensive in its 2021 review, about £400 more than its favourite wired mower, though well made.
Verdicts come from independent, hands-on, finished reviews. An area needs at least two of them before we say more than “Not enough evidence”. We don't score robots ourselves. How this works
Mows in rows, not at random
This is the Indego's big idea. Expert Reviews found the S+ 500 maps the lawn on its first run, then mows in efficient rows much as you would by hand, though neither review measured long-term turf wear. Techtest found the M+ 700 covered the lawn far quicker than random-pattern mowers from GARDENA and Husqvarna, and 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 over 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. According to the Stiftung Warentest result listed by Testberichte.de, it got stuck on uneven ground and its orientation wasn't reliable. It's at its best on a fairly level, open lawn.
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, which Bosch groups together as its newer Indego models, with the same LogiCut row-by-row navigation and one installation guide. Expert Reviews tested the S+ 500 and Techtest the M+ 700; nobody we found has reviewed the XS 300. The Stiftung Warentest result is for the 2021 M+ 700.
Our take
Should you buy the Indego range (XS 300, S+ 500, M+ 700)?
Best for: Open lawns kept clear of toys and hoses. Skip it if: Your lawn is steep, soft or full of bumps.
A remaining-stock Indego may suit a flat, open lawn if the price, local service and seller warranty are acceptable. The reviews cover S+ 500 and M+ 700, not XS 300. Eufy E15 avoids boundary-wire installation but has wet and uneven-ground limits; it is not a general solution for slopes or bumps. A wired SILENO alternative still needs careful installation and lawn preparation.
The Indego mowers follow a boundary wire, but instead of wandering at random they learn the shape of the lawn on the first run and then mow it in straight, parallel strips, with a separate pass round the border. This page covers three sizes, the XS 300 for small lawns, the S+ 500 and the M+ 700, and the plus models add an app. The range is being phased out; Bosch France still lists some S+ 500 stock, while other regional catalogues emphasize VISIMOW. Availability and support need checking for the exact model.
Expert Reviews tested the S+ 500 and rates its mowing among the best it has tried, and Techtest found the M+ 700's cut very good while the blades stay sharp, though it struggled in grass taller than about 8cm. Both found the wire fussy to lay. Expert Reviews had to re-lay it because the mower judged the first attempt not straight enough, and Techtest found it won't start until the wire sits far enough from obstacles. There is no camera, so it finds things by bumping into them, which Expert Reviews says is fine for a washing line but not for a sleeping dog. A Stiftung Warentest result for the M+ 700, summarised by Testberichte.de, was cooler, with the mower getting stuck on uneven ground and failing a safety check with a child-sized arm on the lawn. Expert Reviews called the S+ 500 expensive, and Techtest advises new blades every one to three months.
Where to buy
Where to buy the Indego range (XS 300, S+ 500, M+ 700) in United Kingdom
No United Kingdom price checked in the last 21 days. We re-check daily.
We’re still looking for more United Kingdom retailers for this model.
Price-drop alert
Get an email when the Bosch Indego range (XS 300, S+ 500, M+ 700) gets cheaper in the UK.
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 the magazine tests summarised by Testberichte.de, Heimwerker Praxis found the M+ 700 the loudest in its group, even though its planned routes gave it the shortest mowing times. Expert Reviews didn't comment on noise.
Is it still supported now it's discontinued?
The reviews we cite don't say whether the app, spare parts or repairs are still available. Discontinued doesn't have to mean unsupported: Bosch France still lists remaining S+ 500 stock, per the specifications. Before you buy, ask Bosch and the seller about parts, connected services and warranty for the exact model.
Alternatives
Other robot lawn mowers to compare.
smart SILENO life 1000
Why consider it: A wired mower that's still on sale, and M3 found a tidy lawn and a handy app once the garden had been prepared.
The compromise: M3 had to fill holes for its small wheels, and wet clippings could clog the blade disc.
E15 Robot Lawn Mower
Why consider it: No wire at all, and one owner was ready to mow in about ten minutes with automatic mapping.
The compromise: 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)
Why consider it: Another wired small-lawn mower, and one owner mowed through an 80cm gap without traction trouble.
The compromise: Another owner fought wheelspin on tight turns and uneven, sandy ground.
Specs
Full specifications
Each specification names its source. Manufacturer claims are not independent test results; unconfirmed figures are labelled.
Owner reviews
Do you own the Indego range (XS 300, S+ 500, M+ 700)?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner accounts are shown separately from independent reviews.
Sources
Where this page’s findings come from
Editorial reviews
- Expert Reviews: Bosch Indego S+ 500 review ↗RecommendedHands-on · Tested on the Indego S+ 500
- Techtest: Test: Bosch DIY Indego M+ 700 ↗Hands-on · Tested on the Indego M+ 700
Sources
Videos
- Search YouTube for Bosch Indego range (XS 300, S+ 500, M+ 700) ↗Search results may include company demonstrations or similar models. Check the source and model name; a demonstration is not an independent performance test.