Thanks for taking your time to read our review on the Bosch Universal Rotak 550 electric lawnmower. The Rotak 550 is a rotary mower with a cutting width of 37 cm. Bosch do basic rotary models that include the 32R, 34R and 36R but this model is a more advanced design.
There are a few differences between this newer model and the older rotary mowers mentioned above. The key difference is that you can now mow with less effort and have maximum control. In this Universal 550 Bosch have included an "ergoflex system," that allows you to manoeuvre your mower with ease and achieve your task quickly while being kinder to your back.
Many online buyers trust the Bosch brand, and with a price point of around £245, this model is more expensive than the basic models, which cost between £100-140). This 550 model is designed for grass areas of 550 square metres.
This model has a 1300 watt motor and a 37 cm cutting width. It also has a high torque, a hardened steel blade and innovative airflow technology. This model also uses a "Bosch Leaf Collect blade," that is specifically designed to deliver an excellent cut in spring, summer and autumn. It will also pick up autumn leaves from your lawn and shred them into the grass box for easy disposal.
The better designed Ergoflex handle helps you to maintain a good posture and reduces strain on your arms and back.
How Online Buyers Rate this Model?
- Overall online buyers gave this an average buyer satisfaction of 82%
- 51% of all those buyers gave this a full 5 star review
- 8% of all buyers gave this mower a poor review
These ratings are based on over 150 online reviews from various websites. This mower is still fairly new to the UK market, but so far it does get mainly good reviews, though not as good as their basic range of rotary mowers.
What Buyers Say Pros & Cons
We know how buyers rated this mower, and now we have summarised what those buyers had to say about their purchase. Below we have listed what buyers had to say in the form of a pros and cons table.
Pros
Cons
This is a reliable mower and with a 37 cm cutting width. Many buyers also liked the fact that you can use a single one click height of cut adjustment from 25-70 mm to suit different lawn conditions. This method is much easier than most other mowers.
550 Specification
Some buyers do like to know the full specification and technical details, so we have shown those below.
- Measures 74 x 40 x 45 cm
- Weighs 15 kg
- 1300 watt motor
- Electric start
- Electric rotary mower
- Can cut tall grass thanks to a hardened steel blade
- Has a 40 litre foldable grass box that folds flat for easy storage and prevents overfilling via fill indicator
- Suitable for gardens up to 550 square metres
- Height of cut 25 – 70 mm adjustable using a one push button click system (6 settings)
- Ergoflex handles for a comfortable and healthy working position
- Has a leaf collect blade that cuts grass perfectly or collects leaves for easy disposal
- Cable length is the standard 10 metres so it is likely it will need to be plugged into an extension lead for longer gardens.
This Mower Video Review
We couldn't find a video review of this that uses the English language. We found this one that uses the German language so at least you can see this mower being used.
Key Features
With any lawnmower, there are typically a number of key features, and we have shown those below.
Cutting Width
This is the width of grass that a mower can cut with one single pass. The width primarily determines the speed at which you can cut your grass at. The larger the width the quicker you can cut your grass, as you will have to do fewer passes. This model has a standard 36 cm cutting width, which is ideal for small to medium sized lawns.
Cutting Height
Most mowers will have a range of cutting heights. This 550 model has between 25-70 mm. (1.0 - 2.75"). The height is adjusted by clicking a single button, for 6 different heights, which makes this super easy. Once the normal grass cutting starts, most gardeners will simply use the lowest setting for the rest of the cutting year. (March to October) The first cut is usually done on the highest setting (70mm) as the grass is longer. Trying to cut tall grass on the lowest setting will almost always clog up the underside of the mower, and especially if the grass is wet.
Powerdrive
The main difference in this mower, compared to other rotary mowers is the drive function that it has. Now, although you still have to push this to get the grass cut, the drive does assist with the pushing motion. That just makes this mower a great deal easier to mow, and also speeds up the whole process.
The Bosch Brand (Gardening)
Bosch are of course a very well known tool brand. Aside from their high quality tools, they also make a wide range of gardening tools. These range from lawnmowers, lawn rakers, verticutters, trimmers, hedge cutters, chainsaws, leaf blowers shredders and multi-tool systems.
They are a German brand and their garden products are very popular with many UK gardeners. They have 40 locations spread across the UK with over 5,000 employees. In the UK they generate annual revenues of around £3.5 Billion, with the UK being their second largest market.
Bosch Advanced Rotary Mowers - 550 vs 650 vs 750 models
In this newer electric rotary range Bosch make three models, called the Rotak 550, Rotak 650 and the Rotak 750 which is what we are reviewing here. Just below we explain the key differences between those models. We have also provided links to reviews of those models.
Bosch Rotak 550
37 cm cutting width
Around £230
1300 watt motor
40 litre grass box
Height cut 20-70 mm
Bosch Rotak 650
41 cm cutting width
Around £250
1700 watt motor
50 litre grass box
Height cut 25- 80 mm
Bosch Rotak 750
45 cm cutting width
Around £300
1700 watt motor
50 litre grass box
Height cut 25-80 mm
Our Verdict on the Advanced Rotak 550 Model?
The Bosch ErgoFlex handles reduce strain on the arms and back by providing a perfect mowing posture. It also has multiple adjustment switches that allow for individual customisation and optimal comfort.
The key difference between this more expensive model and the basic models, is that this one is designed for anyone who wants an easier mower to use. The wider cutting width, the ergonomic design and the leaf collecting blade and grass basket are all designed to make mowing easier and faster.
The design is all about making this mower easier to store when not in use.
This mower is good for use as adjusting the cutting height is easy. The grass box can be quickly folded up and has a good size 40 litre capacity. That helps save you time and cuts down on the hassle of having to empty the grass box so often. To make that even better it has a full-capacity indicator and it can also be easily set up and stored.
Check Amazon UK - Price when reviewed Not Available
If this is not the mower for you, then check out our article on all of the Bosch lawnmower options by clicking here. If you want to find out what other mower options are available, then we strongly recommend reading our UK lawnmower guide.
This Bosch Advanced Rotak 550 model is about £100 more expensive than the standard 32R, 34R and 36R models. It is slightly easier to use and it is easier to store. The decision really comes down to whether you think £100 extra is worth it to get those added benefits.
