The Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 has a powerful 1700W motor and has a 41 cm cutting width using a hardened steel blade designed for medium to large sized lawns. The smooth sound profile of the Bosch ProSilence prevents your lawnmower from disturbing your neighbours by reducing its noise level by up to 75% to 89 dB.
The Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 is the smaller brother to the Bosch AdvancedRotak 750, what’s the difference between them? Well not much really apart from the slightly larger deck size on the 750. The AdvancedRotak 750 has a 45 cm deck and the AdvancedRotak 650 has a 41 cm deck size. Apart from that the two mowers have exactly the same features, even the grass box is the same with a 50 litre capacity.
The Bosch brand is well known and they have an excellent reputation for reliable affordable products. The Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 is a powerful machine that can handle larger lawns whilst still remaining agile and easy to move. The strong 1700 watt motor will tackle any lawn with ease and the 41 cm blade will make quick work of your lawn.
One of the main features of this Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 mower is what Bosch call ProSilence. The point is that they are very quiet mowers. You have a wide range of 7 cutting height options from 25 mm to 80 mm. Changing the height is quick and easy. The large 50-litre grass box means fewer trips to empty the grass making your work even faster and more efficient. It is collapsible for convenience and easy storage.
Another feature is the ErgoSlide System. This feature makes the lawn mower easier and more comfortable to move around. The ergonomic handles will also add to the ease of use.
The Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 model also has grass combs for great edges and corners as well as LeafCollect to gather leaves as you work on the lawn.
To get a visual representation of this mower, please see my video review of the Bosch AdvancedRotak 650.
Key Features
ProSilence for quiet operation
Integrated Height Adjustment
ErgoSlide for ease of movement
ErgoFlex Ergonomic Handles
Grass comb
LeafCollect
Difference Between the Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 and Bosch AdvancedRotak 750
Many have asked, what’s the difference between the AdvancedRotak 650 and the 750? Well it is very simple, nothing is different apart from the size of the deck/blade. The 650 has a 41 cm deck and the 750 has a deck size of 45 cm, that’s it! The motor is the same power at 1700w and even the grass box has the same capacity at 50 litres.
Which one is best for you depends on the size of your lawn, with the 650 designed for lawns up to 650 m² in size and the 750 is for lawns up to 750 m².
Power System
The Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 features a 1700 watt powerful motor designed to cut larger and more demanding lawns whilst still providing a professional cut. This is assisted by the large amount of cutting heights that I will cover that later in this review.
This is a decent sized motor able to cut lawns that tend to be left longer between cuts and that have grown thicker and longer. The AdvancedRotak 650 made light work of my lawn when it was tested for the first cut in April 2019.
The other great feature of this mower is the ProSilence that reduces the noise level of this motor by up to 75%. I was sceptical at first but was pleasantly surprised at the low noise level of what is a very powerful motor.
The video below from Bosch shows the ProSilence in action. It shows the AdvancedRotak with ProSilence at different distances and compares it to a mower (Rotak 43) without ProSilence. This should clearly show the benefits of the feature.
Power Cable
The lawnmower comes with a 10-metre power cable. If more range is required an extension cord will be needed. This length of power cable is relatively standard for electric lawn mowers.
Features In Detail
Blades
The Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 has strong 41 cm hardened and ground steel blade. Whilst these will need to be sharpened occasionally, they will provide a clean, neat cut and they are extremely durable. If you ever need to replace them, parts are easily available and reasonably priced.
The 41 cm size is ideal for medium to large lawns as it gives a good combination of speed and efficiency whilst still being easy to manoeuvre.
The Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 is equipped with one blade that gives them two very effective benefits…
Metal blades generally wear less quickly than plastic blades which results in you needing to replace the lawnmower blades less often.
Metal blades are generally sharper and provide a cleaner cut to the grass blade, resulting in a neater, tidier and superior finish to your lawn and garden. As as stated above, the metal blades can be sharpened when needed unlike plastic blades.
LeafCollect
Both the 650 and 750 come with a LeafCollect Blade that not only cuts the grass perfectly but also collects leaves for easy disposal. This feature is really very impressive and does indeed “vacuum” the leaves as well as cutting the grass perfectly leaving no chopped up leaves to clean up after, Well done Bosch for a feature that will actually make mowing the lawn that bit easier and quicker.
To see the LeafCollect Blade in action take a look at my video review above.
Replacement Blades
As well as being able to sharpen the blades, it is also possible to purchase a replacement blade for the Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 for around £30 for a genuine replacement. Replacing the blade is relatively easy for anyone with basic DIY skills and tools.
Height Adjustment
It is essential that your lawn mower is highly adjustable to accommodate different lawn types as well as to accommodate for the different seasons. The Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 gives you a choice of 7 settings ranging from 25mm to 80mm on the front and rear wheels. Wow! 7 height adjustments! This really is impressive as some mowers I have tested only have 3, so no matter what type of lawn you have or what your seasonal requirements are, this mower will be perfectly adjustable for your needs.
If you have left your lawn to grow for a while, don’t rush in and cut it on a very low setting. Rather start on a higher setting and progressively cut it lower. This will avoid leaving an untidy patchy appearance or even scalping parts of your lawn.
Is 7 separate cutting lengths better than the competition? Well yes. Some mowers at this price point only have 3 height adjustments, however, most will have 5 so it really does beat the competition hands down.
What really struck me about this mower when I was preparing to mow my lawn is the integrated height adjustment. Some mowers I have reviewed are so difficult to adjust the height, this is normally when the height adjustment lever is located towards the front of the mower or where you have to turn the mower over and manually adjust the front wheels and rear wheels separately.
With the Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 you get an integrated height adjustment feature that is so good and makes adjusting the height a breeze. The handle is located centrally and there is a perfectly placed button that is pressed to either raise or lower the mower. Again see my video above to see just how good this feature is.
Cutting Diameter
The 41 cm cutting diameter of the Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 is ideal for medium to large gardens. The Ergonomic design and smooth running wheels will allow you to zip around the garden in no time but still provide the precision and ease of movement for curves and edges.
Remember, 41 cm is one of the larger deck sizes and is designed for lawns up to 650m², bare in mind a tennis court is around 260m².
If you like the features that Bosch have packed into this mower but want a slightly larger deck size then you may want to consider the identical AdvancedRotak 750 with a larger deck of 45 cm.
Having a large grass box is a bit of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it means that all the trimmings are collected and you need to make less trips to empty it out. A smaller grass box or no grass box will make the lawnmower much lighter and easier to navigate.
Bosch have opted for a large 50 litre grass box on both the AdvancedRotak 750 and the AdvancedRotak 650 it makes sense as both mowers are designed for larger lawns. The mower does a fantastic job of compacting the cuttings into this very large grass box meaning less trips to the compost for emptying. The 650 mower does naturally become heavier as the grass box fills but I never had any issues manoeuvring the mower around the lawn. Having said that I don’t really have any steep inclines in my garden, but I guess you could always empty the grass box before it is completely full or starting to become heavy.
The grass box does come with a handy gauge indicating when the grass box is getting full, again a nice touch as not all mowers have this.
The grass box on both the 750 and 650 have a solid top and bottom and a woven material side. This allows the grass collection box to be folded nicely flat to reduce storage space. There are a couple of small negatives with this type of grass collection box:-
The material is more prone to damage from tearing when in use, however, the material is good quality and if looked after should not be an issue.
Because the grass collection box folds flat there are two fold-able arms near the box opening, when emptying the cuttings these slightly obstructs and restricts the flow of the cuttings when emptying. Also, because the Bosch 650 does such a good job of compacting the cuttings a good shake of the collection box is needed to eject all the cuttings.
These are very minor issues, I just thought you should be aware of them anyway.
Safety Features
Another feature Bosch products are well known for is a great safety record. Obviously, if not used correctly, any lawnmower can be dangerous but Bosch has done everything they can to make the AdvancedRotak 650 as safe as possible without reducing its effectiveness.
The lawnmower comes with a detailed and clear safety guide and provided you follow these instructions you will not have any problems.
With the ProSilence feature Bosch have also kept vibrations and noise at extremely good levels for a mower of this power.
It conforms to all the main local and international quality and safety standards.
Another safety feature they have built in is double insulation to prevent any risk of electrical shock under normal conditions and use. It also has a protector to prevent the motor from overheating. When it reaches a certain temperature, the motor will shut off. Only once it has cooled down to acceptable levels it can be used again.
As with all corded lawnmowers, there is a safety button that needs to be held in in order for the starter grip to be activated. There is no additional removable safety key with the AdvancedRotak 650.
Roller (Stripes)
Good news! The Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 does have a rear roller for a stripey lawn appearance.
Mulching
The Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 does not have the ability to mulch the lawn out of the box, but an optional mulching attachment (Multimulch) can be purchased separately to enable it to do so.
The Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 comes with a full 3 year manufacturers warranty covering both faulty materials and faulty workmanship, it does not cover general wear and tear or damage, blades and other consumables.
What’s Included in the Box?
The mower itself
50 Lt grass box
10 metre cable
Instruction Manual
Pros and Cons
Pros
Features that help make mowing your lawn easier – ProSilence, ErgoSlide, LeafCollect, ErgoFlex and Integrated Height Adjustment
Powerful motor
Large grass box
Silent operation
Cons
10 metre cord a little short
Grass bag can be a bit tricky to empty
Ten metres for a mower designed for larger lawns is not long enough. I know this is not such a big deal and can be easily rectified by an extension cable, but it’s worth mentioning anyway.
When it was time to upgrade my lawn mower, the Bosch AdvancedRotak 650 really stood out to me. I’ve got a large garden, so I needed a heavy-duty machine that could handle thick grass.
Right away, I was impressed with the build quality. You can tell Bosch uses sturdy, long-lasting materials. Even the rubber tyres felt solid. With its powerful 1700W motor, this mower made light work of my lawn.
One of my favourite features is the seven cutting height adjustments. Being able to easily change the height from the central handle is so convenient. Some other mowers make you struggle with a front lever. I also appreciate the huge 50-litre grass bag that tells me when it’s full.
Admittedly, it’s more expensive than some options. But after using it, I can say it’s worth the investment. The ergonomic handles and posture control make mowing way more comfortable. Having power buttons on both grips is perfect for navigating corners one-handed.
I was surprised by how quiet it runs considering the size and power. At 75dB, it’s much quieter than you’d expect. The leaf collection blades and compact storage design are nice bonuses too.
Overall, after putting it through its paces on my garden, I found the Bosch to be a really well-designed mower. The features made light work of any grass or conditions. For serious gardeners like me, it’s an excellent machine.
The Advanced garden tools from Bosch - most powerful for the highest demands and biggest projects
Quiet mowing: Pleasant garden work with the lawnmower due to the reduced noise by up to 75 percent and balanced acoustics thanks to the ProSilence technology
Easily adjusted cutting height: Simply set grass length between 25 and 80 mm in 7 stages with just one click of a button
Comfortable mowing: Healthy working posture for every body size due to height adjustable ErgoSlide handles
Collecting and shredding leaves: Easily collect, shred and dispose leaves thanks to the LeafCollect blade
Last update on 2024-09-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
As a seasoned expert in the field of garden power tools, I have dedicated over a decade to working with and reviewing a wide variety of lawn mowers. My extensive experience has allowed me to gain a deep understanding of the benefits and limitations of different types of mowers and garden tools.
Over the years, I have honed my skills in writing informative articles and creating helpful videos for various blogs and publications. This has given me the ability to not only recognise what makes a good lawn mower, but also to help you choose the perfect garden tool for your specific needs and requirements.
With my wealth of knowledge and expertise, I am confident that I can provide you with valuable insights and recommendations when it comes to selecting the right lawn mower for your lawn. So, whether you're looking for a battery cordless, electric, petrol, or robotic mower, you can trust in my expertise to guide you towards the best option for your garden.
Hi , I’ve just bought the cordless Bosch Advanced Rotak 36 650 . I’ve unboxed it but it’s not time to use it yet. I can’t figure out how to fold the handle over for storage and I’m also not sure if the isolator key is supposed to be removed from the lawnmower before storage. I’m storing the battery and charger indoors. I’d be really grateful for your help. I’m good at gardening but not so good at setting up and dismantling my gardening tools!
Dear Elaine, thanks for your message. In order to fold the handles you need to push down slightly on them towards the deck. You can see me doing this on the video link below.
With regards to the safety key, it really doesn’t matter whether you leave it in or not whilst in storage, its primary purpose is safety and to stop the mower being started by children etc.
The battery and the charger can be stored in the garage or shed, as this will protect them from extreme temperatures. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks
Mark
These lawn mowers go wrong/break far too easily. My second one is now unusable so I shall have to look for an alternative that doesn’t give me these problems.
Do I buy a cheapo one or go for something more upmarket? It certainly won’t be a Bosch; they are too much trouble.
My Mountfield is stillusable after over 30 years and was a much better buy.
Can you please let us know what issues you have had, what goes wrong and where do they break. This is not my experience of the Bosch mowers so it would be good to know some specifics.
Just tried to use my Rotak 650 for the first cut of the year and after 10 minutes the blades stopped and the motor just hummed for a bit and then cut out completely with a smell of burning. This product was puchased in May 2021 and used for a few cuts last year. Not very impressed for the amount of money it cost me. Would not recommend. Will now struggle with warranty as I can’t find the receipt which I need . Will try and claim back through my credit card company.
Thanks for you feedback on this mower, this is the first time anyone has reported problems like this. Please try to reach out to Bosch (https://www.bosch-diy.com/gb/en/service/contact-form), regardless if you have the receipt and see if they will take a look at the mower for you.
Hi Dave, there is no dedicated onboard storage hooks, you can simply just wrap it around the bars at the end. Alternatively the cable can be disconnected from the mower and stored separately.
Kind regards
Mark
Hi, I am told by Bosch that all their lawnmovers (including this model) have the roller on the back but when I search online for this model many sellers, including John Lewis description states no roller. Can you clarify whether or not the machine is still built with the roller (for stripey lawn effect). Many thanks.
Yes, the one I tested most certainly did have a roller. I have been told that a customer did receive one without the rear roller, so perhaps the batch John Lewis have do not.
Sorry I can’t me more helpful.
If you do purchase, would you be so kind and let us know if the 650 did indeed have a roller and how you get on with the mower?
What is the difference between the Bosch rotak universal 650 or the advance 650. Apart from price and the advance being quilter. B&Q reviews on the universal are dreadful Screwfix reviews are ok The power of the motor 1700 are exactly the same
As you state in your review cable length of 10 meters is a problem. Previously I had a Rotak40 that had a 15 meter cable.Their selling point of big grass box saving time by less emptying is nullified by the need to keep moving extension leads. If you think logically that cable should have been made longer not shorter.
Many thanks for your help. The box does say the button changes the height from 20 to 8omm in 7 easy steps. Upon investigation I found that above the no 3 setting there is a further one marked Min. I had to press down very hard on the mower (without breaking it) I can now see Min more clearly although it still hasn’t fully come into the display area as the top of the 3 is still visible. However I think that the mower is now set for 20mm. I will try it out once the grass next needs mowing
Once again ,many thanks
I have just purchased an Advanced Rotak 650. The blade settings are 3,4,5,6,and 7. There are no shorter settings so I cannot cut the grass really short as compared with my previous mower. Rotak 40. Therefore there are not 7 settings but only 5. Is there a way to cut the grass shorter? Otherwise the mower works fine
Hi!
Just read your review of the Bosch advanced rotak 650 and have a question. From images it looks like the entire body of the mower is nothing but plastic, is this so?
Does this also go for the innermost dish that encapsulates the blade?
I’m thinking about how muck damage it could get from pebbles/rocks or small tree branches that could end up in/on the lawn and therefore in the mower.
How durable construction over all would you rate it being plastic and all (if that indeed is the case).
Best regards,
Martin
Yes, the body is entirely plastic including the deck, however the Bosch mower is well built and the plastic feels good quality unlike some other brands.
I do understand what you are saying, after only a couple of mows I could see scrapes and scuffs on the plastic sides and deck. This does not affect the performance of the mower but does make it that bit more difficult to clean.
This is the same for most plastic electric mowers I have tested/used over the years.
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Hi , I’ve just bought the cordless Bosch Advanced Rotak 36 650 . I’ve unboxed it but it’s not time to use it yet. I can’t figure out how to fold the handle over for storage and I’m also not sure if the isolator key is supposed to be removed from the lawnmower before storage. I’m storing the battery and charger indoors. I’d be really grateful for your help. I’m good at gardening but not so good at setting up and dismantling my gardening tools!
Dear Elaine, thanks for your message. In order to fold the handles you need to push down slightly on them towards the deck. You can see me doing this on the video link below.
https://youtu.be/IyzvFXOpI0I?t=473
With regards to the safety key, it really doesn’t matter whether you leave it in or not whilst in storage, its primary purpose is safety and to stop the mower being started by children etc.
The battery and the charger can be stored in the garage or shed, as this will protect them from extreme temperatures. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
Thanks
Mark
These lawn mowers go wrong/break far too easily. My second one is now unusable so I shall have to look for an alternative that doesn’t give me these problems.
Do I buy a cheapo one or go for something more upmarket? It certainly won’t be a Bosch; they are too much trouble.
My Mountfield is stillusable after over 30 years and was a much better buy.
Hi Ken
Can you please let us know what issues you have had, what goes wrong and where do they break. This is not my experience of the Bosch mowers so it would be good to know some specifics.
Thanks
Mark
I have the same problem. MIN comes into view but when you take your finger off the button it reverts back to height 3. Any ideas?
Just tried to use my Rotak 650 for the first cut of the year and after 10 minutes the blades stopped and the motor just hummed for a bit and then cut out completely with a smell of burning. This product was puchased in May 2021 and used for a few cuts last year. Not very impressed for the amount of money it cost me. Would not recommend. Will now struggle with warranty as I can’t find the receipt which I need . Will try and claim back through my credit card company.
Hi Bob
Thanks for you feedback on this mower, this is the first time anyone has reported problems like this. Please try to reach out to Bosch (https://www.bosch-diy.com/gb/en/service/contact-form), regardless if you have the receipt and see if they will take a look at the mower for you.
Please let me know how you get on.
Thanks
Mark
A great review, I bought a AdvancedRotak 650 from Amazon on special offer (£182) and I’m really pleased with it.
Thanks 👍
Hi Dave
Thanks so much for your feedback.
Kind regards
Mark
How do you wrap /store the cord?
Hi Dave, there is no dedicated onboard storage hooks, you can simply just wrap it around the bars at the end. Alternatively the cable can be disconnected from the mower and stored separately.
Kind regards
Mark
Hi, I am told by Bosch that all their lawnmovers (including this model) have the roller on the back but when I search online for this model many sellers, including John Lewis description states no roller. Can you clarify whether or not the machine is still built with the roller (for stripey lawn effect). Many thanks.
Hi Deana
Yes, the one I tested most certainly did have a roller. I have been told that a customer did receive one without the rear roller, so perhaps the batch John Lewis have do not.
Sorry I can’t me more helpful.
If you do purchase, would you be so kind and let us know if the 650 did indeed have a roller and how you get on with the mower?
Many thanks
Mark
What is the difference between the Bosch rotak universal 650 or the advance 650. Apart from price and the advance being quilter. B&Q reviews on the universal are dreadful Screwfix reviews are ok The power of the motor 1700 are exactly the same
Hi Jean
The UniversalRotak does NOT have Ergoslide handles or the ProSilence features, the AdvancedRotak does.
Thanks
Mark
As you state in your review cable length of 10 meters is a problem. Previously I had a Rotak40 that had a 15 meter cable.Their selling point of big grass box saving time by less emptying is nullified by the need to keep moving extension leads. If you think logically that cable should have been made longer not shorter.
HI Jim, thanks for your comments, I completely agree that the cable should have been longer.
Thanks
Mark
Hi Mark
Many thanks for your help. The box does say the button changes the height from 20 to 8omm in 7 easy steps. Upon investigation I found that above the no 3 setting there is a further one marked Min. I had to press down very hard on the mower (without breaking it) I can now see Min more clearly although it still hasn’t fully come into the display area as the top of the 3 is still visible. However I think that the mower is now set for 20mm. I will try it out once the grass next needs mowing
Once again ,many thanks
I have just purchased an Advanced Rotak 650. The blade settings are 3,4,5,6,and 7. There are no shorter settings so I cannot cut the grass really short as compared with my previous mower. Rotak 40. Therefore there are not 7 settings but only 5. Is there a way to cut the grass shorter? Otherwise the mower works fine
Hi Adrian
This is very strange. Here is a photo on the side of my box of the 750 (that has the same number and cutting heights as the 650).
https://bestlawnmowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_0505-scaled.jpg
I also have a MIN and MAX setting that would explain the 2 missing settings. Please see photo here:-
https://bestlawnmowers.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/IMG_7765-scaled.jpg
What does it say on your box?
I can always contact Bosch for clarification if yours has different settings.
Please let me know.
Many thanks
Mark
I have a Bosch 650 96 dB lawnmower. How should I operate the button which lifts the blade to different heights?
It seems to be ineffective.
Hi Jane
Press the button and push down on the mower to lower. Press the button with no pressure and the mower will raise up.
If you take a look at my video on the link below, at around 3.28 min you will see the height adjustment in operation.
https://youtu.be/IyzvFXOpI0I
Kind regards
Mark
Hi!
Just read your review of the Bosch advanced rotak 650 and have a question. From images it looks like the entire body of the mower is nothing but plastic, is this so?
Does this also go for the innermost dish that encapsulates the blade?
I’m thinking about how muck damage it could get from pebbles/rocks or small tree branches that could end up in/on the lawn and therefore in the mower.
How durable construction over all would you rate it being plastic and all (if that indeed is the case).
Best regards,
Martin
Hi Martin
Thanks for your message.
Yes, the body is entirely plastic including the deck, however the Bosch mower is well built and the plastic feels good quality unlike some other brands.
I do understand what you are saying, after only a couple of mows I could see scrapes and scuffs on the plastic sides and deck. This does not affect the performance of the mower but does make it that bit more difficult to clean.
This is the same for most plastic electric mowers I have tested/used over the years.
Kind regards
Mark
Very helpful. It is reassuring that mention was made of the only negative aspect, i.e. the fabric grass box. Thank you