BOSCH Unlimited Series 8 Review (UK)

The key question when buying a vacuum is: how well does it clean?

That’s why we put in our vacuum reviews so much focus on the cleaning test.

We spread three kinds of dirt (sand, oat flakes and lentils) on three different floor types (laminate, short and long pile carpet). Then we check how well the vacuum copes with the dirt in turbo mode.

All in all, the BOSCH Unlimited Pro Power BSS81POW1 cordless vacuum impressed with its extremely powerful suction in the cleaning tests.

We even had to hold down the carpets so that we could vacuum them in turbo mode.

The Bosch came out with flying colours in our cleaning test thanks to the super-strong suction power. The cordless vacuum cleaner sometimes removed even more dirt from the carpets than we had spread on them.

Sucking up the deep-seated dirt from past tests - only the Dyson V10 and the Dyson V11 or the Tineco S12 have managed that so far.

How is the cleaning performance on hard floors?

The cleaning performance on hard floors was outstanding. It just took a little longer with the lentils and the oat flakes because it pushed a few lentils in front of the brush at first.

The cleaning performance on short pile carpets

The Bosch did a great job here, too and managed to clean up anything we threw at it. A minor drawback was that the brush blocked once or twice. The cleaning performance didn’t suffer from that, but it wasn’t such a great feeling of comfort anymore.

The cleaning performance on long pile carpet

On our long carpet, the Bosch cordless vacuum cleaner managed to suck out even more dirt than we had spread. It scored a whopping 101%. The Bosch achieved this top result thanks to its powerful suction.

Conclusion of the Cleaning Test

The Bosch achieved an outstanding cleaning result.

The only disadvantage was that it pushed coarse dirt in front of the brush sometimes. That’s probably because the suction power is too strong for the brush’s narrow slot.

It somewhat sucks in the carpet, and the brush’s slot becomes even more narrow. Thus it can’t suck in coarse dirt such as lentils or oat flakes immediately.

The Bosch Unlimited ProPower in everyday use

We also always track how the devices perform in everyday life over a longer period.

We were delighted with its cleaning performance. It had no problems removing everyday dirt.

It’s much less likely that dirt accumulates in everyday life as we simulated in our test.

It’s very versatile in use on all floor types, and we were able to clean everything without any problems.

The included accessories of a cordless vacuum extend or reduce the range of applications enormously. Therefore, accessories are also an important criterion when you’re looking for a new vacuum.

You’ll usually see the differences of manufacturer’s models in the delivery scope. Sometimes you pay much more for a particular model of the same series, even though only one extra gadget is included.

What about the Bosch Unlimited Series 8?

The Bosch Unlimited Pro Power BSS81POW1 cordless vacuum comes with many well-thought-out gadgets.

• The centrepiece: The motor unit

• The suction pipe

• The High Power Brush

• Flexible crevice tool

• Multitool

• Adapter

• Upholstery nozzle

• Pipe Bracket for accessories

• Wall mount

• Charger

We’ll take a closer look at some of these accessories now.

The Bosch Automatic Electric Brush: High Power Brush

The brush has its own drive and rotates automatically. This way, it transports the dirt better into the suction tube.

Our test proved that it works very well on hard floors (laminate, etc.).

On carpeted floors, the brush blocked more often and didn’t really improve the performance.

Another minor drawback is that the brush reacts with a slight delay. So if we press the power button, it starts after two seconds. We’ve got higher standards because other devices don’t have any delays.

The flexible crevice tool

This cleaner head is an exceptionally long crevice nozzle that you can bend. That was very useful when vacuuming, as you can reach every crack and crevice with it.

The practical multitool

We already know this multitool from other manufacturers in the UK.

Who invented it?

No idea!

But it’s efficient.

You use the brush if you want to clean delicate objects. But if you want to get rid of stubborn dirt on non-sensitive surfaces, you can pull back the brush and vacuum with the hard end.

The pipe attachment bracket for the accessories

The pipe bracket is also a useful extra. You can plug it into the suction tube and then attach a cleaning head like the crevice nozzle. You’ll always have the necessary attachments at hand.

The wall bracket

You can store the vacuum upright thanks to the docking station. This way, it won't take up much space.

A nice extra is that you can attach the charger. Now you can charge the vacuum cleaner when you stow it on the bracket.

The differences between the two models

The main difference between the BBS1U224 and BSS81POW1 of the Bosch Unlimited Series 8 is the delivery scope, apart from the price.

The BSS81POW1 comes with a 5.0 lithium-ion battery, and the BBS1U224 has a 6.0 lithium-ion battery. That’s why the BBS1U224’s runtime is 5 minutes longer. However, it also takes an hour longer to charge (that’s the manufacturer's specifications).

Who should choose which model?

We recommend the Bosch Unlimited Pro Power BSS81POW1.

We think that 5-minute longer battery life isn’t worth an extra 50 bucks. And you get three additional accessories with the BSS81POW1: Multitool, adapter, pipe attachment holder.

Commissioning

We noticed that the cordless vacuum cleaner and the accessories came in an elegant package made of recycled paper during unboxing. Now Bosch only has to get rid of the plastic bags for the individual parts, and the packaging will be entirely eco-friendly.

You just have to charge the battery after unpacking, and then you can move onto the easy start-up. Simply attach the desired accessories to the vacuum cleaner, and off you go. The plug-in system looks well-made and works smoothly.

What’s the runtime of one battery charge?

We had a more challenging time rating Bosch’s battery system.

A real advantage is that you can easily replace the battery. This naturally increases the runtime.

The device also belongs to the Bosch series called "Power for all". All the appliances in this series use the same batteries, and you can swap the batteries between the devices.

Where there is light, there is also shadow

It’s an essential criterion for us that you can exchange the battery.

The Unlimited's runtime is about 34 minutes in normal mode, which is relatively short compared to other premium cordless vacuums.

The runtime of the BBS1U224 from the 8 series is about 40 minutes, which is also quite short. There are many devices with a longer battery life these days.

It also takes 5.5 hours to charge the vacuum, which is long, too. You can buy a rapid charger that takes only 70 minutes to charge the battery. However, this costs another 60 pounds, in addition to the expensive purchase price.

Soundcheck of the BOSCH Unlimited Series 8 cordless vacuum

We measured between 66 and 72 dB while testing the BOSCH Unlimited Series 8 cordless vacuum. This volume is tolerable, and you can still have a conversation while vacuuming.

The manoeuvrability of Bosch’s cordless stick vacuum

The device sits nicely in the hand when vacuuming. The weight is well-distributed, so it’s not exhausting even if you clean for more extended periods.

The High Power brush has great "gliding properties", which also contribute to the cordless vacuum’s smooth movement.

The brush has a practical joint with which you can move it well in corners. That improves its performance.

We were thrilled with the powerful suction of the device. You’ll get your money’s worth.

Almost no other vacuum has been as powerful as the Bosch Unlimited Series 8 cordless vacuum. The cleaning performance was also excellent thanks to the strong suction power.

The workmanship is of the highest quality and proves that Bosch stands for "made in Germany".

So if you want a premium vacuum that cleans carpets and hard floors perfectly, the Bosch Unlimited Pro Power is a good choice.

The device’s battery life is a slight drawback. However, it’s a nice extra that you can use the batteries also with other Bosch appliances. That way, you can extend the runtime as much as you like.

What we didn't like was the emptying function of the appliance. It’s somewhat cumbersome and unsuitable for allergy sufferers. We also tested a cordless vacuum cleaner that’s particularly suitable for allergy sufferers: The Vorwerk VB 100 review.