Bosch 800 Series SHP78CM5N Dishwasher Review

About the Bosch SHP78CM5N dishwasher

• Dimensions: 23 9/16” x 23 3/4" x 33 7/8" (W x D x H)
• Finishes: Stainless steel
• Cycles: Heavy, Auto, Normal, Speed 60, Favorite
• Cycle Options: Sanitize, Crystal Dry
• Special Features: PrecisionWash with PowerControl, stainless-steel wash tub, EasyGlide racks, CrystalDry with zeolite
• Control panel: Top-control
• ADA complainant: No
• Energy Star rated: Yes
• User manual: Bosch 800 Series SHP78CM5N dishwasher manual

This model is the first we’re testing in Bosch’s redesigned 2023 lineup. The Bosch SHP78CM5N dishwasher has a sleek design, with a large pocket handle as the only feature on its facade. There's also a tiny LED indicator light inlaid on the right side of the indent.

Opening up the door reveals a stainless-steel tub with three racks. The middle and third racks can be adjusted vertically. The middle and lower racks both feature foldable tines to help accommodate bulkier items.

This is also one of the quieter dishwashers on the market, landing at just 42 dBA (though other, even quieter dishwashers can get down to 39 dBA).

What we like

It cleans thoroughly

We tested out the Heavy, Auto, Normal, and Speed 60 cycles and across the board, the 800 Series impressed us with its cleaning ability.

The Heavy cycle was capable of dealing with baked-on spinach, oatmeal, and sugar. This cycle got all our testing dishes 99.97% clean, which is especially remarkable when you consider that our tests are designed to be unbeatable.

For comparison's sake, most dishwashers average somewhere in the low 90% range. While even 2% of food soil remaining would be enough to consider the plate still dirty, 99.97% clean is equivalent to everything being just about spotless. The gulf between the performance of this dishwasher's Heavy cycle and the average dishwasher is huge.

The Auto, Normal, and Speed 60 scored 99.38%, 95.73%, and 97.11% respectively, all of which are also impressive. All in all, you should have no issue with the cleaning capabilities of the Bosch 800 Series SHP78CM5N.

These great test results are likely due in part to the new Power Control Spray Arm design. Most dishwashers have a spray arm with two spokes that rotate like a propeller. This new Bosch design basically adds a three-pronged wash arm at the end of one of those spokes, which then rotates as it sprays. This setup allows water jets to wash your dishes from significantly more angles than a traditional spray arm.

This design also has some interesting functionality via the companion app. Using the app, you can pick a specific quadrant that the dishwasher will then target with stronger wash jets. You can, for example, load up a pan with baked-on lasagna in the front left quadrant, indicate that area in the app, and the dishwasher will know that's where the hardest-to-clean stains are and wash accordingly.

While other dishwashers have some capacity to single out areas for deep cleaning, none we've tested so far offer this degree of control over four different zones. The Power Control feature basically takes this kind of technology up to the next level.

It cleans quickly

While we have seen some higher-end machines hit performance numbers like these before, we haven't seen any dishwasher do so in such a short cycle time.

The Heavy Cycle clocked in at two hours and five minutes, while a similar cycle on the more moderately priced LG LDTH7972S took three hours and 22 minutes—with worse results.

The Normal Cycle also finished in about two hours and five minutes, while the Speed 60 cycle fulfilled its hour-long cycle promise. The Auto Cycle adjusts based on how soiled your dishes are, and our fully soiled load took a little under two hours.

You get bone-dry, cupboard-ready dishes every time

This dishwasher leverages zeolite, a mineral that chemically heats up when exposed to water, in order to dry dishes, which is different technology from other dishwashers that dry well.

This material is how Bosch’s CrystalDry feature is able to get rid of water that other dishwashers leave behind, on everything from stoneware to Tupperware. The latter is a notable achievement, as plastic items otherwise have a nasty tendency to pool water on any flat surface.

We tested this drying feature out with Tupperware lids, wine glasses, and bowls: three different materials that each provide plenty of nooks and curves for water droplets to collect on.

The end results? The wine glasses and bowls were completely dry to the touch. The lids had a few drops trapped in the groove along its lip but were otherwise ready for storage.

This dishwasher is well-designed, inside and out

The Bosch SHP78CM5N isn't just a high-performance dishwasher: It also features some upgrades that really make it something special.

This dishwasher's interior is completely stainless steel from tub to door, which helps it maintain very low noise levels during a cycle.

The middle rack can be adjusted up and down to accommodate for taller items stored above or below. The middle and bottom racks also have sets of tines that fold down to allow for larger items to be placed in.

The flexible 3rd rack can be raised or lowered to accommodate taller items stored above or below.

While the third rack is becoming standard in many new dishwashers these days, the Bosch 800 Series goes a step further with an adjustable third rack, which features pull-down sides that let you create a little bit of extra space for deeper ladles and measuring cups.

This combination of features makes the SHP78CM5N flexible enough to accommodate just about anything, from awkwardly tall thermoses to small espresso cups to bulky ceramic cookware.

The sleek exterior only has a single pocket handle with an LED indicator, keeping the facade clean and simple. And the controls are top-mounted, which keeps them out of sight when the machine is closed.

The front of the dishwasher features a fingerprint-resistant finish that doesn't pick up smudges easily. We were able to run our hands over the finish without any blemishes appearing on the surface.

The control panel itself is also significantly pared down: Many items have been moved from the physical control panel to the app. This helps make the on-board controls simpler and easier to use, while letting those who want more customization access it via the app.

The Home Connect app offers powerful customization

Bosch has rolled out an updated version of its Home Connect smart app, and it covers all the bases: Remote start, cycle customization, notifications when a cycle is complete, and the ability to access additional wash cycles.

The SHP78CM5N's Power Control feature is an upgrade to similar features we've seen in other dishwashers. This feature lets you single out a specific quadrant that needs to receive the most washing power in any given cycle.

While these sorts of power washing zones aren't new, Bosch offers significantly more customization than its competitors. In other dishwashers, you are often confined to certain areas where the power washing is enabled.

Bosch, however, allows you to load your dishwasher however you need to, then pick a specific section via the app to customize how that area is cleaned.

We haven't seen other dishwashers offer this level of granularity when selecting power-wash zones, nor the level of customization that's available within the app to specify how the dishwasher cleans. Bosch's implementation takes this technology to new heights, and we're excited to see how they continue to develop the feature in future updates.

What we also appreciate about the app is how much useful information it shows you. For example, selecting the Delay Start option will tell you when a cycle ends ahead of time, rather than leave it nebulous so its sensors can suss out the cycle time as it's running.

That’s just another little detail that helps make sure that the dishwasher revolves around your life—not the other way around.

What we don’t like

The controls are both too responsive and yet not responsive enough (we’ll explain)

The controls on this dishwasher feel inconsistent: During testing, sometimes we double-tapped inputs, and other times the inputs wouldn't register.

There are no physical buttons on the SHP78CM5N’s control panel, just touch controls. And the touch controls can be a little finicky.

During testing, we experienced a lot of mis-taps and double taps. Using the control panel, it felt as though the buttons would be too sensitive to touch. Other times, they weren't sensitive enough.

This is not a major flaw, but it’s noticeable in a dishwasher that otherwise features impeccable design. It's especially noticeable if you're in a hurry.

The app is a double-edged sword

While we like the app in general, some customization options can only be accessed via the app, like Delay Wash, adjusting cycle temperatures, or setting up those power wash zones.

Offloading some options to the app does help keep the main control panel decluttered; however, it also means that users who choose not to enable Home Connect won’t be able to access the added functionality.

Given that some of this functionality is significant—such as setting up the wash zones—those who choose not to enable the Home Connect app won’t be able to access the added functionality. If you fall into the camp of consumers who aren't interested in the connected app, be aware you're giving up some of this machine's best features.

What owners are saying

We were able to get this Bosch in our lab for testing as it was being released to market, so there aren't any consumer reviews posted just yet. We'll update this section in the future once they start getting posted.

Warranty

Bosch offers an industry-standard 1-year warranty that covers parts and labor for the SHP78CM5N, with a 5-year extended warranty for the racks and circuitry, and a lifetime guarantee on any rust damage on the stainless-steel fixtures.

We're happy that Bosch goes above and beyond to ensure their product remains functional far into its lifespan.

Should you buy the Bosch 800 Series SHP78CM5N dishwasher?

Yes—This is one of the best dishwashers we've tested

It's rare that a higher-priced product actually manages to make its case for your investment, but the Bosch 800 Series SHP78CM5N does exactly that.

This machine cleans significantly better than almost every other dishwasher in this price range, and it doesn't get tripped up by stains that other models barely touch. In our testing, cycles finished with clean, dry dishes in record time.

The machine also features great design at almost every turn. We love the adjustable racks, folding tines, and app support. It is difficult to find a dishwasher that's as efficient as the Bosch SHP78CM5N. Its combination of excellent cleaning performance with impressive speed goes a long way towards justifying its price tag.

The only complaints we have are minimal: The controls are sometimes finicky, and some options are only accessible via the app.

While the SHP78CM5N is a significant purchase, Bosch's excellent warranty program helps provide peace-of-mind from knowing that even if something should go wrong, you can likely get it fixed quickly and without additional spending.

The Bosch 800 Series SHP78CM5N is currently our top-rated dishwasher, and we recommend it to anyone looking to invest in the best of the best.

For those who want a great dishwasher but aren't looking for this level of investment, check out the Bosch 500 Series SHPM65Z55N. While it lacks the technological advancements of the Bosch 800 Series, it still provides Bosch's exceptional cleaning abilities.