The Bosch 500 Series dishwashers with a redesigned pocket handle, deliver a smarter clean for sparkling dishes every time with advanced PrecisionWash technology. With PrecisionWash, intelligent sensors monitor food particles in the wash water and automatically adjust the cycle for a smarter clean. A convenient 3rd rack provides additional loading space for cutlery and utensils. Get personalized app features like smart cycle, hands-free voice control with Amazon Alexa or Google Home, and so much more, all when you use Wi-Fi-enabled Home Connect.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Although my review covers the SHP95CM5N much of what I write may also pertain to the 300, 800 and Benchmark Series dishwashers. I can compare it directly to the 800 Series as I purchased and returned it.
First, I think there's no perfect dishwasher. I considered a KitchenAid but could fit 11" plates only along the back of the bottom rack. With that back row occupied I couldn't fit any of those same size plates across the front of the rack. I also considered LG. The same plates wouldn't fit across the front of the bottom rack because they were obstructed by an unusually long rack handle. So, my thought is, despite everything you may read about Bosch rack loading, including my complaints, many dishwashers have there unique issues. I chose Bosch because I was pleased with the two I had over the past 24 years and quite disappointed with other brands I've also owned.
Regarding loading, I don't have many issues with the lower rack as many seem to have. The SHP95C holds 19 full size plates across the back of the bottom rack. If I recall correctly the SHP 78C holds 16 to allow space on the right side of the rack for a small utensil basket or bowl. Its hard to get a bowl into that space but I find the additional space for plates on the SHP95C useful. With both models (and most likely all Bosch models) bowls fit perfectly upright in the front perpendicular tines without nesting. So do salad plates. All have an odd, useless space at the right front corner of the lower rack. It's fine to fit the utensil basket (with bowls) or a large pot (minus the bowls) but nothing else fits without toppling the bowls. My plates are mostly Corelle and fairly flat. If your plates are deeply concaved this dishwasher might not work for you as the tines are narrow and the plates will most likely fall over each other. I strongly recommend bringing cups, glasses and plates when you shop.
The top rack is a nuisance. As with almost all dishwashers, there are five rows across for glasses and such. The left row is fine for glasses, cups and mugs. The next, intended for small plates, is mostly useless as all are. The third from the left is wide but it's not angled sufficiently to allow water to run off anything with a recessed top. The fourth is narrow and fits glassed no wider than 2 5/8" wide. If those narrow glasses are tall the vertical tines, slanted toward the back, tend to topple them backward. The right row is as wide as the far left but its difficult to get anything in there because the cup shelves take up too much space. Oddly, rather than facing up when not in use and flipped down when needed, they store in the down position in the rack where items go and prevent items from fitting. And, if you do get small cups or glasses in there and decide you need to use the cup shelf for additional items you have to remove the already loaded items to lift the shelves into position! Then, if possible, you squeeze those same items you initially loaded and then unloaded under the cup shelves to load cups on top. I removed mine. They snap off. And, to address all the issues noted, I'll just shop for cups and glasses that fit.
This SHP95C uses the Pure Dry system for drying as does the 300 Series. It works but not perfectly. My previous Bosh dishwashers had the same type of condensation drying but included a vent tube that would direct condensation back down to the sump. This one doesn't. Those older ones worked better. This one, set to either regular or extra dry, with rinse aid settings of 3 to 5, gets plates, glasses and utensils dry but cups or mugs that have recesses are often wet in those recesses and need to be dabbed with a dishtowel before unloading. The problem isn't the drying system. Everything is so hot I could burn my fingers touching them. The problem is the upper rack does not angle cups sufficiently to allow water to run off. This is the case if I open the door at the cycle end and unload in about 15 minutes. If I leave the door closed overnight and unload in the morning the contents are just as dry (but the recesses in cups and mugs may or may not be wet) but the dishwasher walls are somewhat wet. The interior dries quickly if I leave the door ajar. So it's not the best drying but not awful.
Crystal Dry on the 800 Series dried everything except, strangely, the right rear lower tub. I assume it works well on the Benchmark Series.
The AutoAir feature, which opens the door at the end of the cycle on other 500 Series models, may not dry any better than this model without the feature. I think its final rinse temperature may not be as high although I'm not sure. And, in any case, mine, when I open the door right after the cycle ends, still leaves cups and mugs wet on top. And this model is quiet but not as quiet as the SHP95C. (I know. My sister has one.)
Regarding wash performance, it's fine. I saw no difference between the standard wash arm in this model as compared to the PowerWash arm in the 800 and Benchmark Series. I didn't, however, wash anything with extremely difficult to remove, baked on soil.
What some reviewers note as design flaws may be due to manufacturing flaws and may not be common to all models. I returned my SHP78C because the middle rack had difficulty docking with the water feed tube at the back of the dishwasher. I have no problem with this one and it uses the same parts as the one I returned. I notice I can slightly hear the drain pump on this SHP95C and didn't hear it on the one I returned yet it uses the same pump.
Finally, this is the quietest dishwasher I've owned. It's located next to my refrigerator. As I was dispensing water at my refrigerator it dawned on me that I could hear the hum of the dispenser and not the dishwasher operating. I could hear the 800 Series a bit more than this one but the difference might not be significant to everyone. I could slightly hear a faint running (not splashing) water noise when the 800 Series operated. I don't hear that with this model.
Despite some nagging loading and minor drying issues I'm very pleased with this dishwasher.. Jagitator. Fri, 30 Oct 2026
