Bosch GTS 18V-57 Jigsaw UK Review – Tested and Rated

The Bosch GTS 18V-57 sits fourth in our best cordless jigsaws UK comparison – a position that reflects genuine performance strengths offset by a price point that makes the value calculation tighter than it might appear from the specification alone. At 0-2,600 spm with a brushless motor, 5-stage orbital action and the best SDS blade change mechanism in the group, the GTS 18V-57 delivers excellent cut quality and a premium user experience. The problem it faces is that the Makita DJV182Z offers comparable overall performance at £115 body only, making the Bosch’s additional £5 hard to justify on performance grounds for buyers without an existing Bosch Professional platform.

Where the GTS 18V-57 genuinely pulls ahead of every other tool in the comparison is the blade change mechanism and the LED work light – two features that have real practical value for specific users. For a joiner or cabinet maker who changes blades constantly throughout a working day and works in confined or poorly lit spaces, these two features combined with best-in-class finish cut quality make a compelling case. For the general buyer, it is a very close decision with the Makita.

Overview and first impressions

The GTS 18V-57 is compact and well-balanced from the moment it is picked up. At 1.5kg bare it matches the Makita as the joint-lightest tool in our comparison, and the balance with a blade fitted sits naturally in the hand without the blade-tip-heavy tendency of some longer-bladed jigsaws. The blue and black Bosch Professional livery is clean and the housing feels solidly assembled with a build density consistent with the professional tier – comparable with the Makita rather than the heavier Milwaukee.

The SDS-type blade change is the first thing that stands out on close inspection. A simple push-and-twist action releases and locks blades with no lever, no key and no partial engagement risk – the blade is either in and locked or it is out. There is no play whatsoever in the holder once locked, which directly contributes to the cut precision recorded in our tests. For a trade user who changes blade types multiple times a day the speed and confidence of this system is a genuine quality-of-life advantage over every other mechanism in the comparison. The five-stage orbital dial has clear detented positions and the variable speed trigger provides refined low-speed control that is comparable with the Makita and better than the brushed rivals. The LED work light positioned ahead of the blade holder illuminates the cut line in confined spaces – a feature none of the other tools in the group include.

Specifications and scores

How it performed in our tests

The GTS 18V-57 delivered the best finish cut quality in hardwood and plywood of all five jigsaws in our comparison. The brushless motor’s refined low-speed control and the 5-stage orbital dial’s additional granularity allow very precise calibration of cut aggressiveness for each specific material situation. In 18mm plywood at orbital setting 1, the cut edge was the cleanest recorded in the test group – a result consistent across multiple passes and confirmed with both fine and medium tooth blades. In 18mm hardwood at orbital setting 0, the cut was excellent with minimal tearout. In 45mm softwood at orbital setting 3, cutting speed was strong and comparable with the Makita and Milwaukee.

The SDS blade change performed exactly as its design promises. Push, twist, blade in, release, locked – with no lever, no key and no partial engagement risk. The mechanism is noticeably faster than the key-type systems on the DeWalt and Milwaukee and fractionally faster than the Makita’s lever system when tested for repeated timed changes. For a trade user changing blades multiple times a day, this speed and confidence compounds into a meaningful time saving over a working week. The LED work light provided useful illumination in the confined box-cutting tasks in our test sequence, where the shadow from the tool housing otherwise obscures the cut line.

Battery system and runtime

The GTS 18V-57 runs on the Bosch Professional 18V platform – a comprehensive professional system covering drills, combi drills, angle grinders, circular saws and a broad range of accessories. UK availability is good at Screwfix and specialist trade tool suppliers, though it is less widely stocked in general DIY retail than DeWalt XR. For existing Bosch Professional users the platform argument applies straightforwardly and the GTS 18V-57 integrates immediately with existing batteries and chargers.

The brushless motor delivers efficient battery use comparable with the Makita DJV182Z – both brushless tools produced approximately the same number of cuts per charge on a 3.0Ah battery in our matched cutting programme, confirming the brushless efficiency advantage over the brushed DeWalt and Milwaukee alternatives in the comparison.

Performance and limitations

The GTS 18V-57’s primary limitation is not performance but value proposition. At around £120 body only it is the most expensive tool in our comparison, yet finishes fourth overall – a result driven by the fact that cut quality and runtime, where it excels, are closely matched by the Makita at £5 less. The LED work light and 5-stage orbital action are genuine differentiators, but for most buyers they are not worth the premium when the tool immediately above this price point in the market delivers comparable overall performance.

For specific users the case is stronger. A joiner changing blades ten times a day who works in poorly lit site conditions gets genuine daily value from the SDS mechanism and LED light that a general buyer does not. A Bosch Professional platform user who already owns batteries and charger gets the full performance without the platform switching cost. In both cases the GTS 18V-57 is a logical choice. Outside those scenarios, the comparison points toward the Makita.

Final verdict – is it worth it?

The Bosch GTS 18V-57 is a genuinely excellent jigsaw with the best finish cut quality and the best blade change mechanism in our comparison. For existing Bosch Professional platform users it is an easy recommendation – the performance places it at the top of the class for the tasks that matter most to precision woodworkers, the SDS blade change is a meaningful daily quality-of-life improvement, and the LED work light is a feature that once used is difficult to give up. The platform investment is protected and the tool earns its keep on a working site.

For buyers starting fresh without existing Bosch tools, the ~£5 premium over the Makita DJV182Z is genuinely difficult to justify on overall performance grounds. The Makita’s brushless motor, anti-vibration handle and cut precision are each comparable with the Bosch, and on an overall score basis the Makita edges this tool by 0.4 points. The Bosch’s distinguishing features – SDS change, LED light, 5-stage orbital – have real value for specific users but are not universal enough to justify the premium for the general buyer.

At around £120 body only the GTS 18V-57 is not overpriced in absolute terms for a brushless professional jigsaw with these features. It simply faces very strong competition at an almost identical price point from a tool that beats it on overall value. For the right buyer it is the correct choice. For most buyers the comparison points slightly elsewhere.