Bosch 18V ProFactor 7 1/4-Inch Circular Saw GKS18V-25N Review

We Tested Bosch’s GKS18V-25N Circular Saw Against 11 Others – Here’s Where it Won and Lost

A circular saw’s performance goes well beyond how quickly it can get through a piece of lumber, and that’s exactly the story I want to tell about the Bosch GKS18V-25N circular saw. Speed certainly matters, but other factors play a vital role in how a saw behaves across a variety of applications and can have just as much impact on your overall experience.

With that in mind, we put it through a series of hands-on tests designed to determine its overall cutting performance and usability. We also looked closely at the key details that matter when you’re on the jobsite.

So, how does Bosch’s flagship GKS18V-25N stack up against the competition? Let’s get into the testing and see where this saw shines—and where it leaves some room for improvement.

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Bosch GKS18V-25N Circular Saw Performance

Speed and Cutting Power

The Bosch GKS18V-25N is driven by a brushless motor that churns out up to 5,000 RPM with a max cut depth of 2 1/2 inches at 90 degrees and 1 13/16 inches at 45 degrees.

These numbers are acceptable for a Pro-grade circular saw. However, some models from competing brands offer higher no-load speeds and slightly greater depths that can cut 3x lumber in a single pass. For example, Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 2834 has a no-load speed of 6000 RPM with a 2 9/16-inch max cutting depth.

Let’s dive into this a bit more by looking at the results of our head-to-head testing.

Head-to-Head Test Results

We put this saw up against 11 other flagship saws from both popular brands to compare performance and usability. For our tests, we paired this saw with an 8.0Ah Expert battery. To see the full details of our testing methods, check out the head-to-head review page.

Here’s a quick rundown of our methods:

• Full-Length Rip Cut: We timed how long each saw takes to make an 84-inch rip cut in double-stacked 3/4-inch OSB subflooring. We made two passes and reported the best time.
• Max Depth Rip Cut: Using the same setup as before, we set each saw to its max cutting depth and ran them through 3/4-inch OSB stacked four deep. This ensures the blade makes maximum contact with the material throughout the cut. We made one pass with each saw and recorded the result.
• Common Cuts: We made a series of common cross-cuts in 2×10 pine lumber and assigned ratings to the sightlines, guard action, and the general ease of use.

Cutting Speed

Getting started, we set up our testing rig with two sheets of OSB sub-floor for our rip cutting test. Bosch came out of this test with a best time of 19.64 seconds. It was clear that the 5,000 RPM ceiling held it back when compared to some of the other faster models in our lineup.

Moving to the full-depth cut, we added two more sheets. Bosch posted a time of 25.53 seconds, moving it up in the leaderboard to 11th place ahead of the Skil CR5440. In this case, I believe Bosch’s shallower cut depth worked to its advantage despite its slower blade speed. Granted, this isn’t a monumental improvement, but it did bring the GKS18V-25N out of last place for the moment.

Cutting Characteristics

The next series of tests was made up of cross, bevel, and compound miter cuts in pine 2×10, so we could primarily observe the sightlines and guard action during the cuts.

The blade-right design received high praise from our team concerning the sight lines. As expected, we had a clear view down to the alignment guides on the front of the shoe. That’s common, but what we were checking was the sight lines to the blade itself at both 90 and 45 degrees. When you need to follow your cut line as closely as possible, keeping an eye on the blade is more important than the notches on the shoe. In that regard, Bosch did a nice job with a perfect score at 90 degrees and only slightly obstructed at 45 degrees.

Regarding the lower blade guard, we have mixed results. During normal cross-cuts and left-hand compound cuts, the blade guard easily glided up and over the edge of the board. However, we saw the exact opposite when making right-hand compound cuts; the guard tended to get hung up, leading to jerky starts and substandard cuts.

The guard also prevented us from easily making 2×4 stakes in our final test.

The reason for the hangup is that the leading edge of the lower blade guard is angled downward towards the right side of the saw. This is fairly common on circular saws, so I’m sure Pros won’t struggle, but it’s worth taking note if you’re less experienced.

Bosch certainly isn’t the only circular saw to suffer on that type of cut. When it happens, you have to manually lift the lower blade guard to get a good start on the cut. That takes your hand off the secondary grip, which can affect your accuracy and control. Most people get used to it, especially when they’re making those cuts every day, but it’s not as convenient as guards that get out of the way on their own.

Now, it’s important to keep in mind that compound miter cuts are fairly uncommon outside of framing applications, so if you’re not in the world of new construction, you’re probably alright. However, for our framing Pros, this is something you need to consider.

Here’s a quick look at the end results:

Head-to-Head Testing Results

Dust Collection

For dust collection, Bosch made a smart move by designing this saw with a rotating dust port. This gives you a ton of flexibility concerning the location of your vacuum or dust extractor. It also reminded me of the Flex 24V 6 1/2-Inch Inline Circular Saw, which allows you to easily direct sawdust away from your workpiece.

During our hands-on testing, we graded this saw’s dust collection as average when compared with the other 11 saws in our roundup. With that said, no saw is perfect, even when connected to a vacuum. But given the circumstances, I think Bosch did a decent job of ejecting sawdust and keeping the sight lines clear.

Bosch GKS18V-25N Circular Saw Design Notes

Ergonomics

The Bosch GKS18V-25N weighs 8.99 pounds as a bare tool and 11.28 pounds with the recommended 8.0Ah Expert battery. This is a little on the heavy side when compared to the DIY models, but it falls right in line with what I expect from a Pro-grade saw.

Obviously, you can always lighten the load with a smaller battery, but you will see a drop in overall runtime. Then again, weight isn’t a huge issue for circular saws unless the shoe doesn’t glide well. Bosch’s shoe friction is very low, so the weight really isn’t a problem while you’re cutting.

While Bosch struggled in some of our tests, I have to give the GKS18V-25N high praise when it comes to handle ergonomics. This saw features an ambidextrous thumb safety, a rubber overmolded grip, and a curved D-handle foregrip that allows for a comfortable grip.

That foregrip is very different from the traditional pommel most circular saws use. It offers your left hand a more natural and comfortable grip position. It takes some time to get used to, but I think it results in better control, especially on long rip cuts. If you really don’t like it, there’s enough room on the top to maintain the standard grip you’re used to.

Depth and Bevel Adjustment

This saw features a max bevel of 50 degrees with positive stops at 22.5 and 45 degrees. While the stops are common, the max bevel is a little low compared to flagship models from other brands that can be as high as 57 degrees.

As for depth and bevel adjustments, Bosch didn’t stray too far from the norm. Simply flip the lever on the front of the shoe and slide the shoe to your desired angle. Similarly, flip the plastic lever on the left side of the tool body to adjust the cut depth.

I like Bosch’s placement of the depth adjustment lever because it’s on the outside of the tool rather than being situated between the rear grip and upper blade guard. I find this style a little less cumbersome when making adjustments on the fly.

Additional Features

• Electronic Brake: Bring the blade to a halt in a matter of seconds between cuts
• Onboard Tool Storage: Quickly swap out blades thanks to the onboard hex wrench
• AMPShare Compatible: Bosch 18V batteries are compatible with other AMPShare cordless tool brands

Should You Buy It?

Given our hands-on experience, the result is a mixed bag for Bosch. On one hand, this is genuinely a good, Pro-grade circular saw. However, it clearly lags behind in head-to-head testing against other Pro brands, so there’s definitely room for improvement.

The biggest thing you need to consider is how often you make right compound cuts. If you run into that frequently, you may be frustrated with the guard. Otherwise, it’s a perfectly capable circular saw that replaces the need for corded models.

Ready to pull the trigger? The Bosch GKS18V-25N retails for $285 as a bare tool. The saw is backed by a 5-year limited warranty and Bosch’s 180-day money-back guarantee.

Looking for something a little different? Bosch also sells this as a connected version (GKS18V-25CN), a track-compatible version (GKS18V-25GCN), and has a blade-left model (GKS18V-26LN).

Specs

• Model: Bosch GKS18V-25N
• Power Source: Bosch 18V battery
• No-Load Speed: 5,000 RPM
• Max Cut Depth: 2 1/2 in at 90°, 1 13/16 in at 45°
• Max Bevel: 50°
• Weight: 8.99 lbs (bare tool), 11.28 lbs (with 8.0Ah battery)
• Shoe Material: Die-cast aluminum