Cordless Power Tool Reviews

Our in depth cordless power tool reviews include battery powered cordless drills, cordless saws, LED flashlights, cordless oscillating multi-tools, and more. If you’re a Pro, knowing whether or not you’re using the very best tools for the job makes all the difference. Pro Tool Reviews does head-to-head testing, tool shootouts, and individual tool reviews. We cover the latest products so you can know which manufacturers and tools work the best. Cordless Power Tool Reviews for Pros While anyone can read our cordless power tool reviews, we write them with professional tradesmen in mind. That means we test some tools in-house with our expert panel of tool testers. Others, we send out on the jobsite and put them into the hands of Pros for evaluation. This lets us really get a feel for how a tool performs against the expectations of real-world applications. Also, it ensures we don’t miss out on a particular tool application we may not have thought of.

Bosch DDS181 Compact Tough Drill/Driver Review

Bosch DDS181 Compact Tough Drill Review

We don’t normally romance our tools, but it’s hard not to fall in love with Bosch’s new DDS181 Compact Tough Drill/Driver. It’s sleek, ergonomic, and will literally run all day long on one battery. The design is new from Bosch and the tool presents itself as a super-compact drill/driver that will run seemingly forever when set to work on fasteners or drilling pilot holes in dimensional lumber or furniture. This compactness and power come at a price to be sure, but with the benefits, it’s actually still a pretty good value for professionals looking to get the most dependability, features, and power-to-weight ratio out of their tools.

DeWalt DCD985L2 20V MAX Premium Hammer Drill Review

DeWalt DCD985L2 20V MAX Premium Hammer Drill Review

With almost 500 in-lbs of torque, a three-speed transmission, ratcheting chuck and a new level of ergonomics, the new DeWalt DCD985L2 20V MAX Lithium-ion Premium Hammer Drill kit is a must-have tool. This new five-pound drilling and driving machine can handle just about any fastener, drilling, and hammer drilling application you can think of. With the smart battery technology of the 20V MAX platform and the built-in electronics, you can be assured that your cordless DeWalt tools will last and preform better than the current 18V tools. We suspect that this drill will quickly become the tool of choice for many of the tradesmen and contractors that opt for the new 20V MAX lithium-ion battery platform.

DeWalt DCS391L1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Circular Saw Review

DeWalt DCS391L1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Circular Saw Review

Portability, power, weight and depth of cut are all things to look for in a cordless circular saw and the DeWalt DCS391L1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Circular Saw delivers on all these levels. Equipped with a thin kerf saw blade and a powerful 460 watt motor, this saw is able to power through most cuts much like a corded model. With a 6-1/2″ saw blade, cutting 2x material is not a problem, even when making 45 degree bevel cuts. The new 3.0Ah Lithium-Ion battery provides over 50 percent longer run time than the other DeWalt cordless models on the market, translatesing into less downtime and more productivity.

DeWalt DCD740C1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Right Angle Drill Review

DeWalt DCD740C1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Right Angle Drill Review

While not used everyday, the DeWalt DCD740C1 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Right Angle Drill could prove to be a lifesaver for getting into super tight spaces thanks to its small head size. If you ever have to put in a screw or drill a hole in a place that is almost out of reach, then you know the value of a good right angle drill. The DeWalt looks like a good choice since it has a two-speed transmission, a compact head size and a more ergonomic handle which means better ease of use. Carpenters, cabinetmakers and installers, woodworkers, remodelers, electricians and plumbers will surly be the first in line to grab one of these once they start to show up in stores. The 20V MAX cordless tools combine smart tool and battery technology with the durability that many trade professionals have counted on for years.

DeWalt DCD785C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Hammer Drill Review

DeWalt DCD785C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Hammer Drill Review

The new DeWalt DCD785C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Hammer Drill packs a lot into a small package. With plenty of power and speed, it is actually a few pounds lighter than most hammer drills we’ve tested. If you occasionally need to drill into concrete, yet want extreme versatility, then this drill is ideal for you. Since it is so lightweight, you can use it overhead just about all day long and not get tired. Also, thanks to its fast charging lithium-ion battery packs, you probably will never have any down time either. With a 1/2″ ratcheting chuck, variable speed motor and a two-speed transmission, you have the flexibility you to do many different drilling and driving tasks. We are pretty sure that professional contractors, electrical and mechanical tradesmen will quickly make this compact hammer drill one of their go-to tools.

DeWalt DCD780C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Drill/Driver Review

DeWalt DCD780C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Drill/Driver Review

The DeWalt DCD780C2 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Compact Drill/Driver shows off that bigger is not better by demonstrating that power, speed and features can be combined in a small package. This drill is ideally suited for anyone that has just about any kind of drilling and fastening requirements – within reason, that is. Equipped a 1/2″ ratcheting chuck, variable speed motor and a two speed transmission, you will have the flexibility you need to do many different drilling and driving tasks. Since it weighs in at a very manageable 3.4 pounds, even extended overhead work can be done with less fatigue.

Makita LXFD01 18V LXT Cordless 1/2" Driver-Drill Kit Preview

Makita LXFD01 18V LXT Cordless 1/2″ Driver-Drill Kit Preview

Makita optimized their power-to-weight ratio with its new LXFD01 18V LXT Cordless 1/2″ Driver-Drill. This Li-ion powered drill is actually based on the company’s BDF452 18 volt Lithium-Ion driver-drill, except that they altered three things. They made it more powerful. Next, they cut off some weight. Lastly, they trimmed some off the length to make it shorter. How this worked out is that Makita was able to add 30 more in-lbs of torque, take off 0.2 pounds of weight, and reduce the length by 7/16 of an inch. Those numbers aren’t exactly stunning, but considering the popularity of its former tool, any improvement is going to be well-received by seasoned Makita users. 6WZV5TB6VEMN

Milwaukee 5263-21 5/8" SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Preview

Milwaukee 5263-21 5/8″ SDS Plus Rotary Hammer Preview

It’s the day of rotary hammers, as Milwaukee introduces a new 5/8″ SDS Plus Rotary Hammer in addition to an M18 model we covered previously and a 7/8″ rotary hammer drill that retails for just $199. With regard to the 5263-21 5/8″ model, Milwaukee claims it as the “lightest and most compact” rotary hammer in its class. The tool measures just 10.9″ long and looks like a corded version of the 2605-22 M18 Cordless 5/8″ Rotary Hammer Drill. But get this – it weighs only 4.6 lbs! This is a dream hammer for drilling overhead or when you happen to not have a lot of room to maneuver. Even with its compact form factor, however, this tool has a full 1.5 ft-lbs of impact energy and features an astoundingly fast 0-3700 RPM and 0-4400 bpm. With this kind of performance it’s going to be plenty powerful enough to drill the kind of holes required by professional electrticians, plumbers and other journeymen or professionals.