Kobalt Goes Tabless, Following in Other Brands’ Footsteps
Tabless cell technology is all the rage in the power tool world right now, and for the past few years, more brands have been steadily joining the tabless movement. The most recent arrival is Kobalt, who is introducing the new 24V Max Ultimate Output TXP batteries.
How are they different from standard 24V packs, and what can tabless technology offer for existing Kobalt users? I’m exploring what we know so far about this expansion so you can decide if tabless is the way to go for you.
Kobalt 24V Max Ultimate Output TXP Batteries: What We Know
Kobalt is the latest brand to join the tabless battery trend with the new 24V Max Ultimate Output TXP packs. While this might seem like another case of hopping on the bandwagon, we think this trend is a legitimate step up for the whole cordless tool industry.
We first saw tabless cell connections with the launch of Milwaukee’s Forge batteries more than three years ago. Since then, other brands like Ridgid, Metabo HPT, and Ryobi—a top competitor for Lowe’s’ Kobalt brand—have added tabless batteries to their lineup for cordless tool users.
So, what’s the big deal about tabless batteries?
The simple answer: more power, faster charging, and cooler operation.
Unlike the typical battery design, which relies on internal tabs for energy transfer, tabless cells maximize the internal energy pathways by reducing the amount of electrical resistance. This more efficient energy transfer results in more available power, faster charging speeds, and a longer service life.
It’s important to note that the amount of stored energy is still the same. The packs don’t increase the voltage or capacity just because of the connection. However, less resistance means less heat buildup, so these packs can deliver power levels that would cause standard battery designs to overheat and potentially fail.
If you’re interested in the entire rundown, we went into detail about the advantages of tabless technology in these articles:
So far, Kobalt has two tabless batteries joining the ranks: an 8.0Ah pack and a 4.0Ah pack, generating up to 1,200 watts of power and 2,400 watts of power, respectively, according to Kobalt. That’s up to 40% more power compared to the 24V standard packs.
Kobalt also claims both batteries provide the longest runtimes of any respective-capacity Kobalt 24V battery. Because of the energy transfer efficiency gains, it takes less effort for a tabless battery to produce the same amount of power as a standard battery. As a consequence, a 4.0Ah tabless battery will run a tool significantly longer than a 4.0Ah standard design.
Along with the internal upgrades, Kobalt also made some exterior design updates worth noting, like new battery charge indicator lights to keep track of your charge level.
Kobalt 24V Max Ultimate Output TXP Batteries: Price
The 4.0Ah Ultimate Output TXP battery retails for $99, and the 8.0Ah battery is available for $159. Like all Kobalt tools, they’re exclusive to Lowe’s. Both packs carry a 3-year warranty.
Should You Buy It?
Kobalt markets toward both the DIY and entry-level prosumer crowd, which means the way you use your Kobalt tools can vary depending on the application. If you’re on the latter side of Kobalt’s userbase and you frequently put your tools to the test on demanding jobs, it’s definitely worth taking advantage of the benefits a tabless battery can unlock for your existing 24V Max collection.
However, if you tend to only pick up your Kobalt drill, circular saw, or impact driver every so often for home repair or DIY applications, you’re probably fine sticking to your current battery build. In either case, the Ultimate Output TXP batteries are compatible with the entire Kobalt 24V Max lineup, so you can always upgrade later if you need to.
The bigger question is… what tools might Kobalt have in the works designed for its tabless batteries? The XTR line has been out for years with no major upgrades, so we may be in store for a whole new level of Kobalt cordless power tools.
