Ryobi Unveils Their Most Powerful 4-Mode Impact Driver Yet!
Over the last few years, Ryobi has been upping its performance across the 18V One+ HP Brushless lineup, and today’s story is no different. The next-gen Ryobi 18V One+ HP Brushless Impact Driver is credited as their most powerful impact driver yet, and I’m setting out to prove it. I put it to the test here at our shop to determine its performance level so you can decide if it’s time for an upgrade.
Pros
- Massive performance improvement
- Multiple speed modes
- One-handed bit insertion and ejection
- Excellent ergonomics
- Ryobi’s most powerful impact driver
Cons
- No significant drawbacks
Ryobi 18V 4-Mode Impact Driver Performance
- No-Load Speed: 3,400 RPM
- Max Torque: 2,300 in-lbs
- Impact Rate: 4,200 IPM
- Collet: 1/4 in. hex
- Motor Type: Brushless
Speed and Power
Ryobi claims that this is their most powerful impact driver yet, and the numbers back that up 100%. At its heart, this impact driver houses a brushless motor and churns out 3,400 RPMs, 2,300 in-lbs of torque, with an impact rate of 4,200 IPM. These are all improvements over the previous model, the PBLID02, the most significant being the 17% increase in top speed.
Speed Modes
Like we’ve seen on previous models, the Ryobi 18V PBLID04 features three speed modes and an Assist mode. In forward, the Assist mode is designed to help prevent you from stripping or breaking screws, as well as reducing damage to your work piece. When driving screws, the tool will start fast to sink the fastener and then automatically stop when it’s seated.
| Mode | Top Speed |
|---|---|
| 1 | 950 RPM |
| 2 | 2100 RPM |
| 3 | 3400 RPM |
| Assist | 2100 RPM |
In reverse, this mode will pulse the bit six times and then speed up to remove the fastener quickly. The pulsing action is especially useful when dealing with frozen bolts, or when the chances of stripping a screw head are high.
Hands-On Testing
To put these numbers into practice, we ran two of our standard impact driver tests to compare the PBLID04 to the results we got from the previous version (PBLID02). The tests I chose showcase this tool’s driving abilities, as well as its brute strength when breaking frozen nuts and bolts.
Even though the PBLID04 is only available as a bare tool, I chose to pair it with a Ryobi 4.0Ah Edge battery so that we could unlock its peak performance potential. For the PBLID02, I stuck with a 4.0Ah High Performance battery because this was the ideal battery option when the tool was first released. I understand that this may not seem like an apples-to-apples comparison. However, we want to highlight the tools’ peak performance with today’s modern battery versus what was available in the past.
We started by setting up our OSB test block and driving three 8-inch GRK structural screws until they were flush. On average, the PBLID04 drove these screws in 6.97 seconds—a massive 47.5% improvement over previous version.
Since this was such a big difference in time, I retested the PBLID02 to verify the data, and the results stayed consistent. This is a HUGE win for Ryobi’s product team (and you as the user), and puts the PBLID04 in 3rd place for this testing category behind the Milwaukee 2953 and the Flex FX1371 based on our last set of head-to-head testing!
For our strength test, I torqued eight 1 1/2-inch grade-8 nuts down to 150 ft-lbs to see how fast the Ryobi PBLID04 could break them. The cumulative time for all eight nuts was 6.95 seconds, or 0.87 seconds on average.
Once again, I saw a significant improvement in the overall time. The PBLID04 was 54% faster than the PBLID02, which had a total time of 15.10 seconds, 1.88 seconds on average per nut.
Ryobi 18V 4-Mode Impact Driver Design Notes
- Model: Ryobi PBLID04
- Power Source: Ryobi 18V battery
- Weight: 2.5 lbs (bare tool), 3.8 lbs (with 4.0Ah Edge battery)
- Head Length: 5.1 in.
Size and Weight
The Ryoby PBLID04 shares a very similar profile with its predecessor, the PBLID02. It weighs 2.5 pounds as a bare tool, 3.8 pounds with the kitted 4.0Ah Edge battery, and the head measures 5.1 inches long. This small profile makes it ideal for maneuvering in tight spaces, and the lightweight design is easy on your wrist and arms during long work days.
It sports a traditional foot-mounted LED work light that is situated right above the speed control panel, so your bit and fasteners are easily illuminated.
Lastly, Ryobi doesn’t include a belt clip. We use belt clips frequently on our drills and impact drivers, so it’s a little disappointing. It’s certainly not a deal-breaker, though. You can always add one separately if that’s a feature you desire.
Ryobi Brushless Impact Driver Comparison
| PLBID02 (old) | PBLID04 (new) | |
|---|---|---|
| No-Load Speed | 2900 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Impact Rate | 4000 IPM | 4200 IPM |
| Max Torque | 2200 in-lbs | 2300 in-lbs |
| Speeds | 3 + Assist | 3 + Assist |
| Bare Weight | 2.3 lbs | 2.5 lbs |
| Working Weight | 3.9 lbs (with High Performance 4.0Ah battery) | 3.8 lbs (with High Performance Edge 4.0Ah battery) |
| Head Length | 5.5 in | 5.1 in |
Ryobi 18V 4-Mode Impact Driver Price
The Ryobi 18V PBLID04 retails for $129 as a bare tool and is backed by a 3-year warranty. As of the time of writing this, there are no kit options available, so be sure to pick up a battery and charger if you’re not already on Ryobi’s 18V battery platform.
It’s worth noting that this tool is compatible with all Ryobi 18V batteries, but for peak performance, we recommend the Ryobi 18V High Performance Edge battery.
The Bottom Line
After getting some hands-on time with the next-gen Ryobi Impact Driver, I’m highly impressed. The performance gains are nothing short of spectacular, and the overall design is approachable and very user-friendly for all skill levels.
If you’re thinking about upgrading from the PBLID02, there are a few things to consider. First, let me just say that the first-gen model is a fine tool and offers plenty of power for most applications. However, there are indications that it’s on the way out to make room for the next-gen models.
With that said, we do see special pricing on the PBLID02, so if you’re looking for a good deal on an impact driver, it’s worth considering. However, if you don’t mind spending a few extra bucks to gain a significant performance boost, the PBLID04 is a no-brainer for serious DIYers and value-minded Pros.
