Bosch is one of the most well-known brands of cordless drills on the European markets, and this review will explain exactly why. I have put together this Bosch cordless drill review to enlighten you, curious readers, on all that you need to know about the brand. This includes some background, insightful analysis of their more popular 18v cordless drill, competitor analysis, and finally, a FAQ segment to clear the air on some common concerns. By the end of the article, you will be able to decide for yourself whether you should buy a Bosch cordless drill!
About Bosch
Born in 1886, Bosch has been dishing out high-quality cordless drills for over a century and has established themselves well within the industry (1). The German brand now boasts a range of 12v, 18v, and 36v cordless drills, catering for a range of needs between light weight, mid, and heavyweight construction work. These drills are manufactured on a global scale, with operations taking place in over 60 countries worldwide, covering the UK, regions of North America, and India as major zones. They deliver solid performance and easily handle all the basic functionalities you would expect in a drill.
Bosch 18V Cordless Drill Review
Our Bosch drill review focuses on the 18v cordless drill. It’s a solid cordless tool that works in tight spaces and is one of Bosch’s most highly rated compact tools. This best Bosch drill has also made our list for best cordless drills.
What’s included
- 18 Volt Socket Ready Impact Driver
- 2x 18 Volt Lithium-Ion SlimPack Batteries
- Double-Ended Impact Bit
- Belt Clip
- Carrying Bag
Pros
- Half wrench and half driver construction to tackle numerous and varied tasks
- Brushless motor for efficiency, longer motor life, and superior runtime
- Adjustable speed and torque via one-button variable-speed trigger
- 3 Built-in LED lights to illuminate the work area for error-free results
- Long-lasting lithium-ion batteries that are rechargeable
- Ergonomic grip for comfort and ease of use
- Limited 1-year warranty
Cons
Features
The Bosch cordless drill is designed with a motor that delivers up to 1650 lbs of torque power, the rotational force that causes the drill to spin. The motor is also brushless (see the difference of brushless vs. brushed drills here), meaning it uses the push and pull of magnetic forces with no physical contact involved to power the motor instead of brushed motors, which use the interaction of wire coils and an armature. In addition, the drill features a quick change ¼ inch hex, which is the hexagonal-shaped clamp that holds the drill bit in place.
This cordless tools hex can be switched to a ½ inch square drive chuck, which is the cylindrical clamp that holds the hex and other rotary tools and can then be used as either an impact driver for screwing bolts or simply to drill larger holes. To top it off, the drill is equipped with an ergonomic design consisting of a soft, slim-grip, nonslip handle.
This Bosch compact cordless drill is a great drill that has a high star rating on Amazon. It offers a lightweight design, security features, and keyless chuck. It is a great drill to use on all of your normal household projects. Its built-in led lights help when you are working in dark spaces. The compact drill is lightweight and it’s a compact size that easily fits into most hard-to-reach spaces.
Quality
The Bosch 18v cordless drill is the versatile half wrench, half driver solution to all your drilling needs and is backed by a 3-year quality guarantee. This drill has a solid rating of 4.5 stars on Amazon from approximately 200 users, with the highest rated features being comfort and ergonomics. Complete with a brushless motor that creates a more smooth performance, the Bosch cordless drill gets the job done while delivering a pleasant experience.
Battery
The batteries included in this kit are 2.0Ah Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Batteries which come with their own battery charger and carrying case. Lithium batteries are known to last longer than other batteries, such as alkaline because they are a lighter metal with higher energy density so that they can store more electricity than most battery cells. They are built to last up to 500 discharge cycles and at least 300 discharge cycles, lasting up to 3 years until they need to be changed.
The image displays a single battery but the tool kit comes with 2 batteries. This is great because when you have a dead battery in the middle of a project the last thing you want is to wait around waiting for your battery to charge.
Price Range
The price range of the Bosch cordless drill is roughly the same price as the likes of Dewalt and Makita, so you can expect to pay a few hundred bucks for one of these drill kits, but surely not more than $500. This product is a well-balanced drill with a reasonable price and is a good buy for anyone looking for a solution to homeowner drilling tasks, as well as for lightweight construction work. While this drill may not be the cheapest on the market, it is certainly not as pricey as the top-tier Hilti cordless drill and is undoubtedly a good purchase for the right customer.
Who is this drill best suited for?
This drill is best suited to people who are likely to use the drill for more than just homeowner tasks, such as tackling some light construction work, or more ambitious backyard DIY projects. Using it for just one or the other still makes it a fine purchase, but I do feel you will miss out on the versatile qualities of this drill in that case. Essentially, the Bosch cordless drill is most appropriate for individuals performing a variety of tasks that require flexible drilling capabilities.
What are people saying about it?
The Bosch cordless drill is rated 4.5 stars on Amazon reviews, and this takes into consideration approximately 200 different user reviews. With these stats in mind, you can expect a fairly positive array of comments from the vast majority. Upon investigation, many comments have praised the brushless motor feature and the comfortable grip and trigger. On the dark side, some have reported issues relating to its performance outside of homeowner tasks, while other comments claim the drill has shut down on them a few times.
How do Bosch Drills Compare to other brands?
Bosch vs. Hilti
While these two brands are well-respected and renowned in the market, there are significant differences between them that need to be considered. Bosch excels when it comes to 12v cordless drill products, whereas Hilti excels at the 18v to 36v mark due to its nature of being heavy-duty construction compatible. Bosch is a significantly older company and has come a long way in establishing itself as a reputable power tool brand, particularly regarding 12v tools. Construction workers and managers should consider Hilti, while homeowners and small-scale construction managers should consider Bosch. Read more about them in our Hilti Cordless Drill Review.
Bosch vs. Dewalt
Both these brands are highly regarded on the tool kit market and have been trusted by consumers for decades, so the differences are rather minuscule. The most notable difference is the voltage levels, where Dewalt offers up to 20 volts of power storage compared to Bosch, which caps at 18 volts, meaning Dewalt has the upper hand in terms of battery life. Dewalt also triumphs in terms of warranty, with a 3-year limited warranty compared to Bosch’s 1-year warranty. Bosch’s main selling point is their 12v product lines, which are far more widespread than Dewalt’s, giving the consumer plenty more options for lower energy-consumption ranges. Read more about them in our Dewalt Cordless Drill Review.
Bosch vs. Black and Decker
Bosch is essentially the European counterpart to the American-owned Black and Decker, as both brands specialize in homeowner tools around the 12v mark. These brands are equally as vast in their range of homeowner power tools, but I do like Bosch’s flexibility in this instance as they are not strictly used for the home. If not for the relatively poor 1-year warranty of Bosch, it would almost be a no-brainer for me to choose Bosch over Black and Decker, but the latter’s 2-year warranty definitely levels things out. Read more about it in our Black and Decker Cordless Drill Review.
Bosch vs. Makita
When deciding between a brand like Makita and one like Bosch, it again comes down to whether you’re after strictly homeowner-related tasks or want something that can be used on construction sites effectively too. For me, the relatively super-short warranty of Bosch is a bit of a deal-breaker, though they do have an extensive range of 12v cordless drills. Makita boasts a 3-year warranty which is considerably better for anyone, and especially for employees of construction sites where it counts the most. Read more about it in our Makita Cordless Drill Review.
Bosch Drill FAQ
What is the Bosch Drill warranty?
Bosch Drill comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
What is Bosch Drill’s return policy?
Bosch will replace your cordless drill if returned within 1 year of purchase, and provided the damage is due to factory defects or lack of promised quality.
What else comes with the Bosch 18v Drill?
The Bosch 18v Drill comes with a lithium-ion battery pack, charger, double-ended impact grip, belt clip, and a contractor bag.
How long does the battery last?
The lithium-ion batteries last approximately 3 years and at least 300 discharge cycles with a maximum of 500 discharge cycles.
What’s the difference between the Bosch 12v and 18v drill?
The main difference between the Bosch 12v drill and the 18v drill is the amount of voltage held. To explain in simple terms, voltage refers to the force that pushes the electrical current through a conducting loop. So essentially, the higher the voltage, the more ambitious tasks the drill can perform, and a higher voltage often equates to a larger drill too. If you are doing a lot of DIY projects then pass on the 12-volt drill and opt for the more powerful tool option that is the 18-volt drill with its improved specs and offerings.
Is Bosch 18V Cordless Drill worth it?
The Bosch 18V Cordless Drill is a high-quality power tool that not only accomplishes your drilling needs in the house (such as building a shelf) but also some light backyard work and low-level construction (such as building fences). Backed by a flurry of positive feedback from real users, as well as a good global rapport, this drill is unlikely to let you down, so long as you do not fall in the wrong category of the intended audience. They have impressive power but if you are looking for max torque and power then upgrading to a HIlti may be a better choice.
What I mean by this is, if you happened to be a construction manager looking for the best drill on the market for your employees, then you would be better off going for a brand like Hilti that caters to the toughest jobs out there. Bosch cordless drills are for homeowners, lightweight construction employees, or a hybrid of both. If you fall into any of these categories, then the Bosch 18V Cordless Drill is worth every cent!
This article is by Yaseen Hijazi.
Source:
1 – https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/footer/about-us/