Ryobi is well-known for its value and performance. Their tools are highly rated and reliable, and this cordless drill combo kit is no exception. If you are looking for a cordless drill that gets the everyday tasks done, then this Ryobi drill review is for you. This article will cover our Ryobi cordless drill review, some brand comparisons, and a few frequently asked questions. Hopefully, this will help you know if this 18v drill from Ryobi is the right one for you to buy.
Ryobi Cordless Drill Review
What’s included
- 18 Volt Cordless Drill with ½-inch Heavy Duty Chuck
- 18 Volt Cordless Impact Driver with ¼-inch Coupler Chuck
- Socket Adaptor
- Dual Chemistry Charger
- 2 compact lithium-ion batteries
- Toolbag
- Operator’s Manuals
Pros
- The drills’ weight is light and compact – Drill/Driver is 3.1 lbs & Impact Driver is 2.64 lbs
- 18v One+ platform- new batteries and original batteries are all compatible with current drills and charger
- The battery continues to deliver max power until the end of charge
- High speed – Drill has up to 1,600 rpm, and Impact Driver has up to 2,600 rpm
- Impact Driver delivers up to 1,500 in-lbs of torque
Cons
- Doesn’t include a LED light
- Not a brushless motor (learn about the difference between brushed vs. brushless motors here)
Features
Ryobi’s 18v One+ cordless drill comes with two drills: a drill/driver and an impact driver. The drill is used for every day drilling holes and driving in screws, while the impact driver is for bigger projects that need max power or torque.
Both drills have a compact, light design and feature a soft grip handle, a convenient onboard bit storage, and a MagTray magnetic holder for convenient holding of screws and bits. This design allows users to quickly go about their project without fumbling with screws or worrying about discomfort.
The drill has a ½-inch single sleeve, keyless chuck that allows quick and easy bit changes. It also has a 2-speed gearbox and 24-position clutch, which allows the drill to meet all of your drilling needs easily. The driver features a ¼-inch quick connect coupler that allows for easy bit changes, like the drill. It can also deliver up to 1,500 in-lbs of torque to support you in your bigger DIY projects.
Quality
Ryobi is considered a consumer brand and has a reputation for making quality tools at an affordable price. This drill and all the tools under their 18v One+ line are good, especially if you use it for occasional around-the-house jobs.
The Ryobi 18v drill is not designed specifically for professionals or heavyweight work, but many pros use and swear by them, especially because of their price,
Exclusively sold in Home Depot (and online at Amazon), Ryobi is highly reviewed, and many users swear by them their reliability.
Battery
These cordless drills use a compact lithium-ion battery, which had up to 20% more runtime, fade-free power even at max speed, and were 45% lighter when compared to the performance of their previous 18v Ni-CD battery. The drills are also part of Ryobi’s 18v One+ Cordless power tool line, which means every power tool in this line can use the same 18v battery.
Price Range
Ryobi’s 18v cordless drills are value-priced, especially considering the reliability and quality that you get. You won’t have to spend a lot of money for this set, with its price range coming in no more than a couple hundred.
Home Depot also offers deals and sales on this line of tools quite often.
Who is this drill best suited for?
This compact drill set from Ryobi is a perfect value option for anyone that will only need to use it occasionally for small repairs or renovations. It is for new homeowners (or renters) that need a reliable model to tackle everyday tasks, like tightening a loose screw or building furniture.
Even though it was not designed for construction work, there are many tradespeople that swear by its value, control, reliability, and quality. However, we should note that using this model in the professional field voids the warranty to only 30-days.
What are people saying about it?
The Ryobi 18v drill combo kit has a 4.6 out of 5 stars rating on Amazon. You can read the reviews here, but overall the kit received praise and positive comments. Many of the users praised the value for money, the battery life, and the longevity of the compact drills’ lifespan. Although recommended for light, home usage, there were even some tradespeople that swore by Ryobi.
However, there were a few users that said the performance and battery were not that great. And many reviewers were disappointed that these cordless drills did not come with a LED light.
How do Ryobi Drills Compare to other brands?
Ryobi vs. Makita
Makita is a top choice among tradespeople, so it makes sense that their cordless drill would be a great option. The 18-volt brushless motor drill features a light, compact design, dual-LED lights, 2-speed transmission, and a lithium-ion Xtreme technology (LXT) battery. It doesn’t have a second battery or driver like Ryobi, but this drill is built to last and perform.
If you are looking for more heavy-duty construction and renovations around the house, then this Makita’s performance is worth looking into. You can read more about it in our Makita Drill Review.
Ryobi vs. Dewalt
Dewalt’s 20V drill set is our choice for the best cordless drill for new homeowners. This set is great because, like Ryobi, it comes with both a drill and an impact driver. It has a compact; balanced feel that makes it ideal to use. Both Ryobi and Dewalt have a similar price; however, Dewalt has a high-speed transmission, ratcheting chuck, and performance that Ryobi cannot compare to.
It also is the number one Amazon power tool and has a 4.8-star rating from over 24,000 reviews. You can read more about its performance in our Dewalt Drill Review. If you’re looking to upgrade to a more professional drill instead, Dewalt offers a 20V brushless motor kit as well.
Ryobi vs. Black and Decker
Black and Decker also offer a great 18v compact drill option. It is our pick for Best Entry Level Drill because it has a great price point, good reviews, and comes with a convenient stud finder. In comparison to Ryobi, though, it might not be the better buy. It is a great tool for quick homeowner tasks, and like Ryobi, it is compact, easily adjusts speed settings, and has a 24-position clutch. However, the biggest differences are its weight at 4.7 pounds and no li-ion batteries.
You can read more in our Black and Decker Drill Review.
Ryobi vs. Bosch
Bosch is another highly-regarded brand in the tool market. Their tools tend to have great reviews and high-quality performance. Bosch’s 18-volt cordless drill features a brushless motor, adjustable torque and speed settings with one button, compact design, and a half wrench/half driver construction to tackle all the jobs. In comparison to Ryobi, Bosch is powerful enough to handle light construction or ambitious DIY projects.
If you plan to use the drill for more than the occasional cabinet fix, then you should definitely consider Bosch. Learn more about the tool in our Bosch Drill Review.
Ryobi vs. Hilti
Hilti is known for manufacturing power tools that can withstand “abuse” and rigorous use. All of their tools are tough and bomb-proof, including their 18-volt impact driver and hammer drill.
These high-end tools feature a brushless motor, active torque control, and seamless speed control. The hammer drill features a keyless chuck. Both the driver and hammer drill are designed for heavyweight construction, like drilling holes through concrete, metal, etc.
If you need a heavy-duty set and the price is not a hindrance, then Hilti should be considered. Hilti’s hammer drill is our pick for the best Builder’s Choice drill. If you would like to learn more about this model, then read our Hilti Drill Review.
About Ryobi Power Tools
Ryobi is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of power tools and outdoor products (1). They focus on making power equipment affordable and accessible to everyone. Their power tools range from saws, drills, trimmers, and more. The Ryobi outdoor products include blowers, chainsaws, lawnmowers, etc. Ryobi products are sold exclusively at Home Depot, although they can also be found online at Amazon.
Ryobi Drill FAQ
What is the Ryobi Drill warranty?
Ryobi Drills come with a 3-year Limited Warranty.
What is Ryobi Drill return policy?
For the first 90-days after purchase, Ryobi allows you to either request service or exchange your drill under the warranty if there are any manufacturing defects.
What else comes with the Ryobi 18v Drill?
In this toolset, Ryobi has included an 18V One+ Drill with screwdriver bit, an 18V One+ Impact Driver with bits, a socket adaptor, a dual chemistry charger, two batteries, a tool bag, and the operator’s manual.
How long does the battery last?
For the most part, we found that the Ryobi 18v drill has a battery life that lasts for about 45 minutes without losing any power as it got lower. Both of the cordless drills use the same type of lithium-ion batteries, which is convenient if you are only using one drill for hours and need a quick battery change.
Overall, the compact batteries have approximately a 3-year battery life, or between 300-500 recharge cycles.
Is a Ryobi Cordless Drill worth it?
Yes, I think that a Ryobi Cordless Drill is worth it. The Ryobi 18v drill is perfect for any homeowner or renter that needs a compact and light drill for any home-related tasks, like building furniture, drilling holes, or tightening screws. It is a reliable drill and designed for user convenience, especially with features like its soft-grip handle, the 24-position clutch for quick speed adjustments, bit storage, and MagTray magnetic tray. Users of Ryobi swear by this tool, and after this review, I can see why.
On a final note, if the Ryobi 18v isn’t the right tool for you, though, they do have a range of tools available depending on the job and tool that you need. For example, if you need a more heavyweight tool for occasional concrete or masonry work, Ryobi has a brushless Hammer Drill with three drilling modes, a 24-position clutch that adjusts up to 750 inch-pounds of torque, and 2 different settings gearbox that gives up to 2,100 RPM. This is a powerful tool that delivers impressive results.
Or, if you are looking for a more professional tool that adjusts the torque and speed settings to the task at hand, then there is the 18V One+ HP brushless drill. Similar to the 18V drill, this drill has a compact design with a 24-position clutch and 2-speed motor; however, the brushless technology ensures steady, reliable power.
Regardless of what you choose, you will have a great value tool from Ryobi.
Written by Kara Randle
Source: https://www.ryobitools.com/
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