REASONS TO BUY
Relatively lightweight
Comes with a number of bits
Bit holder on back
REASONS TO AVOID
Not built for tough work
Only one speed
Long charge time
Black+Decker 20V Max PowerConnect LD120VA Review
A budget-conscious drill built for light and short tasks
Credit: Natalie Kafader
By Aspen Rain Weaver ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ August 4, 2025
Contributions From: Austin Palmer
RELATED: The Best Drills of 2025
Our Verdict
This lightweight drill offers a superior amount of versatility for someone who needs to accomplish simpler and smaller jobs around the house. Although it lacks the raw force to pursue serious building tasks, the Black & Decker 20V Max PowerConnect LD120VA comes with everything you need to hang artwork, affix a ceiling hook, or build prefabricated furniture. Unlike most other kits, it includes a complete set of bits to get you started and features a bit holder integrated into the body. This is a stellar deal for anyone who wants to pick up an on-the-go drill kit for light-duty projects.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Black+Decker PowerConnect comes with everything needed to complete the job, straight out of the box!
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Drilling
When tackling larger tasks, the Black+Decker was under powered.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Unfortunately, the Black+Decker PowerConnect LD120VA fell short of the completion mark by a long shot. Although it drilled completely through the door with our tests, this light-duty drill actually started smoking. Once we finished, the smell of burning plastic was nearly palpable.
We had used the same twist bits for every drill, but with a sharper, steel-specific bit, this low-torqued unit could have better performance drilling through steel.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Out of our three intensive drilling tests, the Black+Decker had the hardest time with the 1" paddle bit. While drilling holes in the 2x12 lumber, it was underpowered and failed to complete the task.
We had to swap out the 1" spade bit for a ½" to complete our 2X12 paddle test.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Driving
Our second and equally important metric, after drilling, is driving. We analyzed all units by assessing their ability to sink and flush standard 3" screws and drive a 5" x ½" lag bolt into a 2x4 and 4x4 combination using a predrilled pilot hole. Again the Black+Decker lacked any real guts during our Driving metric tests. When we used the 3" long, #9 screws for this test to attach a pair of stacked 2x12s, it fared decently and was able to achieve full depth and a flush set of countersunk heads, but with only one gear speed we were tied to an extremely slow timeline.
Driving screws flush was delightfully easy, although it did take a bit of time with one speed.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Sadly, the ½" lag screw proved to be a bit too much for this tool. We drilled a pilot hole through stacked 2x and 4x to drive the 5" long screw into, but the Black+Decker genuinely couldn't sink it to even half depth. Once again, we smelled burning insides while attempting to coax a few more centimeters, but we quickly jumped ship as progress halted.
Smoking and a thick burning scent accompanied this drill anytime it was faced with a tough assignment.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Battery Life
The best drills made over eight out of testing cycles, while the Black+Decker had to be given a handicap to complete our test. We used a ½" spade bit for this test, seeing as we couldn't even accomplish one hole with the 1".
During our cycle test the Black+Decker performed better than anticipated.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
That being said, it navigated its way through 4.7 cycles before dying. The Black+Decker's 1.5 amp-hour battery also has one of the longest recharge times of the entire group, taking about 3.5 hours with the included charger. This tool is only intended for short-term use on small chores and wouldn't render itself valid in situations requiring a longer running time.
We used the standard charger for this test, but you can purchase a rapid charger that would make this tool more useful.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Convenience
This drill comes with a smaller chuck size than most, at ⅜" instead of the standard ½". It lacks a belt clip, an integrated work light, and only has a single operating speed. There is no charge level indicator on the battery, but we did find it relatively easy to take on and off.
With 24 clutch positions, the Black+Decker torque is highly customizable, but with very little muscle to back it, it doesn't make too much of a difference.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
For what this drill lacks in some areas, it makes up for in other realms. The Black+Decker is a light tool weighing only 2.6 pounds, and the manufacturer has included an entire lineup of standard drill bits, including Phillips, flatheads, and a few twist sizes. This allows for immediate use out of the box, without purchasing any additional accessories.
A lot of the drills we reviewed don't have bit storage, and it's one feature we loved about this lightweight unit.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Black+Decker PowerConnect?
If you want a bare-bones tool that can handle light projects without spending a ton of cash, then the Black+Decker 20V Max PowerConnect LD120VA is a good choice. That being said, it comes with some flaws. It's definitely on the underpowered side for DIY enthusiasts or professionals, but it's usually more than enough for a casual user around the house. If you are only doing light-duty tasks, then the Black+Decker is an exceptional value. There's no reason to spend more on a drill if you don't need more performance.
What Other Drill Should You Consider?
If you have DIY projects on the brain and hope to use your drill for various creations, then the Black+Decker is likely to be disappointing. For just a bit more investment, the Craftsman V20 1/2-In. Drill/Driver Kit CMCD700C1 is a better performer and less frustrating to use. See the best drills review to compare with other top models.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Black+Decker 20V Max PowerConnect LD120VA versus top competing products:
—Aspen Rain Weaver and Austin Palmer
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