Bosch 12V Max Drill/Driver Kit PS31-2A Review

Drilling

We looked at how the Bosch 12V Max did at drilling holes with various bits into several types of materials.

The 12V Max did about average at drilling holes in a standard piece of lumber with a paddle bit. You could tell that it was weaker than the higher voltage tools, but it usually made it through without too much of a struggle or severely stalling. However, you could also tell the drill was starting to heat up significantly if you started drilling another hole right after, dropping its score slightly.

The Bosch had a much easier time with some twist bits designed for metal, even though we were drilling through a rather thick steel sheet. You could tell that the drill was struggling a bit. It almost made it the entire way through in its high gear, but we did have to downshift right at the end to make it through.

We were pleasantly surprised with the Bosch 12V Max performance running a hole saw. It wasn't the fastest or the best by any means, but it didn't really struggle at all with this difficult drilling test.

It made it to the full depth of the hole saw in a solid core door in a little over a minute — significantly slower than the 20-30 seconds of the best drills --, but it didn't seem like it was going to overheat.

Driving

The Bosch did a good, not great, job at driving in the countersunk wood screws into the lumber. It does fine most of the time, but tends to stop and stall anytime the resistance increases — like if you hit a knot. It has the power to drive the screw heads flush, but we could feel the drill starting to overheat after driving in 16 screws in rapid succession.

This little 12-volt drill lacked the power to complete the task, completely stalling out with a little more than an inch left to go, and no amount of coaxing would get the drill to drive the screw any deeper.

Battery Life

We looked at the battery life of the Bosch 12V Max, as well as the time it takes to recharge a battery. Overall, it was a little disappointing.

The 2 Ah battery of the Bosch only made it through 3.5 of our test sets before dying — much less than the 8-10 sets the top drills managed before running out of juice.

We were also a little disappointed that this drill didn't charge particularly fast, taking 85 minutes to recharge a totally dead battery completely.

Ease of Use

In terms of features and convenience, the Bosch PS31-2A showed a decent performance.

This drill has a built-in battery meter and an LED work light. We found the battery meter to be quite handy, letting you keep track of the charge so you can make sure the extra battery is fully charged or charging when you start to run low. The integrated light is decent, but it isn't as bright as some other models, so you may want to consider bringing some supplemental light if you are working in a really dark location.

This tool has two operating speed ranges, and the chuck can hold bits with up to a ⅜" shank. It is also one of the smallest and lightest drills, weighing in at a little more than two pounds. We love how well this model fits into tight spaces that larger drills can't reach.

However, the battery can be a little more difficult to swap than some of the other models, with the locking tabs occasionally binding up a bit. We also wished that it had a belt clip — invaluable when working on a ladder — but you can always buy a third-party holster to make up for this.

Should You Buy the Bosch PS31-2A?

If you want a lightweight and portable drill to tackle most home improvement projects, we would recommend the Bosch PS31-2A. It is a fantastic addition to any DIYer's arsenal, with the ability to tackle the vast majority of drilling and driving tasks. It might not have the power to match the professional-grade tools, but it also costs a lot less. Among the 12-volt models we tested, it's just behind the best performance, but we think it offers the best value among drills of its voltage.

What Other Drill Should You Consider?

If you have a little more room in the budget, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2" Drill Driver is one to consider. It is a top-ranking option in our tests and offers exceptional value for the price, given its impressive drilling and driving performance during testing.