REASONS TO BUY
Great performance
Metal ratcheting chuck
Includes hard case
Includes bit holder with a standard/Phillips head bit
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Flimsy bit holder
Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless Drill KXDD 1424A-03 Review
A powerful drill that is up to almost any task thrown at it
No issues driving a 5 inch lag screw.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
By Austin Palmer ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ March 7, 2024
Contributions From: Benjamin Hickok
RELATED: The Best Drills of 2025
Our Verdict
The Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless delivered some of the highest scores throughout our side-by-side testing, proving it is an exceptional cordless tool that can handle heavy-duty tasks like drilling large holes in thick material or driving in stubborn lag screws. This 24-volt model's top-tier performance, strong battery life, and high level of speed and power is almost remarkable considering its price point and inclusion of a battery and charger. If you don't already have brand loyalty, or are not locked in by the fact that you already own a handful of other brand batteries, then this model is well worth your consideration for its all around performance and exceptional value.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Strong performances all-around make this one of the best drill drivers we've tested to date.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Drilling
Our test team was able to bore a hole in a door made of solid wood with a hole saw with the Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless in an impressive 17 seconds, easily making it a top contender alongside just a handful of other models for this test.
It didn't perform quite as well when faced with boring 1-inch holes through lumber while employing a spade bit. Although it got off to a great start in the high-speed, lower-torque setting of '2', it bogged down after a few seconds and required the switch to the lower-speed, higher-torque setting to easily complete the task at hand.
Effortlessly hogging out 1 inch holes.
Credit: Austin Palmer
The Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless impressed our team again in our sheet metal tests, making a smaller hole in the steel in 1.13 seconds, and then repeating that performance for a larger hole that it made in 2.56 seconds. These were some of the most impressive test results we've seen to date and helped secure this model's status as a very capable cordless drill, suitable for most tasks.
This model offers great drilling performance in a range of materials.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Driving
Much like its performance in our drilling tests, the Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless produced excellent results. It drove a lag bolt in the high-speed, low-torque setting, with 2 ⅝ inches left to go before our testers finished the task on the low-speed, high-torque setting.
Our 3-inch number 9 Torx head deck screws also proved to be no problem for the Kobalt XTR 24-volt, which easily drives countersunk screw heads perfectly flush with the decking material surface.
The Kobalt XTR 24-volt driving screws flush without issues.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Battery Life
The Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless offered good battery life in our power-draining tests, but was outshone by a number of 18-volt drills. Although not the top performer, the XTR has plenty of stamina to drive 144 3-inch number 9 deck screws into 4 inches of lumber, and bore 26.5 1-inch holes in 1.5-inch boards with a spade bit before its 2.0 amp-hour battery taps out.
The battery life performance is nearly as good as the best models tested, but where it fails to be as good as the best models is in its recharging speed. The 2-amp-hour battery requires 85 minutes, or just shy of an hour and a half, of charging before it is ready to return to work.
Our testing is designed for fairness, and the tests were conducted with a 2 amp-hour battery, not the included 4 amp-hour battery. So you will get a lot more mileage out of the battery included with this kit, but you can also expect much longer charging times as well.
The XTR has a strong battery life but relatively long charging times.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Convenience
The Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless is a larger and heavier model, weighing in at a hefty 4 pounds 1.4 ounces, with an overall length of 7 inches. You will feel the weight in your hand if you are accustomed to a more compact 12v drill driver, and even the ergonomics of the handle is slightly larger and less comfortable for smaller hands.
Trade-offs of size and power aside, we like that it includes a solid metal ratcheting chuck with a ½ inch diameter, work light, battery level indicators, belt clip, and even a bit holder, which seems to be a less common feature of modern drill drivers.
The XTR 24-volt has lots of bells and whistles to help with your workflow.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Two speeds, which also alter the torque settings, are on par with most competent drill drivers, and there is little to complain about outside of some slightly smaller battery tabs, which, if larger, could make swapping batteries slightly easier. Finally, the tool is blue, which is a nice departure from the abundance of tool lines that are all similar shades of red, lime green or green, and yellow --if it matters to you.
The Kobalt XTR is a little heavier than other models that offer a similar level of performance.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Should You Buy the Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless?
The Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless drill demonstrated outstanding performance across our comprehensive testing, showcasing its capability to tackle demanding tasks, such as drilling holes in a variety of materials or driving large screws. Its top-notch performance and strong battery life are noteworthy, especially when considering its affordable price. Including a battery and charger deserves serious consideration for anybody in need of a drill driver with exceptional performance at an outstanding value, and is one of our top recommendations for a tool and battery combo.
What Other Drill Should You Consider?
The Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in is a great 24-volt drill, with performance rivaling the best model we tested overall, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2 Drill Driver. The Milwaukee M18 Fuel offers a small step up in performance, but for a price. The tool alone costs nearly as much as the all-inclusive Kobalt kit, and Milwaukee batteries trend toward the more expensive side of the spectrum regarding battery purchases and replacements. Of course, if your budget does not allow you to purchase either of the top two models, then you may want to consider the Craftsman V20 1/2-In. Drill/Driver, which offers good performance for most common tasks at a more affordable price.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless Drill KXDD 1424A-03 versus top competing products:
—Austin Palmer, Benjamin Hickok
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