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Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless Kit Review

A solid drill that would be a welcome to addition to your Ryobi tool army
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Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless Kit Review
Credit: Ryobi
Price:  $99 List
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Manufacturer:   Ryobi
By Ross Patton ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  Jul 20, 2022
84
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 23
  • Drilling - 35% 9.3
  • Driving - 35% 8.8
  • Battery Life - 20% 6.8
  • Convenience - 10% 6.6

Our Verdict

Part of the Ryobi ONE family of cordless tools, this mdoel is a high-performance drill that scored near the top of the pack in nearly all of our assessment and evaluations. This model shreds with a hole saw, has no problem with paddle bits, and pierces through 16-gauge thick metal with ease. If you are the type that requires a top drill for your garage collection of the best tools, the Ryobi ONE will not disappoint. If you already own tools that use this battery and charger, you can score quite the deal by purchasing the “tool-only” package.
REASONS TO BUY
Fantastic drilling and driving performance
Good 2 Ah battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
On the heavier side
Slower battery charging
Light shuts off after ten seconds

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards   Best Buy Award
Best Bang for Your Buck
Best Buy Award
Best 12 Volt Option a Budget
Best Buy Award
A Great Drill for Tight Budgets
Price $99 List
$61.00 at Amazon
$100 List
$68.49 at Amazon
$79 List
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$139 List
$105.52 at Amazon
$87 List
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Overall Score Sort Icon
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35
Star Rating
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Bottom Line This model performs well across the board, and is especially worth the purchase if you already own the battery and chargerLimited driving performance kept this model from doing better overallA great budget drill for a homeowners or DIYer and has more than enough power for moderate to light-duty tasksOur favorite compact 12-volt drill when considering overall performance and priceThis drill isn't great, but can speed up driving screws through prefabricated furniture at a low price
Rating Categories Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V B... Ridgid 18V Brushles... Craftsman V20 1/2-I... Bosch 12V Max Drill... Black+Decker 20V Ma...
Drilling (35%)
9.3
8.9
6.6
5.8
4.1
Driving (35%)
8.8
5.6
6.2
4.5
3.2
Battery Life (20%)
6.8
9.2
4.4
3.2
2.6
Convenience (10%)
6.6
7.0
6.0
5.8
4.6
Specs Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V B... Ridgid 18V Brushles... Craftsman V20 1/2-I... Bosch 12V Max Drill... Black+Decker 20V Ma...
Five Inch Hole Saw Test 20 seconds 22 seconds 55 seconds 70 seconds 90 seconds
Lag Screw Test 4.75 in 4.25 in 4.37 in 3.87 in 3.19 in
Manufacturer Peak Torque 750 in-lbs 400 in-lbs 280 in-lbs 256 in-lbs Not Listed
Measured Charge Time 63 min 59 min 58 min 85 min 210 min
Measured Weight 3.77 lbs 2.97 lbs 3.44 lbs 2.17 lbs 2.68 lbs
Measured Length 7.1875 in 6.25 in 8.25 in 6.625 in 7 in
Measured Number of Settings 24 23 23 20 10
Manufacturer Stated RPM Low: 0 - 500
High: 0 - 2100
Low: 0 - 400
High: 0 - 1750
Low: 0 - 450
High: 0 - 1500
Low: 0 - 350
High: 0 -1300
0 - 650
Included Battery Pack(s) 2.0 Ah Tested with 2.0 Ah 1.3 Ah 2.0 Ah 1.5 Ah
Max Chuck 1/2 in 1/2 in 1/2 in 3/8 in 3/8 in
Battery Voltage 18V 18V 20V 12V 20V
Drill Model Tested PBLDD01 R8701 CMCD700 PS31 LDX120C
Box Model (Kit) Tested PBLDD01K Tested tool-only, no kit CMCD700C1 PS31-2A LDX120C
Battery Indicator Location Battery Battery Battery Drill N/A
LED Location Above the battery Above the battery Above the trigger Above the trigger Above the trigger
Included Belt Clip No Yes No No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


ryobi one+ hp 18v brushless cordless kit - this particular kit includes a carrying case.
This particular kit includes a carrying case.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Drilling


To begin our review, we performed several evaluations to measure the primary purpose of these tools, which is to bore holes of various sizes into different materials. First, we used a 5" hole saw bit to see how long each model took to cut a hole through a 1 ¾" wooden door. Next, we timed how long it took the tools to drill through a 16-gauge thick piece of sheet metal using both a ¼" and ½" bit. Finally, we drilled several holes in a 2" x 12" board with a 1" paddle bit. The Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V showed some of the strongest results that we've seen to date.

ryobi one+ hp 18v brushless cordless kit - the ryobi brand is one of our favorites.
The Ryobi brand is one of our favorites.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

When it came to cutting a hole in the door, the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V got it done in 20 seconds. Considering that the average time for this test was more than a minute, this is fantastic timing. Using a ¼" bit, it punched through the sheet metal in about a second. When we bumped the bit size up to ½", it took between 4 and 5 seconds to drill a hole which is phenomenal.

ryobi one+ hp 18v brushless cordless kit - the ryobi one+ hp 18v has no problem sawing holes in a solid wooden...
The Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V has no problem sawing holes in a solid wooden door.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

When we used a paddle bit with the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V, it started strong but slowed about halfway through the board. However, when we turned the drill down to a lower gear, it had no problem with this style of bit.

ryobi one+ hp 18v brushless cordless kit - we drilled dozens of holes with a 1" paddle to test each model.
We drilled dozens of holes with a 1" paddle to test each model.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Driving


Many people also use drills for driving screws and sinking fasteners. For the next portion of the total score, we began by driving a ½" x 5" lag screw into a stack of boards after drilling the appropriately sized pilot hole. If the tool could not completely tighten the screw until the screw head was touching the wood, we measured how much space was left to go. Next, we sunk tons and tons of 3" deck screws to objectively assess how each model felt and performed while completing this task. Once again, the HP 18V finished this contest near the front of the pack.

ryobi one+ hp 18v brushless cordless kit - we loved the driving abilities of the ryobi.
We loved the driving abilities of the Ryobi.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Our team all agreed that the HP 18V was great for driving deck screws. We found that this tool makes it easy to quickly and easily sink screws, the fasteners are easy to get to the perfect flush, and the trigger has great speed control. When we used this model for driving a lag screw, it was able the hex cap most of the way to the wood on the first try, leaving about ¼" of a gap. After a few more trigger pulls, the Ryobi completed the task.

ryobi one+ hp 18v brushless cordless kit - the ryobi one was able to drive in most of the 5-inch lag screws...
The Ryobi One was able to drive in most of the 5-inch lag screws during our testing.
Credit: Austin Palmer

Battery Life


Having a battery die halfway through a project can be irksome, especially when you know your battery will take an hour to charge. For this reason, we dedicated a good chunk of our total score to battery life. To completely drain the batteries, we completed several sets of the same test until the tools were completely dead. We began by sinking 14 3" deck screws into a stack of 2" x 12" boards, drilled three holes with a 1" paddle bit, then let the device rest for a few minutes to avoid any problems with overheating. The Ryobi was one of the top-performing models in this portion of our drill-testing marathon. It was able to get through seven total sets of our experiment before dying on the 14th deck screw of the 8th set. This model lost a few charge time points; it took the battery 63 minutes to get back up to 100% on the charger.

ryobi one+ hp 18v brushless cordless kit - we recorded the charging time for each battery so that you can see...
We recorded the charging time for each battery so that you can see the full range in this line up.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Convenience


For the remaining portion of our total score, we looked at the subtle differences in design that set each device apart from the others. This model's convenience features include an LED light just above the battery that illuminates your work area, a 24-position clutch, and a belt clip that can be attached on either side of the device to make it easily accessible from the storage location of your choice.

The Ryobi LED emits plenty enough light for a small work space.
The Ryobi LED emits plenty enough light for a small work space.
It's easy to adjust settings and change gears with this model.
It's easy to adjust settings and change gears with this model.
The Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V is good all-around drill.
The Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V is good all-around drill.

Should You Buy the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V?


The HP 18V would make a great addition to your cordless power tool collection. It checks off all the boxes on the list of things that most people would want out of a drill. If you already own Ryobi tools and are in the market for a drill, this model is the only way to go. By buying the “tool-only” option, you are significantly reducing the overall cost of buying this drill.

What Other Drill Should You Consider?


Although we love the Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V, there are a few drills that may be better suited for your needs. If you require the absolute best of the best, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2" Drill Driver outperformed this model in every metric and has a similar cost, especially if you can find it on sale or already own Milwaukee Fuel batteries. For those looking for a light & compact 12-volt model, the Bosch 12V Max Drill/Driver showed some commendable results but hardly takes up any storage room. If you want an affordable model with a solid performance from a brand you can trust, check out the Craftsman V20 CMCD700C1.

Ross Patton