2021 test15 productsPower Tools
Which Compact Battery Screwdriver Brand Wins?
A head-to-head test of 15 compact battery screwdriver options with the measured results for each. See how they ranked and watch the full test video.
Budget pick
NoCry
Price shown in test: $40
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The measured results
Every number below is read straight from the test. Scroll sideways to see all measurements. Products are listed in the order they finished.
| Product | Noise | No Load RPM | Clutch | Speed Test | Max Torque | Endurance Test | Claim | Length | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Metabo HPT$59 | 69 decibels, slightly louder than average | 204 RPM in first gear versus a 260 RPM rating; 620 RPM in second gear versus a 780 RPM rating, the fastest of all brands tested | torque adapter showed 0 in lbs, tied for the best delicate-work clutch result with the Bosch and Milwaukee | 2.9 seconds in first gear, second fastest yet; 1.63 seconds in second gear, by far the fastest brand overall though it seemed out of power by the time it finished | 25 in lbs versus a claimed 44 in lbs | survived the 5 minute endurance test and performed very well | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 2NoCry$40 | 70 decibels, second loudest | 224 RPM versus a 230 RPM rating; offered low RPM control down to only 16 RPM using its variable speed trigger | disengaged at 5 in lbs on the lowest setting | 2.59 seconds average, the fastest first gear time recorded | 35 in lbs versus a claimed 88 in lbs, the best torque result of all brands tested | did very well but quit just before the 5 minute mark | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 3DeWalt Gyroscopic inline screwdriver kit$74 | 69 decibels, slightly louder than average | 419 RPM versus a 430 RPM rating; variable speed down to 34 RPM at the slowest | not tested | 1.33 seconds average, the fastest of all brands tested and seemed to have plenty of power left over | 21 in lbs; no manufacturer torque rating provided | started off the fastest and seemed to perform the best of all brands in the endurance test | not tested | not tested | not tested |
| 4Black & Decker$20 | 68 decibels | 198 RPM, no manufacturer RPM rating stated but claim of 3x manual speed seemed true | not tested | did not have enough power to drive in the drywall screw | 90 in lbs on the lag bolt torque test | barely survived the 5 minute test, spinning very slowly by the end | three times faster than manual driving, 60 percent more reach with bit extender | not tested | not tested |
| 5KakuuP$24 | 70 decibels | 194 RPM versus a 220 RPM claim | not tested | average 3.25 seconds driving the drywall screw | 21 in lbs versus a 44.24 in lb claim | survived the 5 minute test but the battery pack got pretty warm | 4 V lithium ion 1500 mAh battery, 220 RPM no load speed, 44.24 in lbs max torque | 5.75 in, tied for second shortest | not tested |
| 6Tacklife (sp? possibly Teccpo) 45-piece kit$25.47 | 61 decibels, quieter than the Black & Decker and KakuuP | 177 RPM, the slowest yet at that point in the video | released at either 4 or 6 in lbs on the lowest setting depending on which of the two similarly-named entries this is | not tested | not tested | not tested | up to 6 Newton meters of torque, 4 V battery | not tested | not tested |
| 7Skil 4-V rechargeable$28 | 68 decibels | 227 RPM versus a 230 RPM claim, the closest any brand came to its rating at that point | not tested | did not have enough power to drive in the drywall screw | 7 in lbs, struggled badly | did not have enough power to spin the drill over | 9-piece bit kit, 5-year warranty, 230 RPM no-load speed, has circuit sensor technology to detect live electrical current | not tested | 220 g |
| 8Tacklife (sp? possibly Teccpo) 30-piece cordless kit$29 | 68 decibels | 175 RPM, the slowest yet at that point in the video | not tested | average 3.16 seconds, made easy work of all three screws | 27 in lbs versus a claimed 35 in lbs, tied for second best with the Makita | survived the 5 minute test | 3.6 V, 2000 mAh battery, 4 Newton meter or 35 in lb max torque, 31-piece bit kit, includes a clutch and adjustable handle angle | not tested | not tested |
| 9Pink Power 3.6V cordless electric screwdriver$30 | 60 decibels, tied for quietest with the Hybro | 136 RPM versus a 200 RPM claim, the slowest screwdriver tested at that point | not tested | average 6.11 seconds, nearly twice as long as the Tacklife/Teccpo | 16 in lbs | began smoking at 3.5 minutes into the 5 minute test but survived | 3.6 V motor, 180 degree rotating handle, 11-piece bit kit, includes its own charger instead of just a USB cable, 200 RPM no-load speed | 6.25 in | not tested |
| 10Worx$38 | 63 decibels, third quietest | 218 RPM versus a 230 RPM claim | not tested | average 3.39 seconds, slightly slower than the Tacklife/Teccpo | 23 in lbs versus a claimed 27 in lbs | survived the 5 minute test but was spinning very slowly by the end | semi-automatic driver, 4 V max lithium, 27 in lb max torque, 230 RPM no-load speed | not tested | not tested |
| 11Hybro electric and manual screwdriver$40 | 60 decibels, tied for quietest with the Pink Power | 247 RPM versus a 280 RPM claim | not tested | did not have enough power to drive in the drywall screw | 6 in lbs versus a claimed 18 in lbs | did not have enough torque to spin the drill over | 3.6 V, 280 RPM, up to 18 in lbs electric torque, up to 88 in lbs in manual mode | 5.63 in, the shortest of all brands tested | 161 g, by far the lightest of all brands tested |
| 12Ryobi$50 | 68 decibels, about average | 143 RPM versus a 200 RPM claim in first gear; 426 RPM versus a 600 RPM claim in second gear | not tested | average 5.15 seconds, nearly 2 seconds slower than the leader; did not have enough power to drive the screw in second gear | 15 in lbs, struggled badly | survived the 5 minute test | 4 V lithium ion, two-speed gearbox rated 200 and 600 RPM | 5.75 in, tied for second shortest | not tested |
| 13Bosch$87 | 64 decibels, quieter than average | 334 RPM versus a 360 RPM claim | torque adapter showed 0 in lbs, tied for the best delicate-work clutch result with the Metabo and Milwaukee | 1.99 seconds average, faster than average | 21 in lbs versus a claimed 44 in lbs | survived the 5 minute test | 44 in lb torque claim, 3.6 V, 360 RPM claim, adjustable clutch | not tested | 303 g |
| 14Makita$89 | 71 decibels, the loudest of all brands tested | 201 RPM, quite a bit slower than the other more expensive brands | not tested | average 2.96 seconds, not nearly as fast as the Metabo, DeWalt, or Milwaukee | 27 in lbs, tied for second best with the Tacklife/Teccpo entry | held up just fine | 3.6 V, kit includes 80 different drivers | not tested | 365 g |
| 15Milwaukee$139 | 68 decibels average | 210 RPM in first gear, beating its 200 RPM rating; 610 RPM in second gear, beating its 600 RPM rating, second fastest RPM of all brands tested | torque adapter showed 0 in lbs, tied for the best delicate-work clutch result with the Metabo and Bosch | 2.84 seconds in first gear; 1.74 seconds in second gear (successfully drove in 2 of 3 screws), third fastest overall | 20 in lbs versus a claimed 44 in lbs | survived the 5 minute test and held up just fine | Red Lithium 2.0 battery, up to 20 percent more power, 44 in lb torque claim, 21 clutch settings, two-speed gearbox rated 0-200 and 0-600 RPM, 5 year warranty | not tested | not tested |
How it was tested
- no-load RPM versus manufacturer rating
- noise level at 24 in with a sound meter
- weight
- tool length
- clutch precision on delicate fasteners with a low-torque adapter
- speed driving a 1.25 in drywall screw
- maximum torque on a 5 in lag bolt
- 5 minute continuous-load endurance test on a drill motor
“It's very hard to declare an outright winner when you consider there's so much variation between the different brands.”