Ryobi cordless drill

The best 18V cordless drills from Ryobi

Ryobi is a traditional manufacturer of power tools. The company, which originates from Japan, is considered a real insider tip by many DIY enthusiasts. The cordless drills from Ryobi are particularly popular. They are characterised by a favourable price/performance ratio and, of course, by their eye-catching appearance. However, the 18V devices with brushless motors in particular can be used for big challenges. Ryobi also offers compact models with 12V and mini drills with 4V.

In the following, we will show you which cordless drill from Ryobi is recommended. You will also find out what you should generally look out for when making your choice. We hope to be able to help you with this guide.

Ryobi cordless drill – 3 models in the presentation

Ryobi R18DD3-0

The cordless drills from Ryobi enjoy great popularity among “insiders”. A real all-round talent in this respect is the Ryobi R18DD3-0 .

The tool is powered by batteries from the all-encompassing 18V ONE+ series. Even with a large one, the dead weight remains below 2 kg, which is why handling is effortless. The proven 13 mm quick-action drill chuck also contributes to this. It can be quickly opened and closed by hand. Furthermore, you can preset the torque in 24 different steps using the illustrated pre-selection ring.

In practice, a torque of up to 50 Nm (1st gear) is developed. In 2nd gear you can then drill more filigree, with a speed of up to 1800 rpm, without splintering in wood or similar. A maximum of 38 mm can be drilled in wood and a tried and tested 13 mm in steel. A wide LED in the foot area ensures that you always have a clear view.

Ryobi R18DDP2-0

If you are looking for a good deal, you will definitely find it at Ryobi. An affordable 18V cordless drill from the manufacturer is the Ryobi R18DDP2-0 .

This model is more or less the preliminary stage of the first-mentioned cordless drill. The maximum torque is limited to 40 Nm. In addition, there are only 22 torque levels. However, you also save money on the purchase – depending on the platform, more than 20 euros for the individual device. Since the power is somewhat weaker, this cordless drill weighs a light 1.4 kg when fully assembled. Accordingly, the device is very suitable for women and senior citizens.

Even here, thanks to the 18V voltage, you can still expect that normal-sized screws can be driven reliably and quickly. In addition, holes up to 38 mm in size can be made in wood and up to 10 mm in size in steel. Other features include an LED light and a quick-action drill chuck that can be opened up to 10 mm.

Ryobi R18PDBL-0

Ryobi cordless drills are also suitable for higher demands. The current top model is the Ryobi R18PDBL-0 .

In the narrower sense, this device is an impact drill. It can therefore not only perform rotary movements, but also axial impacts. This combination is useful for loosening very tight screws and nuts. Thanks to the brushless motor, a torque of up to 60 Nm can be called up. In practice, holes up to 13 mm in size can be drilled in masonry and steel, and up to 50 mm in size in wood – the impact can be switched off.

Visually conspicuous is the lack of manual torque preselection. Instead, it can be electronically regulated 10 times. This mechanism has not yet found favour everywhere, but this is mostly only due to the initially unfamiliar operation. Instead of indicating the limits with a rattle, the device switches off automatically.

Ryobi cordless drill – Here is what you should look for when choosing

Choices & Drive

Ryobi currently offers 18 different cordless drill drills. These primarily include 18V devices that work with the universal ONE+ system. In addition, there are some 12V versions for small tasks.

For the batteries, Ryobi, like so many other manufacturers, relies on lithium-ion technology. Although this is not too cheap, it is particularly durable. There is no memory effect. In addition, there is only a low self-discharge. Also useful is the fact that such batteries can be kept compact and light – this is ensured by their high energy density.

While the 18V batteries from Ryobi come in a classic box shape, the 12V batteries have an elongated bar shape. The greater the capacity, the longer you can work without interruption. Ryobi offers capacities between 1.5 and 9 Ah (ampere hours). With increasing capacity, the weight and size of the battery also inevitably increase. Therefore, values above 5 Ah hardly make sense for a compact cordless drill.

For the motor, you can choose between brushless technology and a model with carbon brushes. Brushless motors are more expensive, more compact and more powerful. The latter is because there are not so many friction losses. In addition, the maintenance effort is really limited to 0, because where there are no brushes, they never need to be replaced.

Performance

The potential performance is, of course, of crucial relevance. It does not necessarily have to be extremely pronounced, but it does have to be suitable for the conditions on site. To be on the safe side, you should look at several indicators in this context.

How thick and long the screws can be is largely determined by the torque. It is expressed in Nm (newton metres). The higher the value, the more massive the screws can be. It is also easier to loosen bent and rusted screws. A low torque is appropriate for screwing small specimens so that they do not sink uncontrollably into soft surfaces together with the bit.

Besides screwing, a Ryobi cordless drill can also be used for drilling. Here, the maximum values are always shown in the wood and steel segments. At the peak, it is possible to drill holes up to 50 mm in size in wood and 13 mm in size in steel.

You can develop different power potentials because the torque is variable. In addition, there are often 2 gears available. While the maximum torque can be worked with in the first gear, a high speed is called up in the second gear. This means that 2nd gear is ideal for delicate work in soft wood and plastic.

Furthermore, the battery capacity is a promise for performance. 18V tools are generally superior to 12V models here. 4V drills can then really only be used for very low resistance.

Drill chuck

The built-in drill chuck has an influence on the application possibilities and the comfort during everyday use. Ryobi relies on proven standard solutions here. While the 18V models are equipped with a 13 mm quick-action drill chuck, the 12V models have a 10 mm quick-action drill chuck.

The values shown always define the maximum clamping range. In general, a quick-action drill chuck promises a very high level of comfort. You can change the attachment with one hand by opening and closing it manually. The use of separate tools is not necessary.

Handling

Handling a cordless drill should be as comfortable as possible. Then you can devote yourself fully to the task at hand and don’t have to worry about muscular discomfort. A Ryobi cordless drill promises you a high level of operating comfort for various reasons.

First of all, all Ryobi cordless drills weigh less than 2 kg ready for use. This means that they are easy to move, even above the shoulders. This also makes them a good choice for women and senior citizens.

Furthermore, the grip surfaces (GripZone+) are completely rubberised. This reduces the vibrations of the motor. In addition, there are no feelings of pressure in the palm. A ribbing ensures that you do not slip.

Both the battery and the attachment can be mounted on all models in just a few steps. In general, all controls are located where they guarantee the best functionality. Therefore, the handling is also intuitive.

Functionality

The cordless drills from Ryobi can be equipped with several functions that improve comfort, safety and variability in use. We will briefly explain what these are in the following.

As already mentioned, there are often 2 gears. Switching gears is done by a sliding movement on the top. The torque can only be adjusted manually on the preselection ring on some models – sometimes in more than 20 steps. Some models work purely electronically.

Start-up is done in the classic way via the throttle switch. Switching from right-handed to left-handed operation and vice versa is done by pushing in the nearby bolt.

Other features often include an LED light in the foot area. Thanks to this, you can always optimally follow the work progress, which makes the work precise and increases the safety aspect at the same time.

By the way, an electronic motor brake ensures that a Ryobi cordless shooter stops precisely.

The larger 18V batteries also have a capacity indicator. 4 LEDs show you how much juice is left. The more lamps light up, the longer you can continue. The batteries also have overload protection.

Only the Ryobi R18DD7-0 has a metal hook for hanging on a belt or ladder.

Price

The price should generally be in a fair proportion to your own requirements. Then the potential for disappointment is low. In the field of cordless drills, this usually means the following: The more power you expect and the more universal the application possibilities, the more you have to invest. The budget should also be increased if particularly durable components are required.

A Ryobi cordless drill is in the lower and middle price segment. These tend not to be professional tools for continuous use, but rather proven DIY solutions. However, the 18V devices with brushless motors also have their place in the trade.

Ryobi cordless drill – Advantages & disadvantages at a glance

The cordless drills from Ryobi offer various advantages. If you already have the right battery and charger, you can get a bargain at around 50 euros. At the same time, powerful solutions with brushless motors are also offered. Nevertheless, the manufacturer is not always the right choice here. So that you can quickly weigh up the pros and cons, we have created a table below:

Video: What the drills from Ryobi can do