Ask tradespeople what they want most out of a cordless power tool and you’ll hear lots of dreamy musings like “high performance in a smaller, lighter package” and “compatibility with the batteries I already have”. Ryobi did ask. And they listened. We just stepped out of a super secret webinar unveiling a new compact-er tool lineup: ONE+ HP; including 6 sweet tools (with another handful or more already waiting in the wings). They’re brushless, even smaller than most current compacts and, best of all, fully compatible with all Ryobi 18V battery packs. Come sneak in the back door with us as we take a gander at the new Ryobi ONE+ HP lineup! And if anyone asks, we’re with the caterers.
18V ONE+ HP – An Intriguing “New Platform”
ONE+ HP is a new sub-compact tool series that’s fully compatible with all of the 18V Ryobi batteries you may already have in your shop. So even though most of the tools will also be offered as kits – with two 1.5 Ah batteries and a charger – you can opt to buy just the bare tools if you’d rather not pay for extra stuff you don’t need.
Work Overhead Or In Tight Quarters With Greater Ease And Less Fatigue
The new ONE+ HP (High Performance) series tools are in addition to the existing 175+ tools in the Ryobi 18V ONE+ lineup; they are not replacing those tools. So if you need a bigger, more powerful tool, rest assured those aren’t going anywhere. But if you’re looking for lighter, more compact 18V tools that can meet or exceed reasonable standards, the ONE+ HP series is something you’re going to want to keep a close eye on.
We haven’t had a chance to get our hands on any of these beauties yet. What we saw in the presentation, however, definitely got our attention. And you can bet that as soon as we do try them for ourselves we will share the experience with you right here at Home Fixated.
And They’re Off – 18V ONE+ HP 1/2” Drill/Driver
We went into this thing not knowing what to expect. Construction tools? Lawn and garden tools? A line of electronic test equipment? Russian nesting saws? But we did know one thing: if your life ever depends on your taking a wild guess at what might be included in some random power tool platform launch, “drill/driver” is sure to see you living to a ripe old age.
If some poor soul has only a single power tool to their name (GASP!!! Oh, the humanity!), it’s most likely a drill or drill/driver. We’d almost consider it an essential tool. Ryobi’s 18V ONE+ HP 1/2” drill/driver is lighter and more compact than a lot of what’s out there. At 6.4” in length, it’s 30% smaller and 20% lighter than Ryobi’s own brushed version. Yet it has all the features you’d expect from a more traditional model.
* 1/2” ratcheting chuck
* 2-speed gear box (0-450 / 0-1,700 RPM)
* 24-position clutch ring
* 400 in-lbs. of torque
* LED light
* Brushless motor
* 3-year warranty
MSRP $129 (For a kit including (2) 1.5Ah batteries, charger & tool bag. Also available as a bare tool.)
18V ONE+ HP 3/8” Right Angle Drill – The Right Tool For A Tight Job
Next up was a compact right angle drill designed to work in the tightest spaces. According to Ryobi, it is the industry’s most compact right angle drill (pretty cool, huh?). It measures only 3.6” deep; and almost half of that is the chuck!
It has a large paddle switch, something that comes in handy when tight spaces force you to adjust your grip. And it appears to be reversible, making it perfect for running 1/4” screwdriver bits in situations where you need a stubby but just can’t get your hand in there.
* 3/8” chuck
* Most compact of its kind
* 2-speed gear box (0-450 / 0-1,700 RPM)
* Up to 350 in-lbs. of torque (2x that of their previous right angle drill!)
* LED light
* Brushless motor
* 3-year warranty
MSRP $99 (Bare tool only)
18V ONE+ HP 1/4” Impact Driver – Small But Mighty
As with the rest of the ONE+ HP series, this one is smaller and lighter than its brushed counter-part. And like the drill/driver, it’s a predictable – yet welcome – part of the lineup. If a drill/driver is the most “must have” power tool, an impact driver may very well rank second.
* Compact length of just 5.3”
* 1/4” hex collet w/ one-handed release
* Up to 3,800 IPM (Impacts Per Minute)
* 0-2,900 RPM
* Up to 1,700 in-lbs. of torque
* LED light
* Brushless motor
* 3-year warranty
The presentation showed the impact driver sinking 211 2” deck screws with one charge of a 1.5Ah battery, which was notably better than the brushed and brushless competitors they compared it to (given the battery size).
MSRP $129 (For a kit including (2) 1.5Ah batteries, charger & tool bag. Also available as a bare tool.)
18V ONE+ HP One-Handed Recip Saw – We Came. We Saw. We Liked!
The one-handed recip saw measures 13” in length and features an adjustable pivoting shoe for less vibration and better control over blade depth. It also has a quick blade release. If you need to replace a blazing hot blade, just hold the tool vertically, flip the release lever and the blade drops right out. Ryobi says the saw is 31% more compact and 24% lighter than their brushed version. And there’s a secondary hand location for when you need better control.
* 0-3,000 SPM (Strokes Per Minute)
* 5/8” stroke
* Pivoting, adjustable depth shoe
* Quick release blade holder
* One wood cutting blade included
* LED light
* Brushless motor
* 3-year warranty
MSRP $99 (For bare tool, available at The Home Depot. Kits will be available online.)
4-Mode 3/8” Impact Wrench – Big Things Can Come In Little Packages
What we’ve seen so far has been impressive, but here’s where things really started to get interesting. For this reviewer, the last two tools are truly special and have the most potential to set the HP series apart from the rest of the compact tool market.
When you think of compact 18V tools, engine repair and tire changes probably don’t come to mind. But this mere 5.4” long impact wrench is capable of outputting up to 160 ft-lbs. of torque. Not only does it have the brawn you need, but it has the brains to back it up, featuring a unique auto(matic) mode that prevents over-tightening and uncontrolled removal of fasteners.
* Up to 160 ft-lbs. of torque
* 3 speeds + auto mode for better control
* Variable speed trigger
* 0-2,900 RPM
* Up to 3,900 IPM (Impacts Per Minute)
* 3/8” anvil with friction ring for quick, easy socket changes and retention
* LED light
* Brushless motor
* 3-year warranty
In auto mode, this compact Ryobi impact wrench runs at full speed, but then stops once the fastener tightens up so you manually set full tension with a proper torque wrench. When removing, auto mode stops the driver once the fastener is loose. This allows you to spin the bolt/nut off by hand so you don’t drop it under the vehicle. Or worse, lose it forever to the black hole of an engine compartment.
MSRP $119 (Bare tool, in store. Kit available online.)
Ryobi ONE+ HP 3” Cut-Off Tool – It’s Reversible!
As if the compact right angle drill and 3/8” impact wrench weren’t enough, Ryobi went and hit us with a 3” cut-off tool. Wow, wasn’t expecting that! One particularly intriguing feature is that it’s reversible, letting you to cut in either direction without the tool climbing and taking off on you.
With this type of tool (and rotary saws in general), the arbor bolt is usually threaded so that the rotation of the arbor torques the bolt in the tightening direction; that way inertial forces can never work it loose. We don’t know how they addressed this to permit a reverse mode, but we’re eager to find out!
* Includes 3 blades/wheels
* Reversible
* Up to 19,500 RPM
* Only 8-1/2” long
* Adjustable guard
* Wire base shoe
* Onboard hex wrench storage
* 2 LED lights to light both forward and reverse directions
* Brushless motor
* 3-year warranty
MSRP $99 (Bare tool, including metal cut-off wheel, carbide abrasive blade and a diamond tile blade.)
Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP Series – Compact, Light, And Much More To Come
So there you go; the new ONE+ HP lineup has started off with some strong entries and we can’t wait to get our hands on them. The Ryobi ONE+ HP series is exclusive to The Home Depot. The launch lineup will be available online around the middle of this month (Aug 2020) and in stores by early September.
Learn more about Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP compact, brushless tools:
People should stop using Ryobi just because of the battery! In the modern world where everyone else has batteries that can be recharged no matter how low the cells are, Ryobi is the only manufacturer whose batteries if discharged over a certain period are useless.
Do they make more money in forcing people to keep buying replacement batteries and hence have no incentive to fix the problem?
I’ve only replaced one battery in 15 years don’t know what you’re talking about!
I have one of those batteries that won’t charge anymore. Battery Outfitters said no one can work on the lithium batteries because it is not safe. They can overheat and catch fire. No place to recycle locally so a replacement will have to be purchased. A nickel cadmium battery would be safer.
The design and function look very smart. Thanks for sharing the review.