This Ryobi R18PD3 is lightweight & compact, making it easy to use. Plus, the LED light is super useful. It aids accuracy in most situations and is a must-have feature for jobs in dimly lit areas. This handy starter kit also includes an 18V ONE+™ LED torch which can sit flat on a worktop or be hung to flood the working area with white light. Use in-the-home during a power cut or away from home e.g. camping, with a range of up to 20 metres. Along with the trusted Ryobi brand reputation, the 3-year warranty gives a good assurance, that it’s built to last. The working power for the R18PD3 comes from Ryobi’s celebrated ONE+ 18 Volt system. The reliable 1.5 Ah units that come with this tool can reportedly drive 160 13 x 50 mm holes into wood on a single charge. Not bad for a smaller battery unit!

And if that wasn’t enough to have you reaching for your wallet, you get two of these batteries included in the set. That simply means you’ve got more runtime, more power, and most importantly less downtime. The only way this setup could be improved would be with a brushless motor. The brushed motor fitted to this cordless drill makes it a little less efficient compared with the brushless ones found on the DeWalt DCD796 or the Makita DHP484. Choosing a cordless battery drill (over a corded model) is about convenience. However, this all goes wrong if the battery is flat. Not being able to finish a job because of a flat battery, is very frustrating!For regular trade use, it’s worth spending more to get a drill with a brushless motor. This technology delivers more power, is more efficient and lasts longer, but costs more. If this appeals, take a look at our Dewalt review. Ryobi use only Lithium-Ion batteries for their drill which are faster to charge and hold their charge for much longer than the older style Ni-Cad batteries. All these model use 18v and this is a big sign of top quality As much as I admire the ONE+ battery system, the shape of the batteries limits the form of Ryobi’s power tools. The sheer size of the 1.5 Ah battery means the bottom of this drill is huge. Compared with the comparatively streamlined ones on the DeWalt DCD796N, this drill feels clumsy. The hammer setting on a combi-drill is essential for masonry. This works by adding a hammer or vibrate action to the turning drill bit. If you’re familiar with Ryobi’s ONE+ battery system, you’ll know that by buying into their stable you have access to hundreds of different tools. The two batteries that come with this combi drill kit can be used in anything from air compressors to belt sanders, which is impressive.

Cordless percussion drill ideal for drilling in wood or metal, driving screws or even drilling in masonry thanks to the hammer functionEven though this might not be the most powerful of the cordless drills on my list, you can still get an impressive 50 Newton metres (Nm) of torque on the business end. It also boasts an impressive 23,400 max impacts per minute (ipm) which should be plenty in hammer mode. With a maximum drill speed of 1,800 rpm, it’s not the fastest on my list but good enough for DIY tasks. As part of the Ryobi 18V ONE+™ system of over 200 cordless tools for the home, garden, automotive, crafting and much more, the Ryobi 18V ONE+™ R18PD3-2C20SLF Cordless Combi Drill & Torch Starter Kit is the perfect power tool set for drilling and screwdriving into wood, metal, plastic and masonry - day or night.

This model from Ryobi is a combi-drill. This means it has three specific functions. Screwdriver, standard drill and hammer setting for masonry. This is essential if you ever need to hang a picture, shelf, curtain rail or any task that requires drilling into a wall or similar. The well-balanced technical specification is more than a match for drills costing significantly more. Negatives If you’ve ever held a Ryobi tool before, you’ll know about their patented GripZone technology. It’s quite simply the best overmoulded grip on the market if you ask me. The rubberised sections contain hundreds of tiny plus signs that just seem to grip really well. When you buy any cordless power tool, it’s important to choose a good brand that makes a wide range of affordable quality power tools. Once you have Ryobi batteries and a charger, it makes sense to buy bare Ryobi power tools [sold without battery & charger].One innovation that Ryobi have included on this drill is the handy little bit holder on the bottom of the grip. Supplied with a double-ended PZ2 and no 6 flathead bit, it’s going to come in handy when other bits have been lost or forgotten about.

Having a good grip is probably for the best though because this feels like a heavy cordless drill. Weighing in at 1.3 kg, it’s the same as the DeWalt DCD796, but the long body and brushed motor make it feel a little off-balance in comparison.As part of the Ryobi ONE+™ system of over 150 cordless tools for the home, garden, automotive, crafting and much more, the Ryobi 18V ONE+™ R18PD3-0 Cordless Compact Combi Drill is the perfect power tool kit for drilling and screwdriving into wood, steel and masonry. Remember that a "Bare body" tool means that there is no battery OR CHARGER with it, so keep this in mind when you ar comparing prices. The starter kits are a really good way to but this type of drill. The Ryobi R18PD3 cordless drill has a number of standout features, that are usually only associated with more expensive models. Most Ryobi chargers have the 1 hour fast charge which is great as you don't have to wait hours on a charge