RYOBI ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless 1/4 in. 4-Mode Impact Driver - PBLID02B - Tool Only (Battery Not Included)

Why it's worth it

Ryobi's ONE+ HP brushless driver gives homeowners four drive modes and a brushless motor without the pro-brand outlay. It runs on the same 18V ONE+ batteries as Ryobi's mowers, fans and shop lights, which is why it makes so much sense in a home garage.

If you already own anything green, this is the easy answer. Ryobi's 18V ONE+ system spans well over 300 tools, and every one of them shares the same battery. That's the practical case for the ONE+ HP line: Ryobi built it to narrow the performance gap with pro brands while keeping the packs you've been buying since your first string trimmer.

Brushless motors used to be the dividing line between homeowner tools and pro tools. They aren't anymore. Brushless is standard even at this tier now, and it buys you longer runtime, less heat and a motor with no brushes to wear out. For furniture assembly, fence repair and a weekend of deck boards, the gap between this and our top pick shows up in the last hour, not the first.

From our review of 8 impact drivers

What we like

• +If you already own anything green, this is the easy answer
• +Brushless motors used to be the dividing line between homeowner tools and pro tools
• +The four modes are the feature most first-time buyers underuse
• +It's a bare tool, which is the smart way to buy it if you're already in the system

What to know

• –The Amazon listing for this one is a mess
• –Push it hard and the difference from a pro tool appears