Mike wrote in with a doozy of a question, asking for help in choosing between Bosch and Milwaukee 12V drills.
I’m a DIY’er and I’m looking for a 12V drill driver. This isn’t something I will use everyday (could be weeks at a time) but at the same time this will be a long term purchase for me. I’m finally retiring my 16 year old Makita 6095D because I’m tired of batteries never charging and the weight.
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I’ve narrowed it down to the Milwaukee M12 Fuel (2403-22), Milwaukee M12 (2407-22), and the Bosch PS32-02.
The Milwaukee M12 Fuel at $180 is kind of hard for me to justify for my infrequent usage but then again I won’t be buying another drill for a few years. What do you think?
Between the Milwaukee M12 and the Bosch PS32-02 which would you recommend? (torque rating is basically the same although the Bosch is Brushless with slightly bigger batteries).
It has been suggested to me to go with Milwaukee M12 line and that’s for two reasons: they have so many other M12 tools and they might have longer battery support. For me personally I don’t plan on buying any other tools but if they did have better long-term support for their batteries over Bosch then that might affect my decision.
These models, the Bosch PS32 and Milwaukee 2403 and 2407 models, are all recommended in our best cordless drills roundup for 2014.
The Bosch 12V PS32 and Milwaukee M12 Fuel 2403 are both brushless models that offer fantastic runtime and can deliver impressive power for the size. The Milwaukee M12 2407 is one of their upgraded M12 drills and drivers that came out last year.
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The new Bosch brushless cordless drill and Milwaukee’s maturing but still cutting-edge Fuel drill are pretty evenly matched. The Milwaukee can deliver more power and has a 1/2″ chuck, but the Bosch is smaller and more affordable.
For a DIYer who is set on the idea of a 12V-class drill/driver, my pick would probably be the Milwaukee M12 2407 drill/driver for 3 reasons. First, it’s a decent model with updated features, specs, and ergonomics. Second, it’s priced at just $99 right now for the 2-battery kit.
Third, as mentioneded, Milwaukee’s M12 lineup is vast. There are still a few compact tools I wish Milwaukee would come out with, but the M12 platform is unmatched when it comes to breadth and selection. That their lineup is large is not any guarantee that they won’t come out with a new form factor down the road. It’s unlikely that Milwaukee, Bosch, or any other professional brand, will shift to a new incompatible battery form factor any time in the foreseeable future.
Even if you don’t plan on buying any more tools right now, you might want something else down the road.
Bosch’s PS32 and Milwaukee’s Fuel drill are both really nice cordless brushless drills, but if this isn’t something you plan on using very frequently, pocket the extra money and save it for other tools you might want down the line. Or, that extra $60-80 savings could mean a replacement battery or two in 5 years.
Is it worth it to go brushless? If you don’t plan on using the cordless drill/driver very often or very heavily, then the benefits of the greater power efficiency and runtime might be lost on you, but you will still benefit from the greater power. Brushless motors also require less maintenance since there are no motor brushes that ever need to be replaced.
If you are strongly considering the PS32, then the Milwaukee M12 Fuel drill isn’t too much more expensive, and you get a slightly more powerful drill with one of the two bundled batteries being a high capacity M12 XC 4.0Ah pack.
The Bosch PS31 kit is also a good value option, with the special L-Boxx toolbox bundle being a great option if you’re looking to get into the L-Boxx modular storage platform.
It’s a tough choice. The M12 Fuel drill is a fantastic performer, Bosch’s PS32 is nimble and a solid all-around performer, and the M12 non-Fuel drill is capable and much more affordably priced.
Ultimately, my clear first recommendation would be for the Milwaukee 2407. Beyond that, the Bosch PS32 and Milwaukee Fuel 2403 are in close competition. Ignoring pricing, the Milwaukee is the better drill in terms of power and runtime since the kit comes with both compact and high capacity batteries. But with retail pricing thrown into the mix, the PS32 has increasing appeal.
Read More: 2014 Best Cordless Drill Recommendations, Best DIY/Homeowner Drill Discussion
Buy Now(Milwaukee M12 2407 Kit via Home Depot)
Buy Now(Bosch PS32 Kit via Amazon)
Buy Now(Milwaukee M12 Fuel 2403 Kit via Home Depot)
Matthew Fant
I recommend the m12 fuel. I think you get a little more drill for the money, and a 5 year warranty. If you only plan to buy one, make it a good one, and while I have nothing against Bosch, I feel Milwaukee has a much stronger 12v line, should you ever feel the need to expand. Ultimately, the drill you should pick, is the one that fits the budget, and feels right in your hand. I urge you to go try these models in stores if you can. Enjoy!
JML
There’s no substitute for going into your local stores and seeing how they fit your hand. When I was looking at the earlier generation of these two great tools, I found that the Milwaukee had a serious ergonomic flaw (at least for me): the space between the chuck torque ring and the LED was large enough to trap the skin of my palm. I bought the Bosch PS31.
I also thought it interesting that the Milwaukee tools on display seemed to suffer more from use and exposure than the Bosch. They looked beat-up.
ToolLady
“It’s a tough choice.”, “My clear first recommendation would be for the Milwaukee 2407.” Uh???
Pete
I own a bosch 12v drill and impact driver and sawzall. Let me first say the 12v is fantastic! Plenty of power for nearly everything in a home.
HOWEVER! I wish I would have gone with the Milwaukee m12 line. FOR ONE REASON!!!!!!
THE BELT CLIP!!!!!!!!!
I have the Makita 18v line and love the belt clips. I have gotten so used to them that I don’t know what I did before I had them and I’m still confused when I’m using my bosch 12V’s.
The M12 line is HUGE! I want the grease gun and the sds hammer.
Travis
The PS32 I just bought had a belt clip and bit holder.
Joe
I wholeheartedly agree! I have the 2407 kit I got for Christmas and it is great for the DIY guy! It has power and light weight. Batteries charge fast and if never lacks for performance …I use mine 3-5 times a week along with the 2462 impact driver! Fantastic at the Christmas prices of 79 bucks for the 2 battery hard case kit!
Scott
Another vote for the Milwaukee 2407! I am quite happy with mine, and the M12 line. Only get the FUEL if you need the additional capabilities or not worried about the difference in price. The deference in price from $100 (the 2407) vs $180 (FUEL) is close to the price of a second tool without a battery (the 2407 comes with two). It’s definitely worth first holding the drills in a store if you can.
AJ from AZO
Go to your local Home Depot and see how the Milwaukee M12 2407 feels in your hand. If it feels good, this is the one you want.
I didn’t like the feel of it and went a different way, but for $99, this is a great choice.
Now, if you hurry, Bosch has a $20 of $100 special with some stores so you could get the new brushless Bosch PS32-02 from Amazon for $136.60 shipped.
How about the Bosch DDS181-02L for $139? at Amazon? This is an 18v 1/2 chuck brushed drill with L-Boxx.
I agree 100% with JML, go to the store and see how they feel.
Matt
I vote for the M12. I actually own both sets of 12 Volt drills/Impact Drivers. My Milwaukee out preforms the Bosch when it comes to battery life plus I like the clip feature as well. Right now the Home Depot is really pushing the M12 and have them out on display and use. The M12 is 99.00 at the moment and the M12 Fuel is 189.00 as well. If its for occasional use go with the M12 @ 99.00. If its a daily used tool go with the M12 Fuel. Good Luck!
Ken
Both lines are fantastic. I own 14-15 of the Milwaukee M12 tools and I am completely satisfied with the power and longevity of the batteries. I have to agree with the comments about the ergonomics of the first generation M12… especially with the drills. The new M12 fuel tools have a much better feel and fit in one’s hands. Although I’m completely bought into Milwaukee, I cannot say Big M is a better then Bosch. I hope they keep going head to head so we all will benefit with better and better options and tools.
Glenn
I have 10 of the Milwaukee M12 tools, some for HVAC and some for home use and am very satisfied with all of them.
I chose this platform for a number of reasons but mainly because they had exactly what I needed and the large and ever expanding line up. I have yet to buy pistol grip type drill, (using the angle drill for work at the moment) but when I do it will be the M12 Fuel drill.
The fact that it has a 13mm chuck and has similar power to some 18v drills out there makes it the the best choice for myself.
As others here have already said, for less demanding and infrequent use I am sure you will find the brushed M12 drill will be a great choice. If however you forsee some heavier duty use, it may well be worth “future proofing” and buying the Fuel version.
That said, Bosch make some fine products as well.
Matt
I would get the m12fuel. More power, better/bigger chuck, more run time, belt clip. Its really not more money when you consider the 2.o and 4.0 batteries it comes with.
Mike
Thanks Stuart and everyone else for there replies I am the one who originally asked the question.
I went into my local Home Depot this morning to compare the M12, M12 Fuel & the Bosch PS-32-02 to actually handle them but to my surprise they only had the M12 on display/in stock. What a bummer they had tons of drills on display but not the newer M12 Fuel or newer Bosch. I really wanted to see what the M12 fuel looked and felt like in hand.
I went ahead and picked up the M12 with the thought I could always return it and order the M12 Fuel. The M12 weighs 2lbs 10 ounces with batteries which I like, what does the M12 Fuel weigh?
I do have a question about the clutch ring though. It moves freely rotating to each numbered position but when I try to go the drill symbol it takes extra effort to get it to line up with the arrow. Is this normal?
joe
OK,
After reading your comment and thinking on it, I went to the garage and looked at my 2407. The clutch on mine seems to have a progressive stiffness from 1 all the way to drill. This seems to make sense. Yu made a good choice, but I have the same issue with HD, in that they don’t display fuel items with the others. In one section you can see the fancy kiosk type array of older M12, and to see the others, you have to go deeper into the tool section where drills are individually displayed by voltage. This is annoying, and not a very good way to market the various Milwaukee M12 lines. ANYONE LISTENING MILWAUKEE???? Prior to seeing some reviews, I really wanted to feel the M12 FUEL Hackzall, but you just can’t. I have since decided the older, smaller model is the way to go, but wouldn’t it be nice to see them side by side?
My two and a half cents.
Joe
Stuart
That seems to be normal, where the clutch takes a little extra effort to move to drill mode.
John Blair
For your usage model, I wouldn’t recommend the added expense of a brushless unit. If you were making a living using it, go Brushless, go Milwaukee.
For DIY, I prefer the Bosch. At that price point I would buy the combo unit Bosch CLPK22-120. I find I use the impact much more often than the drill.
If you do decide to go with Milwaukee, CPO outlet has a free battery with either of your choices:
http://www.cpomilwaukee.com/mil-48-11-2420-gwp-emailexcl/mil-48-11-2420-gwp-emailexcl,default,sc.html
Monte
The Bosch 12 volt lineup is constantly growing…. this year already a circular saw was added, a jig saw and a rotary tool. Later this year a vacuum will follow, a drywall screwdriver with brushless motor and a new flash light similar to the 18 Volt light. And in 2015 more tools will come…and in 2016…and in… 🙂
Busf
I have personally seen both of these drills used extensively on assembly lines of a major tractor company in Iowa. The Milwaukee, while I nice unit and very comparable to the Bosch with an easy spec and light use review, could not handle extended use and batteries did not hold up well after 400 charges. The Bosch performed outstanding and we have batteries still working with over 3k charges on them! After seeing this I chose the Bosch 12v drill and impact.
Glenn
3ooo recharges? There is not a battery on the market that will reliably take that many charges. Average is @400-500.
One of the reasons why most manufacturers only warrant their batteries for 2 years …….is based on recharges. Batteries are a consumable item, just the same as drill bits or saw blades. Accept it.
My tool usage combined with the number of batteries I have equates to an average of 4 charges a week. So if my batteries last more than two to three years I am fine with that and will happily replace them.
acd6m
Ive alternated my 2 bosch 12v lithium batteries (2 of us using ps31 drill/drivers continuous 5days/week) several times per day for the last 3 and a half years…thats 10 charges per week and both tools were purchased september 2011..do the math..this puts ours at around 1600+ charges and still going..but i just cant picture them going on at this pace for 4 more years! These batteries hold a charge..we use them nonstop all day driving siding onto recreational vehicles and only need to charge them twice in a 9hr day…unless your driving lag screws or drilling half inch holes through 1/4 inch steel im not sure how these could achieve 3k charges in under 7 years and discharging them that rapidly would significantly lower the batteries lifespan…but an exercised battery will outperform one that just sits idle on or off the charger and as long as the lithium isnt exposed to moisture or oxygen it is possible (under perfect chemistry/environment/use combination) for such numbers to be achieved..but unlikely.
Larson
I’ve GOTTA question that 3000 charges as well. I’m not sure what the recharge time is on those but even working 5 days a week and charging them a few times a day, that’s a few years of all day every day charge and discharge. If they did last that long that’s amazing because I’m sure the batteries now are way better than those you bought a few years ago.
I have a few different brands and a lot of old lithium ones failed a lot sooner (1-2 years) but ones I’ve bought recently are still going strong. In fact I think the last batter I had go bad that I noticed was a few years old. In my opinion tools have gotten slightly smaller and more compact (not counting brushless) but batteries have gotten WAY better in all brands except Makita seems to be slacking. Even Craftsman and Black and Decker have improved phenomenally.
Glenn
Fore sure battery tech has improved vastly. Besides the M12 gear, I also have quite a few Ryobi 18v tools, some dating back to the very early blue stuff.
The ni-cads were rubbish, then I bought the first iteration of lithium batteries which vastly improved the tools performance. However they started to fail after @ 200 charges. They still worked well after coming straight off the charger but would lose @ 20% of charge after sitting for a few days.
I now have the new gen batteries so it will be interesting to see how they last. Only problem is I now rarely use them!
Thus far all the M12 batteries have had @ 140 recharges and are spot on.
Anyhow, battery life is really a bit of a non issue these days as most manufacturers now have a a 2 year warranty on their batteries. If they don’t….steer clear and buy another brand.
Interesting about your comment on Makita batteries. Our electrician actually wore out his rotary hammer but the batteries are still going strong on the new one!
Cheers
Bikerdad
Bosch.
Reason: According to an individual working in an tool suppliers/repair store here that sells and repairs both brands, it is almost impossible now to get Milwaukee to pay for warranty repairs.
Beyond that, pick the one that fits your hand the best, and if that’s a wash, pick whichever color you prefer. They are close to interchangeable for the “casual” DIY user.
Bass Man
I’m in a similar situation to the original poster. I use a Makita 6095D that I’ve had for about 25 years. It’s still like new. In fact, the original battery lasted me until about 2 years ago forcing me to buy my first replacement battery for it. The drill has done everything I’ve needed from it in all that time for household use. Okay, once or twice, I needed to use the 50-year-old corded Craftsman. My only reason for wanting to get a new drill is that I find the new ones more comfortable and most importantly, I can reverse it much quicker as the switch on the Makita is on the back. I originally was looking at 18V models and had settled on the Bosch for $99 but I really like having a more maneuverable drill and am used to the thinner 6095D. Besides, the 12V models are lighter and still have more than twice the torque of my old Makita.
I certainly can’t justify the brushless models so I’m torn between the Milwaukee M12 (2407) and the Bosch PS31. My biggest concern, either way, is battery life given how often I use it. As I mentioned, my original Ni-Cad battery lasted over 20 years. Will the new batteries last that long or are they really only good for a few years even if only used several times a year?
What say you?
Stuart
Li-ion batteries are considered consumables that are meant to be replaced with time and/or use. I don’t think you can expect more than 10 years of reasonable use with any brand’s batteries.
Bass Man
So, which drill did you end up buying and are you happy with your choice? I was able to find the Milwaukee M12 (2407) at Home Depot to at least get a feel for it. I wanted to compare it to the Bosch PS31 but they did not have any Bosch drills in the store.
Mickey
Not sure how I ran across this story and my response isn’t exactly timely but maybe someone else will run across it in the future.
I’ve had both the Milwaukee and the Bosch 12 volt cordless drills, drivers & impacts. Both sets were great but I like the Bosh better but ended up going with Milwaukee because they had more tools available. If I only wanted a drill, driver or impact I’d get the Bosch, it is better sized and balanced.
MinnesotaSteve
In late 2013 I bought the Milwaukee M12 2407 drill, and the 2462 impact driver. I bought two separate kits, and ended up with 4 of the 1.5Ah batteries. Prior to this I had a Dewalt 12V drill/driver I bought back in 2005.
As a drill, the 2407 works well using regular twist bits. However it’s when you start trying to use spade bits or self feeding bits I run into problems. The drill has the torque and power to do some amazing things, but the handle is so small you can’t get a good grip and it’ll wrench right out of your hands.
As a driver, I really didn’t like the 2407 much. The clutch isn’t as easy to adjust, nor as responsive as my old Dewalt drill was. But the impact driver on the other hand, it’s bloody amazing. I started buying GRK screws, because it’d actually twist the heads off the cheaper construction screws if I was trying to drive them into something too hard. This ended up being my go to for screws. I haven’t tried it much on finer detail stuff like for cabinets, etc. but it seems to be easy enough to manage that you can’t overdrive if you are careful. Just feather the trigger and it’ll slowly turn the screw.
I really like Milwaukee for having this broad M12 lineup. I also bought the LED light(49-24-0146) and the oscillating multitool(2426).
The 1.5Ah batteries charge up fast(about 20-30 minutes), so as long as you have two you can charge one while using the other. I’d probably invest in the larger batteries if you were going to be doing things where it wasn’t convenient to swap batteries(like up on a ladder, outdoors, etc.)
Travis
The Bosch PS32 is actually rated at 179 in/lbs
The PS31 is rated at 265 in/lbs. Going brushless lost power in the Bosch lineup and didn’t really lose any size . These numbers are the same for the PS22 vs PS21 screwdriver. these are the numbers directly from the Bosch websites.
I love my Bosch 12v tools but these numbers, if true, are a bit baffling.
Bret
Yep I also came to same conclusion for homeowner. As much as I appreciate brushless performance and efficiency I can’t justify extra cost. I can get a non brushless drill+impact set for $100 less or $50 less than only the brushless drill. However I suspect for full time pro the extra cost for brushless is well worth it.
p.s. Fro reviews I’ve seen Bosch brushless tools are not any less powerful but it’s more about how they’re now listing torque (usable vs max).
Scott Sena
I have committed to both the Bosch 12v and the Milwaukee M12 line because of the ergonomics (for the small drills) of Bosch and the strengths (in the rest of the M12 lineup) with Milwaukee. Having said that, the M12 Fuel 2504 drill is still going to be purchased for it’s quality chuck and a having a huge supply of tiny to medium standard titanium bits. (The Milwaukee is incredible in it’s own right too? But for repetitive installation of installing hardware…the Bosch shines.)
It says a lot that being a “fanboy” (of any one brand) doesn’t make much sense these days…lotta good choices out there for specific/different uses and needs.