It seems that Bosch has quietly released their brushless 12V Max cordless FlexiClick multi-head drill/driver here in the USA, model GSR12V-300FCB22.
It looks like the upgrades are minor, when you compare the specs between this kit and the brushed motor kit, but fans will probably be excited nonetheless.
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On paper, the new brushless FlexiClick gives you a bump up in max torque, from 265 in-lbs to 300 in-lbs, and also faster speeds – from 0-400/0-1300 RPM to 0-460/0-1750 RPM.
It looks like Bosch was also able to make the new 12V Max brushless FlexiClick drill/driver a bit more compact as well.
- 300 in-lbs max torque
- 0-460, 0-1750 RPM (no load)
- Weighs 1.3 lbs
- 4.5″ length
- LED worklight
- One-click attachment interface
As with the brushed motor kit, this brushless FlexiClick comes with 4 modular head attachments. Without the attachments, it can still function as a cordless screwdriver.
With No Attachments: The 12V FlexClick still has a magnetic bit holder without any attachments.
Bit Holder: Why use this locking bit holder? To ensure you don’t lose drill bits or screwdriver bits, which is possible when no attachments are used.
Drill Chuck: Keyless chuck, used for drilling holes.
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Offset Adapter: Who hasn’t gotten into a bind, where a tool just couldn’t fit close enough to an obstruction or non-movable surface?
Right Angle Adapter: Need a right angle screwdriver? Maybe a right angle drill? A right angle and offset driver to fit into really right and awkward spaces? No problem.
Price: $229 for the 2x battery kit
Buy Now via Tool Nut
Buy Now via Amazon
Compare: Brushed Motor Kit via Amazon
Discussion
Note: Bosch has also quietly released the 18V brushless FlexiClick system, available now on Amazon, which we’ll talk about another time. Maybe I missed it, but I can’t find any press materials about it, which raises questions about why Bosch isn’t more excited about their new tools. Either way, thanks to Tool Nut for the heads-up, they sent out a newsletter in February.
Milwaukee’s M12 Fuel brushless installation tool poses strong competition to Bosch’s FlexiClick system:
There’s not much that needs to be said about the new Bosch brushless FlexiClick drill/driver kit. We’ve posted about the brushed motor kit a bunch of times now, mostly when there were deep seasonal discounts. It’s a versatile problem-solver of drill and cordless screwdriver, and now you can get the kit with a brushless base handle.
Higher torque, faster motor speeds, and a smaller size are all slight upgrades by themselves, but they add up. The $229 price is higher than I expected, compared to the current $129 pricing for the brushed motor kit. But to be fair, it’s only $30 more than the original launch price for the brushed model. Maybe we can anticipate seasonal discounts and price-drops as we saw with the brushed motor FlexiClick.
Do any of you plan to upgrade to the new Bosch 12V Max brushless FlexiClick kit?
Hilton
Probably not as I only bought the brushed version on last year’s Prime Day. If they just sold the driver though…
Stuart
As far as I am aware, Bosch only ever sold the kits here in the USA, so there’s no bare tool or “buy the attachments you need/want” option. Other brands do offer multiple configurations of their modular drill/drivers, but I guess having just one SKU simplifies things.
Andy Hong
Buy a Bosch brushless driver, drill, or impact. Swap its front end with your FlexiClick’s. Tada — brushless FlexiClick.
That’s what I did with my brushed FlexiClick last year after seeing a comment here on ToolGuyd referencing an IG post describing how to do it.
Chad
Love the Bosch 12v gear but with they made a few more things like the other tool manufactures.
Actually I got into the Bosch 12v line based on the reviews listed here and the comments for all the tools that have been reviewed!
I was a Hitachi fan but they were getting long well used and the batteries were getting used up and not holding a charge as much and things were changing for me on the projects i was doing around the house and work plus i was getting tired of lugging the full size tools round in multiple bags and cases …. so enter the Bosch 12v line and have really really enjoyed using them. Heck the 2Ah batteries seem to last quite a long time for what jobs I work on plus I will pick up an extra battery here and there.
Only thing I wish they would make is a 12v tire pump that would be great!
Next on the list to purchase is the Jig saw and the Oscillation tool and possibly the router and the 3 and 6Ah batteries.
thanks again for the recommendations!
Kizzle
The bare tool is available straight from Germany. Cool thing about the 18v is there’s an SDS attachment for it.
Pocket Handyman
Absolutely I will upgrade when and ONLY when it goes on sale. I’ve used the original 12v version since its release, and it’s essential and indispensable to my daily work.
Nathan
It’s the one tool that has me thinking about a bosch battery set. I even thought about the milwaukee set at one time too.
Next sale I might get one.
Clay
Am interested in this but will have to wait until it is cheaper.
Frank D
Wish the old one had the belt clip.
New and more compact charger it looks like.
I probably will have to mail my offset adapter (hopefully not the whole kit) in for issues with the offset adapter losing drill bits, despite careful and infrequent use ( have their regular 12v drill & impact ).
Chris
Thank goodness you posted something about a tool…but it may be too late, I think some people in the previous thread already had their heads explode from not seeing a tool post.
😉
Jim Felt
And just to add insult to humor (or whatever) the word “tool” does have at least two meanings.
Stacey Jones
Nah. Already bought enough 12v Hitachi Drill/Impact Drivers from Amazon/eBay/Pawn shops to stash everywhere I need one. Ryobi for everything else. I am thinking about Makita for wood working though…
JamesP
Waiting for this drill soured me on Bosch 12v gear and I bought Makita subcompact drills weekend before last.
Ray D
There’s isn’t much change left for toilet papers with that price, think I’ll wait until it goes on sale.
Julian Tracy
Looks like they’ve got the same fairly useless drill chuck. Not only is it limited to 1/2”, more importantly, the grip surface if it is so lightly textured and slippery that it’s near impossible to get a good grip on a standard ground drill.
As well, beware walking around with these over finished flooring – the lock for the heads is not that positive and many many times I’ve discovered it had worked loose or the actual head fell off.
Finally! They’ve started putting a belt clip on these — near impossible to adapt one to the Bosch drill bodies. Distinctly limits their usefulness.
Kizzle
I don’t think you’re locking it fully or correctly. When locked there’s nothing that takes mine off.
Julian Tracy
Right. Because it’s so confusing to figure out how to turn the ring fully. Fact is, the positive lock at the end of the locking collar travel is not all that positive.
It very easily finds itself unlocked at any given time. Worth checking if you do kitchen remodels.
Frank D
The chuck is the same across the 12v series. They may be somewhat smooth in texture, relative to other brands, but zero complaints on any of the three of them here. Grip lightly, turn, done.
Their chuck size being limited to 1/2″ bits is like complaining that a 2 seater micro car only holds two people.
Julian Tracy
The 1/2” limitation, ok – can live with that considering the size and power if the tool, but the gripping ability of the chuck is lacking compared to any other keyless chuck I’ve used.
Sure – it’s usable, but it’s below average compared to pretty much any other name brand chuck.
blocky
I love mine, but it took me a couple weeks to learn not to grab both the chuck sleeve and interchange lock ring at the same time when loosening bits.
I used to just hold the whole assembly in my palm, and both would twist. Now I hold just the chuck in the crook between my thumb and forefinger.
Haven’t had any problems with dropping chucks since, and it’s been a couple years.
Toolfreak
I’ll probably just stick with the brushed 12V Bosch stuff I have for at least the next few years. I might sell them off if the brushless 12V stuff gets even better, but I expect this generation of Bosch brushless will last longer than the first, so it may be close to a decade before we really get next-next-gen 12V brushless tools, if ever, since the 18-20V stuff might be even more compact by then, and who knows where battery tech will be at.
If Bosch just makes all the same 12V tools with brushless motors and minor improvements, and the kits still have 2.0Ah batteries, I don’t see much reason to upgrade just yet. Then again, if some holiday pricing close to what I got my brushed tools for pops up, it could happen, but I think Bosch will continue to use the brushed tools as lower-priced entry points to the 12V line and steep discounts on the brushless stuff might not happen until the brushed stuff is completely discontinued and no longer available.
MattJ
How does the current sale price ($129 at Amazon) on the old brushed version compare with the typical street price and past deals for that tool?
Brushless seems great, but $229 is a bit steep for me. $129 is a nice price for a tool that’s great for tight spots, but where I really don’t think I’d often need the torque and efficiency gains provided by the brushless motor.
blocky
Best it’s been was just barely over $100, around Dec 2019.
Stuart
Here are all the times we’ve posted about it: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/tag/bosch-flexiclick/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Lowest I’ve seen was $102. It was $119 before that, $117 as a deal of the day, $106 for Prime Day 2019, $119 for Prime Day 2018.
Other dealers have it for $149 right now. $129 is an “okay” price. It will likely go on sale again, but when – Father’s Day? Prime Day 2018? Holiday 2020?
MattJ
Thanks for the info — think I’ll hold out for time being as I imagine it will drop further with the brushless model out at future sale dates.
Out of curiosity, I found out that Bosch does offer a dual voltage 12/18V charger. Do you know if that is ever packaged with tool kits? Most of the combo kits I see only come with the charger for that specific voltage of tool. I tend to like to get that charger to start a platform — saves surface space and lets me start looking into bare tool + free battery promos rather than buying the full kit in the complementary platform.
blocky
All in all, this looks badass, but I won’t be upgrading. I already have the GSR 12v 300 and a 12v flexiclick mounted on a brushless PS22 body.
The GSR 12v 300 body is noticeably tinier and significantly faster, but at times, it feels too torquey for it’s very low weight and maybe a tad too fast for it’s very small size, particularly with phillips bits. Not a problem if you’re good with the variable speed trigger, which is fortunately an excellent one.
I think the PS32 body is a better platform for the flexiclick, and wish they had released that version officially, even if it’s a step backwards.
Coincidentally, I just ordered the 18v kit with SDS-plus chuck from the UK last week (it no longer ships to the US
from Germany).
Stuart
The 18V FlexiClick tool is available here now, but not the SDS-plus attachment. I’ve seen an April 1st ETA, but no word from Bosch.
Blocky
Good intel. The sds was my primary motivation. RH is a lot of tool for an installer to bring just in case when they only need it once a month. (I mostly travel by train.) Wish I had pulled the trigger when it was under ~$200 full kit but the pound was down that day.
Stuart
As far as I am aware the dual-voltage charger is only available as a separate accessory.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/bosch-18v-12v-multi-voltage-charger/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Robert White
Remarkably similar in design to the Milwaukee Installation Driver 2505-20.
Frank D
Bosch’s FlexiClick was first introduced in 2016, iirc.
Milwaukee’s in 2019.
For close quarters & hard to reach places, the Bosch is much more compact and practical without that protruding guard/bit holder/… huge plastic thing.
Stuart
Actually… Milwaukee came out with a multi-head drill/driver before Bosch. Their first such tool came out in 2014 in Europe.
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/milwaukee-tools-sneak-peek-2h2014/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
So technically, you’re both wrong. =)
Andy Hong
I have both the Milwaukee & Bosch 12V tools (2 homes in 2 different states, so I ended up with 2 competing systems), and I agree with Frank D. The Bosch is WAY better for maneuvering in tight spots… which is kinda the point of a tool like this. The Milwaukee’s stupid trigger guard thing (which is actually a magnetic screw/fastener holder) gets in the way more than it helps with holding things.
Marcelo Iannini
I do have a PS-31 and a PS-41 impact drivers. I thinks they are 11 year old, have been used lightly, but over all this years.
NO COMPLAINS! They simply work.
Even their batteries are running as new, after all this time. And back then, they still didn’t have the combo kits, so I got each tool with two batteries. Great, than I boght some flashlights. FL-11 is good, but FL-12v-300 is amazing! So much light and so long runtime (more than 6 hours on a 2a battery)
Would I upgrade to a newer version? No, not needed. Brushless are stronger, lighter and more efficient, but I have no reason for upgrading mime’s.
I came to love the GSR MX2driver in 3.6v. It’s a tiny neatty little capable driver (about 80 in-lns). Don’t know if has been available in the US.
About the flexclick system. I’ve played a lot with it in my local tool shop. It seems pretty good, The fittings are very nice and the accessories works really well. Did it make me open my wallet? No.
I had a PS-11 that I sold after two years because I only used it once.
The flex click is nice, but I don’t see the need for it.
If my PS-31 drill ever fails (hopefully never), then I’ll consider getting the latest model of the FC system.
I also bought a Makita SDS 12v CXT and it’s a pretty amazing drill: 14mm in concrete, weighting under 4 lbs with a 4a battert pack. Then I got the bare tool body for an oscillation tool. Ah, Makita is flexible. Their line is so extense that makes me confuse. Not even their sellers know the whole range of tools and their differences. 100+ 12v choices…
MakitaFan
I agree it isn’t worth it. However, I got this kit for $69 (brushless Flexi click kit). I don’t see a huge difference between the brushed model and the brushless. However, there is a slight difference (weight and size), but for me, these add up. The brushed model is just heavy enough to pick up my Makita XDT16 instead (which is about the same weight as the brushed model).