Bosch still has not provided any details regarding their new Profactor CORE18V cordless power tools. The last I was told, they will hold a full announcement in February 2021. Luckily, Amazon came through with some new product pages and preorder listings.
Most of these tools were first announced two years ago, as part of a MEGAWATT CREW line of new higher-performance cordless power tools. Most of these tools never launched, and were teased anew recently as part of a new line of “Profactor” cordless power tools within Bosch’s 18V system.
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The new Bosch Profactor tools feature “Biturbo” tech (we’re not quite sure what this means) and are designed for use with Bosch’s high capacity CORE18V Profactor Li-ion battery packs.
Many of these new Bosch Profactor Biturbo CORE18V cordless power tools are said to be “connected-ready” with an optional (sold separately) module, although it is still unclear as to what features this unlocks for each tool.
There are also quite a few mentions of a battery-extending “ECO” mode, which presumably drops motor speed or performance for longer runtime.
We posted about several of the new Bosch Profactor cordless power tools already, and more details will follow if or when we learn more.
In the meantime, while we wait for Bosch to provide official press materials, here are some prices and availability quotes. As usual, preorder details are subject to change.
Bosch 18V Strong Arm Circular Saw
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The “Strong Arm” is Bosch’s new 7-1/4″ cordless circular saw. There are two versions, one with a traditional design and the other with a “track-compatible” shoe. It’s unclear as to what the other differences might be.
Bare Tool (Bosch GKS18V-25CN): $219 – 2/1/21 ETA
Kit (Bosch GKS18V-25CB14): $369 – 2/1/21 ETA
Kit w/ trac-compatible (Bosch GKS18V-25GCB14): $429 – 2/1/21 ETA
The kits are said to come with a single “CORE18V 8.0 Ah PROFACTOR Performance Battery.”
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Amazon
Buy Now: Kit via Amazon
Buy Now: Track-Compatible Kit via Amazon
Learn More:
Bosch 18V Profactor Cordless Track Saw (5-1/2″ Blade)
Bosch’s new [sorry no fancy tool name here] Profactor cordless track saw will feature a 5-1/2″ saw blade.
Bare Tool (Bosch GKT18V-20GCL): $499
Kit w/ L-Boxx (Bosch GKT18V-20GCL): $649
ETA: 2/1/21
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Amazon
Buy Now: Kit via Amazon
Learn More:
Bosch Surgeon 12″ Sliding Miter Saw
This is the new Bosch SURGEON Profactor-Series saw with Biturbo motor, designed for CORE18V Profactor batteries.
The Bosch Surgeon cordless miter saw weighs 59.3 lbs (bare tool). For comparison, the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 12″ sliding miter saw weighs 47.6 lbs, and the Dewalt FlexVolt 12″ sliding miter saw – capable of running on 2x 60V Max batteries or an AC adapter – weighs 56 lbs.
Bare Tool (Bosch GCM18V-12GDCN): $749
Kit (Bosch GCM18V-12GDCN14): $899
ETA: 2/15/21
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Amazon
Buy Now: Kit via Amazon
Learn More:
https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/bosch-cordless-glide-miter-saw-gcm18v305gdc-102020/%3C/p%3E
Bosch Hitman Profactor Rotary Hammer
The long-delayed Bosch “Hitman” cordless rotary hammer is finally nearing launch.
Bare Tool (Bosch GBH18V-45CK): $799
Kit (Bosch GBH18V-45CK24): $999
ETA: 2/1/21
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Amazon
Buy Now: Kit via Amazon
Learn More
Bosch Profactor “Hitman” Rotary Hammer w/ Biturbo Tech & Powered by Core18V
Bosch “The GOON” Profactor Cordless Rotary Hammer
This is “The Goon,” Bosch’s smaller Profactor cordless Biturbo rotary hammer.
As with the other new Bosch Profactor tools, the Goon is “engineered to take full advantage of the additional power generated by Core18V Profactor batteries.”
Bare Tool (Bosch GBH18V-34CQN): $449 – 3/1/21 ETA
Kit (Bosch GBH18V-36CK24): $799 – 2/1/21 ETA
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Amazon
Buy Now: Kit via Amazon
Learn More:
Meet the New Bosch Cordless Power Tool Posse – the MegaWatt Crew
Bosch Spitfire Cordless Angle Grinders
There are two versions of the Bosch Profactor Spitfire angle grinder – one with a standard accessory interface, and one with Bosch’s proprietary x-lock interface that is only compatible with special x-lock wheels and accessories.
Both are 5-6 inch grinders.
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you anything new about Bosch’s proprietary x-lock angle grinder interface. Bosch USA offered to provide review samples on several occasions, and although we expressed interest, demo units never arrived for testing. We asked again again in November 2020 but never heard back.
Bare Tool (Bosch GWS18V-13CN): $229
Kit (Bosch GWS18V-13CB14): $379
Bare Tool with x-lock (Bosch GWX18V-13CN): $249
Kit with x-lock (Bosch GWX18V-13CB14): $399
ETA: 2/1/21
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Amazon
Buy Now: Kit via Amazon
Buy Now: x-lock Bare Tool via Amazon
Buy Now: x-lock Kit via Amazon
A W
“Spitfire” is definitely the best name of the lot, but it seems a bit inappropriate on a German tool brand.
I’m sure it would test better in focus groups than “Junkers” or “Messerschmitt”, but if Bosch had done focus groups, how did they end up with “Goon” and “Hitman”?
Stuart
Don’t forget “The FREAK” for the impact tool.
Tom D
That one I’m almost willing to forgive – as it actually has a “freaky” feature not seen elsewhere.
But SURGEON? We bone saws now?
Steve G
Put an RAF sticker over nameplate and you’re good.
A W
https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/the-axis-lancaster-stunning-pictures-of-allied-planes-captured-and-used-by-the-luftwaffe.html
fred
They could have named it Fokker – as in the D.VII that saw lots of action by the Germans in WWI – but mispronunciation of the name could bring ridicule rather than name recognition.
There was an old radio skit where a supposed WWI ace was talking about a dogfight with the Germans. He exclaims ever louder and more heated over the radio that: those “Fokkers ” were coming at him from all directions , those “Fokkers” were diving at his squadron, those “Fokkers” were blasting away with machine guns etc. The announcer soon breaks in to clarify to the listening audience that a Fokker was the name of a German aeroplane or flugzeug – only to be corrected by the flying ace saying “no those fokkers were flying Junkers”
Jim Felt
Meet the Junkers just isn’t as easy on the tongue as Meet the Fokkers.
Regardless it’s a pathetic North American naming convention. No German owned industrial corporate client of mine would not see how dopey this is.
Rob
If Bosch held focus groups, they’d just do the opposite of the unanimous suggestions anyway.
😭😂😁
Bruce
Bosch seems to have jumped the shark. Lots of marketing with mediocre tools and no new ideas. About the only thing they’ve done that I was impressed with is that zero clearance compound miter saw.
The Freak is probably the worst idea in the lot. It’s an impact driver not an impact wrench.
What’s up with two different rotary hammers?
ca
Lots of companies offer different sized rotary hammers. DeWalt alone has something like 8 distinct cordless rotary hammers.
rob
You want the smallest size you can get away with….most especially with SDS-Max. Most companies offer at least 2 SDS-Max rotary hammers. Noticeable power and weight difference.
The bigger question is why have they discontinued so many of their greatest cordless SDS Plus rotary hammers? They had a couple of petite brushless ones: gone.
A-A-ron
Stuart, your write-up introduction and reaction to this Bosch Megawatt Crew and their names from a couple years ago has to be the most hilarious post ever done on this site. The comments were gold, too.
Aaron
Milwaukee acts like they have product designers embedded with multiple trades. Dewalt has amazing insight into what carpenters want. Makita quietly makes rugged tools with amazing motor tech. Bosch is like they handed a megaphone to a sleep deprived marketing intern and let him hire the animation team behind the borderlands games.
I will fanboy their jackhammers, roto hammers, routers, and think their 12v stuff is great.
I don’t want my tools to express my individuality I want them to do work quickly and reliably. Not a fan of this multi-year tactic.
skfarmer
oh my god, not this s–t again.
in my pc voice……..” the guy in charge of that advertising campaign should be taken aside, told what a fine job he has done, given a nice everybody wins participation ribbon and reassigned a broom and a dustpan.
ChrisP
Put him in charge of a Stabilo level refresh
Rob
At this rate, we’ll start seeing tiger and snow leopard paint jobs in neon hues with thermal activated dye.
Chris
I have lots of Bosch 12v and 18v tools and really like them. The batteries are the best in the business. But, Bosch is not keeping up with the competition with tool offerings in the USA. They have many more European offerings including garden tools on the same platform as we have here in USA. I am starting to buy some Milwaukee cordless tools due to the product line. Bosch needs to kick it in gear and come from behind soon.
John
Prices too high compared with other branded existing products. Good luck Bosch.
Bob
Dust port on the circular saw is a nice touch. If you can use it as a regular circular saw AND a track saw that’s a hit!
The miter box is nice in that it has that glide mechanism. Makes it compact but at a jobsite is that really needed? Usually I just set mine up in the middle of a room on a stand. The glide mec adds a lot of weight. Not ideal for a cordless tool. I mean yeah it’s only 60ish pounds with the battery. But I will take lighter if available.
I’ve tried that glide mechanism out. Liked it alot. I almost bought one for my shop to get it closer to the wall. Have heard some issues with those arms wearing out and there’s no adjustment once they loosen up. Which brings me back to the battery tool. If this things going to get banged around in a truck moving to and from job sites how durable is that mechanism? It’s cast aluminum and steel so it should hold up. Bosch generally makes some good stuff. I guess time will tell. Always had good luck with them in the past.
The cartoony nicknames don’t really bother me as long as the tools work as advertised. We’ve already got our tool branding ingrained into our vocabulary. Every reciprocating saw is a sawzall. Every circular saw is a Skil-saw even if its not made by Milwaukee or Skil. Maybe “hitman” will catch on. At least one goofball on the job site it’s going to stock around pretending he’s a hitman blasting you with his hammer drill. Haha
The only thing that does bother me is the two-year launch cycle and lack of info given to “press”. Maybe they don’t consider Toolguyd an influencer. To me that’s a good thing. Influencers are shills for cash.
On second thought they didn’t sell the Bosch power tool business unit to Chervon did they? I thought they only divested the skil brand? That would account for the radical departure in marketing tactics. Bummer if they did.
Koko The Talking Ape
Yeah that Axial mechanism is pretty interesting (have they dropped the name?), but yep, no tolerance for wear. I’ve also heard of saws that couldn’t be trued, period. Apparently an arm had been very slightly bent during shipping.
In case you’re looking, the dandy new DeWalt 6 1/2″ circ has a dust port. Haven’t tried using port yet though.
rob
Chervon is in my backyard and Bosch is about a buck in gas North. The answer is: no, we only wish they would sell the tool division to Chervon. Chervon is not addicted to self-sabotage. 😂
What they’ve done for Skil and Skilsaw should be an embarrassment to all of the Western power tool companies.
Michael
These seem like good tools but what would you gain by going into this platform vs red, yellow, or light blue? I just don’t see any reason to invest in bosch when the other brands have so many more tools already available!
Frank D
I really really really wish Bosch would stop with the cartoon names.
While this might be funny on the job site, where people and stuff often gets a nickname, and spitfire strikes me as funny … for a professional brand the whole thing is just juvenile, at best.
It may give them some publicity and extra comments; I don’t think it is giving them more appeal, improves their image, … nor results in more sales.
Let the tools speak for themselves. Focus on releasing products and more innovation.
Ditch the freak gimmick. It wasn’t funny then. Doubling and tripling down for the past years and into future: yawn.
PTBRULES
I’m only seeing that the “Hit(over the head)man” Profactor Rotary Hammer has the battery mounted at the front.
I actually like that they inserting it their and not bulking up the rear of the tool as much. I wounder what it will do for balance thou, etc.
Koko The Talking Ape
lol. There’s a tv lawyer around here that calls himself the “Strong Arm.” “I will get you every penny you deserve!” But it’s not the worst name here.
But “Surgeon” is an unintentionally brilliant name. It’s scary without being threatening, not exactly. It would make me think of severed fingers every time I used it, and probably make me more careful. A new safety feature!
Maybe they should name a table saw the “Beartrap,” or the “Fargo” (woodchipper scene.) Isn’t that the most dangerous tool people usually use?
Stuart
I don’t know… if there’s a guy names the Surgeon, and his best buds are the Freak, Hitman, and Goon, that’s the opposite of non-threatening.
The creepiest TV and movie villains often have the most unassuming codenames.
ChrisP
Maybe they could just call the mitre saw Jason
CountyCork
Naming aside all these spec wise look really good. I don’t have much reason to upgrade the dated tools yet but I do see they’re releasing a new more powerful impact wrench 1/2 GDS18V-740 and 3/4 soon GDS18V-770 I’m eyeing. Will probably get the 1/2 version.
Jorn
I still want that circular saw… I found a couple of reviews of it on YouTube and it seems like a really nice tool. It’s a bit expensive and it looks heavy as hell but it seems really powerful and versatile especially if you pair it with some tracks.
rob
They’re offering the Festool/Makita/Bosch/Mafell track compatible version À la carte (bare tool) for $279. So I guess they have stopped the practice of selling all of their hot stuff as kit only (the three speed grinder and 18v flexclick come to mind).
Coincidentally, I finally did get around to selling all of my Bosch cordless about a month ago (it was over this saw). Bought more sweet Makita stuff. None of it runs on my Mafell tracks, but my Mafell stuff does, so, whatever. 😂
Aurel
Here I am thinking the core tools were a big deal and they make a huge jump instead of working on their current line….especially since Bosch doesn’t make a decent angle drill! All I see is a 12v and a sds attachment…lame!
Jorn
Stuart, do you have any idea what the difference between these two kits are?
Kit (Bosch GKS18V-25CB14): $369 – 2/1/21 ETA
Kit w/ trac-compatible (Bosch GKS18V-25GCB14): $429 – 2/1/21 ETA
I’ve looked at the Bosch site and other sites and they include the same items in the package.
* Are they both trac-compatible?
* Does one include a track?
It’s unclear from the product listings. I may reach out to Bosch, or I’m just dense and I’m missing it.
Stuart
I can’t say for sure – Bosch hasn’t answered any press questions lately and their virtual announcement is still a few weeks away.
The pricier one is said to have a track-compatible shoe, but also has another handle switch of unspecified function.
Big Richard
The difference is the saw itself, the GKS18V-25C vs GKS18V-25GC. The GC is the pricier model and features an advanced eco mode, LED display (user interface with speed settings , battery status, and tool feedback), track compatible shoe, and one touch depth adjustment.
John Aquilano
Wow, good eye both of you. You’re right. The cheaper model doesn’t have the depth adjustment button on the handle and it doesn’t have the LCD screen above the motor housing.
So the saw I want is actually more expensive than I thought… thanks for pointing this out. I bet a lot of folks are going to be confused and buy the cheaper bare-tool and not realize it’s a different tool.