Ryobi sent over another new tool press release yesterday, announcing a couple of new 18V HP compact brushless power tools.
Frankly speaking, the new tools look iterative, although that’s not a bad thing. That’s what much of the cordless power tool industry is about these days – more power, smaller size, and similar, rather than brand new capabilities.
And then this new Ryobi cordless reciprocating saw caught my attention.
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Ryobi already has an 18V One+ HP compact cordless recip saw, making this a Gen 2 model.
From the images of the Gen II and Gen I models, it looks like Ryobi trimmed some of the size off the top of the compact reciprocating saw, but it’s difficult to say without both tools in front of me.
There are other subtle differences as well, such as the blade shoe, which now extends further from the tool.
Okay, cool – Ryobi polished up their compact brushless saw.
But wait – I then looked at the specs.
Ryobi increased the cutting stroke length, from 5/8″ to 7/8″, and also increased the speed from 3,000 strokes per minute, to 3,200.
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Ryobi says that the new saw delivers up to 2X faster cuts than the previous generation saw, and they provided a demo video (embedded below) to prove it.
The tool-only price is the same, $119. There will also be a 1-battery kit, featuring a charger and 2Ah battery, rather than the 1.5Ah battery Ryobi typically bundles with the preceding model.
To sum things up, the new saw appears to be a little more compact, cuts faster, and is priced the same.
This all led me to ask what is Ryobi doing?
Seeing as how Ryobi is exclusive to Home Depot, it can be said that the brand’s tool developments and product launches also reflect on the retailer’s competitive strategy.
The new reciprocating saw, as well as all of Ryobi’s other new tools, aren’t just about bringing users to the tool brand – I’d say they’re also designed to bring customers to Home Depot.
And with this and the other Ryobi 18V One+ HP expansions and Gen II launches, it seems that Ryobi and Home Depot are taking a big leap forward.
Ryobi modestly taking a leap forward sums up what the brand – and Home Depot – is doing, or at least in my opinion.
What about why?
Ryobi’s competitors have decent cordless power tools and related solutions. Craftsman, Skil, Worx, Kobalt – there are reasons to buy into all these brands’ cordless power tool systems.
Broadly speaking, I think Home Depot and Ryobi hold the most appeal in the cordless DIY and homeowner tool space, despite Lowe’s best efforts to challenge this.
Was Ryobi slipping in their lead? Was the balance of popularity changing from Ryobi or Home Depot towards their competitors?
I don’t see many external challenges to Home Depot or Ryobi’s dominance in the DIY and homeowner product segment.
So why are they pushing forward?
The new Gen II brushless reciprocating saw definitely looks to be an improvement. But was it a necessary improvement?
Many of Ryobi HP tools have been good enough, for lack of a better way to put it. But, they apparently want the premium and compact brushless line to be even better.
In my opinion, Ryobi’s new launches seem a lot like being first place in a racing video game with the final checkpoint in sight, and then hitting the turbo speed booster anyway, increasing the lead.
Maybe there are other motivations behind their recent developments and continuous push forward – we can all speculate, but we’ll never know for certain.
The important takeaway is that Ryobi is continuing to surge forward, and with no signs of slowing down. The brand has become very different from how they were just a few years ago, and I think it’s been all for the better.
Here’s the cutting performance demo video:
Rog
I perceive it as Ryobi just not resting on their laurels. Regardless of what “pros” think of them, they provide great tools and value for their price point.
Chris
Ryobi, Ridgid and Milwaukee are all TTI brands. Tools are all manufactured in the same factory in China for efficiency sake. The Ryobi Gen II recip saw now has the exact same specs as it’s middle brother Ridgid recip saw, just a different brand name (and color) stamped on it for marketing purposes.
Jason M
Do you have a source for that or is it just an assumption?
Jeff
That is incorrect on many levels. There is no single factory large enough to produce all the products of all the lines TTI owns. There are many factories around the world that make their products. Ridgid is licensed from Emerson to rename some of their AEG line of tools to be sold exclusively at Home Depot. TTI doesn’t have anything to do with Ridgid’s line of plumbing tools or the shop vacs. Ryobi and Hart are both designed and headquarter at the same facility in South Carolina, while Milwaukee is in Wisconsin. They have completely different R&D teams, while I’m sure they might share ideas, they do not work hand in hand, like many assume. As to AEG, I’m not sure where they are based, probably Europe.
Goodie
I’m a big fan of Robin’s 40v OPE. Their new brushless 18v stuff is certainly compelling.
For me, the ability to get Metabo HPT (prosumer Grade) at Lowe’s for about the price of Ryobi (when sales are right) has been great. I frankly wish Lowe’s would work to represent Bosch and Metabo HPT better.
HD is not perfect in this regard, it’s tough to see the value proposition of Ridgid. Additionally, Makita doesn’t get the promotion they deserve there either. Makita has some issues, but I submit their LXT carpentry/woodworking line is still stronger than Milwaukee.
Jake
Ryobi has been nerfing their stuff for a while, and frankly I’m not surprised they’re trying to reset their reputation. I’d expect more of this moving forward. I tried to “upgrade” one of my drills to their new hp brushless line and my ten year old brushed drill out of a combo kit blew it out of the water. I took it back to the store. My assumption is they were trying to make their Milwaukee stuff look good but who knows what they were getting at.
dale clark
Actually, I think Metabo HPT is right up their with Milwaukee, Makita, etc However, 99% (non working pro) consumers would get a lifetime of quality use with RYOBI.
Scott K
These new iterations may also be aimed at getting consumers to trust that Ryobi is committed to this platform by continuing to develop new tools and new versions of existing tools. It could also serve as a, “if you do t own a recip, here’s our new version.”
Al
I have been on the fence with ryobi for a few years now. My major concern has always been tool performance. Either in regards to power capable or accurate. The last 4-5 years have been very enticing though. The most notable aspect of Ryobi (for me at least) is the tool lineup and innovation. They make cordless tools that few-if any-other brands even make. Recently, they have added innovation to tools already on the market by other brands as well (looking at you, tower light and speed bench handtruck thing). its very exciting to see and maybe i will jump into it one day.
Jared
The HP line is interesting. It seems like Ryobi’s foray into a higher tier of cordless tools. I imagine part of the thinking is keeping users inside the battery ecosystem.
E.g. I’m probably not the only one who uses pro brand tools for most things, but buys Ryobi for their unique, inexpensive and creative portfolio that is much broader than any other brand. Perhaps the idea is that consumers will buy both budget and better tools from Ryobi.
If they want to keep that going and change Ryobi’s reputation, better and better tools might be necessary since they’re not just competing in the budget space anymore.
Scott F
You’re not the only one!
Recip seems like a smart tool to improve the base variant of, imagine it’s of the first 3 tools many people buy. Make the base model more competitive and you may get more of those newcomers at all levels of the DIY scale and beyond.
Jason. W
I am glad that Ryobi is who i decided to go with almost 8 years ago. as a DIY at best they serve my needs well. I have never found a job around the house that my ryobi tools can’t handle.
I recently went with full electric lawn tools as well. my gas mower finally died and i already had a 40v string trimmer so buying a 40V mower was a easy choice.
MKY
Stuart –
“ Ryobi increased the cutting ***strong**** length, from 5/8″ to 7/8″, and also increased the speed from 3,000 strokes per minute, to 3,200.”
Stuart
Thanks! Sorry, *stroke length*.
Steve
Giggles
MM
Try shopping for a punch press and you can read specifications including stroke length, strokes per minute, throat capacity, maximum tool size, automatic lubrication, the type of stripper, and whether or not the bed can be inclined….
LarryB
Stuart
1-“such as the blade show, “. I think that’s “shoe”.
2-Not to only nitpick, toolguyd is one of the first things I turn to in the morning. Good work!
3- as a serious DIYer and amateur furniture maker, Ryobi fits my needs extremely well. I’ve picked up Ryobi tools that I’d never buy if I was on another platform because the price is right. I couldn’t justify a $300 18ga nailer but I can justify a $100 one for my occasional use. The only Ryobi tool that’s been a bust was a stick vac that was so loud I needed headphones and ran a batter down in 10 minutes. They sent me an upgrade. Oh there’s a blue chainsaw that I picked up at a garage sale that’s useless. Now there was a waste $10! 🙂
Stuart
Thanks! (Whoops, fixed!)
To me, Ryobi used to be the “cheaper but functional” brand, then they became a “solutions” brand, and now… I’m not sure what’s going on, but I feel they’re crushing their competitors.
I remember the first Ryobi 18V brushless tools. They were large and somewhat compromised – “brushless but cheaper.” The newest additions have “first choice” qualities, rather than “I can’t afford what I want, I’ll buy this one” consolation-type nature, at least for DIYers and homeowner type users or applications.
Jerry
Is it just me, or does Ryobi seem to be making 2 tiers of most of their tools (in some cases maybe more than 2 tiers).
A ‘cheap’ entry level tool – it was cheap but it works
A mid level homeowner tool – raises the performance a bit, but still cheap,
and their ‘Top’ line of tools that are getting to be really good. Granted, they will not run with the Milwaukee Fuel line for pros, but for the average DIYer, you’ll have all the performance you need, and I’m seeing them more in contractor’s vans, as much for unique stuff as anything else. Regardless, who would have thought just a few years ago that Ryobi would have a Drill/Driver with 750 IN/LB of torque, or a 1/2 inch impact wrench with over 700 Ft/Lb of breakaway torque. It wasn’t that long ago that you had to pay over $500 or go pneumatic to get that kind of power in an impact.
Stuart
It’s not just you. They’ve had multiple tiers, for core tools at least, for a very long time.
Mike
As a Ryobi user, I periodically get emails from Ryobi about its roadmap. I think it’s trying to reassure users, both existing and future, that Ryobi is investing in improvements to existing tools as well as new and interesting tools. (see the latest three power source tripod light) This new saw isn’t going to get an existing user to replace their brushed motor saw, but when that saw craps out, the upgrade at the same price point will entice that user to stay in the brand.
TonyT
Ryobi has a new tool coming: 18V brushless barrel grip jigsaw.
They claim the new brushless ROS has less vibrations.
I like the emphasis on a better usability not just low prices.
David
Anybody else having their Ryobi tools rubber overlays breaking down and becoming sticky over time?
Other than that, I like their tools for use at home, almost professional grade. In the field (electrical), I use Makita 18v and Milwaukee M12.
David
Harrison
I feel like Ryobi is moving into a place where their quality/performance isn’t necessarily lower than Rigid or Milwaukee, their tools are just more home-owner focused. I’ve noticed some of their stick vacuums for instance, are becoming more elaborate/higher end than what you’ll find from the other TTI brands.
J. Newell
“So why are they pushing forward?” – Because if you’re not ahead, you’re behind.
Whether the top-tier tool companies (which is a category that includes Ryobi in my mind, if “top-tier” means more than simply purely pro-level tools) are really giving us anything we need as they continually upgrade core tools like drills, impact drivers and circular saws (as examples) is another question. More power, yes. Longer runtimes, sometimes. But existing and even recent generations of these tools have been really good.
Actually, the thing that I think Ryobi often does better than any other company is design new applications for cordless power that are often in a category by themselves (meaning no competition from other leading tool companies). As a recent random personal example, some of the cordless cleaning/scrubbing tools Ryobi offers don’t have competition from other leading tool companies, and they’re quite well designed and very useful.
Joe
Stuart- I’ll be very interested to hear your thoughts on their new compact drill/driver. As a DIYer, I don’t generally have a need for “Upgrades” but it’s the one tool I use so much at home and elsewhere, where the same power and smaller form factor could be a real benefit for me to consider.
Stuart
If you’re not tied to Ryobi’s 18V system, Milwaukee’s offers better specs – it has a shorter length and higher torque – and at a lower price ($99 at Home Depot).
Rob
I am a long time Ryobi user and mainly in trade applications. I have many Milwaukee 18v and 12v tools and at one stage was thinking of replacing the Ryobi tools with Milwaukee. I am finding that the Ryobi tools I take to work every day are less precious to me, but they seem to perform well day in day out. I also feel that the lines between Milwaukee and Ryobi are becoming closer with Ryobi build quality and performance getting closer to Milwaukee with every new tool release. It pains me sometimes to double up on a Milwaukee tool I already own and purchase the Ryobi equivalent for the sake of the convenience of not carrying another set of batteries and charger in my space poor work vehicle. In these cases doing a direct comparison the Ryobi performance is not a long way off the Milwaukee.
dale Clark
I agree. Chances are you will not get your Ryobi stolen at a worksite.