ToolGuyd

Tool Reviews, New Tool Previews, Best Tool Guides, Tool Deals, and More!

  • New Tools
  • Reviews
  • Guides
    • Best Cordless Power Tool Brand
    • Tool Brands: Who Owns What?
    • Best Cordless Drills (New for 2019!)
    • Dewalt UWO Explained
    • Best Multi-Bit Screwdrivers
    • Best Cordless Impact Drivers (2015)
    • Best Cordless Circular Saws
    • Best Tape Measure
    • Best Cordless Oscillating Tools
    • Best EDC Gear
    • Best Multimeter
    • Best Precision Screwdrivers
    • Best Modular Tool Boxes
    • Ultimate Tool Gift Guide
  • Hand Tools
    • Bit Holders & Drivers
    • EDC, Pocket, & Multitools
    • Electrical Tools
    • Flashlights & Worklights
    • Knives
    • Mechanics’ Tools
    • Pliers
    • Screwdrivers
    • Sockets & Drive Tools
    • Wrenches
    • All Hand Tools
  • Power Tools
    • Accessories
    • Cordless
    • Drills & Drivers
    • Oscillating Tools
    • Saws
    • Woodworking Tools
    • All Power Tools
  • Brands
    • Bosch
    • Craftsman
    • Dewalt
    • Makita
    • Milwaukee
    • Milwaukee NPS19 Tools
    • Ryobi
    • All Brands
  • USA-Made
  • Deals
ToolGuyd > Power Tools > Cordless > Black & Decker SMARTECH Battery Pack has Bluetooth and Built-in USB Port
Holiday 2019 Deal Guides: HD Cordless Promo Milwaukee Bosch Dewalt Makita More Tool Deals

Black & Decker SMARTECH Battery Pack has Bluetooth and Built-in USB Port

Apr 26, 2016 Stuart 25 Comments

If you buy something through our links, ToolGuyd might earn an affiliate commission.

Black & Decker Smartech Cordless Drill

Last June we talked a little about the new Dewalt 20V Max Bluetooth battery packs. Well, Black & Decker has now come out with something similar.

Meet Black & Decker SmarTech. B&D 20V Max SmarTech battery packs feature Bluetooth connectivity, and will be supported by a new mobile device app.

Advertisement

Black & Decker Smartech 20V Battery Pack with USB Port

Oh, and it will also have a built-in USB charging port, a great feature for a DIYer battery pack.

Battery Specs:

  • 1.5Ah capacity
  • 1.0A max USB output

The free Black & Decker app will have 3 core functions: My Tools, Messages, and Projects.

In My Tools, users can:

  • View a list of connected batteries
  • Select and interact with individual batteries
  • Enable or disable batteries
  • View remaining battery charge
  • Turn on “locate feature” to find missing batteries
  • Activate a battery’s USB port

All of these features are straightforward, although I winder how the locate feature works. Is there a small chime that turns on, or does it work in a “hot or cold” process where the app will find a battery via signal strength.

Battery notifications will come through in the Messages part of the app, and the Projects will offer tool recommendations and project inspiration.

Price: $79 for the drill kit, $69 for bare battery
ETA: Summer 2016

First Thoughts

To be completely honest, I find the built-in USB charging port to be the most appealing aspect of these new SmarTech battery packs, although the locate feature could also be useful.

I’m hoping that the max charging rate is at least 1.0A, but 2.0A will be better. I’ll add this spec to the feature list once I find out. The battery capacity would also be good to know. I’m going to assume 2.0Ah, because you can get (2) 1.5Ah battery packs for around the same $69 price.

Update: The battery capacity is 1.5Ah, and the USB charging rate is 1.0A.

It’s interesting that B&D is selling the drill kit for just $10 more than the bare battery. I’m guessing they’re looking to draw in first-time buyers and also DIYers who haven’t upgraded their drill in quite a few years.

In light of the battery specs, I’m going to say that the drill kit is almost a no-brainer, and that you should possibly wait until holiday promo sales if you want a second battery (or more).

Before you ask why pro-level power tool brands don’t offer built-in USB charging ports, consider how many batteries a typical professional user or advanced DIYer might have. For those users with lots of batteries, it makes more sense to pay the cost for individual slide-on USB charging adapters, rather than to pay the premium with every single new battery.

Related posts:

Black and Decker GoPak Battery closeupNew Black & Decker GoPak 12V Max Tool Battery Doubles as a Phone Charger Hitachi MultiVolt Cordless Sliding Miter SawHitachi MultiVolt – a New FlexVolt-Like 36V Cordless Power Tool System Metabo 12V Cordless Drill with Quick ChuckNew Metabo 12V Cordless Power Tools: Brushless Drills, Impact Drivers, More Craftsman Holiday 2019 Promo Homeowner Tool SetRate this New Craftsman Holiday 2019 Homeowner Tool Set from Lowe’s

Sections: Cordless, Drills & Drivers, New Tools Tags: Black & Decker 20VMore from: Black & Decker

« Husky 52-inch 11-Drawer Mobile Workbench
Ego Cordless Snow Blower Sneak Peek! »

25 Comments

  1. fred says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 12:05 pm

    I’d love to see Makita and Milwaukee adopt this idea.
    The Makita ADP05 cost me $26.05 and only added slightly more (2 USB Ports) functionality.

    Reply
  2. Drew M says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 12:26 pm

    I wonder which manufacturer will be the first to add USB-C to their packs.

    I also wonder if you could open the pack and rip out the bluetooth module to stop it from draining the pack.

    Reply
    • Adam says

      Apr 26, 2016 at 3:28 pm

      I’d imagine USB-C is around 1% adoption rate right now. You are going to see standard USB jacks for quite some time, and you can just buy an adapter to charge your special needs devices.

      Why rip it out, and not just buy a regular battery then?

      Reply
  3. P says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 12:28 pm

    Is Bluetooth access really something people are clamoring for? I almost understand the Milwaukee approach since it has tool settings, but for just batteries? Any time I’ve bought a B&D tool, it’s been because I needed a really cheap tool. Their stuff seems focused on basic Home Owners more than Professionals or even Hobbyists. Maybe their market has changed without me noticing.

    As for the USB. It’s a $20 premium over their 2.0ah batteries, and $35 more than a 1.5ah. It’s only $5 more for a 12v 2.0ah DeWalt battery and 12v/20v USB adapter, that would then work with all your batteries. You can also buy a 5.6Ah USB Battery charger from Amazon for $20.

    Reply
  4. Brian says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 12:56 pm

    this tech doesnt really help me as an enthusiast.

    Im honestly curious if a typical foreman really sees a benefit to knowing where his batteries are being used… Is this a way to monitor worker output? stop workplace theft? not sure if I get it.

    Reply
    • Jon says

      Apr 28, 2016 at 11:47 am

      No foreman is going to have a B&D system anyway. Yeah, I really don’t understand the appeal here other than something that adds maybe $1 per battery to the manufacturing cost, and gives them something to put on the box for the average person buying a power tool for themselves or as a gift, for home use. “Ooh, this one is really high tech!” I guess?

      Reply
  5. Cr8ondt says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 1:08 pm

    The current crop of B&D batteries charge just fine on a 2.0A charger and B&D sells one as a standalone. I first saw these new ones as part of, of all places, CES coverage.

    Reply
  6. John says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 1:08 pm

    Milwaukee makes the battery to USB charger adapters like:

    M12:

    https://www.milwaukeetool.com/accessories/batteries-and-chargers/49-24-2310

    M18

    https://www.milwaukeetool.com/accessories/batteries-and-chargers/49-24-2371

    The M12 oddly enough is 2.1 amp while the M18 is (at least from a review) is only 500mA USB which seems very strange when the M18 should be much more capable.

    Though having a usb port it on the battery would be really neat and something I’d like to see more manufacturers do. Its about the only “standard” battery connector now, even EU mandates compatibly on phone chargers. The bluetooth seems pretty gimmicky otherwise.

    Reply
    • Adam says

      Apr 26, 2016 at 3:29 pm

      M18 version was updated, but most sites do not reflect that, even Milwaukee’s I believe

      Reply
  7. Doresoom says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 1:41 pm

    Another reason why major manufacturers don’t have a USB port built into their batteries – dust and water ingress protection. A USB adapter for the battery uses the main contacts, and doesn’t put another hole in the case. Plus, I think Stewart hit the nail on the head that pros will generally have enough batteries that they don’t want to pay for the USB option on all of them.

    Reply
  8. Doresoom says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 3:07 pm

    …and Stuart, sorry I misspelled your name there.

    Reply
  9. Kent says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 3:31 pm

    I see this as Stanley/B&D/Dewalt putting new tech into their lower tiers first and then if adopted and successful rolling it out onto the higher grade stuff.

    I manage commercial construction jobs and being able to know where your batteries are on site is a daily constant headache. 90% of our guys use Milwaukee and guys are constantly trying to find their own batteries that someone has borrowed or stashed in their toolbox. I counteract that by using Ridgid, because no one else does and by having a cheap Stanley drill and impact set for people who need to borrow a tool.

    Reply
  10. Nathan says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 3:43 pm

    I bet you won’t see that move to a dewalt or PC system.

    but I do like their Dewalt USB add on – I think that makes a lot of sense. I see others use it too.

    the BT battery bit – I think is only really useful for shops or contractors.

    do I have all my batteries? are they all in good condition? etc.

    for me at home – don’t give a smurf.

    Reply
  11. mike aka Fazzman says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 5:08 pm

    I dont get all the bluetooth battery nonsense, I buy the tools to be used like tools,not dink with a stupid phone app.,especially in a low homeowner grade tool.

    The average person buying these cheap tools has no use for such things. Just another gimmick that sheeple will buy.

    I could see if it were like onekey where you could control torque and such for certain things cordless tools have been doing just fine without all this added useless features.

    Reply
  12. Wayne Ruffner says

    Apr 26, 2016 at 5:57 pm

    Is the USB charging port for incoming or outgoing charging? What charges what here?

    Reply
    • Allen says

      Apr 27, 2016 at 7:45 am

      Incoming charge would be cool. Plug it right into an outlet like a phone.

      As for ” interacting ” with my batteries . Does that seem weird to anyone else ?

      Reply
      • Stuart says

        Apr 27, 2016 at 9:09 am

        That would increase the cost, not to mention the size, and it would be slow.

        Reply
        • Wayne Ruffner says

          Apr 27, 2016 at 5:38 pm

          Huh? How would plugging it in like a phone “increase the cost, not to mention the size”? I don’t think shaping the charging hardware differently necessarily means it’ll be slower, either. Unless you’re charging with a phone charger, then yes, of course.

          I guess you’re dismissing the idea of these batteries taking an incoming charge via USB, so that port must solely be for outgoing charges then?

          Thanks!

          Reply
          • Stuart says

            Apr 27, 2016 at 6:03 pm

            Because that’s more stuff to cram into a battery pack. Maybe not a lot, but it still has to go somewhere.

            Plus, there would have to be another USB port for the incoming charge cable – probably microUSB.

            The energy capacity of a battery pack is a lot higher than that of a phone, which means longer charging times. And since there would have to be voltage conversion, that circuitry would have to go somewhere too.

            Every battery would cost more.

            Do users really want to be able to charge their power tool batteries via USB?

            Some tools with built-in batteries do feature USB charging, but there’s a big difference between a 3.6V tool and an 18V battery pack.

            There are too many reasons against the idea, and too few for it.

    • Stuart says

      Apr 27, 2016 at 9:07 am

      Energy goes from battery to USB devices, such as smartphones.

      Reply
  13. Martin says

    Apr 28, 2016 at 5:02 am

    Going the opposite direction would also be a nice gimmick, charge batteries with USB, the latest USB standards van provide 20Volt with 5Amps, with switchmode conversion efficiency of 90% that would mean 90watt going to the batterypack, the 18V 2Amp packs can be charged within 15-20 minutes. And with old USB 5volt, 2Amps in about 2 hours, charge with phone chargers, car power socket, laptop, solar,….

    Reply
  14. Cr8ondt says

    May 7, 2016 at 12:44 pm

    For what its worth they are in stock now @ Lowes http://www.lowes.com/pd_786679-34252-BDCDDBT120C___?productId=1000041895&pl=1&Ntt=black+and+decker

    Reply
  15. john_e_uselton says

    Jul 20, 2016 at 7:18 pm

    Anybody thought about a slide on cap for the regular 20 volt battery, with a voltmeter, USB and volt switchable 16 -18-19 volts for driving a laptop direct? Maybe a 24 volt input port for solar charging ? Might be too much of a Ruben Goldberg, but for remote construction areas could be real nice. Are the Max power packs and the Worx power packs interchangeable if they are the same voltage rating. Thx, just some ideas to bounce around.

    Reply
    • Stuart says

      Jul 21, 2016 at 8:01 am

      With few exceptions, power tool battery packs are NOT compatible between brands,

      Reply
  16. daemon says

    Oct 18, 2016 at 2:01 pm

    Before you buy the battery, make sure the app is compatible with your phone. It appears that many Android devices may not compatible (Quick Start guide inside the package states that it’s compatible with “select” Android devices, and that’s the only place you will see this mentioned.)

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Jon Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest tool news.

ToolGuyd Forum

Recent Comments

  • Richard G. on Amazon Hand Tools Deals of the Day (12/8/2019): “I was thinking about it for an hour )) Decent price for a seems to be a good product, however…”
  • mattd on Hot Deal: Mora Companion Knife for $10!: “thanks for this heads up. I have been wanting to get another one (bought one to test out last time…”
  • Rob L on Hot Deal: Mora Companion Knife for $10!: “I have this one and a chisel tip model next to my X-Carve or on the bench, just great useful…”
  • Nathan Reid Carr on Milwaukee Cordless Power Tool Deals of the Day, 9/10/2019: “Big Milwaukee fan and always looking for the newest tools. Changed my career path from 9yrs of commercial carpenter to…”
  • Techtools on Another Round of Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee Cordless Power Tool Deals, + Empire Levels (12/8/19): “So has it performed for you? Looking to invest in one.”
  • Techtools on Another Round of Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee Cordless Power Tool Deals, + Empire Levels (12/8/19): “Would you recommend it? I am not in fine carpentry. Usually rough frame and siding jobs. I want something portable…”

Recent Posts

  • Hot Deal: Mora Companion Knife for $10!
  • Alert: Dewalt $25 off $100+ Discount on Cordless Power Tools, Accessories, More Ends TODAY (12/8/19)
  • Another Round of Dewalt, Makita, Milwaukee Cordless Power Tool Deals, + Empire Levels (12/8/19)
  • Amazon Hand Tools Deals of the Day (12/8/2019)
  • Deal of the Day: Gerber Suspension Multi-Tool for $20 (12/8/19)
  • Hot Price Drop: Irwin 4pc Bar Clamp Special Buy! (12/7/19)
  • Dewalt ToughSystem 2-Drawer Tool Box is on Sale AND Coupon-Eligible (12/7/19)
  • Hot Deal: Dewalt Cordless Brad Nailer with FREE Battery and Charger Bundle (12/7/19)
ToolGuyd New Tool Reviews Image

New Tool Reviews

Buying Guides

  • Best Cordless Drills
  • Best Cordless Impact Drivers
  • Best Cordless Multi-Tools
  • Cordless Power Tool Brands
  • Modular Tool Storage Systems
  • Ultimate Tool Gift & Upgrade Guide
ToolGuyd Knife Reviews Image

Knife Reviews

ToolGuyd Multi-Tool Reviews Image

Multi-Tool Reviews

ToolGuyd LED Flashlight and Worklight Reviews Image

LED Light Reviews

  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Stores
  • Videos
  • Gear
  • AMZN Deal Finder
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Disclosure