Bosch has come out with a new 18V cordless impact driver kit, GDR18V-1400B12, which is described as a compact and ergonomic tool for professional-grade fastening applications.
The new Bosch cordless impact driver delivers up to 1400 in-lbs max torque.
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Update: As Matt points out in comments (thank you!), the impact was available for a few months as part of a drill and impact driver combo kit, GXL18V-26B22.
- 1/4″ hex chuck
- 5.9″ length
- 3″ width
- 1400 in-lbs max torque
- 0-2800 no-load RPM
- 0-3600 IPM
- Weighs 2.3 lbs without battery
- LED worklight
- “Professional power transmission”
- Belt hook
The kit comes with a charger and (1) 2.0Ah battery.
The new Bosch cordless impact driver seems to have a slim handle.
Launch Price: $129 for the kit
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Compare(Dewalt brushless impact driver kit via Acme Tools)
See Also(Bosch Drill and Impact Combo Kit via Amazon)
Discussion
The new Bosch GDR18V-1400B12 cordless impact driver reminds me of their GSR18V-190B22 cordless drill/driver, which I predicted would be a Black Friday special. That cordless drill kit launched at $129 and dropped to $99 during the winter holiday and Father’s Day shopping seasons since then.
I believe Bosch launched this product category with the DDB181, which was officially described as a compact and basic-duty offering.
Compared to the new Bosch brushless cordless impact driver, this model is slower, less powerful, and longer, but its handle looks slimmer.
For what seems to be positioned as a “basic-duty” cordless impact driver, the Bosch GDR18V-1400B12 seems reasonably well-spec’ed.
The new Bosch impact driver very closely resembles their brushed motor Freak hybrid 2-in-1 hybrid impact driver/wrench, except with a lower mass torque output (1400 in-lbs vs. the Freak’s 1600 in-lbs). The two tools have near-identical appearances, except for the chuck designs, and the same motor speeds.
Honestly, I’m a little surprised. Dewalt, Milwaukee, and Makita all now have brushless drill kits that are seasonally priced at $99, and also brushless impact driver kits that are similarly priced during promo periods. I am not at all surprised that Bosch updated their $99 cordless drill offering in recent years, or that they now introduced a basic-duty cordless impact driver kit that will presumably also be seasonally promo-priced at $99. But why not brushless?
At this time, Bosch’s new cordless impact driver is priced at $129. Let’s assume that it will drop in price to $99. Dewalt’s Atomic brushless impact driver, currently $99 via Acme Tools, is more powerful, shorter, and lighter. The Dewalt has the same motor speed but a slightly lower impact speed. It’s bundled with a 1.3Ah battery, but its brushless motor is more efficient than a brushed motor.
Makita also has a very compelling $99 impact driver kit right now.
That doesn’t mean that the Bosch is without its merits. My experiences with the DDB181 basic-duty brushed motor cordless drill were good. Despite being underpowered compared to other compact cordless drills, the DDB181 had a very slender handle and was very comfortable to use.
I think that Bosch’s new cordless impact is well positioned and even competitive in some regards. I can understand that they might not be able or willing to match Dewalt and Milwaukee brushless tool kits centered around $99 promo season pricing. The compactness and slender handle of the new Bosch GDR18V-1400B12 impact driver kit keeps them in the game.
It seems highly likely that we’ll see this kit at $99 pricing, and so the question is more a matter of when than if.
User reviews of Bosch’s basic-duty Freak hybrid impact driver/wrench kit seem to be favorable, and so I would think that this tool will perform similarly. The lower torque rating is likely due to the different chuck design. This one has a 1/4″ hex chuck, and the Freak has a 1/4″ hex bit holder inside a 1/2″ square drive. Perhaps the anvil size or design is different. I am not well-versed enough in impact driver mechanics to further theorize what factors contribute to the 200 in-lbs max torque difference.
Update: The drill and impact driver combo kit is priced at $139 via Amazon, and is currently eligible for $20 off $100+ savings.
Norris
Odd. Lowe’s is showing the older Freak model (1600 in-lbs) at “new lower price” for $89. Not sure I’d go for this over the Freak, especially for $40 more.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/bosch-includes-freak-18-volt-cordless-impact-driver-1-battery-included/1000540049
Stuart
At current pricing, the Freak is the better buy. I don’t expect for this impact to be priced at $129 for very long. Maybe it’ll be a deal of the day? Its timing seems late for Father’s Day, but early for the winter holiday season.
fred
Bosch often seems to march to the beat of their own drummer. Not that they are deaf to the voices of their customers – but just that they seem to do things differently.
Thomas
thats not the brushless freak aka idhi82 trust me i own that thats the low end model that they named freak and why my idh182 got that aka name too if people like its a good deal if you want to get into bosch $10 more there are a few better ones in specs
sp
I think it’s been about seven years since Bosch introduced their first brushless power tool. The GBH 18V-EC, or in the USA – RHH-181. Great rotary hammer for its class.
But imo the percentage of brushed tools out of Bosch’s new products these days is kind of high compare to the rivals.
But there are some good news (for Bosch users) over the sea, in Europe. In Bosch UK, Germany and some other countries you can spot some NAINA (yet) tools.
A new brushless impact wrench is now available there: GDS 18V-200C. That is the young brother of the new GDX 18V-1800C and the GDR 18V-1800C. Its designation in the USA will probably be GDS 18V-1800C if and when available in America.
If you will search “BOSCH GSR 12V-35FC”, you’ll find some official images of the new brushless 12v flexiclick. More power, shorter head length, faster and seems to have better design, ergonomicaly and aestheticaly.
I will not buy the flexiclick. I’m an 18v Bosch user but certainly good additions for “Bosch community”.
Toolfreak
Almost all Bosch stuff lauches at a high price, then the REAL retail price shows up in what it sells for at the big box stores and online. It’s possible this is just a filler model to sell at the $89-99 price point during the holidays or even $69-79 on Black Friday.
I like that it’s a basic model and lacks the bluetooth option. I’d probably pick this up over the brushless version if the price was right, but I’ll probably hold out for when brushless really takes over and they make a brushless model for a low price without the bluetooth option.
The slimmer handle sounds good, too. The handles on the 12V Bosch tools are fat enough. Fat handles on the 18V tools just sounds like a great way to get hand fatigue really fast and lose your grip on your tools.
Thomas
I like the look but I will stick with my Idh182 it’s brushless and it’s a two in 1 more torque 3 speed can’t go wrong I know alot of newer version of of impact drivers got more torque then then but if you use the core 6.3 ah battery or core 4.0 ah battery they have 21700 cells you get more power Bosch is still a premium brand don’t think it’s diy weekend warrior ?% maybe this new one is at this price point I would buy Ridgid brushless kit one battery r86038 $99 or DeWalt brushless
Matt
Forgive me if I overlooked the answer to this but hasn’t this impact been kitted with the drill you speak of and available for over a year?
The kit in question is currently $139(item #1049869)
Stuart
Yes?
The impact was mentioned in product listings last year, and I briefly mentioned it (https://toolguyd.com/bosch-18v-cordless-power-tool-combo-kit-gxl18v-496b22/), but I don’t recall actually see it released.
The combo kits I’ve seen had the budget/basic drill and the non-brushless 2-in-1 impact.
The GXL18V-26B22 DOES seem to have this impact, but I don’t quite remember when it was actually released. The few online reviews on Amazon span from late-December 2018 thru April 2019. Lowes reviews seem to span the same time.
The standalone impact kit is still new, and when I searched I found no press mentions in my inbox, and no other references for the kit, and when I checked for combo kits I only came upon the drill + Freak combos.
Right now the drill and impact kit is $139 with $20 discount, which is a lot better than the $129 launch pricing, but I still think that $99 will be the eventual promo price for the standalone kit.
Thanks for the find/heads-up!
The What?
Bosch sales must be dismal for Lowes to drop the price of the freak less than a hundred dollars when it was priced close to two hundred dollars less than a year ago. Nobody is buying it obviously and even worse is they had to release a 2nd generation of the freak in less than a year after the first one cuz the first one was priced too high for what they made. That’s not good at all for Bosch. Now for some reason they’ve decided to release a brushed diy grade impact that costs more than their pro grade freak. Who does that? And whatever happened to the “megawatt gang” that had the Yu-Gi-Oh characters that they were promoting a few months ago? Is this supposed to be a part of that? I guess they saw where that was going to end up. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Bosch would be better off if they just made rotary hammers and laser tools and maybe their miter saw. That’s it.
Stuart
There’s the original brushless Freak, the brushed motor Freak, and 2nd generation brushless Freak.
https://toolguyd.com/bosch-18v-brushless-hybrid-impact/
https://toolguyd.com/bosch-18v-socket-ready-impact-driver/
https://toolguyd.com/bosch-18v-brushless-freak-impact-driver-wrench-gdx18v-1800c/
What’s on sale at Lowes now is the 1-battery promo kit version. Bosch isn’t the only brand to aggressively price their 1-battery drill or driver kits.
Jack Braddell
The only thing Bosch has going for it currently is the new core batteries.