We spotted a new and lower-priced Bosch 18V FREAK brushless 2-in-1 impact driver and impact wrench combo kit, GDX18V-1800B12.
At the time of this posting, the price is $159 for the kit, but that could change soon.
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Bosch has also come out with a new $99 18V brushless drill kit for Black Friday and the 2020 holiday shopping season, and so it wouldn’t be surprising if this new FREAK kit will indeed be priced at $99 as Thanksgiving nears.
At first glance, it looked like this new Bosch FREAK impact tool kit was simply a cheaper configuration, but closer inspection shows that it’s a different tool. There are noticeable differences between the updated Bosch FREAK brushless impact and this new cheaper model.
- Previous (premium) model: GDX18V-1800C
- New (basic) model: GDX18V-1800B
The Bosch GDX18V-1800C 18V “FREAK 2.0” originally launched as a $159 bare tool and $299 kit.
After the updated Bosch brushless FREAK launched, Bosch also released a one-battery kit version of the premium model, GDX18V-1800C.
This new kit is very similar in appearance and model number, but is definitely different.
To start, this new cheaper GDX18V-1800B12 kit comes with a different charger, as you can tell by the different markings and LED indicators on the front.
Bosch’s product listing says that the kit comes with their GAL 18V-20 charger. We don’t yet know if the charger in this value-oriented kit is slower than the one included in the more premium cordless FREAK kit, but would assume so.
We have asked Bosch PR for more information about the GAL 18V-20 charger and how its charging rate compare to that of the GAL 18V-40 charger.
We’re also curious as to why this charger has fewer indicator lights than the other model. We know that the GAL 18V-40 charger, as well as the new Bosch 18V 6-port charger, feature dual-cycle charging – perhaps this one does not?
About the tools themselves, it looks like there are noticeable differences:
- Single speed and torque mode (vs. 3 on the premium model)
- No Bluetooth Connectivity (optional on the premium model)
- Different LED worklight
- No LED on/off button
The basic features and specs are the same:
- 1/4″ hex shank screwdriver bit holder
- 1/2″ square drive socket anvil
- 1800 in-lbs max torque
- 0-3400 RPM (no load)
- 5.8″ length
- Brushless motor
- Belt clip
It is unclear as to whether this new model, GDX18V-1800B, will be replacing the previous model, GDX18V-1800C, but that’s doubtful. There will be two brushless drill and impact driver combo kits featuring this new FREAK impact, but they look to also include Bosch’s new basic brushless drill/driver and different battery configurations.
It is our assumption that Bosch will continue to offer the more premium impact alongside the new value-focused model. We have reached out to Bosch PR for clarity and are waiting for their response.
Lastly, this new kit comes with an 18V 2.0Ah SlimPack battery, instead of the CORE18V 4.0Ah battery included with the more premium kit.
Price: $159
Sale Price: TBA
Buy Now via Lowe’s
Buy Now via Tool Nut
See Also: Bosch Premium Kit via Acme Tools – also at $159 as of the time of this posting
See Also: Bosch Premium Kit via Amazon
Discussion
This looks like a replacement for Bosch’s 18V brushed motor FREAK impact tool kit, GDX18V-1600B12, which went on sale last year for $79 as part of Lowe’s Black Friday tool deals. At the time of this posting, that kit is priced at $149.
If a brushed motor tool kit that’s regularly priced at $149 could go on sale for $79, I think it’s reasonable to think that this new $159 offering might be a $99 Black Friday special at Lowe’s and other retailers later this year.
At the time of this posting, the more premium kit is priced at $200, except at Acme Tools where it’s inexplicably $159 right now.
Compared to the more premium tool, Bosch did a couple of things to lower production costs for this more value-priced budget model, but without changing its fundamentals.
You still get a brushless motor, and you still get the 1-in-1 FREAK-style screwdriver bit and socket impact driver-wrench mechanism, and you still get the same 1800 in-lbs max torque and 3400 RPM max speed setting.
You get a more basic LED, they took out the worklight on/off button, they took out the multi-speed and torque settings and control button, they give you a lower capacity battery (2.0Ah vs CORE18V 4.0Ah), and it looks like you get a slower and slightly lower-frilled charger.
The heart of the tool looks to be there, and it’s worth noting that Bosch managed to keep the belt clip included in this basic kit.
This looks comparable to other brands’ “basic” and “better” impact driver lineup entries, only the basic models used to be brushed motor and the more premium brushless.
IF this will indeed be a $99 Black Friday 2020 special buy, it’ll be a heck of a great buy.
Given how this new Bosch 18V FREAK impact looks heavily based on their existing model, I have been looking at it as a cheaper version of that tool. But if that more premium offering never existing, this would be quite the upgrade compared to Bosch’s brushed model offering.
Compared to the brushed motor model, this new model has a brushless motor, higher power (1800 vs 1600 in-lbs), faster max speed (3400 vs 2800 RPM), and shorter length (5.8″ vs 6.7″).
Actually, let me emphasize this – the new FREAK looks to be a HUGE upgrade compared to the previous brushed motor model.
We’re going to have to wait and see how things play out. Strategically, I think that Bosch will sell a whole lot more units at $99 than at any other price between $99 and $159. Given the timing of this launch and Bosch’s promotional history, a $99 holiday season price seems possible if not likely.
Would you buy this kit at $99? $129? Any price?
For those of you that have used any of Bosch’s 18V FREAK impact tools, what would you say to anyone considering buying this or another of their 2-in-1 impact driver/wrench models?
Tom D says
That FREAK chuck looks really interesting – but I have to wonder – does anyone who has this actually use both? It seems like it might be a great “one tool” option but given that I already reach for two so I don’t have to swap bits between driving and drilling I’m not sure I’d ever use both.
Jared says
If you don’t have an impact wrench and an impact driver already, why wouldn’t you use both aspects?
I have both tools and use them both – not usually at the same time either.
This doesn’t replace a drill though. I suppose you could buy drill bits with hex shafts and use it that way – but it doesn’t have a drill-style chuck to fine tune the torque.
Jorn says
I’ve got one and I do use both.
I keep a set of 1/2” impact sockets around and it works well for wheel lugs and whatever else.
You could use an adapter with a regular impact driver nearly as easily.
Nomorebusses says
I worked at Gillig and they handed these out to the guys who didn’t care to buy their own impacts or drills. On the finish side of the line the guys used both the 1/4 and 1/2 inch chucks. The only problem I saw was the 1/4 inch bit adapters would often get stuck. Then the drill got beat on or put into a vice. If it was bad enough it got sent to maintenance. For as badly as they got treated they held up pretty well. I didn’t care for them. They felt clunky, especially with the bigger batteries. I used my own Milwaukee 12v tools. They held up very well considering they were getting used pretty hard eight hours a day.
Patrick says
I’m just a DIY guy but I have the 1800 and the original one (IDH182). I use both chucks (is that the correct word?) frequently. The 1800 reliably knocks the lug nuts off of our vehicles for seasonal wheel/tire swaps and I can’t imagine needing anything stronger than that. The 182 struggled occasionally. Both snap screws in the highest setting though. I can’t use the high torque setting for normal 2-3″ screws, so I’m curious how the single setting version will work.
Big Richard says
Chuck is definitely not the right word, I’m glad someone finally noticed. The 1/2″ impact wrench portion is called an anvil, the 1/4″ impact driver portion is called a collet.
I know it’s just semantics, but this is a tool blog.
Stuart says
I don’t think I’ve ever seen 1/4″ bit holders described as collets, usually they’re just called 1/4″ hex chucks.
A collet typically tightens around tooling. Here, it’s a ball detent locking mechanism or similar.
I’ll need to look into this.
Big Richard says
I guess I don’t know what their “official” name is, or if they even have one. I’ve heard them called power collets, quick change collets, 1/4″ hex collet, et al.. Could be a regional thing, but I don’t know that I’ve ever heard them called chucks, so that’s interesting. Though I would argue that a collet is a type of chuck, so it kinda comes full circle I suppose.
Lava says
Raised lettering and logo vs printed sticker.
Toolfreak says
I think it’s great that Bosch is finally releasing ‘simplified’ versions of the brushless tools, part of what I didn’t like about the newer brushless models was they had a LOT of features that the DIY market would likely never use, but if you wanted a Bosch brushless product, you were stuck paying for it.
This might even be a little too simple, with no speeds or modes or anything really, but I like it. Grab and go, load a bit or socket and pull the trigger. The compact battery makes sense for the price and keeping the package compact and the weight down.
The big letdown is the different charger. Seems like it’d be less expensive to just throw all of the same chargers in all the kits, or use a cheapo wall-wart style if it’s really needed to keep total kit costs down. Having two visually similar yet operationally different chargers is going to be a pain. It probably doesn’t feature dual-cycle charging, and so had cheaper internals, and just uses a red LED on the same lens as the green charging LED for warning indications.
I probably would get this over the premium model if I was in the market for a impact/driver combo, but I don’t really have a need for one over having seperate tools, which I like a lot more over constantly changing bits/sockets on one tool.
Josh says
I really like the 2 in 1 Chuck on the freak drivers. It’s much easier to remove hex bits from than any other impact driver I’ve tried, and easier to remove sockets from than any impact wrench I’ve used. Sockets stay on perfectly until you pull the collar to remove them.
Patrick T says
As someone with an older Dewalt kit that I got for Christmas the year we bought our house, I’ve been looking to upgrade. The drill in that kit is garbage and the small batteries are really showing their age. Really tempted by these brushless Bosch tools. Feel pretty good in the hand from the few minutes I’ve played with them at Lowes. The Lowes around me all have the premium Freak kit for $159 right now too. Only 1 or 2 in stock at each store though.
James says
If maximum performance is the same as the affordable model I would rather have the affordable one. I don’t need a light switch, or bluetooth (shouldn’t be standard on any tool or brand), or different speeds. All of these features that all of the brands are adding do nothing but add parts that can break. 99% of all users will never touch the bluetooth. And unless your doing steel studs for the most part you don’t need set and forget lower settings. Trigger throttle works the vast majority of the time.
Big Richard says
I just feel that 1800 in-lbs (150 ft-lbs) is a bit under powered for a 1/2″ 18v impact wrench. I realize if they give it too much torque it’ll snap 1/4″ bits all day. I’m waiting for it to sense whether you have a 1/4″ bit inserted or are using the 1/2″ anvil, and adjust torque accordingly. Say 250-300 ft-lbs in wrench mode, and keep the 150 ft-lbs in driver mode. That I might buy.
Stuart says
Agreed.
Agreed.
Wow, that would be a great feature! The downside would be that more torque would require a larger motor, which would mean a longer and heavier tool. Moving closer to more ideal impact wrench specs might make such a tool less ideal for impact driver use.
Big Richard says
True, but look at the M12 Stubby. The technology is there to get around that 250 ft-lb range in a compact form. If it is not possible now, I do think it will be in the near future.
Toolfreak says
150 ft-lbs is closer to what you want in a 3/8″ impact, but I’d guess the 1/2″ anvil size is just because 1/2″ impact sockets are more common, and this is just for driving lag screws and nuts/bolts around the jobsite or shop, not for heavy-duty use like a dedicated 1/2″ impact with 300+ ft-lbs.
They also likely don’t want to make it easier to abuse the tool. Giving it the ability to have more torque, even if only intended to be used with 1/2″ impact sockets, still allows user error/intentional abuse with 1/4″ bits being used at the higher impact socket torque.
Nick Marques says
I have the premium Freak and really like it. I do use both parts of the chuck quite often. I often wish it was for 3/8″ sockets but I realize it wouldn’t be dual function then.
As for torque, I don’t know what to tell you… My air impact couldn’t take the axle nut off of my Jeep but this thing did relatively easily. My takeaway is that specs don’t always mean shit, as the air impact should’ve been able to do it much easier.