Lowe’s has come out with a new line of Kobalt 24V Max XTR cordless power tools, and partnered with ToolGuyd to help spread the word.
There was supposed to be a special media event to launch the new tools, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench in the plans.
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I’ll be putting these tools through their paces on a sponsored project (thank you Lowe’s and Kobalt!), and aim to answer any questions you might have.
First, let’s talk about the most important question you might have. Why should you care?
Here is the Kobalt XTR cordless power tool line summed in a couple of nice and neat bullet points:
- MORE POWER
- MORE PERFORMANCE
- MORE FEATURES
That’s a little vague, let’s try that again. Following are the highlights that Lowe’s used to introduce me to the new Kobalt 24V Max XTR system:
- Industry-leading [brushless] motor
- Industry-leading battery technology
- Up to 50% extra performance compared to 1st generation Kobalt 24V Max tools
- Fully compatible with all Kobalt 24V Max batteries
- XTR is an extension to the Kobalt 24V Max lineup
- Focus on heavy DIY users and value-conscious pros
- XTR will be sold alongside (and not in place of) current models
- Industry-leading innovation
- New features – such as drills with anti-kickback technology
I’m embarrassed to say that I read Lowe’s bullet points several times, but only now do I see that the drill has anti-kickback tech. Many, even most, pro-grade premium brushless drills don’t offer this yet even, let alone brands that include DIYers in their target audience. I’m definitely going to have to put this to the test.
Well, let me tell you about my experiences so far, and my initial impressions.
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Kobalt 24V Max XTR Cordless Drill/Driver
Shown here is the Kobalt XTR brushless drill/driver that Lowe’s sent over for use, review, and vetting.
Whoops – I had intended to snap a quick photo of the drill with Kobalt’s 2Ah battery connected. I was just having an easy time drilling some holes in bamboo and forgot that I grabbed the compact 4Ah battery first.
But I suppose that works, since this is the separate drill/driver and that’s the battery it is kitted with.
I left the auxiliary handle connected, but as with other drills you can probably remove it for lighter drilling and driving tasks.
For heavy-duty tasks, the aux handle helps with control and stability, and with this drill delivering up to 1,200 in-lbs of torque, you might need it. But, also keep in mind that this drill features built-in anti-kickback technology. (If I say this too many times, it’s because I’m still surprised such a feature is present in this new XTR drill and the hammer drill.
This drill is a great size, given that it’s one of the most powerful cordless drills I have ever used. Its grip is comfortable, the LED worklight is in a convenient spot, and the clutch and chuck are as near effortless as can be.
In terms of power and performance, I have a lot of work to do before I can set up a torture test of sorts. But in the meantime, I’m enjoying the use of this drill. So far, it’s speedy.
Kobalt 24V Max XTR Cordless Reciprocating Saw
I haven’t had any project-related use for the new Kobalt XTR brushless reciprocating saw yet, and so I turned my attention towards pruning a couple of branches. This is something I’ve regularly been using cordless reciprocating saws for, and it’ll give me a quick and immediate sense of the saw’s performance.
Here’s where I have a problem, but not with the tool. As mentioned at the very start of the post, we’re exploring the new Kobalt XTR series as part of a paid partnership with Lowe’s. When a sponsored project or advertising is involved, I try to watch my words carefully, to ensure I’m honest and candid, but not overly enthusiastic.
With this new recip saw, I’m having trouble softening my tone. It’s freakin’ awesome.
To be frank, I probably wouldn’t have paid such prompt attention to this new brushless reciprocating saw if not for the partnership. How good can a cordless recip saw aimed at DIYers and value-minded pros really be?
It’s powerful, and it’s fast. The shoe can be adjusted to an extended position, the blade holder is tool-free and easy to use, there’s an LED worklight, and it features anti-vibration tech to reduce user fatigue. The orbital action can be turned on or off by a quick turn of a dial.
It could be more compact, but in this form factor I generally like as much power, performance, and features as I can get, and the Kobalt XTR delivers. I don’t have to consider it a review sample and give it away or donate it after all this, do I?
I would say that this recip saw is more powerful than any consumer-focused model I’ve ever used, and that would be true, but I think that would be a disservice to its pro-like cutting speed.
Kobalt 24V Max XTR Cordless Impact Driver
While not the most compact impact driver I’ve ever used, the new XTR is certainly the most powerful, delivering up to 2400 in-lbs of max torque.
The highlight here, aside from the 3-speed mode selection, is the special “ASSIST” mode that is said to help prevent cross-threading and cam-out. It basically starts things off really slow so that you can start smaller or more difficult fasteners with greater control.
But wait – at this point, I’m wondering – what’s the catch?
Oh, okay, Kobalt just wants to crush the competition, or at least that’s what I’m guessing. Yep, it’s just that good.
Kobalt 24V Max XTR Cordless Circular Saw
The new Kobalt XTR circular saw isn’t a slouch either. 2x4s weren’t a challenge, and I’m going to have to step up my testing to see how it compares to pro-grade cordless saws.
In future reviews or comparisons beyond this campaign, I don’t think I’ll even bother comparing it to typical DIYer brands’ saws – it’ll easily blow them out of the water.
The XTR circ saw features a 7-1/4″ blade size, metal shoe, metal guard, rafter hook, electric brake, and LED work light.
Ah – I finally have something negative to say about these tools! Sorry, I’ve got nothing – I really thought that something would come to mind.
Oh, I know – I really wish that Kobalt (or any other brand) could develop a tool-free blade change mechanism. Initial blade installation can sometimes take me a moment, to hold down the spindle lock as I loosen up the retention screw. It’ll be easier to change the blade after this, since the blade thickness gives the included hex key (it’s stored on-board) extra clearance.
I’m really going to enjoy exploring these tools further, something I might not have been able to budget the time for if not for this partnership campaign with Lowe’s.
Kobalt 24V Max XTR Cordless Impact Wrench
Lastly, there’s also a new XTR 1/2″ impact wrench kit, featuring 1,200 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque and 750 ft-lbs of fastening torque. It has 3 torque settings and anti-vibration technology.
This couldn’t have come at a better time.
Last year, a neighbor had trouble loosening the blades on his lawn mower. He asked for a torque wrench, and getting a sense for what he wanted, I brought out a breaker bar. Boy, those nuts were on tight. I gave up after some grunting and retrieved a heavy duty cordless 1/2″ wrench, and it did the trick.
Do you know how much a pro-grade heavy duty impact wrench costs? A leading brand comes in at $349 for their one-kit battery. The Kobalt XTR kit, with charger and compact 4Ah battery, is nearly as powerful and priced at $269, plus there’s a free extra battery promo going on right now.
This fills in the gap between more affordable lighter duty tools and much pricier heavy duty tools, all without any obvious sacrifices or major compromises.
Why Should You Care?
These tools are so much more than I expected.
Kobalt’s 24V Max brushless cordless power tools are all pretty decent performers, and I expected these new XTR tools to be a small evolution, but the features (most notably the anti-kickback tech), power, and performance caught me by surprise.
Now, I knew that “more power” and “better performance” and “more features” were key benefits, but it surprised me how these on-paper claims translated to reality.
Looking at pricing, the new Kobalt 24V Max XTR brushless drill/driver kit is $169, compared to $159 for the non-XTR model. For the $10 bump-up in price, you get a compact 4Ah battery over a regular 2Ah pack, nearly double the max torque, anti-kickback tech, and all that without any perceivable tradeoffs. They tweaked everything!
I almost don’t want to say it, but the new tools even look better too. This just shows me that every part of its development was carefully thought out.
So why should you care? These are Kobalt’s best cordless power tools – ever, and they’re packing some serious power.
What Isn’t So Great About Kobalt’s XTR Cordless Power Tools?
I’ve edited and re-edited this post to tone down my enthusiasm, but it’s not an easy task.
I had some hesitation that XTR was going to be mostly about the new compact 4Ah battery, and that all the other benefits stemmed from that. I was wrong, and glad to acknowledge that.
To offset my overall positive and enthusiastic tone, let’s talk about the one downside – more power, more performance, and more features don’t come cheap. The LED worklights are usable, the tools come with belt clips, and feature-wise, the tools are essentially fully-loaded. As such, these tools are not going to be for everyone.
Kobalt XTR brushless tools look to be aimed at users who are ready to progress past entry-level or even mid-level cordless power tools that deliver lower power, fewer features, and less compromises.
Go back a few years, and there wouldn’t have been any competition between these XTR tools and the then-new pro-grade offerings that were leading cordless power tool innovations. While pricing has come down on brushless motor tech, there’s a limit as to how affordable such tools will be.
Questions?
What do you want to know? I’ll be spending a lot of time with these tools this month, so ask away, and I’ll answer what I can.
Question for You
If you were to receive any of these new Kobalt XTR cordless power tools for free, such as part of a giveaway, or as Lowe’s gift card landed in your hand, which one would you choose?
If a combo kit weren’t an option, and ignoring for a moment that I already have all these tools in-hand, I’d go with the reciprocating saw, and the drill/driver as my second choice. The reciprocating saw seems like it can handle anything I’d ask for from a cordless saw, and it can do it fast and comfortably.
Thank you to Lowe’s for providing the review samples, and for giving us the opportunity to explore these tools as part of a sponsored campaign.
Steve
These tools are freaking awesome – especially the impact driver. I cannot find a better model.
Tom
I’m already well-invested in another cordless platform, but I’ve seen nothing but positive reviews on these tools so far. It would be really neat to see some cross-compatibility with Kobalt outdoor power equipment. That could get me to consider investing in this platform, especially if they expand into some of the OPE most other brands haven’t gotten into yet (dethatchers/scarifiers, cultivators, edgers, etc.).
To answer your question, I would go with the recip saw. I have a one-handed compact model that suits most of my needs, but a full-size model might prove handy down the line.
Champs
Tom’s post speaks for me as well. I’m not quite ready to pull the trigger on Makita’s lawnmower and Power Head suite.
Aaron
I bought some of the older 24v on impulse (Lowes display change team instead of reorganizing the stuff that was there put new stuff out and put the old displays on clearance) and I’ve been pretty happy . I have a bunch of their 40v OPE for my team, and would get excited about a 40v rotohammer. I’m delighted that they are maintaining their commitment to the 24v platform!
The two concerns I have with Kobalt 24v:
1. Battery cell quality: I’d love to see a teardown of these batteries and comparison to Ryobi at least. I don’t know the answer, but I’d like to.
2. Kobalt commitment to this tool line. As I said, its a relief to see them introduce more tools on this platform. Whoever sits in the back of the lowes store with a can of blue spraypaint and decides what Kobalt tools will exist next year has been fickle with cordless tool lines. TTI does pretty good at sticking to a platform, SBD does pretty good, Chervon doesn’t seem to stick to any plan for more than a couple years. They always have something super duper shiny, but it seems like thats a lot of abandoned platforms in their wake.
Aaron
To answer the giveaway question: If I had an XTR hammer drill I’d beat it up, and if I had the XTR circ saw it would replace the Ryobi in the niche between the m12 5 1/2 saw and the 20yr old Mag77
James C
I’m in almost the same boat as you. The m12 is great for 80% of the things I routinely cut, but with 3/4″ ply or 2×6 lumber I find myself wanting more power, I just don’t want to drag out the corded makita hypoid beast.
Toolfreak
There’s a Kobalt 24V battery cell teardown on youtube, of both the earlier style battery pack and the new 4.0Ah “Ultimate Output”. They’re basically what you might expect, high quality Samsung cells, but with nickel-plated connections and quality components but with obvious cost considerations.
The Bosch Core 18V 4.0Ah batteries seem to be not just incredible quality, but a feat of engineering, getting enough cells for a 4.0Ah battery in a case comparable to a 2.0Ah.
Kizzle
I’ve loved every Bosch tool I own. Only problem is it’s only been a few. I wish Bosch would put more effort into their cordless. I’d definitely buy more.
Toolfreak
Part of the reason I went to the Kobalt 24V line was the lack of options for Bosch 18V stuff. I still have my Bosch 12V Max tools for some jobs, and they are definitely higher quality and more heavy duty, but the breadth of selection for other brands can’t be denied.
Jorn
Agree. I went with Bosch a year or two ago and while I love the tools I have I find the selection of new tools lacking. Kinda wish I went with Makita just for the catalog.
Dominic
I have the old 1/2″ impact wrench, rated at 650 lbs break away. It is good, but sometimes I still have to get out the air impact for some jobs. I’m excited for the new impact. Looks like it will have enough power for anything I would need it for, and looks to compare favourably to other brands and the tool truck offerings.I
To answer the giveaway question: I would love to get my hands on the XTR 1/2″ impact wrench and keep the air tools in my box.
928er
I’m with Dominic, it would be the ½” impact for me.
PETE
Just saw RR building on IG testing the kobalt vs the m18 and the kobalt barley won. Can’t wait to see what that makes milwaukee do for the next generation.
Gordon
I commend you for not making a big deal out of so many people saying “Kobalt is dead” and being 100% wrong.
These look like nice tools, dare I say, on par with Ridgid’s stuff. That 1/2in impact is interesting because you don’t normally see a specialized tool like that in the initial offering. I’d love to see if they plan on releasing some of the more obscure tools that the veteran brands have like LED work lights, Multitool, or even some OPE stuff.
Stuart
To be fair, I shared in that concern, but this is direct proof to the contrary.
Carl J
Wouldn’t invest in Kobalts being Lowes is about the only place to buy them. Lowes hasn’t treated Kobalt very well especially since the switchover to the Craftsman brand. Whose to say in a year, Lowes drops Kobalt then what does one do? I’ll stick with DeWalt where tools and batteries are as common as shells on the beach.(or Milwaukee, Bosch, etc.).
Jp
Also, they are competing against Craftsman which wouldn’t be an issue if they weren’t another major source of income. But now one will pirate sales from the other, and both are exclusive. HD carries more lines so less issues with this type of stuff
jbongo
I’d be curious about the durability of the tools, and along with that, as Aaron mentioned, the commitment to this (24 volt) tool line. As a DIY (not pro) user, I want to make sure whatever tools I buy will last a long time, take a few bumps, and that batteries or new tools/replacements will be available when something does happen.
This post comes at an interesting time as I’ve been seriously looking at the Kobalt 24-volt tools. Up until recently I only had Black & Decker (drills, driver, reciprocating saw, and weed eater). I bought them when we had an apartment and they were on deep sales. They’ve been fine, but long term I’d like something better. I just haven’t pulled the trigger on a different system/brand yet. Recently, I needed a blower, and had seen good things about the Kobalt blower and trimmer combo which was on sale. I figured it was a good test of 24 volt Kobalt tools, and I’ve been pretty happy with them. Kobalt seems like a good balance between price and performance, and having it in town is helpful. Plus, it’s hard to beat the 5 year warranty.
If I was to pick any tool, it would probably be the drill/driver as it would be the most used tool. The reciprocating saw would be second since it wouldn’t get as much use.
JD
I noticed this new XTR line when I was in Lowes the other day, but I also noticed that their previous versions of 24v max tools seem to be going extinct. They were limited to only 2 endcaps for the Kobalt while there were tons of Craftsman options. Also some of the older 24v max tools were selling for a greatly discounted price. Stuart, can you comment on whether or not Lowes is phasing out the 24v max line?
Stuart
I am told that these tools will be sold alongside existing models.
Store display shake-ups happen regularly, it’s possible the emphasis is on XTR for the time being.
Aaron
These are interchangeable, so from the perspective of commitment to the 24v line this is very good news. Likely they will continue to do a partial selection of the new better tools whole keeping the line fill listing the older tools- like all brands seem to do with these higher end backwards compatible lines.
Toolfreak
Lots of stores likely hadn’t restocked the regular 24V tools, there was a promo for a few months where you could get a free 24V tool with the purchase of a battery-charger pack. Lots of the most popular tools sold out and weren’t restocked. Plus there was a run on power tools generally due to lots of people staying at home and working on projects.
So, it’s not that they’re going extinct, just that they are selling well.
fred
As Mark Twain quipped “the notice of my death is greatly exaggerated.”
So I guess the Kobalt brand has gotten some life breathed back into it.
Having more competition and choices is always a good thing IMO.
Now that the COVID restrictions seem to be loosening up in our neck of the woods, we may be heading down to our summer abode. That usually means some trips to Lowes which is much closer (6mi.) to our place than the nearest HD (48mi.) When I’m there – I may check them out for curiosity sake – as I have no plans/needs for tool buying.
A W
I almost got into the Kobalt 24v line instead of M18 years ago, but went with Milwaukee mainly for the one handed hackzall. I’m glad I did, but this development by Kobalt is really good.
Having neither a full sized recip nor a cordless circular saw, I’d go with the circular saw. I’ve been eyeing the 7 1/4″ M18 version but can’t bring myself to spend $200 just to avoid dragging out the cord for my 15amp Makita.
Frank D
What is the compatibility with the previous line?
Made by? where?
And, 24v max ? So not “ really “ 24v?
Like their previous gen? Or like how Ridgid had 24v?
Stuart
Isn’t it always 24V Max? There should be full compatibility, this is an extension of the platform.
I presume they’re made by Chervon.
Aaron
If you look at 24v Max and see “more than 18/20v max but less than 36/40v max” then you’ll do okay on expectations. These are 100% compatible with the other 24v max tools Kobalt sells
Toolfreak
The only incompatibility is the 4.0Ah “Ultimate Output” battery is wider than the standard 1.5Ah, 2.0Ah, 4.0Ah, 5.0Ah and 6.0Ah batteries, so it won’t fit into tools with a width-specific battery compartment like the jobsite fan.
They are made by Chervon in China.
24V Max, ~21.6V nominal voltage, just like how 20V tools are 20V Max, ~18V nominal, and 12V tools are 12V Max, ~10.8V nominal.
Besides the extra power and runtime, the other really cool thing about them being “24V Max” is, Lowe’s doesn’t have to pay licensing fees to use the 24V designation, so that’s part of the reason the tools are less expensive.
Joatman
Last year I took a chance on the 24v Kobalt brushless Weed trimmer and blower Combo. It was around $130 after additional discount. I’m really happy with it. If I were to try another tool, it would be the impact driver.
Eric
I’m really glad to see a brand like kobalt come out with cordless tools that more or less blow people’s minds I personally still won’t switch I currently run Milwaukee as my main set and the craftsman 19.2s as my secondary set and when I decided to trade my craftsman’s in it’ll be for ridgid but, back on point if kobalt can make this quality tools at this price point and then come holiday seasons you know they’ll be on sale for less y can’t other brands sell their tools for that price as well i mean power tools is just like cars, there’s very big profit margins
John
Apologies, as this is somewhat off-topic…
Re: Kobalt 40-volt outdoor tools—
I’ve been trying to locate *tool only” skus, since I already have a 40v battery w/ Kobalt mower.
All I can find are kits (i.e. w/battery).
Both Lowe’s and Kobalt have told me that Lowe’s is moving away from Kobalt (and towards Craftsman)…. at least in the outdoor category (chainsaw, pole saw, trimmer, hedge shears, etc).
Does anyone have any other info? Stuart: Might you be able to look into this?
I need to buy a couple of the above tools, and am considering jumping to another platform (Ryobi, Greenworks), rather than spend money on redundant 40v Kobalt batteries.
Thank you.
Aaron
Re 40v OPE Often the tool+batt+ charger will go in sale for less than the price of either a battery or a tool.
Buy them in sales and stock up, it’s not worth worrying about tool only
Steve
Aaron is exactly right with 40v OPE (I have Ryobi) the bare tool or the battery is always almost as much as the tool + battery + charger kit. It’s pointless to buy them separately. Think of it as a chance to get another battery.
Scott K
I’ve seen a lot of rave reviews for these tools over the past week or so. I would love to try out the recip saw- especially for small pruning jobs as you mentioned using it for. The circular saw would probably be a close second.
Are these manufactured by Chevron (Ego, Skil, etc.)?
Toolfreak
Yes, these are manufactured by Chervon.
Jerry W Wyatt
I was just talking to my wife about kobalt telling her with box store sale what. I have always been a fan of there tools and would enjoy the impact tool the most. * hope I win* ?
DML
These new additions look quite compelling. Any idea which factory makes them under the Kobalt brand? I’d like to get my hands on the XTR 1/2″ impact wrench kit.
Toolfreak
These are made in China by Chervon under contract for Lowe’s.
Toolfreak
I have quite a few of the non-XTR 24V Max tools, drill, driver, one-hand receip saw, 6-1/2″ circ saw, multi-tool, and the 1/2″ 650lb/ft impact.
Got them instead of Bosch due to the big price difference for better specs, brushless motors, less expensive batteries, and 5 year warranty.
They weren’t kidding about the specs, they have even more power and torque than advertised, and so are great tools for the price, but they aren’t without flaws.
Some of the tools have a noticeable delay in turn-on when the trigger is pulled, due to the contacts not engaging until the trigger has been pulled a mm or two more than other tools. This isn’t a deal breaker, but feels weird compared to the hair trigger I’m used to and prefer. I’d rather be able to make a drill or driver turn at it’s lowest speed as soon as I pull the trigger. i haven’t tried the XTR versions yet but would be curious if they have the same issues since they are basically the same motors.
As far as the XTR tools go, they seem great for those that need the killer specs, but are probably overkill for most DIY stuff. This could be a bad thing if people who don’t need it are buying these things then breaking, stripping, etc. stuff. Part of the reason I’m glad I got the regular Kobalt line was the specs are already more than enough (well, except the circ saw, the XTR with the 7-1/4″ blade is what they should have had to begin with) without being too much to the point I need to grab my 12V stuff.
From the teardown vids I’ve seen, it also looks like the XTR tools just use the same brushless motors, just overdriven to get the better specs and with a slightly updated configuration to allow for a slightly more compact housing. This makes me think the XTR tools might have a shorter lifespan, especially if used harder.
As for what tool I’d want, probably the 7-1/4″ circ saw, since it’s better than the 6-1/2″ one, but maybe the reciprocating saw, since I only have the one handed version and didn’t get the full size one yet. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get on the mailing list to get free Kobalt 24V tools when they came out, or the XTR stuff either, but maybe one day.
Tim
Problem,
These could actually be the best tools ever and no one will ever know.
Lowes has too many concurrent brands, and has obsoleted brands and systems so many times customer confidence is low.
What’s their current “house” brand, is it Kobalt that seems to be rapidly disappearing from their stores? Or is it Craftsman that they’re using to replace it? Or is it Porter Cable?
They obsoleted PC 18v tools almost immediately after introduction and everyone had to buy 20v PC tools, now you have Craftsman 20v and Kobalt 24v. Wasn’t there also a now obsolete Kobalt 18/20v system?
All the while HD has had Ryobi and Ridgid for instance, running on the same battery/tool platform and hasn’t introduced 3 other house brands.
Tim
Also add various Hitachi, 12v dewalt, rockwell and so on to the confusion.
Toolfreak
Kobalt is the house brand for Lowe’s. Has been for a long time now.
Craftsman is owned by Stanley Black and Decker, and while they have a contract to sell Craftsman at Lowe’s, Craftsman is in no way a house brand for Lowe’s as it’s sold at Sears, Ace Hardware, and Amazon.
Porter Cable is also owned by Stanley Black and Decker and Lowe’s has nothing to do with what tools SBD made in terms of 18V and 20V. Maybe your Lowe’s store got stock of 18V Porter Cable when they were changing over to 20V and clearanced them and stocked the new stuff.
There were 12V and 18V Kobalt power tools, but they were older brushed models and they weren’t that great compared to other tools Lowe’s sold, which made them a poor seller. The 24V stuff seems to be what they went with because it’s unique higher voltage has some benefits and the brushless tech is the direction power tools are going in.
Ryobi and Ridgid aren’t house brands for Home Depot, they are made by TTi and sold online and other places, though HD certainly is the main meatspace store to get them.
The Kobalt 24V line is a few years old now and seems to have caught on, though the XTR tools are likely to bring in more buyers who want maximum performance and not just brushless tools with great specs at a decent price.
It would have been nice if Lowe’s had a trade up/trade in program where you could get a discount on Kobalt 24V tools or kits if you brought in your old Kobalt cordless tools, and I wouldn’t blame anyone who bought into those systems for not wanting to get into yet another Kobalt power tool system that might not stick around, but Kobalt isn’t the first tool brand to discontinue a power tool line. Even the Craftsman C3 19.2V tools Sears had are gone, along with all the 12V, 14.4V, 18V, etc. tools they sold over the decades.
I bought mine with the expectation they would at least be good for the 5 year warranty. If they all last that long, I’ll have gotten my money’s worth out of them. I do suspect that at some point the 24V line will be updated or something newer and better will replace them, either when smaller, more efficient brushless motors become less expensive and more common, and we’re up to 25Ah batteries being the norm instead of 2Ah/4Ah.
Given the KTR tools have the same 5 year warranty, I’d guess the Kobalt 24V stuff will be around at least until 2025, and wherever the tech goes between then and now will dictate what happens, whether they update the line with new tools along the way and larger capacity but more compact batteries, or plan on a whole new tool line down the road.
Jon
These looks really nice. I’ll be very interested to see some detailed comparison tests between these and others like Ridgid, Ryobi, Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita, Bosch. From the description these have excellent features and power – and if they’re a bit bigger than the current dominant brands – but perform well and are cheaper, that’s a trade-off many would be happy to make.
The XTR drill, hammer drill, impact wrench, impact driver (assist settings awfully reminiscent of Makita!) and recip all look really appealing. I love the idea of backward compatibility for the battery platform — that was a key decision point for a lot of folks sticking with Ryobi as it evolved over the last few years.
Like others here, I wonder about Lowes long term commitment to Kobalt. When the Craftsman deal happened pretty much 90% of what you’d see at Lowes was red Craftsman boxes and tools. Not sure where Porter Cable fits in the mix at all anymore. Bosch gets very little visibility there, Dewalt seems to have its own corner in the store…and it sure looked like Kobalt was being phased out. The new XTR tools look great so far. I wonder if they’ll expand the line and replace all the older tools with XTR models and batteries, and wonder if Lowes will actively promote and support them or if they’ll wind up in the corner alongside Porter Cable.
Nathan
I’m interested to a degree. The previous release tools got good reviews and they have ties to the Chevron group that makes the high quality EGO line. Which is why I’ve recommended the Kobalt OPE stuff to people as a cross shopping point.
If I was to pick one of the times I’d be most interested it it might be the torque wrench as I’m in the market for one and currently eyeing the Dewalt Mid torque device for my needs which are mostly automotive related.
If I had to have a second pick it would be the circular saw because I’m also in the market for a new 7 1/4 circular saw. If that matters at all.
Either way interesting developments.
Evadman
Both impacts look really good. I almost bought the ‘old’ kobalt 1\2″ impact, but getting into another battery platform stopped me. The start assist would be very welcome, it’s my biggest complaint in the dewalt impacts I have, they start way too fast. I usually end up using my m12, which has a much better trigger.
I would love to borrow the 1\2 kobalt impact so I could compare it to the m12 and dewalt guns I have. The rust belt needs all the help it can get.
As a side note, my phone autocorrects ‘kobalt’ to ‘lonely’, which is the weirdest autocorrect I have ever seen.
Paul
Was moderately impressed with the first generation of Kobalt 24 V tools but as others have said, it looked like the entire Kobalt line was all but given up for dead. Almost every Kobalt item in the local stores was clearanced. So I’m sure I’m not the only one that gave them up for dead. Glad to see it’s back.
If we look at product placement, Kobalt is kind of an odd animal. The most profit is probably made on Dewalt but Kobalt is positioned to be close to if not equal to Dewalt, especially now with the XTR line, but priced at DIY level prices. So you’d think that the goal would be to upsell contractors and rich DIYers on Dewalt to achieve maximum profit and offering similar products without similar prices loses money. On the other hand since it is a house brand they don’t give premium to SBD so maybe they actually make more margin on Kobalt XTR and are simply keeping more profit for themselves and passing on some savings to customers.
Robert
I really want to try that xtr drill out and compare it to my DCD996. If the opportunity of a free tool should arise.
Andrew Q
As a DIY-er, I have no interest in changing battery platforms even though I’m not particularly happy with my battery tool platform. I would be much more inclined to participate in a give-away for a Lowe’s gift card than a give-away for an individual power-tool.
928er
I’ve been favorably impressed by the Nextec tools Chervon built for Sears, so I assume that the Chervon built Kobalt tools are quality tools, but, another battery platform? I’ve already got 4 (5 if you count 18650’s)…
Scott
I am loving the XTR products. I don’t own any, as I’m not one to replace existing tools with newer designs. Buy a tool, wear it out, replace it. That’s my game. But anything new I buy over the course of time will probably be these XTR. I have been a dedicated Kobalt user for years now… That is, when I can find them in the proverbial “sea of red” that exists at Lowes these days {insert eyeroll here}.
I am concerned that batteries will still be available for the older gen 24-volt tools. That is my initial scare with the release of next-gen tools.
Sam
Lol, they have the look and feel of a Makita. Is that coincidence?
andrew
I got the 5 tool pack last week and love it. Unreal value. Makes my old m18 stuff seem a bit weak in comparison.
Any scoops or rumors on whats coming next for the XTR line?
Brad
Where can I purchase replacement parts for Kobalt 24v 1/2” brushless impact wrench? I need a new retainer clip. I haven’t been able to find anything online and I gave up on the Kobalt “Contact Us” number After 45 minutes.
Stuart
There might be a different phone number in your user manual.
If you’re on social media, they might be responsive to tags or DMs.
Randy
I have various Dewalt, Rigid, Craftsman and Kobalt tools. Dewalt and Rigid are my favorites. Why? Because I can still get batteries for them.
My Kobalt tools are great but I couldn’t get replacement batteries after a few years of use. If it wasn’t for Ebay, I would have tossed them a long time ago. I just don’t understand why they can’t support their battery platforms, if just on line. For that reason only, I decided it would have to be a REALLY good deal before I’d buy Kobalt cordless tools again.