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 (2021)
    • Dewalt UWO Explained
    • Where to Buy Tools
    • Best Tool Kit Upgrades
    • Best Extension Cord Size
    • Best Tape Measure
    • Best Safety Gear
    • Best Precision Screwdrivers
    • Best Tool Brands in Every Category
    • Ultimate Tool Gift Guide
    • More Buying Guides
  • 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 Pipeline 2020-21
    • Ryobi
    • All Brands
  • USA-Made
  • Deals
ToolGuyd > Power Tools > Cordless > Is This Makita’s New Promo Drill Kit for 2018 Holiday Season?

Is This Makita’s New Promo Drill Kit for 2018 Holiday Season?

Sep 11, 2018 Stuart 3 Comments

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

Makita XFD131 Brushless Drill Driver Kit

I am fascinated by professional power tool brands’ holiday season 18V cordless drill promos. Things change a little different every year, and I’ve found that the promo models and pricing can shed some light on industry trends and progressions.

Last year, Makita came out with a $99 brushless drill kit with 3.0Ah battery, and I bought one. I also then bought one for Ben, which he reviewed here.

Advertisement

Over at Amazon and Tool Nut, two new Makita drill kits just popped up – a brushless drill kit, and a brushless hammer drill kit.

Now, it’s not unusual for cordless power tools to be kitted with a single battery, but it is unusual for cordless drills.

The new Makita XFD131 drill/driver and Makita XPH131 brushless drill/driver are completely different, aesthetically, than last year’s $99 promo drill kit. Things appear to be a little different internally as well.

Last year’s model had a 0-400/0-1550 RPM 2-speed gearbox and 530 in-lbs max speed. This year’s XFD131 and XPH131 drills have a 0-500/0-1900 RPM 2-speed gearbox and 440 in-lbs max speed.

I’d guess that perhaps the same motor is used, or at least a very similar one, but with different gearing to trade some torque for higher speeds.

Aesthetically, everything is different – the chuck grip, clutch dial, vent hole placements, LED light, and there’s no battery gauge on the base of the new drill (which is okay seeing as how they added built-in fuel gauges to most batteries 3 years ago).

Buy Now(Drill Kit via Amazon)
Buy Now(Drill Kit via Tool Nut)
Buy Now(Hammer Drill Kit via Amazon)

Interestingly, the new models sport “131” model numbers, similar to the XDT131 budget brushless impact driver that came out last year.

I’m thinking these will be promo-priced kits, but there’s also a slight possibility that they’re simply new compact drill/driver models. Given the way the tool kits are configured with a single 3.0Ah Li-ion battery pack, and the timing of the release, the greatest likelihood is that these will be holiday promos.

Dewalt’s DCD777C2 budget brushless drill kit came out 2 years ago, and just before Father’s Day 2018, Dewalt came out with a DCD778L1 brushless hammer drill kit with compact high capacity battery.

There were many other promo drill kit deals last year, including a $99 brushless Milwaukee deal.

Related posts:

Makita XDT16T 18V Brushless Impact DriverNew Makita XDT16 Brushless Impact Driver Makita XTU02 Cordless MixerNew Makita Brushless Mud Mixer XTU02

Sections: Cordless, Drills & Drivers, New Tools Tags: Makita 18V, Makita XFD131, Makita XPH131More from: Makita

« New EGO Nexus Escape, a Cordless Battery AC Inverter
Dewalt ToughSystem Open Tool Tote with Top Handle is Finally Available in the USA »

3 Comments

  1. Framer joe

    Sep 11, 2018

    Sounds like the Makita is a little more powerful then the dewalt $99 version….I’m sure the Ryobi version is 69-79$..? At those price points any brand is a good value to start out with….
    It’s great for DIY and home owners to have a good choice…

    Reply
  2. David Gancarz

    Sep 27, 2018

    Based on the published parts lists for the XFD131 and the XPH131, the two seem to be identical, with the exception of the gear assembly. The XFD uses Makita part number 126962-5 GEAR ASSEMBLY 1 PC. and the XPH uses 126961-7 GEAR ASSEMBLY 1 PC. Otherwise the parts lists match (excepting labels). For the $4 difference in price between the two, you get the hammer drill functionality.

    Reply
  3. Wayne

    Nov 18, 2018

    Great info!! Appreciate your work. I’m strongly leaning toward the Makita myself. I have seen some pretty good deals on ebay on new ones, but i’m concerned about mfr warranty issues. Does anybody really know if Makita voids warranty if purchased from non authorized. I would assume so but they don’t explicitly say anything .

    Reply

Leave a Reply 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

  • JoeM on Pipeline 2022: New Milwaukee M18 Power Supply: “Okay… as I sit here in my see-it-from-space Yellow DeWALT shirt, I am aware this product is not aimed at…”
  • ball_bearing on Mayhew has an LED Multi-Tool with Removable Knife: “Somewhat unrelated. Mayhew also offers made in Japan screw extraction pliers. https://mayhew.com/product/95685-screw-pliers-150mm/”
  • Collin on Pipeline 2022: New Milwaukee M18 Power Supply: “You’re correct that using amps here is pretty imprecise but I figured since we’re working with 12v and 18v and…”
  • Collin on Pipeline 2022: New Milwaukee M18 Power Supply: “Even if the 12.0 can do it, I highly doubt Milwaukee is going to lock the tool to 12.0 batteries…”
  • Joshua Morris on Hottest New Milwaukee Power Tools from Pipeline 2022: “With they went with bosch/mafell track. Love the simplicity and the slide in splinter guard on them so I can…”
  • Leo B. on Hottest New Milwaukee Power Tools from Pipeline 2022: “I’m surprised the track saw comes with a 6ah battery- I wonder if a 8.0 ah or 12 ah battery…”

Recent Posts

  • Hottest New Milwaukee Power Tools from Pipeline 2022
  • Mayhew has an LED Multi-Tool with Removable Knife
  • Pipeline 2022: New Milwaukee M18 Power Supply
  • Huge Sale - Save 15% on Milwaukee Tools! (Ends 7/2 12pm ET)
  • Acme Tools July 4th 2022 Sale: 10% off $199+
  • New Harbor Freight Hercules 5pc Router Bit Set
  • Milwaukee Pipeline 2022 - See the New Tools!
  • Noga Makes a Deburring Multi-Tool
ToolGuyd New Tool Reviews Image

New Tool Reviews

Buying Guides

  • Best Cordless Drills
  • Best Euro Hand Tool Brands
  • Best Tool Brands
  • Best Cordless Power Tool Brands
  • Tools for New Parents
  • 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