Milwaukee has announced their new M18 cordless jobsite radio (2792-20), and it looks amazing. Well, the aesthetics could be a little better, as we are quite fond of the tried-and-true roll cage look, but we are thoroughly impressed with its features.
Most significantly, the new M18 jobsite radio can connect to your smartphone wirelessly to play your tunes via Bluetooth. This means that your phone is always near in case a call comes in, but it also allows you to adjust the volume, control the playlist, and pause the music without having to walk over to the radio.
Don’t have a smartphone? The radio can also connect to the headphone jack of your mp3 player, and AM/FM radio is always an option as well.
Advertisement
As if that wasn’t enough, Milwaukee’s new jobsite radio can charge your M18 Li-ion battery packs and USB devices. So yes, this is a jobsite radio and full charger.
A lidded media compartment keeps your smartphone or mp3 player protected while connected or charging via USB.
There’s even a built-in tablet stand.
Advertisement
Milwaukee has confirmed that the M18 radio charger can charge devices via USB while working off battery power. As noted in the feature list, the maximum USB power output is 2.1A, which should allow for speedy charging of even power-hungry tablets and other such devices.
Features
- AM/FM radio with 10 presets each (20 total)
- Bluetooth wireless connectivity (100 foot range)
- Auxiliary input with included cable (16″)
- USB charger (2.1A max output)
- Dimensions: 12″ x 15″ x 12″
- Weight: 17 lbs
- Can be powered by M18 Li-ion batteries for cordless operation
- Can charge Milwaukee M18 batteries
- 80 Hz – 20 KHz frequency response
- Built-in electronics stand for supporting tablets while charging
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Buy Now(via CPO Tools)
ETA: February 2014
Price: $229
First Impression
The new Milwaukee M18 radio charger is a little on the large and heavy side, but it’s also feature-rich and pushes the envelope of what jobsite radios can do.
While appealing, the Bluetooth connectivity is not as impressive to us as the radio’s finer touches, such as the large negative LCD screen, the ability to charge USB devices off battery power, the built-in tablet stand, and how Milwaukee even includes a 16″ auxiliary input cable.
This looks to be a nicely designed product, and we’re eager to see if it sounds as good as it looks.
My only hesitation is about how well the music sounds when a smartphone or other source is connected via Bluetooth. Bluetooth is a mature technology, so hopefully there are no signal loss issues. Milwaukee says that the radio can stream rich, full sound, that’s something we will have to hear to believe.
Mark
Argh! I could kill dewalt right now! I bought their radio and was very unimpressed it didnt have battery powered usb and bluetooth. At the time there was nithing better on the market untill this guy came along. What was Dewalt thinking when it put out a radio it 2013 with no bluetooth. Dewalt has fallen behind so far in features and tool line up. Its like they are punishing us who have been loyal for years. Time for a new CEO and a new direction on the yellow team. Milwaki is blowing their doors off!
Javier
Portable power+ worksite radio+ battery charger+ jambox all in one. Big red just doesn’t stop with the innovations. Awesome product. It would be perfect if it charged m12 batteries
Michael Quinlan
I’m a fan of the roll cage look too; this design looks too modern. I love the idea of Bluetooth connectivity, since I hate the idea of leaving my phone ANYWHERE. With all these features, it’s the price point I’m most concerned about. With the current M12/M18 radios at around $100, I imagine this will be around $150.
Steve
Nice work red team. Gonna suck me in more.
Larson
Was tailgating with the old radio this last weekend and HATED having my phone plugged in and checking it all the time. Charger is great for some that need it but bluetooth is amazing.
Jim
Interesting. This must mean the B&D/Dewalt Radio/Charger combination patent expired; Milwaukee found a way around the patent; or Milwaukee is paying B&D/Dewalt a royalty. If the patent has indeed expired, see the other manufacturers to soon announce their respective offerings. Similiar to the flood of new offreings once the patent expired on Fein’s oscillating tool.
Chris
The tablet stand is a bit of a gimmick to say the least… The bluetooth is nice but I don’t carry music on my phone, I use a proper mp3 player that costs next to nothing so if it gets smashed I buy a new one and don’t need to worry about my phone because it’s always on me, the mp3 player was always stored in the side compartment. I only use bluetooth on my phone with the My Ford Touch system in my car.
This radio doesn’t look jobsite tuff at all IMO and looks more suited for your garage… I can’t see this thing surviving a drop from a genie boom like the dewalt did…
The dewalt radio works really well it just doesn’t charge usb when on battery and no bluetooth… I owned the newest 20v one and really liked it but sold it to a buddy because I just never used it enough to justify the cost of keeping it
The Bosch to me still makes the best jobsite radio bar none, bluetooth or not
LORDDiESEL
Team Red is kicking ass! I will buy one as soon as it comes out. The bluetooth is a great option that i will use. USB charging is a must have. And i don’t know about you guys and you’re tough jobsite radios, but in 15 years in the trades, i haven’t broke a radio or even come close to hitting one. If someone did hit mine, they’d be buying me a new one.
Clayton
Bluetooth is a mature technology, but it’s still buggy as heck. I think it’s an excellent addition to these types of radios, but I think real-world use will show issues with range/line of sight that Bluetooth can have, not to mentioned variances from phone to phone with how the handle calls/streaming and various BT protocols. I still think it’s great, and along with the other additions make this a very desirable jobsite radio.
Matthew
WANT!!!
matthew fant
So, I bought into the dewalt 20v line early on, made that investment, figuring, it won’t be long till they come out with an expanding line. I’ve watched Milwaukee literally wipe the floor with dewalt, coming out with one innovative tool after another. First it was fuel brushless, now this. Very painful. I, of course, bought the dewalt 20v radio, (when it finally freaking came out) because it made sense to match the 10+ cordless dewalt 20/12 v tools I already own. I ended up returning it though. 2013, $179 and not only is the usb charging completely useless, unless its tethered to the wall, but the side door, and lack of Bluetooth, and any innovative feature had me puzzled. I mean don’t get me wrong, it plays music, and fills the space well. Battery life is also good. But with everything dewalt releases lately, seems like they have to play catch up, and release a updated model, 2 years down the line.
Scott
Well, this is slightly unexpected. I have owned almost all of the milwaukee radios through the years and finally gave up on them. I finally switched to the Bosch PowerBox360 and I have to say that the only complaint I have is the weight. The sound is unmatched to any other job site radio I have personally heard and having both speakers on all four corners (allowing me to place it anywhere on the job site I want) and the subwoofer on the bottom, it makes for the best (BY FAR IMHO) on the market.
The charging radio patent has not worn out, which means just like Bosch and the like, Milwaukee is paying a hefty royalty to B&D which means the price point on this radio is going to be substantially more than previous Milwaukee radios, just like the near ridiculous price on the Bosch. I guess we’ll just have to hear it to see if its worth the cost.
bob
i am looking at buying the bosch powerbox 360d for down the beach running of batteries,will it charge my iphone4 while playing music from my phone using just batteries.
Jason
I have seen that they are saying that the price of the radio is going to be $229 on some other websites. That seems kind of extreme the Bosch power box is only 129.
Stuart
I saw $229 as well, but am waiting to hear an official number from Milwaukee. It does seem a little much, but is reflective of the features as Milwaukee did put a lot of tech into the radio.
Chris
Stuart really they only new tech they included into this radio that nobody else is using is bluetooth… Hefty price for adding bluetooth and a gimmicky tablet stand
Chris
Oh and charging the phone on battery power only
JOSH GUHN
so they did add a lot more features!….got it
KL
x2 on the need for M12 compatibility. They already have chargers that do both, not sure why they didn’t integrate M12 into this as well? Otherwise looks awesome and I’d buy it to add to my two Milwaukee jobsite radios I already have.
joey
new radio looks awesome.
bit too big for me tho. was hoping for a compact. might still buy it anyway.
truckdriver
$240ish is a good price for a quality BT speaker dock, and this on is likely way more durable,charges your battery,gadget and runs off a battery. Try finding a speaker dock that will charge your phone and play while not plugged in.If this thing comes remotely close in sound to my Kicker Amphitheater it’s a heck of a deal. I will probaby pre order it but would love to hear it first. Only downside is no M12 support. Stuart, can you get one of these and do a test on it?
Castor Troy
Perfect if it would be also charged by the M12 batteries and power M12 batteries. I believe the new Makita does. Also, the battery doesn’t look to safe from the elements in its current place. Can only wait and see. Keep up the good Milwaukee. Also, please bring back more jobs to America for American made tools.
Castor Troy
*power BY M12 batteries*
Castor Troy
$229 price tag. It’s official.
Farm boy grappler
Question does this unit have aux. 120v outlet and how many batteries will it charge at once?
James
Are you sure it has 10 presets (20 total)? I just bought one and mine has 5 for FM and 5 for AM, so 10 total.