I Did Not Expect This $15 Cordless Screwdriver To Be As Good As It Is

XLX 4.2V cordless screwdriver

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The XLX 4.2V screwdriver is disposable connected Amazon for $15.
• It features a classical creation that is amazingly ergonomic, and much than powerful capable for regular DIY tasks.
• The LED ray only comes connected erstwhile nan screwdriver is on.

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Sometimes I'm wrong. It doesn't hap often, but erstwhile it does, I effort to study from it. Take nan different day, for example. I received a caller screwdriver for testing, and I was initially rather dismissive of it. After all, nan value was nether $20, it was from a marque that didn't ringing immoderate bells, and it looked a batch for illustration thing my grandpa would person utilized backmost successful nan 1980s.

But I was wrong. It turned retired not only to beryllium powerful, but amazingly ergonomic. 

Also: The champion electrical screwdrivers: Expert tested

The merchandise successful mobility is nan XLX 4.2V cordless screwdriver. It came packaged successful a generic integrative container pinch a fewer screwdriver bits and a complaint cable, and didn't drawback my oculus astatine first. 

The screwdriver really does look for illustration an aged timey gadget, aliases possibly a microphone. I do get nan impulse to break into opus erstwhile holding it. Regardless, nan style is simply a departure from what we're utilized to these days. Most cordless screwdrivers look for illustration cylinder of various thicknesses depending connected artillery capacity and powerfulness output.

The portion is made of a difficult polymer that seems to defy scuffs and impacts, but there's nary soft overmoulding present. There's besides a ligament loop built into nan extremity of screwdriver that I initially thought would make utilizing it uncomfortable, but I was wrong. 

Am I doing immoderate DIY aliases interviewing someone?

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

In fact, nan size makes nan full portion alternatively pocketable, but since there's nary move connected it to fastener it successful nan disconnected position, I don't cognize if I'd want to person this successful my pouch for long.  

Inside nan instrumentality is simply a 900 mAh artillery that's rechargeable utilizing USB-C, and nan centrifugal is tin an awesome 3.0 Nm of electrical torque (which is simply a small spot much than what is considered manus tight), and nan portion tin withstand up to 10 Nm of manual force, which is astir nan maximum that you tin execute pinch a screwdriver.

Also: My favourite cordless screwdriver of each clip tin grip immoderate task for maine (and it's connected sale)

The interface is simplicity itself. There's a fastener to do up nan screw, and 1 to undo. There's a ray that comes connected erstwhile either fastener is pressed, and nan portion is magnetized for convenience.

I've utilized this to thrust successful and retired a fewer 100 screws complete nan past fewer weeks, some successful real-world usage and endurance tests, and I've very happy to urge this. The shape, contempt being rather an aged style, is time-tested and is amazingly ergonomic. It fits nicely into nan thenar of nan hand, and nan buttons are easy to access.

The ray connected nan beforehand is besides highly functional, illuminating nan activity area well, The only drawback of nan ray is that it's only connected erstwhile nan fastener is pressed, truthful if you're moving successful nan dark, you'll request different light. 

ZDNET's buying advice

All nan gripes aside, nan XLX 4.2V cordless screwdriver is simply a awesome instrumentality for $15. The grip could use from immoderate soft overmoulding, and nan LED ray only comes connected erstwhile nan instrumentality is running, but for nan value I can't complain. 

If this were my superior tool, I'd switch nan screwdriver bits pinch amended ones, but they do nan trick. For personification starting out, pinch a spot of level packed furnishings to put together, aliases a seasoned DIYer looking for a inexpensive instrumentality to usage and abuse, it's an perfect choice.

I'll beryllium keeping excavation successful nan mini toolkit I support successful nan car.