Review on Makita XPH07Z Lithium Ion Brushless Driver Drill by Terence Dardant

Model tested - XPH07TB Other XPH07 models differ in battery and case (see below) REVIEW I hate to give a review before I've had time to give the tool a reasonable pace but in general I can say that this drill convinces right away. It has incredible power and torque, and you can see why they practically give you a crowbar to hold on to. When you need 1,000 foot-pounds of torque, you can't do it alone. I almost injured my wrist attaching a drill to the nuts on my van and pulling the trigger. The nuts didn't move, but the drill bit spun quickly with my wrist. Of course, if you want to use the full torque of this drill, I recommend using the included handle. Engine sound is clean. I pull the trigger lightly and the drill springs to life, it doesn't click, it doesn't pulse, it hums. As expected, a slight pull on the trigger results in slow cartridge movement. There are no perceptible steps, it seems that the adjustment is stepless. Two drill speeds are useful, and not just for show. The lower speed offers better control and power, while the higher speed pulses up to 2100 rpm. The difference in drill speed is noticeable compared to other drills, the 2100 is typically 50% faster than other 1500rpm drills, including Makita's other brushless drills. Many components of this drill are metal, the chuck is metal, if your chuck application is close to heat or abrasion a metal chuck will make a difference. As with other drills, the light comes on with a slight pull of the trigger and stays on for about 15 seconds. The light comes from both sides of the drill. This is good as I often found myself obscuring one of the lights the way my hand was placed. The mounts could have been repositioned (one above and one below the socket) for better angles, but I'm happy with this option. RESEARCH did a little research before purchasing this drill. Considering this particular package over others, here are the key elements that I feel influenced my purchase: BATTERIES The main difference between the XPH07 lines is the batteries. The XPH07TB features two new 5Ah rechargeable batteries with battery indicator. Other big stores don't have the TB model, instead they sell the XPH07M or XPH07MB. They have a 4Ah battery instead of a 5Ah battery. The battery included in the XPH07TB is the same as that purchased separately, model number BL1850B. The 5Ah batteries supplied with the XPH07TB are the same size and weight as the 4Ah batteries, but with more power. This seems to indicate that the 5Ah batteries used a higher quality battery. Better Quality Batteries = Better Deal In my opinion, batteries wear out much faster than any other drill component. The letter B at the end of the model number indicates a battery with an integrated charge indicator. At the time of writing, the XPH07M and XPH07T were old model numbers but still in stock and about $50 cheaper. Basically, they determine last year's model numbers through the system and give a discount. The battery indicator on the battery can cost you $50. For me, that meant a year later in battery and electronics technology, and the ability to read battery life on older tools that didn't have a built-in display like this drill. The XPH07Z is the same drill without the batteries, case and charger, and costs around $150 at the time of writing. That means that if you pay around $350 for this kit, you're paying $200 for two 5 amp batteries, a charger, and a case. With two BL1850 batteries selling for around $125 each, the $200 premium seems reasonable for a basic tool. BRUSHLESS What they do with these brushless motors is impressive. Demands relate to more powerful motors, less power consumption and a longer service life. I can only attest to the power. The power of those brushless motors has doubled and this drill is a monster. VS OTHER MAKITA BRUSHLESS MODELS Makita brushless drill models: XPH05, XPH06 and XPH07. Here's info on each: The XPH05 is a brushless motor that delivers 400 in-lbs of torque and a top speed of 1500 rpm. It weighs 3.8 pounds. The XPH06 brushless motor develops 530psi. maximum torque and develops a maximum speed of 1550 rpm. It weighs 3.9 pounds. The XPH07 - the model in question - is a brushless motor with 1,090 pounds of torque and a top speed of 2,100 rpm. She weighs 4.5 kilos. If you look at the combo kits they use the XPH05 or XPH06 almost extensively, they almost never use that premium XPH07 drill bit. The XPT line, or models starting with XP, stands for Extreme Protection, not Extra Power as you might expect. XP means better protection against workplace conditions such as dust or water. VS Other brands I don't know much about other brands. If you're investing in a Makita because you already own a Makita, then realize the value that two extra batteries will add to your current collection. I heard the Milwaukee 18 Volt Fuel Brushless is a good kit too. It seems a bit more for bare instrument comparison. The Milwaukee also has less torque, with around 700 torque versus the Makita's 1,000 torque.