Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Sub Compact 1/2 in. Drill/Driver R8701 Review (2024)

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

By Austin Palmer, Benjamin Hickok ⋅ Mar 7, 2024

76

• Drilling - 35%8.9

• Driving - 35%5.6

• Battery Life - 20%9.2

• Convenience - 10%7.0

The Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Sub Compact 1/2 in. earned a strong final score in our comprehensive testing for a good balance of drilling ability, battery life, and convenience, although its driving abilities left a little to be desired. Although the price for the tool alone is more modest than other top-tier models, those models offer better overall performance. If you are just starting out building a set of power tools, and doing most of your shopping at a Home Depot, then the Ridgid may be an okay option for you, but we feel stronger alternatives exist that deserve your consideration.

(change comparison)

Performance Comparison

Drilling

Our initial and one of our most critical test metrics, comprising 35 percent of the final score for each model, assesses drilling abilities. The Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Sub Compact 1/2 in. exhibited commendable performance overall. It efficiently drilled a hole through a solid wooden door measuring 1 ¾ inches thick using a 5-inch hole saw in a swift 22 seconds. This was achieved in the high-speed lower-torque setting. In our second evaluation for the drilling tests, this model successfully drilled a 1-inch hole through a 2x12 using a spade bit without encountering any issues. It made significant progress in the high-speed setting, but ultimately required the low-speed high-torque setting to complete the task easily.

The Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Sub Compact 1/2 in. demonstrated excellent performance in drilling holes through 16 gauge sheet steel. It was able to make a ¼-inch hole in approximately 1.22 seconds and repeated this impressive performance in our ½-inch drilling test, which only took 3.19 seconds. The Ridgid proved to be a capable brushless drill of up to a wide range of drilling tasks, with performances rivaling top models.

Driving

Also constituting 35 percent of the total score of each drill driver is our driving test metric. The metric comprises two practical assessments. The first is to attempt to completely sink a 5-inch lag screw into dimensional lumber through a 13/32-inch pilot hole. The second is the task of setting 3-inch number 9 countersunk deck screws flush with the surface of the dimensional lumber.

In a departure from the excellent drilling performance, the Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Sub Compact 1/2 in offered some lackluster performances. It made about one and one-eighth of an inch of progress driving a 5-inch lag screw before our testers had to switch to the high-torque low-speed setting. Unfortunately, even in this setting, the Ridgid tapped out with ¾ of an inch of the lag screw exposed. It offered a similar level of performance, setting 3-inch countersunk deck screws flush with our test material. While the screws were mostly flush, achieving perfection was somewhat challenging.

The Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Sub Compact 1/2 in would cut off while trying to creep the screws flush at such a low speed incrementally. Whether this is a safety feature to protect the motor or it just has an inadequate amount of torque unless spun up with the full depression of a trigger is unclear. What is clear is that this model is not as proficient at driving as other top models.

Battery Life

The Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Sub Compact 1/2 in offers impressive battery lifeand very closely rivals our top models. Our tests utilized a 2 AH battery that allows you to handle an exceptional number of tasks before needing to be recharged. Recharging also only takes 59 minutes before a full charge is achieved.

Convenience

As its name suggests, the Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Sub Compact 1/2 in is a sub-compact model. It has an overall length of 6 ¼ inches and a 2 pounds 15.5 ounces weight with a 2 amp hour battery. The Ridgid includes typical features, like a belt clip, work light, and bit holder. We found the large battery tabs made it exceptionally quick and easy to swap batteries.

Should You Buy the Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Sub Compact 1/2 in?

The Ridgid 18V Brushless Cordless Sub Compact 1/2 in is a good drill with a high level of performance and great battery life, but lacks the power to get certain jobs done. Therefore, we can't recommend the Ridgid over other stronger options.

What Other Drill Driver Should You Consider?

We strongly urge those who are starting out buying tools to consider the Kobalt XTR 24-volt 1/2-in Keyless Brushless Cordless Drill KXDD 1424A-03 kit. The kit includes a tool, battery, and charger, and it is a top-performing model in our comprehensive testing. The DeWalt 20V Max Compact Brushless Drill/Driver DCD777C2 also stands out as a solid choice for a complete kit. However, if the highest level of performance is what you demand, you'll want to take a look at the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 1/2" Drill Driver. However, it is expensive and costs as much for the tool alone as many complete kits.