Makita Just Dropped The Most Powerful Cordless Hammer Drill Yet

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Makita just launched the most powerful cordless drill/driver yet (at least on paper) and boy does it pack a serious punch. Backed by a 40-volt motor and battery, Makita’s XGT Brushless 3-speed 1/2-inch hammer drill (GPH03) boasts a whopping 1,590 in. lbs. of max torque and a max speed of 2,600 RPM. In case you were wondering, that places it squarely at the top of the heap of cordless hammer drills, which top out somewhere between 1,200 to 1,500 in. lbs. of torque and 2,000 to 2,500 RPM. 

Alas, with great power also comes greater weight. Thanks to its 40V system, you’ll get a workout when using this cordless drill. The GPH03 weighs 4 lbs. as a bare tool and a whopping 6.2 lbs. when fitted with its recommended 4.0Ah battery. 

Related: Milwaukee Just Released Its First Click Torque Wrenches

The GPH03 comes with a 3-speed transmission (most have a two speed transmission) for controlling all that power. That middle gear provides a sweet spot for driving in structural screws, producing enough torque to prevent stalls while still burying each screw at a good clip. Along with those three speed settings, you can also control the speed with the drill’s numerous clutch settings. 

The GPH03 comes with safety features to protect your wrist from all that torque, including a side handle and an Active Feedback-sensing Technology that shuts off the motor if the bit stops rotating suddenly. To get all this power, you’ll need to pay a premium price. The GPH03 is selling for around $260 as a bare tool and $400 as a kit with a 4.0Ah battery and fast charger.