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Ryobi P815 18V Compact Drill Kit Review

By Todd Fratzel on Power Tools, Product Reviews

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Ryobi Lithium-Ion 18V Compact Drill Kit – P815

Ryobi sent us their new 18V Compact Drill Kit (P815) to evaluate recently. The cordless drill market is flooded with 18 Volt drills to serve every project that you can think of. There are some really amazing 18 volt drills out there which cost a pretty penny and are built like a tank!

Ryobi has created this compact cordless drill with two things in mind, light weight and low price point. With those two categories in mind we tested the P815 over the last couple of weeks and the following are our findings.

Ryobi P815 Features

The P815 Drill Kit comes with a nice soft carrying case, two batteries, charger, drill and one multi-purpose bit. The P815 kit has the following specifications:

• Volts: 18V Lithium-Ion, Dual chemistry charges all Ryobi® One+™
  batteries in one hour or less.
• Speed: 0-440/0-1,600 RPM (no load speed)
• Clutch: 24 position
• Chuck: 1/2 inch
• Weight: 2.9 lbs.
• ½ inch single sleeve chuck with spindle lock allows for quick and easy bit changes.
• 24 position clutch and two-speed gear box increase drilling and driving control.
• MagTray™ on-board storage holds bits and screws.
• Warranty: 2 Years

Ryobi ONE+ System

One of the features that makes this Drill Kit stand out is the use of the ONE+ System. The ONE+ System includes more than 40 tools, three battery options and chargers that are fully compatible. This allows current RYOBI 18 Volt ONE+ batteries to work with any RYOBI 18 Volt tool ever made and vice versa. The RYOBI ONE+ System enables homeowners to purchase cordless tools, batteries and chargers individually. So, they can build their systems to best suit them, without the extra cost of batteries and chargers they don’t need. The ONE+ line includes products for every corner of the home and yard, from paint spraying and tile cutting to lawn and garden projects.

Light Weight Compact Drill

If you’re looking for a light weight, compact, cordless 18 volt drill then this is one of the leaders in that category. This powerful 18 volt drill weighs in at just 2.9 lbs which is lighter than most of the 18 volt drills on the market. The P815 is between 20% and 40% lighter that most comparable 18 volt drills and even lighter than some of the 12 volt and 14 volt models being sold.

Power & Battery Life

The P815 drill kit delivers reliable, capable power for installing all type of fasteners and drilling holes. The 24 position clutch and two-speed gear box make the drill very versatile and able to match job site conditions. When compared to some other 18 volt drills it is noticeable that some of the power was sacrificed for tool weight. While the drill is noticeably lighter it comes at a price with the battery pack. This drill doesn’t run quite as long as other comparable 18v drills and this is most likely a result of the smaller/lighter battery pack.

Durability / Quality

While the gear box is a combination of metal and nylon parts we feel the drill is built to withstand the wear and tear of most DIY and light construction projects. With increased power among the cordless tool industry today we feel all 18V drills should contain all metal parts in gear box (most still do not).

Price / Value

Priced at just under $160 we think the Ryobi P815 Compact Drill Kit is a good value. In line with other similar drills the $160 price is a good value when you consider that the kit includes a case and two batteries.

Overall Impression

The Ryobi P815 Compact Drill Kit is a great entry level 18V cordless drill for the DIY’er, hobbyist and even light contractor duties. We think the compact size and light weight  along with the quick charging battery system make this a good value. If you’d like to buy one of these drill kits you can find them at your local Home Depot store or online
here.