The Best Makita Brushless Drills
Cordless drills – you can’t get enough of them if you’re a DIYer. They’re the definition of handy – the incarnation of the Ultimate Tool, which can help achieve many feats in home decoration and woodworking. Pretty much any DIY homeowner’s bread-and-butter gadget.
Makita is well-known for its competent offerings in the brushless drill category. They have gained quite a respectable reputation to the point that it will really be a surprise if any best cordless or brushless drill list will not include a Makita drill or two.
Makita brushless drills might be a little more expensive than their brushed counterparts, but the saying, “You get what you pay for,” could not ring truer in this case. Makita drills with brushless motors simply perform better and have starkly longer durability as well. And, compared to other brands, Makita’s brushless drills are relatively low-cost.
This is why once you have made up your mind that you are willing to pay extra for a Makita brushless drill, good for you. You’re aiming for quality over quantity, which as far as power tools are concerned, should always be anyone’s number one priority.
All the more so for people who will be using their drills consistently over a long period of time. We’ll prove just that in this Makita brushless drill review.
Reviewing the Best Makita Brushless Drills
Table of Contents
#1 Makita CX200RB
NOTABLE FEATURES
- BL brushless motor driver-drill that delivers a maximum 1,240 inches pounds of torque
- 18V Lithium-ion battery
- Assist mode that prevents cross threading and screw cam-out by limiting speed before impact
- Offers two variable speeds (0 1,300/0 3,000 RPM & 0 1,600/0 3,900 IPM)
- Compact and functional design
The CX200RB remains the darling of Makita cordless drill simply because it delivers all the essentials you normally look for in a cordless drill with a brushless motor. In fact, the brushless motor of this product alone is enough to lift its value tenfold.
Why? It offers variable speed and a decent power based on its torque alone. That gives you adequate assistance for any kind of fastening or drilling you do, and you get to control the speed of drilling in two levels. That’s nifty for any DIYer.
Another facet that is not hard to love is its assist mode that prevents cross-threading, which you probably already know can significantly damage any kind of thread.
Furthermore, it feels great when held (a characteristic that a lot of Makita drills share, so kudos to that!) due to its compact design and holds back in weight much like any decent cordless drill. And not to mention the fact that its battery charges fast as well.
Indeed, if there’s a Makita brushless drill that more than deserves to represent what the company offers in this category, the CX200RB is worthy of being considered as such.
PROS
- Very efficient and excellent in performing most fastening, driving, and drilling tasks
- Lightweight (weight rounds up to 3 pounds only) and compact
- Fast-charging battery
- Fantastic, powerful motor
CONS
- It might take some time to get used to changing the drilling speed
#2 Makita XFD11ZB
NOTABLE FEATURES
- BL brushless motor with 350 in-lbs max torque
- 18V lithium-ion battery
- Sub-compact design that makes it very lightweight
- Keyless chuck that can be removed and attached quickly
- Has variable speeds of (0-500 & 0-1,700 RPM)
- Uses Star Protectin Computer Controls technology to extend battery life
The XFD11ZB is incredibly lightweight – the lightest, in fact, in all the selections here having a weight of only exactly 2 lbs. Most of this can be attributed to its very compact design, which technically sets high standards on ergonomics and portability a sub-compact drill should aim for. You won’t have second thoughts using this tool on some overhead drilling and fastening, that much is certain. Nonetheless, that’s just one fact that makes it outstanding.
It also uses an 18V lithium-ion battery that immediately indicates more power, which the drill more than makes apparent with the 350 in-lb torque and 1,700 RPMs it can achieve. That’s enough to drive most standard-sized and longer length decking screws with minimal to zero effort. Another bonus we appreciate is the included LED light because you never know when you’ll have to work on areas and spots with limited lighting.
However, it’s not without its shortcomings, which are apparent in the relatively low battery life (due to a lack of a slot for a second battery) and the difficulty in switching between its variable speeds. The former is not that big of a deal, though, because a single charge of its battery can prove to finish most jobs anyway.
PROS
- Provides enough power for most jobs
- Small and utterly lightweight
- Rubberized soft grip makes it easy to the hands
- Torque provides enough support and stability for most screw turning activities
CONS
- Can be hard to operate the torque switcher
#3 Makita XFD061
NOTABLE FEATURES
- BL Brushless motor that delivers 530 in-lbs of torque
- 18V 3.0Ah Lithium-ion battery that delivers 50% more battery capacity with every charge
- Variable speeds of (0 400 & 0 1,550 RPM)
- Uses Extreme Protection Technology to heighten protection from dust and water
Value for money and cost-effectiveness. That’s where the XFD061 shines the most because it delivers way more than what you can expect from a brushless drill in this price point.
The 530 in-lbs of torque produced by this brushless is higher than normal for its price, so if you want more power in your drill without spending more dollars, this is the one to get. You do not get much noise from the motor, too, which is another perk.
It’s also lightweight, like most of the selections here, but it’s second only to the unit above, which happens to be the lightest (and that still says a lot about its portability). The battery is your standard 3Ah battery that claims to provide 50% more work capacity, but we attribute that mostly to it using a brushless motor.
Interestingly, it doesn’t make use of a metal chuck but hard plastic instead. What’s similarly intriguing is that this material actually gave it a stronger and firmer feel every time drilling or fastening is performed with it. It looks more durable, too, highlighting just why we think this Makita brushless drill can beat any other model that it is set against.
PROS
- Above-average torque and power
- Can easily adapt to various work conditions (i.e. jobs where it might get soaked)
- Longer-lasting battery
- Very lightweight
- Noticeably quiet operation
- Hard plastic chuck that is surprisingly better than metal ones
CONS
- Takes longer than most to charge
#4 Makita XFD131
NOTABLE FEATURES
- BL Brushless motor that delivers 440 in-lbs of torque
- 18V Lithium-ion 3.0Ah battery
- Variable speed with (0 500 & 0 1, 900 RPM)
- Built-in LED lights to illuminate your work area
Peaking at 440 in-lbs of torque, this drill just goes slightly above the average power you can expect from brushless drills. Ample is the best word to describe its capacity, which makes it a decent tool to get you through most tasks that require a cordless drill.
Its 1,900 RPM is fairly high, though, which only drives the point further that this Makita drill is a safer bet for those who want a bit more power in their drills without going overboard.
That said, you think of the Makita XFD131 as the second-best option to any of the other drills mentioned above. Why? Well, for one, it’s not as light as the other Makita drills since it weighs 3.8 pounds (though that certainly won’t take too much of a toll on you even when you work with it too long).
Besides that, it also has the usual two-speed variable feature, uses the same 18V 3.0Ah lithium-ion battery, and the rubber-coated grip. It’s pretty much a clone of the other drills, give or take more torque and RPMs. One other difference is that it’s slightly noisier.
That said, it’s comparatively cheaper, so you can’t cover the few tens of dollars difference in the prices of the other Makita drills included here, then this is a great option for you.
PROS
- Satisfactory power and torque
- Decent battery life
- Compact and still lighter than most cordless drills
- Costs a bit less
CONS
- Slightly noisier than other models, especially when used to drill metal
Buyers Guide Questions
Have you already narrowed down your option for the Makita brushless drill that is best for your purposes? If you’re still having second thoughts, perhaps, you just need a clear-cut answer to your lingering questions? Should you take the time to read this buyer’s guide below, you’ll probably be able to settle whether a Makita brushless drill is the most suitable for you and which Makita drill you should choose.
Are brushless drills always better than brushed varieties?
The short answer to this is yes. What makes Makita great is that they design and create their own brushless motors, allowing them to smoothly stand out from the competition.
Why wouldn’t it if it’s simply more energy-efficient (hence, always lasts longer), more powerful (with naturally higher torque and RPMs), more compact and lightweight, and more maintenance-friendly? It would be absurd for brands (especially Makita that is known for its strict adherence to efficiency) to opt for brushed motors considering this fact.
Why are they almost always cordless?
As you can see, Makita brushless drills largely overlap with their cordless offerings. More than 50% of the cordless drill market already incorporate these more powerful and efficient brushless motors. In Makita, brushless motors are pretty much a household name, underscoring the brands dedication to efficiency.
There’s no denying that cordless drills are just more convenient by virtue of their portability alone. In short, it’s a match made in heaven in terms of what these two innovations bring to the table.
Why are all the best brushless drills 18V?
When it comes to battery, brushless drills either come in 12V and 18V varieties. The reason why 18V is almost always preferred is that it simply guarantees more power. Considering the economy in design that sub-compact drills already incorporate (often done to keep weight down), it is only logical for brands to make sure they don’t fall short on power by opting for 18V as much as possible.
What Makita brushless drill would you recommend?
The Makita CX200RB is what you want if you want the best. It’s the only drill here that crosses the 1,000 in-lbs torque limit that indicates unquestionable power. And it manages to deliver what the other models provide. On some, they are on-par, while on other aspects, it’s just plain better.
Parting Words
Do remember the pointers we shared above so you won’t have a hard time deciding what Makita brushless drill to buy. We hope that this Makita brushless drill review has proven to be helpful in giving you the information you need to assist in your decision.
Compared to other power tools, it’s not that hard to decide on a brushless drill because they already offer enough power, durability, and efficiency – they’re an upgrade of their brushed counterparts, after all.
However, your decision should still largely hinge on the factors that make a cordless great, not least of which are weight, battery life, variable speed, and ergonomics. For this, you need not look further than the motor, battery, and size of any given drill.
Our Top Pick
Makita CX200RB
- BL brushless motor driver-drill that delivers a maximum 1,240 inches pounds of torque
- 18V Lithium-ion battery
- Assist mode that prevents cross threading and screw cam-out by limiting speed before impact
- Offers two variable speeds (0 1,300/0 3,000 RPM & 0 1,600/0 3,900 IPM)
- Compact and functional design
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