Ryobi ONE+ HP Brushless Percussion Drill Review
If you’re looking for the best cordless percussion drill that balances power, runtime and value, the Ryobi ONE+ RPD18X1-0 HP Brushless Percussion Drill for £139 might be it. As part of the popular Ryobi ONE+ 18V system, it works with the same batteries that have powered over 200 Ryobi tools since 1996, which could make it a smart choice for anyone already invested in the range. With its brushless motor technology, this drill promises longer life, more torque and greater efficiency when compared with models using brush driven motors, and promises to be capable of tackling masonry, wood and metal. In this Ryobi ONE+ HP Brushless Percussion Drill review we’ll cover how it performs in real DIY projects, whether it’s powerful enough for tougher jobs, and if it’s the right cordless drill to buy?
Design
This luminous-looking drill is built like a rock; the body of the Ryobi ONE+ HP Brushless drill doesn’t creak or flex under pressure. It feels soft in hand, with no jagged plastics to dig into your palms and a nice amount of rubberised texture for a strong grip. This isn’t our first Ryobi ONE+ drill, and once again the build quality feels a notch above the DIY average. Dropped between tasks onto hard ground, dragged against coarse concrete while squeezing into tight spots, or having to wipe it clean after mixing batches of plaster — the exterior shrugs it all off without complaint. It also carries a reassuring weight and feels well-balanced in the hand, even when paired with one of the larger ONE+ batteries.
A notable improvement is the repositioned LED light: instead of sitting under the head, it’s now on the base. That change makes it far more effective for lighting both the chuck and bit in dimly lit spaces, especially when your hand might otherwise block the beam.
The optional supplied side handle is simple enough to attach and detach if needed; also, there is a belt clip included. But one omission from the previous model is that there’s nowhere to store the screw bit supplied on the drill itself.
Controls
There’s a rotating dial at the collar to select from the 24 clutch settings, giving a wide spectrum of torque control for everything from delicate screw-driving into softwoods to powering home heavy fixings. Sitting just behind that is a slider for the two mechanical gears: both of which shift smoothly with a solid, confident click.
Interestingly, the drill and hammer drill modes are located on the main clutch ring also, so there’s no confusion here about what mode you’re in. That means you have to cycle through every torque position to get there, and it gives the impression Ryobi designed this with masonry work in mind rather than treating it as an afterthought. The trigger itself has a well-judged progressive action, so feathering in precision speed feels natural, while the forward/reverse rocker is oversized enough to be flicked with a thumb or finger mid-task without fuss. Everything falls to hand easily, and it doesn’t take long before the layout feels second nature.
Performance
HP stands for High Performance, and with a maximum of 105Nm of torque, this drill doesn’t just step beyond DIY territory (typically 30–60Nm), it vaults straight into the sort of spec demanded for genuinely arduous jobs. We put that claim to the test by engaging hammer drill mode against dense granite stone, hence the side handle attachment. Armed with a quality masonry bit, this Ryobi drill simply powered through to the other side with minimal effort from us. There was no slipping, no loosening at the chuck, and importantly, no nasty kickback. It’s a setup that feels immensely powerful, yet composed, and much of that control is down to the sturdy metal keyless chuck. So far, we’ve not found a material or task it’s struggled with.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, screwing often reveals quirks in drills, with some oddly prone to cam-out or inconsistent grip. Here the Ryobi impressed again. Between its two-speed gearing and 24 clutch settings, dialling in the right level of control was simple, whether working in softer woods or denser materials. A fallen tree branch damaged a section of Millboard composite decking and is a good example of performance here. After carefully clearing a few years of grime from the original stainless steel screw heads, the drill extracted them without complaint. The highlight here is just how easy the power is to modulate; the variable speed trigger feels exceptionally solid, with a positive, weighty action that makes the relationship between finger pressure and delivered torque intuitive. Replacing the board and screwing it down was equally revealing. After driving a few screws, we were able to fine-tune the clutch control so the drill wouldn’t over-drive them, leaving each screw perfectly set into the board at exactly the depth we wanted.
Battery Life
It’s always tricky to pin down an exact runtime for cordless drills, as it depends heavily on the task, material and drill settings. That said, after putting a fully charged ONE+ 5Ah battery through a mix of demanding hammer drilling, decking screw removal and general drilling tasks, we’d estimate it comfortably lasts several hours of intermittent heavy use, as not a single bar dropped from the battery readout. Ryobi would say that’s 1600 screws that can be driven from a full charge. But it’s really difficult to assign numbers like this or hours, due to the variables and intermittency of usage.
For lighter tasks like standard screw-driving or drilling into softer wood, the 5Ah battery feels almost inexhaustible across a typical DIY session. The brushless motor helps here too, drawing power efficiently and reducing heat buildup, which is especially noticeable during sustained hammer drilling.
Verdict
The Ryobi ONE+ HP Brushless Percussion Drill (model RPD18X1-0) feels like the obvious choice in its category. It has a build quality that inspires confidence (3-year guarantee, too) and serious performance to back this up; easily powering through demanding stonework in hammer drill mode or making everyday screw-driving straightforward with 24 torque settings and positive, ergonomic controls, we think it's the only drill you'll need.
