- Compact and lightweight for all-day use
- Two 3.5 amp Ni-MH battery packs for longer run time
- Delivers 390 in./lbs. of torque
- 1/2-inch keyless chuck offers big-bit capacity
- 55-minute charge saves time
Amazon’s Review: Impressively compact, lightweight, and comfortable to use, Panasonic`s 15.6-volt drill/driver fits into tight spaces where other bulkier drills won`t. The 3-1/2 amp NiMH batteries deliver remarkable run time per charge, which is a big plus, especially if you need a tool for continuous use. What about power? This Panasonic packs up to 390 inch-pounds of torque–as much (if not more) than anyone needs in a cordless tool. The motor`s speed control allows full torque at any speed, so you can apply full torque while still maintaining control. The tool features dual speed ranges of 65 to 450 and 200 to 1,450 rpm. The 1/2-inch chuck takes bigger bits. The first thing you notice about this tool, however, is how compact it is (the chassis measures only 8-1/2 inches) and how comfortable it feels in your hand. The soft-pad grip provides extra cushion and the tool`s balance is superb, two important features if you wield a cordless day in and day out. The tool lacks an onboard bit holder, but that`s about all it lacks. The 3-1/2 amp batteries are ventilated, so they last longer, delivering up to 1,200 charges and recharges. This drill is a smart buy for plumbers, electricians, carpenters, and even woodworkers–in short, anyone who wants a small, compact drill that packs a lot of torque and is built to last. The package includes a 55-minute universal charger and hard-plastic carrying case. –Jon Groebner
Unbiased user reviews:
If only there were more tools to use with this battery system
I’ve used thesse drills, and I think they are better (in many ways) than most everything else on the market.
They are lighter, smoother, quieter, just as powerful and they just feel good. They are really amazing, and you’d have to use one to really understand how good they feel.
When I was buying my latest group of cordless tools, I needed a hammer drill, inline-recrprocating saw (Sawzall type), and a small circular saw (trim saw). I do a lot of work where there’s no power, or a just need a quick cut, and it’s a pain to drag out 100′ of extension cord.
Sadly, Panasonic doesn’t amke all the other tools I needed.
If you just need a drill, this one is wonderful. If you need all the other tools, you’ll have to look elsewhere (Dewalt, Bosch…)
great drill
Light, and has a really good battery life. I like this drill much better than the Dewalt’s that my guys have. Strongly recommended.
This is the drill to get
I thought about a drill very seriously. After all, after a few hand tool a cordless drill gets the most use than any tool I have. So I started looking at Hilti and other higher end drills like Festool. I have read and heard great things about this drill so I gave it a good thougha and even if it dies on me for the price of the others I can pretty much buy two of these so I submized to reason.
I used it for about 4 months before it got stollen and I will buy another. I think that speaks loudly of its strengths.
The reason I gave it four stars is after going through 2 Makitas I really dislike how often I need to retighten bits b/c the chuck grabed it wrong. Never a problem for me in in the last six years my Makitas lasted me.
Best drill I’ve ever used.
Lighter than an 18v DeWalt, but just as powerful. Above all, fits so well in my hand that I can one-hand it anywehere. Good build-quality as well
Terrific combination of power, weight, size, & ergnomics…
Since this drill has been extensively reviewed, this write-up will compare it to another highly rated (by Amazon reviewers) tool, the Bosch 33618 18-Volt Brute Tough Drill/Driver. I own, and extensively use, both.
Power - with 500 inch pounds of torque, the Brute out-powers the Panasonic, and most other cordless drills, on sheer torque. (However, putting things in perspective, my DeWalt DW235G 1/2″ Heavy Duty 7.8 Amp corded drill overwhelms the Brute in this category; so don’t buy a cordless drill thinking it’s the “most powerful” tool.)
Chuck - slight edge to the Brute. Both drills have superb one-handed chucks that will tightly hold any bit, from tiny 1/16 inch round bits to ½ inch bits. Both are very quick to change out bits. However, my Panasonic chuck wobbles a little and sometimes the shaft turns ½ revolution or so when trying to tighten the chuck, before it locks in place. The Brute chuck doesn’t wobble and the shaft always locks immediately. (One Panasonic reviewer said “It is difficult to center small bits in the chuck” - probably a result of the chuck being open too far — simply close-up the chuck more before inserting the bit.)
Weight - the Panasonic is the clear winner in this department. The heavier Brute is uncomfortable to use overhead for any length of time.
Size - the Panasonic is about 1/3 smaller, and can be used in tight spots where the Brute won’t even fit.
Run-time - the reviews say the Panasonic lasts longer, and I’d have to agree - but it doesn’t win by much. Both are outstanding.
Clutch - tie - both are excellent, with a wide range of choices.
Charge time - tie — both are equally fast.
Ergonomics - tie - both fit my [large] hand, have no sharp spots, nothing pinches my fingers and the grip is comfortable. The reverse switch is fine on both, in my opinion.
Speed control - tie - both are excellent, going smoothly from a dead stop to full speed. (One reviewer that had a problem with his Panasonic speed control must have had a defective switch.)
Gearbox - don’t know what the Panasonic gears are made out of, but the Brute’s are steel, and should last the life of the tool. (One Brute reviewer said his gears “stripped out, i. e. the motor was turning but not the chuck” - my guess is he had the speed selector set between high and low.) Steel gears are important to me ever since my Porter Cable 14.4 v drill stripped its nylon gears.
Noise - the Panasonic “whines” a little, as though its gears were really tight. So what - it’s not annoying to me.
Auxiliary handle. The Brute comes with a excellent side handle that can be tightened into place at any point in the 360 degrees. The Panasonic doesn’t come with such a handle, probably because it isn’t sufficiently powerful to need one. Haven’t used this handle often, but it’s useful when working with large bits that can bind, and stop instantly. I.e., that handle could save your wrist from a nasty sprain if the drill continued turning before you could release the trigger.
Tool case. Tie. Both are fine.
Question: Which is “best”?
Answer: Depends. The Panasonic does everything the Brute does, except when you need the Brute’s greater power. Without the Brute, I’d have to use a corded drill more often. But, if I didn’t have the Panasonic, my arm would tire faster from the Brute’s weight, and sometimes that Brute is just too big to fit where I’m drilling.
I’ve found these drills to be a complementary pair of terrific tools.
The Mercedes of Cordless Drills - Simply THE BEST
I am a remodeling contractor/carpenter and have used every other “professional grade” drill out there. While many of them perform adequately and are very good drills, none are as sweet as the Panosonic. In tests, this 15.6 V has out performed every 18V drill on the market, not to mention it blows away any 14V drill as well. Don’t be fooled by drills that claim they have higher torque than the Panasonic. Torque ratings are really not a true measure of performance. Neither is voltage. You do not need one of those 19 or 24V Clubs. The 15.6V batteries on the Panosonic will hold their charge for an incredibly long time, longer than any 18V for sure.
As if its performance was not enough, its ergonomics are even better. It is perfectly balanced in your hand and I mean perfectly. It is a joy to hold and use all day, being much lighter and smaller than its 18V rivals. It will fit into many tight spaces that only a right angle drill could, and that no other 18V ever could.
The chuck system is also excellent. Some people don’t like the clicking noise it makes as you tighten it but that noise is exactly the reason this chuck will not slip once you have it tightened.
I have many friends with Milwaukees, Porter Cables, and Makita’s, and DeWalts. I have owned or used all of those myself. When they try the Panasonic they wish they would have bought one.
It does cost a bit more than some of the other drills in its class but the Panosonic 15.6V is really in a class all by itself and worth every penny.
Highly Recommended
OK but not $200 worth of OK
I’ve had this drill for about a year now. It has plenty of power but the batteries don’t seem to last a lot longer than my buddy’s 18V Craftsman. It is difficult to center small bits in the chuck, and worst of all, it will not turn slowly. It’s fast or nothing. This is particularly frustrating when trying to start a screw in a tough spot. It’s an OK drill, but for this much scratch you can get an 18V Milwaukee.
Best I’ve Owned
This is the nicest drill I have ever owned, with or without a cord. It’s a bit heavier than a corded drill, but not as bad as some cordless I’ve seen. It is a little picky about chucking up a very small bit (like 1/16″ to 3/32″) and you may have to try a couple of times to get it really centered, but that’s all. The best thing is, the NiMH batteries hold a charge and don’t develop memory. I’ve had two other cordless drills that were pretty much useless, because the NiCad batteries were never charged when I wanted to use the drills. I’m not a builder, but I’m a homeowner who does some minor building projects and home repair stuff. This means that the drill does not get daily use and the batteries do not sit in a charger overnight waiting for the next day on the job. I haven’t owned the drill that long - two months - but I am happy I bought this drill. The other reviews on Amazon convinced me to buy it. At $200, it ain’t cheap, but once you get over that, you will never be sorry you own the drill.
disappointed
I read a review of this gun in my Union Carpenters Magazine and bought it on their recommendation.But they must have only used that gun for a week. It was fine when new.
In just over a year of not much use, the batteries wore out,the trigger sticks and the transmission whines.I called Panasonic and they told me I was out of luck. My 5 year old DeWalt 12 volt cordless held up better. I will never by anything made by Panasonic again
A welcome surprise
This robust drill has it all.
It’s not too big, is very comfortable to hold and is very well balanced.
It’s powerful. The batteries are long lasting, there’s not much more one can ask for.
The batteries are Ni-MH, wich means that they are sensitive to cold. They must be allowed to reach room temp. before charging.
no cordless in this class
As I stare at my box full of old cordless drills and their depleted NiCad batteries, I can only wish that this drill was available much earlier. After retiring my DeWalts and Makita’s and realizing that there is no shame in using an extension cord, I vowed never to throw money away again at a cordless and their overpriced NiCad batteries.
Forced into a job site with no power, I purchased this drill from Amazon at a good price and put it through its paces with a variety of drill loads. Some specifics:
1) The first impression has to be its small size, weight, quality of feel, balance. Obvious quality of materials and manufacturing.
2)The chuck has to be the best that I have ever used. Easiest to change bits, extremely tight grip on both small (1/16″) and large bits. Outstanding engineering concept and achievement.
3) Speed control has two ranges and mesh perfectly from slow driver speed to fast drilling. Excellent trigger feel and response.
4) And now the power. Don’t even think of stalling this brute. The 3.5AH NiMH batteries have incredible reserve and recharge capablity. The charger is well designed and will quickly charge a depleted battery. These batteries seem to last all day.
If you are thinking of a (the) top quality cordless drill that will last for many years and handle any job, this is the obvious choice. Well worth the cost, which is price competitive with the other 15-18v drill selections.
You deserve this !!
The BEST there is
This is the best there is. I’ve owned most of them - Bosch, Makita, PC, Dewalt, Milwaukee. I finally got the Panasonic. The batteries seem to last “forever.” The drill has plenty of torque, and it is a pleasure to use - comfortable in the hand, and light weight. This drill is the only one in the shop now. Having said that, I do think the other drills are good, just that this one is better - lighter, strong, goes forever, good ergonomics, great one-handed clutch (and I’ve had not problems centering the bits), and it is tough and reliable. Did some fence work and it out-performed an 18v Dewalt with never a whimper. Yes, I’ll keep a couple of the others around - like in the truck box for a back-up or loaner, although that’s just my security blanket, I guess. I can’t imagine that this Panasonic would ever let me down based on the work it has put out, and the toughness it has shown during the last 6 months. This one puts out the work, and it is plenty tough, but it is also just to pretty to throw around. (”Take care of your tools and they’ll take care of you.”) No - It’s not a hammer drill, and it’s not a rotary hammer, nor is it a manually operated carpenter’s hammer. Yes, I have seen people use their drill/drivers for those things - and then cuss the drill. Overall, I think this Panasonic is the best DRILL/DRIVER on the market. I may try the 18v Panasonic someday, but I never feel undergunned in any way with this 15.6. I highly recommend it. It’s great!
WORKHORSE!
I have been using this cordless driver for about one year. I am in a woodworking school making cabinets and furniture. I use it for drilling various size holes, making jigs and driving screws in all types of wood, although I use mostly dense hardwoods. I really like the lightweight and great balance. The 3.5 amp batteries go on and on. And this model has plenty of torque! I previously used a 12 volt Porter-Cable which doesn’t hold a candle to this model. A very good value as well. The other reviews are right on the mark.
warranty
I recently bought the 18v Panasonic here at Amazon. I was tired of changing batteries on my Dewalt and Ryobi. I recieved it just before Hurricane Frances hit our area in Florida. I installed plywood window coverings on two houses and a condo using 2 3/4 ” Tapcons through concrete block and changed the battery once. This gun is very powerful, the chuck doesn’t slip and I could not be happier with the battery and charger. Unfortunately towards the end of my installation the clutch stripped out, which wasn’t to big of a deal, I just clicked over to drill and finished the job off, occasionally snapping a few Tapcons. I called Panasonic, which was a little disappointing. I had to wait on hold about 45 minutes to be politely informed that since I had not bought the gun from an official dealer they would offer no warranty. I shot an e-mail off to Amazon to see what recourse I might have. I recieved an E-mail back the next day with gracious appoligies and notification that a new Gun was being sent out 2-day air. I wouldn’t have expected that kind of service even from Panasonic. I am very happy with the purchase of this gun and I am thrilled with Amazon.
great drill
I place a lot of importance and quality, and this drill has it. It’s light, powerful, and runs forever. I was not a cordless fan until I got this drill. It just flat works.
Noisy Chuck/Motor on a Nice Drill
I’ve read the reviews and I agree that the performance is outstanding! The drill is powerful, feels nice in the hand, is well balanced, compact, feels durable and sits stable on its base. I also like the delicate/sensitive trigger (nice brake!) and the one-handed chuck.
But I find the drill lacks convenient bit storage (you have to take the battery off to get to it!!) and it’s noisy! At low speeds, the motor has a fairly loud & distinguished high-pitched hum. The hum isn’t noticeable at the higher end. The ratcheting chuck works very well, but sounds like a 20 pound salmon on an undersized fishing pole when changing bits. This is most noticeable when you hold the chuck with one hand and pull the trigger to quickly change from one sized bit to another. Maybe this is normal for ratcheting chucks, but I find it annoying.
Being someone that prefers a versatile drill for performing intricate detail & cabinet woodworking, and not so much deck building, I think there is probably a better drill out there that fits my persona.
Highly Recommended
One of the top tools I have ever purchased. Runs like a sewing machine. Plently of power, it has never stalled out, and I have been using it for over one year. The chuck is excellent. The drill is light weight and easy to hold over long periods of time.
A great deal
Powerful and precise, no slipping, and gets into every nook, cranny and corner. This PANASONIC CORDLESS is indestructible. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dropped or knocked this thing over. I’ve used it on my car, on just about every part of my house. And for the price that Amazon is asking, every professional or handiman should have one on their workbenches.
best borer
The Panasonic 15.6 is the best tool for the job and the money when you consider the amount cash I’ve spent on the “yellow tools.” The size,torque,battery life, the 1/2″ chuck all are award winning designs by this finish carpenter’s account.
I have owned my Pansonic 15.6 for over 3 years and have installed nearly 100 kitchens with the original batteries.
And because 2 drills are better than one, I will be purchasing another.
Best Cordless Drill I have EVER used
This is the best cordless drill I have ever used. Yes, I have used the newest Bosch and Milwaukee cordless drills. They don’t compare. The Milwaukee, although a little more powerful, is too heavy and cumbersome to use. The Bosch is also heavier and the clutch action isn’t very good. Forget the DeWalts. They used to be good drills but now their drills are junk. They have nothing but clutch and chuck problems. We wasted so much money on DeWalts! So irritating.
I like that the Panasonic is both light and powerful. Small enough to use in tight locations. The charging system is also excellent. The clutch has good action and has a good range of torque settings. The chuck is strong and holds onto drill bits tight.
The battery is the best part of the drill. I don’t think I have used any cordless drill that can outlast this drill. I’ve seen many consumer magazines drool over how many more holes or screws this thing can drive. I was skeptical until I used it. Last twice as long as most. I don’t even know why it comes with a second battery. One battery usually last more than a few (hard) days.
Great battery, but chuck is an issue
I’ve had a number of cordless drills. After having a second DeWalt die before its time, I vowed to never buy a yellow tool again. I picked up every brand of drill I could find to check the feel and the Panasonic was very well balanced. And thankfully it doesn’t have that much yellow on it….
I’ve had this drill for almost a year and the battery life is impressive, to say the least. I built a 12 x 12 deck this summer for my brother using pressure treated yellow pine from the ground up. Every connection was done with the drill and it did it all on one battery charge - I drove over three pounds of screws into crappy wet Home Depot wood and the battery just would not give up.
The only thing I don’t like is the chuck. I got use to the screaming sound when loosing and tightening, but the chuck doesn’t seem to want to center a drill bit. It usually takes two or three tries to get the bit centered. Maybe I have a faulty chuck?
Otherwise the drill is great, and I would certainly buy another one.
Best overall drill
I’d been waiting for years for the perfect overall drill to come into my workshop. I have a brother that sells power tools for a living and he told me about this Panasonic drill that he liked better than all the rest of the pack. The couple of selling points he had was the high torque at ANY SPEED… pull the trigger a bit to turn a screw in slowly even when the going gets tough… and the almost never-ending power supply of 3.5 Amp hours… that’s enough power to run a halogen light for 75 minutes! I recently put in an entire subfloor on one charge, the battery just doesn’t quit. Note of caution: the chuck has an anti-loosen mechanism that while loosening or tightening makes a pretty loud whine… or ratchteting click when hand turning.. but it pays off.. my bits never loosen while on my milwaukee it happens any time i bump the chuck while loosening screws.
I lucked out in the timing of my purchase.. they just came out with the 3.5AH battery.. it uses squared off battery cells to get more juice in almost the same space as the 3.0AH batteries that have cylindrical battery cells.
I’ve used the bosch 24V which has 25% more torque.. a monster.. but this drill will put 4″ screws into hardwood w/o thinking about it so it has gobbs of torque yet is still a very nice small size.. it fits no problem between two studs to drill holes for wiring and i’ve used it to bore 2 1/2″ holes in cabinets.
I bought the lantern and a spare battery and it’s extremely convenient to have a constant portable light source that will last 5-6 hours straight with no dimming whatsoever (light just shuts off when battery is low).
Summary: impossible to beat this drill for overall use… get the new 12V impact if you want light and high power mostly for screw driving… get the 15.6 if you want the best general purpose drill made.
Best Cordless Bar None
I have used cordless drills in my trade for over 20 years. I started out with the early Mikitas, progressed to Skill “Top Guns” (late ’80s), Milwaukee, Dewalt, Bousch, Porter Cable, and finally the new Dewalt XRPs. I normally have 3 to 4 cordless drills on the truck at all times. Last spring, I bought this Panasonic, due to the reviews I read on this site. After an intensive season of hard use, I am convinced that this is the best cordless on the market. We drive 1/4″ lags and self drilling screws all day long. The Panasonic batteries outlast my XRPs by 4 to 1. This Panasonic is more powerful, better balanced, and weights a heck of a lot less. My remaining XRPs will be retired this spring, and replaced with Panasonics.
much better than the Bosch 24v
I bought this tool to replace a Bosch 24v cordless. The Bosch broke after just two months of use. The gears could not handle drilling 3/8 holes in concrete. The local Bosch service department was useless. The Panasonic is the best cordless drill I’ve ever owned. I am an HVAC contractor. I use this tool for everything. Drilling out steel shafts, driving sheet metal screws, drilling holes in masonary up to 1/2″, and driving Tapcon screws. What I like about this drill is that it’s light. This is important when drilling in akward spaces where I must extend my arm fully away from my body or over my head. This was a tiresome task with the old Bosch. The chuck is also the best keyless chuck I have ever seen. It simply clamps on to hardened masonary bits like a vice grip. It gives away virtually nothing in the way of power compared to the Bosch. If I need that much power, I use a 1/2″ corded drill! The only thing that needs improving is the case. I hate plastic cases. I solved this by using the metal case from my old Porter Cable cordless.
Good drill, although expensive
Panasonic makes great cordless drills/drivers. They are well designed and last a long time. Probably the best 2 things about them is the flawless chuck design (holds even the smallest of bits in place without coming loose), and the long 3.5Ah runtime batteries. That said, they are more expensive than other brands.
In comparing this driver to a Makita, I found that the Makita was not as well made. The Makita chuck often loosens on it’s own which is so annoying. The battery charger on the Makita is more compact, which is nice, but the case the Makita comes with is way too big, whereas the Panasonic case doesn’t have so much empty space. Also the Panasonic operates more smoothly.
This kit comes complete with the drill, a black plastic hard case, 2 batteries and charger-nice!
Best Drill - but battery life question
I purchased the original 3.0 amp-hour 15.6 drill in winter 1999. The drill has always perfomed flawlessly and easliy had the best run time in comparison to 12 volt Makita’s and 14.4 volt Dewalts I had used previously. I built two small boats out of white oak with this drill (all drilling and screwing) as my only drill. This included numerous 2 1/2″ hole sawing through 3/4″ particle board temporary framing. The drill is awesome.
My “but” comes with the battery life. Both of my batteries were shot by early 2002, with a total life of just over 2-1/2 years. There is no way I put 1,200 charge cycles into these batteries, more like 2 charges per battery per week. The run time usually last for almost a full day of boat work. That equates to approximately 260 charges. I dont know why Panasonic is advertising 1,200 charges I know my previous 14.4 Dewalt was slightly better for battery life, but the old Makita was much better. Is it the Ni-Mh battery that does not hold up over time, or maybe the batteries should always be inside, not in the varing temperatures of the garage.
With that said, I will be purchasing the new 3.5 amp-hour version. I just get irked that 2 replacement batteries cost as much as the whole new kit. Panasonic should make new batteries more affordable, because now I have two great drills and chargers, but only 2 batteries. Yup, bend over for the “lord of the landfill”.
Light, Balanced & Powerful
I have this drill for 2 years. I’ve built an 800 sq.ft. deck from IPE, very hard stuff. All the holes had to be pre-drilled and countersunk. Drove home boxes and boxes of 3.5″ screws in constructing the frame. Drove home about 2000 1.5″ screws in constructing the frame. Drove home about 2500 2.5″ finish deck screws in attaching the IPE. Have done several other smaller construction jobs. This thing takes a lickin’ and keeps on tickin. I have the older 3.0 amp-hr batteries which are still better than most anything out there. The clutch works very well. The chuck is great even with small bits. And best of all this thing feels great in your hand!!!!
I highly reccomend it.
By the way, if you want to make 4 inch holes, wake up and get a corded drill…
Takes a licking…
I am a contractor and use my drills every day. I have had PC’s, Dewalts and a Makita but nothing prepared me for the Panasonics I now own. The other drills were lucky to last a year. I am on my 2nd Panasonic in five years and they both are going strong. I only wish all tool manufacturers would adhere to the same quality control standards and begin to understand how enervating it is to buy tools knowing their half-life is just around the corner. I realize that “portable” is synonymous with “a year or two if you are lucky” but this is the one tool out of many which outperforms the rest. One day Panasonic will make the radio with the charger and I will be happier.
Lightweight Powerhouse
After reading the favorable review in Fine Homebuilding Magazine, I decided to give this tool a try. I am very impressed by its great ergonomic balance, its power, and the long run time from the batteries. I now use this drill exclusively for everyday drilling/driving tasks. When things get a little bit tougher (like somewhere between normal use and what one would expect from a Hole Hawg), I reach for my Makita 18 Volt drill (I guess I still can’t shake my love of Makita). The only drawbacks are a ratcheting sound when loading the chuck and the “Made in Mexico” stamp (that is ONLY because I am a “Made in USA” snob!) For the average do-it-yourself-er or professional tradesman with medium to light heavy duty needs, this is a tool you may want to check out.
Plesantly surprised…
Having owned corless drills from Makita to Bosch to Metabo, this is clearly my favorite by far! I initially saw the tool at a contractor supply house, and the saleman raved how much contractor’s loved it. I was a little skeptical when I saw the Panasonic name, but once I picked it up I was sold. The ergonomics are truly what they say! It can also easy handle an array of jobs easily. I was plesantly surprised!
Unhappy with adjustable clutch
the best thing that ever to the tradesmen
now if I could only get my construction job back!