Kobalt 20V Cordless Power Tools Review

Kobalt, Lowe’s popular house-brand, recently unveiled a new line of 20V Max Lithium-Ion power tools which include higher capacity batteries (up to three times more run time than Kobalt 18V NiCd batteries) and fade-free power even when the battery runs low. If you’ve ever had a cordless power tool start slowing down when the battery runs low, you’ll certainly appreciate this handy feature!

To experience the improved power, performance and reliability of the new Kobalt power tools, Lowe’s sent us a Kobalt 4-Tool 20-Volt Max Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit ($299) to try out for ourselves. This kit goes up against household names like Makita, Ryobi, and Porter-Cable; tools that cost significantly more and carry decades of reputation.

We took the kit to a contractor friend’s workshop and ran it through real-world tests. Spoiler: it held its own in ways we didn’t expect.

What’s In The Box

The Kobalt Cordless Combo Kit includes four tools and everything you need to get started:

• Drill/Driver — Variable speed trigger; RPM 0 – 450 (low), 0 – 1600 (high)
• Reciprocating saw — 1-1/8” stroke length with orbital blade action
• Impact driver — ¼”, quick-release collet, max speed of 2,500 RPM and up to 1550 in-lbs. of torque
• LED work light — 24 LED arrays, run time is greater than 12.5 hours
• 2.0 Ah Li-Ion compact battery
• 4.0 Ah Li-Ion extended run battery
• LCD Charger (35 min for 2.0Ah / 45 min for 4.0Ah)
• Reciprocating saw blade, double-ended driver bit, 2 belt clips, 2 bit holders, soft carrying bag

Fair warning on the marketing – this is really a 3-tool kit. The LED work light is useful, but calling it a “tool” is a stretch.

Does It Actually Beat Makita?

This was the test we cared most about. Our contractor buddy has used Makita drills on job sites for years. We ran both of the drills on identical boards, same bit, same battery charge percentage.

The Kobalt actually drilled more holes on a single charge. It also has more torque than his Porter-Cable and Ryobi models.

The all-metal chuck is worth calling out specifically, as several brands at this price point use plastic chucks, which wear faster and wobble under heavy use. Kobalt doesn’t cut that corner.

The Battery Situation Is Genuinely Good

Cordless tools have one annoying failure mode: power that gradually fades as the battery runs low. You start a cut at full speed and end it at half speed. But the Kobalt uses a lithium-ion chemistry with what they call “fade-free power” — and in testing, that claim held up. Performance stayed consistent right down to the low battery warning.

The charge indicator on the battery shows remaining life, and the LCD charger tells you both how much charge is left and how long until it’s full. Overkill? Maybe. But it’s the kind of detail that stops you from starting a project with a half-dead battery and finding out 20 minutes in.

One genuinely useful backward-compatibility note: if you already own Kobalt 18V Li-Ion or NiCd tools, those batteries work in the 20V Max system. You don’t have to rebuy your backup power supply.

Who Should Buy This Kit

The Kobalt 20V combo kit is a strong buy if you’re a weekend warrior or DIYer who wants professional-adjacent performance without the professional-grade price tag. At $299, you’re getting a drill that outperforms some $150-and-up single tools from competing brands.

It’s probably not going to be the right call if you’re running a job site 8 hours a day. At that level, the longer warranty histories and parts availability of DeWalt or Milwaukee start to matter more.

The 5-year no-hassle guarantee softens that concern though. If anything breaks, bring it to any of the 1,700+ Lowe’s locations and they’ll replace it, no questions asked. Batteries are covered for 3 years.

Bottom Line

For $299, the Kobalt 20V Max 4-Tool Combo Kit delivers performance that punches well above its price point. The fade-free battery, all-metal chuck, and backward compatibility with older Kobalt batteries make it a smart buy — even if you have to ignore the “4-tool” marketing copy and count the work light for what it is.

Want to learn more about the Kobalt 20V Max Cordless Power Tools? Then head on over to your local Lowe’s, or visit www.lowes.com.