TL;DR
Get compact home essentials delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Pro Tool Reviews’ head-to-head test found Milwaukee’s fourth-generation M18 Fuel 2904 faster than Bosch’s GSB18V-1330CN in all four performance tests, averaging 17% faster. Milwaukee was also shorter and lighter, while Bosch offered features including electronic angle detection; the test does not establish that Bosch users should switch.
Milwaukee’s fourth-generation M18 Fuel 2904 outperformed Bosch’s GSB18V-1330CN in all four performance tests in a Pro Tool Reviews comparison, averaging 17% faster. The result gives Milwaukee the edge in this specific head-to-head, though the report said Bosch completed the tested tasks and retains features that may matter to some users.
The comparison put each brand’s top-performing cordless hammer drill against the other: Bosch’s 18V brushless GSB18V-1330CN and Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 2904. Pro Tool Reviews equipped them with high-capacity 8.0Ah batteries—the Bosch Core18V High Power and Milwaukee Forge—rather than relying on the batteries bundled in tool kits. The test therefore compared performance with those selected packs, not necessarily the out-of-box configuration every buyer will use.
Milwaukee recorded faster average times on an RSS screw, a one-inch spade bit, a 2 9/16-inch self-feed bit and a three-inch-deep hole in cured concrete. In the concrete test, it took 6.84 seconds, compared with Bosch’s 8.94 seconds. The report averaged three runs for each test. Across all four, Milwaukee’s average advantage was 17%; that figure describes this test set, not every drilling task or jobsite condition.
The published specifications also favor Milwaukee on size and weight: the 2904 is listed at 7 inches long and 5.6 pounds tested, versus 8.1 inches and 6.3 pounds for the Bosch. Bosch’s listed maximum speeds are higher, while Milwaukee’s listed torque and hammer rate are higher. The reviewer also highlighted Bosch’s electronic angle detection and its compatibility with the Ampshare battery system.
Why Drill Size and Speed Matter
For tradespeople choosing a drill for repeated fastening, hole-making or concrete work, the results offer a practical comparison beyond specification sheets. Milwaukee’s lead in all four timed tasks, together with its shorter, lighter body, could matter when work involves frequent drilling or tight spaces. The test does not measure every factor affecting productivity, including the operator, bit condition, material variation or performance over a full workday.
The comparison also shows why a single winner may not settle a purchase decision. Bosch’s electronic angle detection is intended to help keep large structural screws straight, and the reviewer praised the feel and balance of its handle. Battery-platform compatibility can be relevant for people who already own tools in Bosch’s Ampshare system. The measured speed advantage is meaningful evidence for this matchup, but it is not proof that Milwaukee is the better choice for every user.
Products Worth Considering
Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum
Dyson V8 Cyclone Cordless Vacuum
Shark AV2501AE AI Robot Vacuum with XL HEPA Self-Empty Base
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Two Flagship Hammer Drills Compared
The report describes Bosch’s Core18V battery launch as an early advance in high-performance cordless batteries, while noting that other manufacturers have since developed their own systems. Its test compares current high-end options from each brand rather than their entire drill ranges. The selected Bosch model is the GSB18V-1330CN; Milwaukee’s is the fourth-generation 2904, not the separate 2906 model associated with One-Key.
Testing used three-run averages and freshly charged batteries. The tasks ranged from driving a structural RSS screw into stacked, glued OSB to drilling in pine and fully cured 4,000-psi concrete. For the large self-feed bit, the reviewers began in high speed and switched to low if a drill could not reliably finish the hole. These choices provide a repeatable basis for the reported comparison, but results can differ with other materials, batteries and techniques.
“Milwaukee was the winner in all four performance tests.”
— Pro Tool Reviews
Limits of the Head-to-Head Results
The report establishes the outcome under its stated test conditions; it does not show how the drills compare in every application or over long-term use. It provides no basis for treating the 17% average as a universal productivity gain. The supplied material also does not include price comparisons, service or warranty data, battery runtime results, or a detailed assessment of durability.
Pro Tool Reviews said a fifth-generation M18 Fuel hammer drill was expected by the end of the year, but the source material does not confirm a release date, final specifications or how it would perform. It also does not provide an equivalent upcoming Bosch model for comparison.
Watch for Milwaukee’s Next Drill
The next development identified in the report is Milwaukee’s expected fifth-generation M18 Fuel hammer drill. The publication said it was expected by year-end and wondered what changes Milwaukee might make, but gave no confirmed launch date or technical details. A future comparison would be needed to assess whether it changes the results reported for the fourth-generation 2904.
For buyers deciding now, the available evidence is this four-test comparison. Shoppers can weigh its timed results against their own priorities: compact size, Bosch’s angle-detection feature, existing battery-platform investments and the specific tasks they perform. The report supports Milwaukee as the performance winner in this test, while leaving broader value and long-term ownership questions unanswered.
Key Questions
Which drill won the Pro Tool Reviews comparison?
Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 2904 was faster in all four timed tests and averaged 17% faster overall than Bosch’s GSB18V-1330CN.
What drills and batteries were tested?
The report compared the Bosch GSB18V-1330CN with the fourth-generation Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2904. It used Bosch’s 8.0Ah Core18V High Power battery and Milwaukee’s 8.0Ah Forge battery.
Does the test mean Bosch owners should switch?
No. The report found Bosch slower in the selected tests but said it handled the jobs without difficulty. Features, battery-platform compatibility and personal preference remain relevant.
What advantage does Bosch offer in the comparison?
The reviewer pointed to Bosch’s electronic angle detection, its Ampshare battery compatibility and a handle design they found comfortable. The report also lists higher maximum speeds for Bosch, although Milwaukee won the timed tests.
Is Milwaukee’s next hammer drill available?
The source describes a fifth-generation M18 Fuel hammer drill as expected by the end of the year, but does not confirm its release date, final specifications or test performance.
Source: rss
