Ryobi ONE+ HP PBLHM101 Hammer Drill vs Craftsman V20 BRUSHLESS RP CMCD726 Hammer Drill

Quick take: The Craftsman V20 BRUSHLESS RP CMCD726 Hammer Drill costs $10 less bare; the Ryobi ONE+ HP PBLHM101 Hammer Drill is lighter (2.8 vs 3.09 lbs); they live on different battery platforms (Ryobi ONE+ vs Craftsman V20), so the deciding factor is usually which batteries you already own.

SpecRyobi ONE+ HP PBLHM101 Hammer DrillCraftsman V20 BRUSHLESS RP CMCD726 Hammer Drill
Price (bare tool)$129$119
Kit Price$189
Rating4.7★ (849)
CategoryHammer DrillHammer Drill
Battery PlatformRyobi ONE+Craftsman V20
Voltage18V20V
MotorBrushlessBrushless
Weight2.8 lbs (bare)3.09 lbs (bare)
Released20212024
Top Speed2,100 RPM2,000 RPM
Max BPM31,00034,000
Chuck1/2 in metal ratcheting1/2 in keyless ratcheting
Speeds22
Clutch Settings2415

Pros & cons

Ryobi ONE+ HP PBLHM101 Hammer Drill

  • Delivers genuinely pro-level drilling power - owners routinely say it punches far above its price class.
  • At 2.8 lbs bare and 7.5 inches long it is remarkably compact for a 750 in-lbs hammer drill.
  • Hammer mode chews through brick, block, and light concrete anchoring jobs owners expected to need an SDS for.
  • Ratcheting all-metal chuck holds bits securely with little of the slippage cheaper Ryobi drills were known for.
  • Backed by the 300+ tool ONE+ ecosystem, so batteries owners already have just work - even decade-old packs.
  • Frequent Home Depot and Direct Tools promos drop the bare tool to $60-$100, an unbeatable value.
  • Included auxiliary side handle gives real control in hammer mode instead of being a cheap afterthought.
  • 4.7-star average across roughly 850 Home Depot reviews with a 3-year warranty behind it.
  • No belt clip and no mounting holes for one - a top recurring gripe among owners in owner forums and Home Depot alike.
  • Foot-mounted LED casts a chuck shadow right where you are drilling instead of lighting the bit.
  • Hammer mechanism slows dramatically in hard cured concrete - multiple owners say buy an SDS rotary hammer for serious masonry.
  • Best performance requires Ryobi's pricier High Performance (HP) batteries; older packs blunt its output.
  • No kickback control or e-clutch, so a bind-up with a hole saw will wrench your wrist.
  • A minority of owners report the clutch/gearbox failing or a burning smell under sustained heavy load.
  • Bulky lime-green styling and Ryobi's DIY reputation keep it off many professional jobsites.
  • Bare tool ships without battery, charger, or case - first-time ONE+ buyers face real added cost.

Craftsman V20 BRUSHLESS RP CMCD726 Hammer Drill

  • 495 UWO makes it the strongest drill in the entire V20 lineup - roughly 24% more power than the CMCD721 flagship it replaced.
  • Deal-forum owners rate the BRUSHLESS RP tier as Craftsman's genuinely good hardware, with some describing the tools as 'sometimes rebadged DeWalt XR' thanks to shared Stanley Black & Decker engineering.
  • At 3.09 lbs bare and about 8.5 inches long, it is light and short enough for overhead work and cabinet-tight spaces where 5+ lb pro flagships wear you out.
  • The 1/2-inch keyless ratcheting chuck carries over the strong bit retention Pro Tool Reviews praised across Craftsman's brushless drill family.
  • V20 batteries are cheap and everywhere - Lowe's runs constant promos, and owners note the platform's value is unbeatable when you catch battery deals.
  • Onboard bit holder and belt hook cover jobsite conveniences that even some premium drills skip.
  • Street pricing is aggressive: $119 list with regular sub-$100 sale prices, versus $150-180 for comparable-power pro-brand bare tools.
  • One owner summarized the RP tier value bluntly: the $100 price was 'well worth it' with plenty of power for every house project.
  • No side handle is included or supported - Pro Tool Reviews flagged the same omission on the CMCD721, warning that big spade bits and hole saws in low gear can wrench your wrist in a bind-up.
  • There is no kickback-control electronics, a safety feature now standard on DeWalt, Milwaukee, Bosch, and even Ridgid flagship hammer drills.
  • Craftsman only publishes UWO rather than in-lbs of torque, making honest comparisons hard - the class-leading pro drills still out-muscle it in heavy boring.
  • Sold tool-only with no dedicated kit SKU, so newcomers must buy batteries and a charger separately or through a combo kit.
  • 34,000 BPM handles Tapcons and 3/8-inch anchors fine, but owners consistently recommend stepping up to an SDS rotary hammer for repeated or larger concrete holes.
  • It is made in China, displacing the made-in-USA CMCD721 - a sore point among longtime Craftsman loyalists.
  • The V20 ecosystem tops out at DIY-grade batteries and tools, so there is no path to the high-output packs that unlock more performance on pro platforms.