Ryobi
Ryobi ONE+ HP PBLDD02 Drill/Driver
Ryobi launched this second-generation HP brushless drill/driver in March 2025 as a Home Depot exclusive, and it replaced the 750 in-lbs PBLDD01 as the most powerful drill/driver in the ONE+ range. It makes 850 in-lbs through a 2-speed gearbox (0-700 and 0-2,150 RPM), with a 24-position clutch and a 1/2-inch ratcheting metal chuck. At 2.3 lbs bare it is the lightest drill/driver here, 0.8 lb under the Ridgid R86114. Ryobi's '65% more torque' claim is measured against its basic brushed PCL206, not against the previous HP model.
Specifications
Features
Written from the maker's spec sheet and independent reviews, not from owner reports.
Strengths
- ✓At 2.3 lbs bare it is almost a pound lighter than the Milwaukee 2903 and DeWalt DCD801, which your arm notices by the end of a day hanging cabinets or shelving.
- ✓850 in-lbs is 100 more than the PBLDD01 it replaces and enough for 2-inch spade bits and mid-size hole saws in framing lumber.
- ✓The 0-700 RPM low gear is quicker than the 500-650 RPM low gears on the pro-brand drills, so augers clear chips faster when the load allows.
- ✓It runs on any ONE+ battery, including packs decades old, though the HP packs get the most out of it.
- ✓The 24-position clutch and ratcheting metal chuck used to be pro-brand features and now come on a $139 drill.
- ✓Home Depot regularly bundles it with a 4Ah HP battery and charger for little more than the bare-tool price.
Drawbacks
- ✗850 in-lbs is well below the 1,250-1,590 in-lbs of the Makita and Milwaukee flagships, so 3-inch self-feed bits and big augers are out of its league.
- ✗No anti-kickback electronics, and the tool-only box has neither a side handle nor a belt clip, so a jammed hole saw has only your wrist to stop it.
- ✗The LED moved down to the foot, where the chuck shadows the bit, and the magnetic bit holder from older Ryobi drills is gone.
- ✗It's sold only at Home Depot, so there's little price competition, and Ryobi's marketing compares it to its cheapest brushed drill, not to the PBLDD01 it replaced.
Common Questions
Will my old Ryobi ONE+ batteries work with the PBLDD02?
Is the PBLDD02 better than Ryobi's PBLHM101 hammer drill?
Can the PBLDD02 handle a 3-inch self-feed bit?
Why is the PBLDD02 kit only $10 more than the bare tool?
Compare the Ryobi ONE+ HP PBLDD02 Drill/Driver
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