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Pro Tool Reviews compared Milwaukee’s fourth-generation M18 Fuel 2904 with Bosch’s GSB18V-1330CN in four drilling tests using 8.0Ah batteries. Milwaukee was faster in every test and averaged 17% faster overall, while Bosch still completed the jobs and offers features including electronic angle detection.
Milwaukee’s fourth-generation M18 Fuel 2904 was faster than Bosch’s GSB18V-1330CN in all four tasks in a cordless hammer-drill comparison by Pro Tool Reviews, averaging 17% faster across the test results. The comparison offers buyers a performance snapshot, but it does not establish that Milwaukee is the better choice for every user: Bosch also completed the tests and has distinct features, including electronic angle detection. See how the brands compare in this Bosch hammer-drill comparison.
The review compared the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2904 with the Bosch GSB18V-1330CN, using each brand’s 8.0Ah high-capacity battery: Milwaukee’s Forge pack and Bosch’s Core18V High Power pack. For more options, see these cordless drill sets. Pro Tool Reviews said it selected advanced batteries to test what each drill could do, rather than using the batteries included in standard kits.
Milwaukee recorded shorter average times in each task. It drove an RSS screw in 2.49 seconds, compared with Bosch’s 2.88; drilled with a spade bit in 2.62 seconds, compared with 3.29; completed the self-feed-bit test in 1.89 seconds, compared with 2.09; and drilled concrete in 6.84 seconds, compared with 8.94. The review reported an overall 17% average speed advantage for Milwaukee across those four tests.
The drills’ specifications also differed in size and rated performance. Another cordless option to consider is Craftsman’s cheaper cordless drill. Milwaukee lists 1,400 inch-pounds of torque, a maximum hammer rate of 33,000 blows per minute, and a tested weight of 5.6 pounds. Bosch lists 1,330 inch-pounds, 30,000 blows per minute, and a tested weight of 6.3 pounds. Bosch has higher listed maximum speeds—550 and 2,200 rpm, versus Milwaukee’s 500 and 2,100 rpm—but the test results favored Milwaukee in the tasks reviewed.
What the Speed Gap Means on Site
The results give tradespeople a practical point of comparison beyond headline specifications. In this test, Milwaukee paired faster completion times with a lighter, shorter package: the review lists its tested weight as 0.7 pounds lower and its length as 7.0 inches, compared with Bosch’s 8.1 inches. Those differences may matter to workers who use a drill repeatedly or in confined spaces, though the report does not measure fatigue or productivity over a full workday.
The gap was largest in concrete drilling, where Milwaukee averaged 6.84 seconds and Bosch 8.94 seconds. The reviewer said the higher hammer rate may have contributed, but the test does not isolate that specification from other design differences. For existing Bosch owners, the review’s conclusion was more measured than a recommendation to switch: Bosch handled the tasks without difficulty, so the results alone do not show that a change of platform is warranted.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2904 cordless drill
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How the Drills Were Compared
Pro Tool Reviews used freshly charged batteries and averaged three runs per test. Tasks included driving an RSS structural screw into stacked, glued OSB; drilling the same material with a 1-inch spade bit; boring a 2 9/16-inch self-feed bit through a pine stud; and drilling a 3-inch-deep hole in fully cured 4,000-psi concrete using hammer mode. The self-feed test began in high speed and moved to low speed if a drill could not complete the hole consistently.
The review also compared features beyond speed. Both models have electronic kickback control, according to the report. Milwaukee’s One-Key version provides connected features; Bosch can use a Connected Module add-on. Bosch’s electronic angle detection was singled out as a feature that can help keep structural screws straight. The report also notes that Bosch batteries work across tools in the Ampshare system.
“Milwaukee was the winner in all four performance tests.”
— Pro Tool Reviews
Bosch GSB18V-1330CN cordless drill
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Limits of the Test Results
The results reflect four specific tasks, one selected model from each brand, and high-capacity batteries. They do not establish how the drills compare in every material, with other battery sizes, across longer work sessions, or at different price points. The source does not provide a broader sample of drills or independent replication of the results.
It is also unclear from the report how much the tested speed differences would affect overall job completion times in everyday work. Battery life, purchase cost, service, and a user’s preferred grip or platform may influence a buying decision, but the reported comparison does not resolve those factors. The review says a fifth-generation Milwaukee M18 Fuel hammer drill is expected by year-end; it does not provide confirmed specifications or a firm release date.
cordless hammer drill set with high-capacity batteries
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Milwaukee’s Next Drill Release
The next development flagged by the review is the expected fifth-generation M18 Fuel hammer drill, which it says is anticipated by the end of 2026. No performance figures, price, or precise launch timing are included in the source. Until those details are confirmed and the new model is tested, the 2904 remains the Milwaukee drill assessed in this comparison.
For buyers deciding now, the reported results support a narrow conclusion: Milwaukee was faster in these four tests and lighter and shorter on the listed measurements, while Bosch offers different features and completed the same tasks. A decision should also account for tool-and-battery costs, the user’s existing battery platform, and the work the drill will actually be asked to do.
best cordless drill for concrete drilling
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Key Questions
Which drill won the Pro Tool Reviews comparison?
Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 2904 was faster in all four tests and averaged 17% faster across them, according to Pro Tool Reviews.
Which drilling task showed the biggest time difference?
The concrete test showed the widest gap: Milwaukee averaged 6.84 seconds and Bosch 8.94 seconds to drill the test hole.
Did Bosch complete the tests?
Yes. The review said the Bosch drill completed the jobs without straining its capabilities, although it was slower in the measured tests.
What batteries were used?
The comparison used an 8.0Ah Bosch Core18V High Power battery and an 8.0Ah Milwaukee Forge battery, rather than standard kit batteries.
Is a newer Milwaukee hammer drill coming?
The review says a fifth-generation M18 Fuel hammer drill is expected by the end of 2026. It does not give a confirmed release date, price, or specifications.
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