My most trusted electric screwdriver has just been replaced – and the upgrade is already on sale

Hoto Pixeldrive Cordless Electric Screwdriver

ZDNET Highlights

• A well-built, powerful, ergonomic cordless screwdriver designed for jobs big and small
• The smart display is a nice touch and takes the guesswork out of knowing torque settings and charge levels
• Priced at $60, this is a great device for the price.

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Compared to old school screwdrivers, cordless screwdrivers are an absolute joy to use. It is a tool that turns a difficult, tedious task into a much faster, easier task. It’s one of those tools I can’t work without anymore. This means I’m always looking for cordless screwdrivers that are good quality, sturdy, and affordable.

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Hoto has been one company at the forefront lately when it comes to high-quality tools, and the latest Pixeldrive Cordless Electric Screwdriver is another winner.

So what makes PixelDrive stand out from the crowd?

First of all, as the name suggests, it has a cool, curved and clear smart display that never leaves you guessing about the torque setting or battery life. This is the first of its kind I’ve seen on a tool like this, and it’s a great idea. This is a game-changer, and it made me realize how intuitive it is to find out what setting your tool is in by glancing at a small dial or flashing LED.

Changing the torque settings is also a quick job – you literally turn the dial on the front, allowing you to switch from off through six settings – 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6Nm – meaning the screwdriver is just as capable of handling heavy-duty tasks like building furniture as it is of putting together a PC.

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The screwdriver can also handle 8Nm of manual torque, which is perfect for breaking out those tough fasteners. The ergonomic design of the screwdriver’s body makes it comfortable to deliver that kind of torque by hand.

There is an LED ring on the front that illuminates the work area perfectly and shadow-free. It’s so bright that you can see what’s going on without having to look.

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There is a smart two-stage forward/back trigger to activate the screwdriver with smart display. Lightly depress the trigger for 80 rpm low speed mode, and fully depress the trigger for the full 200 rpm. It’s a nice, easy and intuitive trigger that I quickly got used to, and the ability to shift from one speed to another makes it a really easy screwdriver to control.

The PixelDrive is powered by a 2,000mAh Li-ion battery that lasts for a long time. When it needs recharging, I simply plug a USB-C cable into the base of the screwdriver, and it goes from flat to full in under three hours.

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The PixelDrive comes with a sleek three-piece holder and 30 high-quality, hard-wearing bits in a variety of sizes.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

When I review something, I try not to look at the price because I like to determine its value for myself. I would gladly pay $100 for it hoto pixeldriveSo imagine my surprise when I found out its list price was $80 and Amazon currently has a 25% discount on it, bringing the price down to $60.

This is one of those “as good as they get” tools. It is well designed, powerful, ergonomic and built to last. And it’s now at a price that makes it unforgettable for the tool enthusiast.