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This $50 electric screwdriver is a reliable addition to my toolkit (especially on sale)

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ZDNET’s key takeaways

  • The Hoto 12-in-1 electric screwdriver is typically priced at $60, but is currently on sale for $50.
  • This electric screwdriver has a fast 220 RPM motor, two buttons for screwing in and out for ease of use, three torque settings for different tasks, a circular LED shadowless lamp for better visibility.
  • While durable and reliable, the Hoto 12-in-1 electric screwdriver lacks a low enough setting for delicate tasks, making it too powerful for small, intricate jobs.

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The Hoto cordless electric screwdriver<!–> is currently $10 off on Amazon, bringing the price down to $50. 


I use a lot of screwdrivers, and I’ve found that while it’s hard to beat a decent set of traditional screwdrivers (here is a great set by Klein Tools–> that will last you a lifetime), there are times when electric screwdrivers can take the strain off my hands and wrists. 

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I believe in thoroughly testing tools, and the one I’ve been testing hard for over a year now is the Hoto 3.6V cordless 1,500mAh electric screwdriver<!–> which has proved itself to be a worthy addition to my toolkit. 

On one end of this superb screwdriver is a standard 1/4-inch socket that takes the various bits, and behind that is a rotary knob that switches the screwdriver off and on and also switches between three torque settings. There’s also a circular LED shadowless lamp, so you can see what you’re doing, which is a nice touch because it means I don’t have to wrangle a flashlight when I’m working in a dark area.

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Rotary torque knob with shadowless LED light.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

On the other end of the screwdriver, there’s a USB-C port for charging the unit — a neat touch because it eliminates the need for a proprietary charger (I don’t need any more of those in my life). 

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The controls are about as simple as they get and are located in the middle of the tool. There’s a button to screw a screw in and a button to screw a screw out.

<!–> HOTO electric screwdriver in action

Hoto electric screwdriver in action.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The screwdriver and bits are stored in the anodized aluminum alloy storage box with a soft, rubber top handle. If you want more than the dozen bits, Hoto has a version with 25 bits in a different case for a few dollars more–>

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The three torque settings range from powerful enough to assemble a PC case or flat pack furniture (where you need quite low power) to powerful enough to put a fence up or screw down floorboards. 

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This screwdriver doesn’t offer a super-gentle setting for things such as electronic gadgets, which this screwdriver might be too powerful for. This is where a mini-precision electric screwdriver<!–> complements the Hoto screwdriver well (and this is also on sale right now).

ZDNET’s buying advice

Aside from the lack of a super-gentle setting, the Hoto electric screwdriver with a dozen bits–> is a great choice — especially at this lower price point. Mine has already had well over a year of use now, undertaking tasks such as assembling PC cases, putting together flat-pack furniture, and being abused driving six-inch screws into plastic door and window frames, and it is still going strong. 

It’s more than paid for itself. 

Hoto electric screwdriver tech specs

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Source: Robotics - zdnet.com