TL;DR
Get home appliances delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Pro Tool Reviews compared Milwaukee’s fourth-generation M18 Fuel 2904 with Bosch’s GSB18V-1330CN in four performance tests, using each brand’s 8.0Ah battery. Milwaukee finished each test faster and was 17% faster on average in the report. The results favor Milwaukee for speed and size, but they do not establish that Bosch users should switch or settle every purchasing consideration.
Milwaukee’s fourth-generation M18 Fuel 2904 was faster than Bosch’s GSB18V-1330CN in all four tasks in a 2026 comparison by Pro Tool Reviews, which reported that the Milwaukee drill averaged 17% faster across its tests. The results give Milwaukee the performance advantage in this particular head-to-head, while leaving open how the models compare in other jobs, battery configurations and working conditions.
The review tested the two brands’ top-performing cordless hammer drills: Bosch’s 18V brushless GSB18V-1330CN and Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 2904. The publication used an 8.0Ah Bosch Core18V High Power battery and an 8.0Ah Milwaukee Forge battery, saying it chose high-capacity packs to assess what each drill could do rather than using the batteries supplied in kits.
Milwaukee recorded the faster average in every test. It drove an RSS screw in 2.49 seconds, compared with Bosch’s 2.88; completed the spade-bit test in 2.62 seconds versus 3.29; and drilled with a self-feed bit in 1.89 seconds versus 2.09. In concrete, Milwaukee took 6.84 seconds, while Bosch took 8.94 seconds. The concrete test showed the widest gap, according to the review.
Each result was averaged from three runs. The tasks used a T25 bit and RSS screw in stacked OSB, a one-inch spade bit in thicker stacked OSB, a 2 9/16-inch self-feed bit in a pine stud, and a 3/8-inch concrete bit in cured 4,000-PSI concrete. The publication said it shifted the self-feed test to low speed if a drill could not consistently complete the hole in high speed.
Speed, Size and Trade-Offs
For tradespeople choosing between these two models, the test offers a practical comparison beyond listed specifications: it measures how quickly each drill handled several common fastening and drilling tasks. Milwaukee’s across-the-board faster times may matter to users who repeat those tasks frequently, while its more compact dimensions and lower weight could be relevant on jobs where a drill is carried or used in tight spaces.
The review’s figures list Milwaukee at 3.2 pounds bare and 5.6 pounds tested, against Bosch at 4.1 pounds bare and 6.3 pounds tested. Milwaukee is also listed at 7 inches long, compared with Bosch at 8.1 inches. Those specifications point to a size advantage, but they do not quantify fatigue or establish that every user will prefer Milwaukee’s grip. The reviewer said Bosch’s handle fit their hand well and its balance helped the tool feel less fatiguing than its weight might suggest.
The comparison is not a verdict on every drill from either brand. It covers two specific hammer-drill models under the publication’s chosen test conditions. Price, kit contents, service access, battery ownership and the demands of a particular trade can affect a buying decision, and the supplied source does not provide a full comparison of those factors.
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2904 cordless drill
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
The Models and Test Setup
The review describes Bosch’s Core18V batteries as an earlier advanced battery development and says other tool makers have since caught up as product development continued. Its test focuses on whether the current leading drills from the two manufacturers perform differently in measured tasks, rather than reviewing each company’s full cordless range.
On the published specifications, Bosch has higher maximum speeds: 550 and 2,200 RPM, compared with Milwaukee’s 500 and 2,100 RPM. Milwaukee is listed with greater maximum torque, at 1,400 inch-pounds versus Bosch’s 1,330, and a higher hammer rate of 33,000 beats per minute versus 30,000. The review noted Milwaukee’s advantage in size and weight before testing, but said the spec sheet alone could not show how the drills felt in hand.
Both models include kickback-control technology, according to the source. Bosch can add a Connected Module for smart functions, while Milwaukee offers One-Key on the 2906 model. The review also points to Bosch’s electronic angle detection and its batteries’ compatibility with tools in the Ampshare system as considerations beyond the timed tests.
“Milwaukee was the winner in all four performance tests.”
— Pro Tool Reviews
Bosch GSB18V-1330CN cordless hammer drill
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Limits of the Head-to-Head
The reported results apply to one pair of models, two selected high-capacity batteries and four controlled tasks. The source does not establish how the drills compare with other battery sizes, accessories, materials or extended use on a job site. It also does not report test variability, prices, long-term reliability or the effect of different operators, so the 17% average should not be treated as a guaranteed productivity gain for every user.
The report says Milwaukee’s fifth-generation M18 Fuel hammer drill is expected by year’s end, but the supplied material gives no exact launch date, price or performance data. It is also unclear whether any future model would change the comparison. The review itself does not recommend that Bosch owners switch brands, and its tests do not measure the value of staying with an existing battery platform.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
A New Milwaukee Model Ahead
The next development flagged by the report is the expected fifth-generation Milwaukee M18 Fuel hammer drill. The source anticipates it by the end of 2026, but provides no confirmed date or technical details. Until a product announcement and independent testing are available, its performance should not be assumed from the fourth-generation model’s results.
For buyers making a decision now, the comparison supports a narrow conclusion: Milwaukee’s 2904 was faster in these four tests and smaller and lighter on the listed specifications. Bosch’s drill completed the tested tasks, and features such as its grip, angle detection and Ampshare compatibility may matter to individual users. A fuller purchasing decision would require current local pricing, the included batteries and an assessment of the user’s existing tools and work.
high capacity 8.0Ah drill batteries
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Which drill won the Pro Tool Reviews comparison?
Milwaukee’s M18 Fuel 2904 was faster in all four tests reported. The publication calculated an average speed advantage of 17% across those tasks.
Which test showed the biggest difference?
The concrete drilling test had the widest gap: Milwaukee took 6.84 seconds and Bosch took 8.94 seconds to drill three inches with a 3/8-inch concrete bit in cured 4,000-PSI concrete.
Does the test mean Bosch users should switch?
No. The review said Bosch’s drill completed the jobs it was asked to do. The tests do not account for every user’s tools, battery investment, preferred grip, work or purchasing costs.
What batteries did the reviewers use?
The test used an 8.0Ah Bosch Core18V High Power pack and an 8.0Ah Milwaukee Forge pack, rather than the batteries bundled in tool kits.
When is the next Milwaukee hammer drill expected?
The report says Milwaukee’s fifth-generation M18 Fuel hammer drill is expected by the end of 2026. It does not give an exact release date or specifications.
Source: rss
Fall yard work Picks
leaf blowers
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
