Tech

5 Harbor Freight Tools That Are More Powerful Than Ryobi

Published

4 weeks ago

8 March 2026

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Ryobi is frequently cited as one of the best major power tools brands on the market, particularly when it comes to measuring the ratio of price-to-performance. Not only is the Ryobi One+ battery system robust and reliable, but the company’s catalog of both corded and cordless tools is absolutely massive, with over 300 products in the 18V class alone. On top of that, Ryobi is the official Home Depot-affiliated power tool brand, which is why you won’t find any of the green tools sold at Lowe’s or any other brick-and-mortar retailer. This affiliation gives the company a certain measure of credibility that’s hard to come by in many of the other value-oriented brands on the market.

Harbor Freight’s power tools fill a similar niche. They aren’t usually trying to outperform the top-of-the-line models from DeWalt, Makita, or Milwaukee, but many of them aim to offer an approximation of that performance at a fraction of the price. This is most apparent in the company’s premium Hercules power tools, which are generally higher quality than those in its Bauer line.

The tool lines of these two manufacturers aren’t sold in the same stores, but the companies trade blows in terms of specs and performance more often than you might think. Ryobi is considered the safer bet by many craftspeople, but there are several instances where you might be surprised to learn that Harbor Freight comes out on top. By comparing the specs of two similar tools from each brand, taking a look at their weighted customer review scores, and seeing what pros have to say about them, you can see that there are several Harbor Freight tools that are able to outperform their Ryobi counterparts in terms of raw power.

Hercules 20V ½-inch Ultra Torque Impact Wrench (HCB85B2)

The Hercules lineup consistently hits well above its weight class in terms of design, power, and performance, but there are a handful of the brand’s power tools that are truly exceptional. These manage to hit high-end performance benchmarks while costing about half as much as other brands. One of the best examples of this is the Hercules 20V ½-inch Ultra Torque Impact Wrench (HCB85B2).

The closest Ryobi variation of this tool is the 18V One+ HP ½-inch High Torque Impact Wrench (PBLIW01B). This is a fairly powerful battery-powered wrench that offers four modes of control and up to 1,170 ft-lbs of breakaway torque. It retails for $219.00 and is well-loved by users, with a 4.9 out of 5 on the Ryobi site and a 4.8 on Home Depot. Even so, the Hercules has the same four control modes, three different speed modes, and also boasts an impressive 1,500 ft-lbs of breakaway torque, handily outperforming the Ryobi while also being cheaper, at just $189.99.

This tool has a 4.9 out of 5 on the Harbor Freight website, matching the customer review score of the Ryobi. There are dozens of reviews that specifically cite the tool’s build quality and power as reasons for their positive reviews. “I feel like I have to brace myself when I use this,” said one. “Maybe I just need to work on upper body strength, but the force is great.” Torque Test Channel did extensive testing on this tool as well, and found that it even outperformed several higher-end tools offered by premium brands like DeWalt and Milwaukee, sitting several slots above the Ryobi on the power scale.

Hercules 20V 7 ¼-inch Rear Handle Circular Saw (HCB72B-1)

Just about every craftsperson needs a good circular saw, but many might not know that the rear-handled worm-drive-style saws tend to be a lot stronger than the typical top-handled variety. Hercules makes one of these that dramatically outperforms Ryobi’s closest competitor.

One of the best circular saws that Ryobi has to offer is the 18V One+ 7 ¼-inch Circular Saw (PBLCS300B). This promises 325 cuts per charge (though the listing doesn’t specify battery capacity) and cuts at speeds up to 4,300 RPM. That’s a pretty potent little saw, and users seem to like it, giving it a 4.8 out of 5 on the Ryobi site and a 4.5 on Home Depot, where it retails for $129.00.

That said, it isn’t even close to the power offered by the Hercules 7 ¼-inch Rear Handle Circular Saw (HCB72B-1). This tool costs an extra $20, but it’s able to make up to 725 cuts per charge on a 12Ah battery and speeds up to 5,800 RPM. That’s a significant boost in power, making it outperform the Ryobi model.

The Hercules saw has 4.9 out of 5 on the Harbor Freight site. “I love the worm drive configuration and the hook,” one reviewer said. “It has plenty of power. I’ve run it for several days on one battery. It’s half the price of DeWalt or Milwaukee, but performs just as good in my opinion.” Pro reviewers seem to like the tool as well. “Hercules claims this saw can handle all grades of lumber, including the toughest hardwoods. They aren’t messing around,” said Tool Craze. “No doubt thanks to a strong high-performance brushless motor designed to chew up and spit out lumber.”

Hercules 20V ½-inch Drill/Driver (HCB91B)

One of the most important power tools in any collection has to be the basic drill. This is something that you’ll be using in nearly every project that you take on, so it makes sense that you’d want to make sure you get a good one. Fortunately, this is another area where Harbor Freight put a lot of effort into making a tool with fantastic performance.

The Hercules 20V ½-inch Drill/Driver (HCB91B) is just $69.99 and has 14 clutch settings, a two-speed transmission, and promises to drill up to 350 holes on a single charge. But most importantly, it has a brushless motor that promises up to 1,200 in-lbs of torque. That’s a lot of power for any standard drill, let alone a budget option. Meanwhile, Ryobi’s brushless 18V One+ HP ½-inch Drill Driver (PBLDD01B) goes for $99.99 at Home Depot. This has a lot of the same features, but it’s only able to generate a maximum of 750 in-lbs of torque. This is a huge difference in performance, making the Harbor Freight tool outshine Ryobi in both price and quality.

The Hercules has a 4.7 out of 5 on the Harbor Freight website. “This drill is solid, well-built, and powerful,” one reviewer wrote. “I was impressed with the quality of the materials used in its construction,” said another. It isn’t just customers who feel this way, either. Pros seem to like the drill as well. “It has specs that come out in a good place for a Pro-level compact drill,” said Pro Tool Reviews Editor in Chief, Kenny Koehler. “The design and specs are close enough to that DeWalt drill to make us wonder if Stanley Black & Decker might be manufacturing Hercules for Harbor Freight.”

Hercules 20V ½-inch Hammer Drill/Driver (HCB92B)

Those who are going to be working with a lot of masonry might need to get a hammer drill rather than the standard version. These produce percussive force in addition to rotation that allows the bit to penetrate materials like concrete, brick, and asphalt. Luckily, this is another tool that is exceptional in the Hercules line.

The Ryobi 18V One+ HP ½-inch Hammer Drill (PSHM02B) is a popular option that has some decent specs. It’s able to operate at speeds up to 1,700 RPM, can deliver up to 450 in-lbs of torque, and hammers at a rate of up to 27,200 BPM. That ain’t bad, which is why the tool has a 4.7 out of 5 on Home Depot. That said, the Hercules 20V ½-inch Compact Hammer Drill/Driver (HCB92B) outclasses it in every metric. It operates at speeds up to 2,000 RPM, can produce up to 1,200 in-lbs of torque, and hammers at rates up to 32,000 BPM.

This tool boasts a 4.8 out of 5 on the Harbor Freight site, and users seem to be particularly impressed by its reliability and power. “I use this drill on a daily basis,” said one reviewer. “I used this drill to core drill 12″ holes in storm sewer pipes. We also use it to mix up batches of mortar in 5-gallon buckets. I used other brand drills doing the same things, and they broke or burned out right away.” YouTuber Tool Review Zone did extensive testing on the drill as well. “This thing definitely stands on its own,” he said. “Even if this thing was priced a bit higher, this is still a legit buy. This is a well-built hammer drill and another really good job by Hercules.”

Hercules Compact Jobsite Blower (HC102B)

The quality of a jobsite blower can be measured in a few different ways. Weight, volume, and battery life can all contribute to a blower’s overall quality, but blowing power is measured by two separate metrics: volume and speed. The Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP Compact Blower (PSBLB01B) is a decently capable little tool that blows air at a volume of 220 CFM and at speeds up to 140 MPH, and retails for $109.00. The tool is quite popular, with a 4.8 out of 5 on the Ryobi site and a 4.7 out of 5 on Home Depot. Compare this to the Hercules 20V Compact Jobsite Blower (HC102B), though. This $44.99 tool blows 120 CFM at much higher speeds, reaching up to 200 MPH. This means that the Ryobi wins in terms of volume, which is better for sweeping wide areas and clearing dry leaves, but the Hercules is the superior tool when it comes to speed. This makes it better for tightly focused power, which is generally more ideal for shop environments and clearing stubborn, wet materials.

The Hercules blower has a 4.7 on the Harbor Freight site. “They weren’t kidding about how handy this is for shop and project cleanup,” one review stated. “No longer need to wait for air compressor pressure or use a much larger leaf blower. Surprisingly powerful for its size.” Pro reviewers have argued that the lightweight, small form factor, and power make it a really handy tool to keep in the shop. “This is a must-have tool,” said YouTuber Rural Minnesota Guy. “This, right now, I use all the time. Any time I get done with a tool, I blow it off. I clean up [my workbench]. It’s just really, really good.”

Our methodology

In order to compare the power levels of tools from different brands, we started by finding the Harbor Freight and Ryobi tools that were the most similar in terms of power source, design, fittings, and intended use. This is important in order to ensure that we are truly showcasing comparable products and not comparing dissimilar tools, like a drill to an electric screwdriver, for instance. We then examined each of these tools’ specs, specifically choosing examples where the Harbor Freight version of the tool advertised more power than the Ryobi alternative.

Once we had our tools picked out, we examined the customer reviews on each of the companies’ respective websites and then sought out professional reviews. This helped to verify that these tools stood up to real-world use and testing and that the power they demonstrated is in line with the specs reported by the manufacturer.

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Tech

Heatbit Maxi Pro Review: a Space Heater That Also Mines Bitcoin

Published

1 minute ago

5 April 2026

NewsAdmin

But once you’ve set up your device, Heatbit will track and file your mining revenue to your phone, even if you don’t yet have a bitcoin wallet set up. After you reach the transfer minimum of 100,000 satoshis, or one thousandth of one bitcoin ($66 at April 2026 prices), you can transfer this to your wallet and, presumably, spend it. Heatbit’s app is compatible with the Lightning networks and most major exchanges (Coinbase, Binance, OKX, BitFinex).

Unlike many air purifiers that activate only when there are air quality issues, the Heatbit continually pushes air through its HEPA filter while the miner and heater are active. While Heatbit recommends filter replacement once every six months, in practice, the app showed that the filter was being used up by about 1 percent a day. For whatever reason, my Heatbit app refused to believe that I was not in Seattle, and so my exterior air quality readings were all tied to King County, Washington.

Early quirks aside, the ease of onramp is admirable for a device not aimed at crypto-loving engineers. At current prices, if I run my heater/miner nonstop, this would net me about a $70 rebate on my heating bills once every two months. Pretty cool, right?

Why the Math on Heatbit Doesn’t Pencil

But here’s the problem with that math. I’d also need to pay at least $1,500 upfront (the current discounted price of the Maxi Pro) before I get access to these savings. This is about $1,350 more than the best space heaters I’ve tested. It’s also around $900 or $1,000 more than a combination purifier–heater from Dyson. So your money-saving math needs to take this upfront cost into account.

At this rate, assuming my energy costs and bitcoin prices stayed constant, it would take me between five and eight years to “make my money back” in bitcoin if I ran this thing 24/7 for four months a year. That’s on a device with a one-year warranty. (Heatbit’s founders say there has been a failure rate only in the “low single digits” after three years for the first-generation Heatbit Trio.)

These numbers assume I would otherwise run a space heater nonstop at full blast for months on end as a primary heat source—which is not how most people use space heaters. I tend to turn on a space heater only when I’m in a room, and direct it toward myself. For heating a whole house, natural gas or a heat pump are both far more cost-effective options, if available.

But let’s say you have only electricity for heat. And you would always be running a space heater. And let’s assume the Heatbit keeps running at the same efficiency for at least five years. Is the Heatbit now the best choice, economically? Well, still maybe not.

Every Crypto Miner Is a Heater

Every crypto mining device will heat your house, whether or not its makers advertise it as a space heater. Each miner will release heat with 100 percent efficiency, according to how much power it uses. That’s because one way or another, all power waste will eventually get converted to heat.

The most efficient combination space heater and bitcoin miner will always be the one that mines bitcoin most efficiently. At that point, you could just pick up a Canaan Avalon Q ($1,900) and get a 50 percent better hash rate and produce about the same amount of heat. Newfangled ASIC Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) miners might net you even better efficiency. Pretty much anything you use, with the same amount of power, will release this much heat.

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Tech

The US Navy Wants This Autonomous Sub For Deploying Heavy Payloads Under The Sea

Published

15 minutes ago

5 April 2026

NewsAdmin

The use of drones and autonomous vehicles is continuing to rise. In a military capacity, this has allowed people in the service to access areas that would otherwise be incredibly difficult and dangerous to reach. While the public may be more familiar with how the U.S. military is developing new ways to deal with drones on the battlefield, this idea pertains to the depths of the ocean, too. This is why the U.S. Navy is so interested in the capacities of the Dive-XL, an autonomous submarine developed by Anduril.

In April 2025, the U.S. Navy announced the beginning of its Combat Autonomous Maritime Platform program. Its aim is to find partners that can deliver an unmanned and autonomous vessel capable of diving as far as over 650 feet below the surface. The vessel should be sizeable-enough to have the ability to dispatch payloads at these considerable depths, and boast a range of around 1,000 nautical miles. It was specified, too, that this autonomous submarine should be capable of handling equipment of varying sizes. This is particularly important because the possible scope of such a vessel’s mission notably varies from reconnaissance to something considerably more offensive.

Anduril’s Dive-XL has been selected to fulfill this role. Stretching 27 feet long with a 7-foot beam, it’s far from the tiny, stealthy drone some militaries are so used to wielding in the air. Let’s see exactly why this sub might be so important to the future of naval warfare.

Why the Dive-XL sub could be right for the U.S. Navy

With a range of about 2,000 nautical miles and the capacity to reach depths of about 20,000 feet, the Dive-XL definitely meets the requirements established by the Combat Maritime Autonomous Platform. It’s also designed to support single, double, triple, and extended payload configurations with a modular body. Powered with an all-electric power train that allows for long missions without surfacing, the Dive-XL can serve a variety of missions. An overly-specialized machine can only suit a niche role, while something like the Dive-XL is more versatile.

It’s also designed to accommodate and deploy tech such as Anduril’s Seabed Sentry, which is essentially individual Lattice AI-enabled cogs in an underwater communication and surveillance network. It also works with the Copperhead drone, an autonomous weapon that can be equipped with an explosive and is available in different capacities. The latter was specifically built to be deployed by a system like Dive-XL.

Anduril boasts that the capacity to stay underwater for long periods using pure electric power dramatically boosts the model’s ability to “operate undetected, extend its range, and deliver payloads in contested maritime environments.” This, according to the manufacturer, will be key to performing its role in an environment, and in a future, where it is unlikely to be the only autonomous vessel of its type.

The practicality of deploying the Anduril Dive-XL

The U.S. Navy has wielded many deadly attack submarines, and this Anduril model will be a formidable, though far from conventional, addition to the ranks. The variable hull design will make it less costly as well as more versatile, all of which will help to accomplish the main goal of quickly accumulating an autonomous force that can dispense numerous drones. This can in turn ease the pressure on already-strained sailors of crewed vessels.

Anduril also claims that the system “enables warfighters to launch, employ, and recover the system flexibly at sea or ashore with minimal infrastructure and heavy equipment.” To help with that, it’s first got to be easy to get it to where it needs to be. That is why Anduril designed it to be launched and collected by ship or pier and transported via aircraft or truck. It can also be carried across water in a shipping crate.

There’s no doubt that drones and autonomous vehicles will be an increasingly prominent part of warfare and defense in the future. The U.S. Navy clearly considers Anduril’s Dive-XL to be a significant part of that equation, but how it will continue to evolve and which different functions it will be able to fulfill beneath the surface remain to be seen.

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Tech

Why Spring Is The Absolute Worst Time For Potholes

Published

28 minutes ago

5 April 2026

NewsAdmin

Mikhail Yakovlev/Getty Images

It’s a yearly delight to feel the weather warm up as spring approaches, but this season of renewal does come with some downsides. One of the most annoying and dangerous is the road pothole, which manifests itself as a small dent, a massive hole, or something in between on the roadway. These become especially frequent sights throughout the spring season, thanks largely to the transition from winter to spring. Temperatures going from freezing to warm and snow and ice melting into water, freezing, and remelting ultimately lead to potholes being a common issue.

The formation of a pothole begins with the accumulation and subsequent melting of snow and ice during winter. This water makes its way into the dirt below the pavement via small cracks and holes. Freezing temps then turn that water into ice, which expands to lift and move the soil around it. As a result, the pavement above moves around, too, and when that ice melts in the warming spring, it leaves weak spots in those areas. Combine this weakened state with frequent driving, and it’s only a matter of time before the pavement breaks apart into a pothole.

While the squiggly road lines known as tar snakes often prevent some potholes from forming, plenty manage to take shape all the same. Potholes can mean serious trouble on the road. That’s why it’s crucial to practice safe driving habits and even take action should you encounter them.

How to take action when potholes form

Mikhail Yakovlev/Getty Images

When potholes have formed on the road, it’s key to drive safely in their presence. It can be difficult to tell just how big and deep they are from the driver’s seat, and hitting potholes could mean a guaranteed trip to the mechanic, be it for new tires or suspension parts, so you want to exercise caution. Don’t drive right over them, skirt around them when you can, and if they’re bad enough, safely change lanes to avoid them if possible. If you have little choice other than to drive your vehicle over one, be sure to do so at a low speed to prevent unnecessary wear.

Once you’re off the road, you can still take action against the potholes in your area. While more often than not, towns and cities will eventually get around to filling potholes, especially those in traffic-heavy areas, sometimes those on side streets will be overlooked. Oftentimes, you can go online and bring awareness to them by filling out a pothole repair request form or using other methods to get in touch with those responsible for repairing them. Doing so will benefit your vehicle’s health in the long run and the wider community as well.

There is no shortage of dangers and obstacles on the road, but few are more jarring than the pothole. That’s why, as spring approaches, it’s in every driver’s best interest to be extra careful while driving and, if they feel strongly enough, speak up to get something done about them.

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Tech

Apple at 50: Michael Spindler, the CEO who brought in the clones

Published

42 minutes ago

5 April 2026

NewsAdmin

He’s Apple’s Chief Operating Officer who became the CEO — but he’s not Tim Cook. Instead, this was how Michael Spindler replaced John Sculley, and made himself ill trying to save the company in the 1990s.

Apple CEO Michael Spindler — image credit: Apple

Michael Scott was the first Apple CEO, brought in by Mike Markkula, who became the second CEO when Scott was shown the door. Markkula was then responsible along with Steve Jobs for recruiting John Sculley, until he was also shown the exit sign.
But while it was Sculley who made Spindler Chief Operating Officer, and then it was the board that made him CEO, Markkula was again behind all of this. It was Markkula who recruited Spindler to join Apple in September 1980.
Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums

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Tech

Steering Without Links (Steer-by-Wire) Brings Fresh Control to the 2026 Mercedes EQS

Published

55 minutes ago

5 April 2026

NewsAdmin

2026 Mercedes EQS Steer-by-Wire
When you step into the 2026 Mercedes EQS, you feel as if you’ve entered another dimension. Nothing connects the mechanical workings of the car anymore. Instead, you have a steering-by-wire system. This means that all of your steering wheel movements are detected by sensors and relayed to control units, which then instruct the actuators on how to make the wheels respond to your commands.

It operates just like a sports car with variable gear ratios that can change instantly based on the speed at which you travel. At low speeds, there is a faster reaction, which will be helpful if you need to maneuver quickly in and out of crowded places such as parking lots. High speeds ensure a smooth ride for you while you travel on highways. The whole system works automatically, with the software deciding what is necessary for you without requiring any interference from your side. This will ensure that the steering effort required is minimal since even slight adjustments will require little force.

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It’s also fascinating how the wheel’s design is actually rather flat compared to what you’d assume would be on a futuristic EV; it’s a yoked wheel with plenty of legroom and clear visibility of the screens on the dash board. You’ll find it easier to get into and out of the vehicle now too, while ngineers have even had to develop their own airbags for it, resulting in further safety safeguards.

Before deciding to put this technology into production, the development team tested it for approximately a million kilometers on real roads, proving grounds, and simulators. They’ve also added rear axle steering, which works in unison with the front system to make the car turn more tightly while remaining silky smooth at high speeds. Everything adds up to a combination that simply makes driving appear more pleasant and stable.
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