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The first cordless screwdriver I ever saw was a 3.6v Black & Decker my Dad purchased from Sears in the late 80s, similar to the one pictured at left. This was when all Black and Decker products were being produced in the "Dustbuster Brown" color. From the moment I saw the thing, I never quite understood the point of it. Back then, cordless tool technology was still in it's infancy. High-power Rechargeable batteries just didn't exist yet. Even the best rechargeable technology available at the time wasn't inexpensive enough yet to be considered feasible for something like a power tool. The primitive motor drew a ton of power and yielded surprisingly little torque. To make matters worse, the tool had to sit on the charger all night and you were lucky to get 10-15 minutes of run time out of it. After a few recharge/discharge cycles, the tool succumbed to one of the major downsides of NiMh batteries and began to lose it's battery charge capacity.
Needless to say, the tool was practically useless. It was actually more effective to lock the chuck and use it like a normal manual screwdriver, sans motor. Basically the little brown Black and Decker screwdriver sucked. However, it wasn't entirely B&D's fault, the technology just wasn't there. Yet.
Nowadays, modern lithium ion battery technology has yielded some of the most amazing power tools ever. Due to the high power, small size and low weight of Li-ion batteries, tool manufacturers are revisiting the concept of cordless screwdrivers and are actually producing cordless screwdrivers that work well.
Cordless screwdrivers are great tools for both professionals and homeowners. Their small size and light weight makes them perfect for any sort of screw driving task, particularly in confined areas. I can think of numerous times working on computers or cars that one would have been perfect.
In this article, we'll go over a few of the current models of cordless screwdrivers available:
Lithium Ion Cordless Screwdrivers
 Bosch PS10-2 iDriver: Bosch's PS series of pocket-sized tools (hey, maybe that's what PS
stands for!) is awesome. Powered by 10.8v Bosch Litheon batteries, the PS10-2 is incredibly powerful and lasts a long time between charges. Even then, battery charges usually take only 15-30 minutes. Although the Bosch is the heaviest of the group at 2.2lbs, that's not neccesarily a negative aspect. It's easy to grip and the unique variable-speed trigger is easy to depress. The head can be rotated into 5 different positions, so depending on the specific job, it can easily convert from a straight driver to a right-angle driver (as pictured). With 80 inch-pounds of torque coming from it's non-mechanical electronic clutch, Bosch claims that the PS10-2 can drive 100 3" screw on a single battery charge. Wired Magazine was able to drive 275 1" screws on a single charge and gave the PS10-2 a 9 out of 10 in a recent review. The PS10-2 lists for $179.99, but is available for less than $150 @ ToolKing.com. A factory-reconditioned model is also available from ToolKing for less than $125
Makita TD020DSEW: A member of Makita's new line of white tools, the TD020DSEW is powered by a 7.2v lithium-ion battery and features an impact mechanism designed to help drive even the most stubborn screws. The tool can be adjusted to be used in two positions, straight and angle (pictured). Makita claims the TD0202DSEW can deliver up to 177 inch pounds of torque, which is impressive for it's small size. At just over one pound, It's also one of the lightest of the bunch. With an MSRP of $142, it's available from ToolKing.com for less than $110
 Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver / PS40-2 Pocket Impactor: The big brothers to the PS10-2 iDriver above, the PS20-2 (pictured) and PS40-2 are drivers with a more traditional "pistol" shape. They use the same 10.8v Litheon batteries as the PS10-2 and the PS20-2 even has the same output ability as the PS10-2, but it's slightly cheaper (less than $115 @ ToolKing, even less for reconditioned). Unlike the iDriver, the Pocket Driver also has a convenient LED work light to illuminate your work area. At 1.8lbs, the PS20-2 is lightweight AND powerful
The PS40-2 is one of our favorite tools here @ Toologics. It's similar to the PS20-2, but adds impact functionality and has a cool LED light ring around the chuck. Read our in-depth review or view a video about it.
 Hitachi DB3DL: With a torque rating of only 44 inch/lbs, the i DB3DL is the weakest of this group. Unique to the Hitachi is the manual clutch adjustment ring, which does make this tool quite a bit more complicated to use. At less than one pound, it's the lightest of the group. Hitachi has really become a forerunner in unique tool style and this one is no exception. This one looks like a tool straight out of a sci-fi movie.
All of these tools feature a quick-release chuck and also include two lithium-ion batteries, charger, a few bits, and a storage case.
Milwaukee doesn't yet have a Lithium Ion cordless screwdriver, but we have heard that one will be available soon, possibly by the end of the year. We'll report if we find out more information.
 DeWalt offers a 7.2v cordless screwdriver kit (DW920-K2), but it's not Lithium Ion. As we expect DeWalt to launch their new 18v Nano batteries in the fall, they'll probably offer a revised version sometime in the future. DeWalt has always stuck with their "pod" style of battery, so that does impose a certain minimal-size requirement for any tool using their batteries. Unless DeWalt is willing to try a smaller battery, they just won't be able to compete in the same class as the other cordless screwdrivers listed here.
But What About Those Other Cordless Screwdrivers?
A few budget tool manufacturers still produce low-voltage, low cost cordless screwdrivers available at discount stores and elsewhere. In my experience, they are always a big waste of time. You are probably better off with a good set of manual screwdrivers than one of them. If you need a cordless screwdriver, you'll be much better off with one of the ones listed in this guide.
Conclusion
Cordless screw driver technology has finally evolved to the point that they are not just tools for lazy people who didn't feel like turning a screwdriver, but rather are useful and unique tools in their own class. Due to their considerable power and small size, they are ideal for homeowners and professionals alike. It's still early in the development of modern cordlesss screwdrivers, so as competition between manufacturers increases, we expect quite a bit more innovation and variety over the next few years.
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