Milwaukee M18 2696-26

Should you buy the Milwaukee M18 2696-26?

The Milwaukee M18 2696-26 is for someone who has already decided on Milwaukee's M18 platform and wants six tools and two XC 3.0Ah packs in a single purchase. It ranks #9 of 10 in our Cordless Tool Combo Kits category at $699.00, and the reason is simple: every tool here is the older brushed generation, not M18 FUEL. You are buying the batteries and the badge. If you want brushless tools at this price, the Bosch GXL18V-501B25 has them for $31 less; if you want the most tools, the DeWalt DCK1021D2 has ten for $19 more.

Where it earns its score

• Warranty at 88. 5 years on tools and 3 years on batteries, the longest coverage in the category.
• Quality at 86. The 2602-20 hammer drill and 2620-20 Sawzall are built for daily jobsite use even in brushed form.
• XC 3.0Ah packs. Bigger than DeWalt's 2.0Ah bundle batteries, and the charger handles both M18 and M12.
• Platform depth. Over 250 M18 tools, with far more pro-grade options than Ryobi or Craftsman.

What to know first

• Value is the lowest factor at 62. $630 for brushed tools is hard to justify against brushless rivals.
• No FUEL tools. All six are the older generation; expect shorter runtime and less power than current Milwaukee models.
• 30 lb bag. Heavy for six tools, partly because of the XC packs.

Questions buyers ask