Bosch PS20-2A Pocket Driver

1. J.D. Power and Associates

Bosch ranks second only to Milwaukee among 13 cordless drill brands, in this third annual J.D. Power and Associates' customer-satisfaction survey. The rankings are based on six factors, with drill performance most important, followed by ease of use, battery performance, price, versatility of battery system and warranty.

Review: 2010 Cordless Drill/Driver Satisfaction Study, Editors of J.D. Power and Associates, June 2, 2010

2. BuilderOnline.orgDetails/Subscribe

This 2007 survey of 3,428 builders and contractors ranks Bosch third out of 15 brands that make cordless drills -- right below Milwaukee and DeWalt.

Review: 2008 Builder Brand Study, Hanley Wood, 2008

3. Journal of Light Construction

The Bosch PS20-2A, the latest version of the Pocket Driver, trails the pack in this comparison review of six subcompact drill/drivers at the Journal of Light Construction. The Bosch is the least powerful and fails to perform after being stored overnight at 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Review: Tool Test: Subcompact Drill/Drivers, Dave Northup, Feb. 2009

4. Tools of the Trade

In this Tools of the Trade review, the Bosch PS20-2A Pocket Driver ranks third among nine subcompact drill/drivers in the 10.8-volt to 12-volt range. Compared with the earlier PS20-2, the newer Bosch Pocket Driver has a magnet to make the chuck easier to load, but it weighs a bit more at 1.8 pounds.

Review: Tool Test: Compact & Subcompact Drill/Drivers, David Getts, Feb. 2009

5. Wood MagazineDetails/Subscribe

Three different editors at Wood Magazine test Li-ion-powered palm-size cordless drivers by driving 2-inch drywall screws into a two-by-four pine plank without pilot holes. The 10.8-volt Bosch PS20-2A Pocket Driver easily outperforms the two 3.6-volt models by Skil and Black & Decker.

Review: Wise Buys: Our Editors Test Palm Drivers, Editors of Wood Magazine, May 2007

6. GetWoodworking.comDetails/Subscribe

This article in the U.K.'s Practical Woodworking magazine compares eight cordless screwdrivers, testing them by driving 2-inch No. 10 screws into soft wood without pilot holes. The Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver (called the Bosch GSR in the U.K.) shares top ranking as the best screwdriver with the Metabo Powermaxx.

Review: Cordless Screwdrivers Reviewed, Editors of Practical Woodworking, Feb. 9, 2007

7. Fine WoodworkingDetails/Subscribe

This older review in Fine Woodworking compares two cordless screwdrivers, the Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver 10.8-volt Li-ion and the Ridgid R81030 9.6-volt Nickel-cadmium, based on objective tests. The Ridgid is the favorite for big construction jobs because of its superior power and ability to work in tight spaces, but the Bosch Pocket Driver is so much lighter that editors give it top ranking for workshop use.

Review: Cordless Screwdrivers Do One Thing Very Well, Asa Christiana and John White, July 2006

8. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe

The Bosch PS20-2 isn't tested in the most recent roundup review at ConsumerReports.org, but editors do give it a single-product review here, complete with a video showing the Pocket Driver in action.

Review: First Looks: Bosch Pocket Driver PS20-2, Editors of ConsumerReports.org, July 2006

9. American WoodworkerDetails/Subscribe

This article in American Woodworker on Li-ion tools recommends the Bosch Pocket Driver, mentioning testing but without documenting the procedures. However, the publication itself has earned a lot of credibility for past comparison tests of power tools.

Review: Lithium-Ion for the Woodworker, Bill Szydlo, July 2007

10. New Woodworker

Woodworker Tom Hintz provides a video review of the Bosch PS20-2A at NewWoodworker.com as well as a detailed, well-illustrated text review with ample comparisons with the earlier Bosch PS20-2, also reviewed here. The newer Bosch PS20-2A provides more torque along with a magnetic chuck, but the video doesn't show the LED light as very well directed.

Review: Bosch PS20-2A Pocket Driver: Very Cool, Well Made and Just as Handy, Tom Hintz, Aug. 5, 2008

11. ToolMonger.com

Reviewer Chuck Cage notes that the Bosch PS20 Pocket Driver weighs just 1.8 pounds, yet it is designed to handle 80 percent of the tasks for which people usually use a much heavier drill. It's also small enough to be carried in the pocket of a tool belt.

Review: Hands-On: The Bosch Litheon Pocket Driver, Chuck Cage and Contributors, July 13, 2006

12. The Power Tool Geek

This blogger praises the Bosch Pocket Driver for its ergonomics and size, noting that most cordless drills are overkill and cumbersome for many tasks, but the Pocket Driver is just right. Reviewer Brian Mark also likes the 30-minute charger.

Review: Hands on with the Bosch Pocket Driver, Brian Mark, Aug. 3, 2006

13. Amazon.com

About 200 owners give the Bosch PS20-2 Pocket Driver a high average rating in their reviews at Amazon.com. The LED light gets mixed reviews, with some owners saying it's obstructed by the bit. Others note that this driver doesn't work well in freezing weather.

Review: Bosch PS20-2 10.8-Volt Lithium-Ion Pocket Driver, Contributors to Amazon.com

14. Northerntool.com

The Bosch Pocket Driver earns rave reviews from the handful of owners (a nice mix of professionals and homeowners) reviewing it at retailer site Northern Tool and Equipment.

Review: Bosch Cordless Litheon Max Pocket Driver, Contributors to Northern Tool and Equipment

15. Lowes.com

The dozen or so owners reviewing the Bosch PS20-2A at Lowes.com give it very high average ratings and mostly rave reviews, but a few report quality control problems: early breakdown or a unit with a trigger that didn't work well.

Review: Bosch 12-Volt ¼ " Cordless Litheon Pocket Driver with Case, Contributors to Lowes.com