Ryobi launched their line of USB Lithium cordless power tools in accessories in January 2022, and has expanded the line a couple of times since then.
Ryobi USB Lithium tools are powered by a 4V max rechargeable Li-ion battery that features built-in USB-C charging. A 3-port charging station is also available.
The tools are compact and relatively affordable. Perhaps more important than that, they are convenient.
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Ryobi recently added two more tools to the lineup – a high-CRI LED worklight, and a “desktop vacuum.”
With these two additions, that brings the total number of tools and solutions to 18 products, by my count, not including the different batteries or charging station.
I find it especially interesting that there’s not much competition in this space, and no signs of any competing brand throwing much resistance into Ryobi’s path.
The lineup launched with just 4 tools and 1 size of battery.
Just a few months ago, there were 9 tools, 2 batteries, and the 3-port charger.
Now, they’re at 18 tools, 3 batteries, and the charger.
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What kinds of USB Lithium tools do you want to see Ryobi come out with next?
Here’s the list of everything that has been launched or announced to date:
Ryobi USB Lithium Tools
Power Cutter (FVC51K)
Screwdriver (FVD50K)
Clamp Fan (FVF51K)
Power Scrubber (FVG51K)
Power Carver (FVH51K)
Glue Pen (FVH56K)
Soldering Pen (FVH61K)
Foam Cutter (FVH64K)
Desktop Vacuum (FVH67K)
High Pressure Inflator (FVIF51K)
Rotary Tool (FVM51K)
Compact LED Flashlight (FVL51K)
LED Flip Light (FVL52K)
LED Pivoting Laser Flashlight (FVL54K)
LED Magnifying Light (FVL55K)
LED Inspection Light (FVL56K)
1/4 Ratchet (FVRC50K)
3/8″ Ratchet (FVRC51K)
Ryobi USB Lithium Batteries and Chargers
2Ah Rechargeable Battery (FVB01)
2Ah Rechargeable Battery with Mobile Device Charging Capability (FVB02)
3Ah Lithium Rechargeable Battery with Mobile Device Charging Capability (FVB03)
3-Port Charger (FVCH01)
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Steve
How about an engraver, label maker, temp gun, stud finder, clock – really, anything that uses regular batteries could probably benefit…
Jason
Bring back the headphones like Tek4
Jonathan Ryan Alligood
The hp64l tek4 right angle installation driver rebirth. I agree a label maker. Precision screw driver.
Chaz
They need to work on production and distribution with these. A lot of these are OOS. Neat products though.
Jonathan Ryan Alligood
Agree, availability is hit or miss. I know they have a deal with home depot. But another of these seem to be hobby, or arts and crafts tools they should try to get this line in hobby lobby or joannes. Maybe a diffrent color scheme or something.
Stuart
Ryobi tools and accessories are exclusive to Home Depot and can all but be considered as a house brand.
aaron+s
Only the inflator and driver in stock at my store.
Also I only own 2 of the line and already have too many batteries. Would gladly pay less for bare tool versions on a lot of these
Tim+E.
Agreed, particularly since the tools come with non-charging 2Ah batteries rather than the newer 2Ah and 3Ah that charge your phone as well… I guess it forces people to pay if they want power-bank capability with their batteries, but especially up to 20 tools that’s a lot of extra batteries as you say.
NoahG
I want a tiny impact driver.
Robert
Could it be there isn’t much competition in this level of tools because it’s a very price sensitive audience, so the profit margin isn’t noticing to the likes of Dewalt, Milwaukee, even Dremel?
Jared
I had a thought in the same vein; it’s probably a tough market. Even though smaller, less expensive tools make sense, there is likely a ceiling where consumers start comparing the tools to Ryobi 18v offerings.
That might not be fair – e.g. some tools might make more sense in a compact 4v format. Nevertheless, as the price creeps up, the “full sized” tools might seem like better value.
MM
I sometimes see one a compact power tool that would interest me but I nearly always would rather have either a 12v or 18v class version instead. I already have those batteries, the smaller sizes area already very compact. I don’t want to get into yet another battery system if I can get the same kind of tool–and likely more powerful–on one of my existing platforms.
I also think they’re not that tempting to buy into from the opposite perspective either. Let’s image a newbie getting into crafts or small scale DIY. They have zero power tools but they want to buy some basic ones. There are some tempting tools on this platform….but where’s the drill? a basic sander? an OMT? Glue gun? From that perspective I’d much rather start out with, say, Ryobi 18v, which already has plenty of craft and hobby oriented tools as well as the fundamentals like a drill/driver.
Stuart
It’s hard to say.
Dremel has had 7V tools and 4V tools.
I think the biggest challenge with tools like these is in gaining visibility, which is typically tied to shelf or promotional display space.
Koko The Talking Ape
Just in case people are wondering, the high-CRI light is the inspection light, FVL56K, not the flip light. That wasn’t clear to me from the post, so I looked at the Ryobi website. 🙂
Incidentally, the Ryobi website lists the inspection light’s price as $0.00, and says it’s “coming soon” (as of 8/14/23.) I guess it’s not quite out there yet. HD doesn’t even list it on its website.
As for other possible tools in this line, I would like a high-CRI headlamp. As far as I know, Milwaukee is the only one making any claims about the quality of the light, and AFAIK all they claim is “high color accuracy.”
But I don’t know why ALL lights aren’t high-CRI, or at least offered in high-CRI versions. My understanding is that compared to regular LEDs, high-CRI LEDs cost a bit more and draw slightly more power, and that’s all. I could be wrong though.
Stuart
My assumption is the same, that high CRI costs more and sacrifices a bit of brightness at the same power level.
If there are two worklights on the shelf, one that’s advertised as delivering 600 lumens, and another next to it as delivering high CRI at 520 lumens of illumination, which will sell better at the same price?
Koko The Talking Ape
Me personally? I’d get the high CRI light, because poor color rendition slowly drives me insane. Maybe I’m unusual, but I do know that electricians or telecom or IT people have to identify wires by color sometimes, so CRI might be important to them too.
Still, it surprises me that nobody (except Milwaukee) pays any attention AT ALL to the quality of light. You’d think other manufs could offer a higher CRI option for people who want it, maybe for a small premium. Milwaukee’s lights are far from the cheapest, and I’d guess they sell okay. I buy them exclusively.
TonyT
I’d like a screw driver with adjustable mechanical clutch and variable speed.
Nathan
I’m intrigued by the 1/4drive ratchet. If small enough it might be useful
fm2176
I just hope this platform lasts awhile. I haven’t invested in any (yet), but it seems all-too common for lower voltage platforms to stagnate, if not go away altogether. DeWalt 8v Max has done the former, while Ryobi Tek4 is an example of the latter. I bought the Tek4 inspection scope when it was one of the last Tek4 tools stocked and found it handy. I actually use it more than the 9v Milwaukee and M12 versions.
Albert
I like the foam cutter. I don’t want yet another battery, but at least it doesn’t need yet another charger.
Lee Hopkins
Not a fan I have the rotary tool battery last maybe 10 min tried 4 different battery same issue
Steve
I wanted Dewalt to do this with their 8V stuff, but they just don’t innovate the way Ryobi does. What someone needs to make is a cross line 360 laser level for a line like this.