I highly recommend this 12-in-1 electric screwdriver, and you can get one for under $50

What’s the deal?

The HOTO electric screwdriver is one of my favorite gadgets, and right now it’s 25% off, plus Amazon is offering an additional 20% off coupon, bringing the price down to $48. 

Why this deal is ZDNET-recommended

Late last year, during the holidays, I featured an electric screwdriver that was popular with readers. I know from comments and emails that quite a lot of you purchased one and were impressed by the tool, and I’ve also been asked some other questions about it too.

Also: Last Chance to save: The 17 best Cyber Monday Apple Watch deals you can still buy

I only recommend products that I’ve tested and that I feel make the grade in terms of both performance, reliability, and cost, and this one checks all of those boxes.

ZDNET RECOMMENDS

HOTO electric screwdriver

A powerful electric screwdriver packing a huge 1500mAh capacity battery is perfect if you have a lot of DIY jobs to do.

HOTO electric screwdriver tech specs

• Rotary knob switches the screwdriver between three different torque settings
• Fast driving, thanks to 220 RPM motor
• A massive 1500mAh capacity battery provides ultra-long endurance and, when fully charged, can drive in more than 1,000 screws before needing a recharge
• The screwdriver features a circular LED shadowless lamp, so you can see what you’re doing
• HOTO cordless screwdriver set contains a dozen two-inch long S2 tool steel long bits with hardness up to 60HRC 
• The screwdriver and bits are stored in the anodized aluminum alloy storage box that has a soft, rubber top handle
• Universal Type-C charging interface means you don’t need a separate charger

Also: This portable battery station can power your home for 2 weeks

On the one end of this superb screwdriver is a standard 1/4-inch socket that takes the various bits, and behind that is a rotary knob that switches the screwdriver off and on, and also switches between three torque settings. There’s also a circular LED shadowless lamp, so you can see what you’re doing, which is a nice touch because it means I don’t have to wrangle a flashlight when I’m working in a dark area.

On the other end of the screwdriver, there’s a USB-C port for charging the unit — a neat touch because it does away with the need for any proprietary charger (I don’t need any more of those in my life). 

Also: My favorite electric screwdriver for heavy-duty jobs

In the middle of the tool are the controls, which are about as simple as they get. There’s a button to screw a screw in, and a button to screw a screw out.

The screwdriver and bits are stored in the anodized aluminum alloy storage box that has a soft, rubber top handle. If you want more than the dozen bits, HOTO has a version with 25 bits in a different case for a few dollars more and this is also 39% off right now!

The three torque settings range from powerful enough to assemble a PC case or flat pack furniture (where you need quite low power), to powerful enough to put a fence up or screw down floorboards. 

What this screwdriver doesn’t offer is a super-gentle setting for things such as electronic gadgets, which this screwdriver might be too powerful for. This is where a mini precision electric screwdriver (currently 10% off!) complements the HOTO screwdriver really well.

Also: This must-have screwdriver has two cool hidden tricks

Aside from the lack of a super-gentle setting, the HOTO electric screwdriver with a dozen bits is a great choice — especially at this much lower price point. Mine has already had many months of use and is going strong.