6 hours ago
3
Bosch GO 3 cordless screwdriver
ZDNET's key takeaways
- This pro-quality screwdriver has held up to heavy use for over six months
- Fast charging and a large battery keep it running all day
- It's now selling at its lowest price yet.
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When it comes to some things, a review when something is a few weeks old really doesn't do it justice. You need time to put it through its paces to make sure that it really is as good as it seems.
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At the beginning of the year, I got my hands on Bosch's latest cordless screwdriver, the GO 3. I used it for a few weeks, was very pleased with it (it's a follow-up to an earlier model that I'd found to be excellent), reviewed it, and then carried on using it.
Seven months later
Here we are, about seven months later, and I keep getting asked about this one more than any other screwdriver I own. (I have a lot of screwdrivers -- and write a lot about them.) Well, that screwdriver looked new in the photos in that review, but it now looks quite a bit different. It's definitely dirtier and now covered in some metal particles following a grinding job.
This has put up a few fences, assembled a fair few bits of flat-packed furniture, been in the engine bays of many cars, left outside overnight a couple of times, and it might have rained on it (yeah, don't do what I did because the manufacturer doesn't make any claims about this being water resistant), and been used as a hammer more times than I care to say.
Bosch hasn't skimped on quality here
Just the other day it was used to repair the doors on some refrigerators. It was perfect for this job because I was up a ladder in an awkward spot that made turning the screws tricky, but the press-to-activate feature meant that all I needed to do to unscrew and then subsequently screw the fasteners holding the door in place was press it down on them.
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I also love the USB-C fast charging. Its predecessor used microUSB and was glacially slow when it came to charging. This charges in about 90 minutes, and that, combined with the bigger 2Ah battery, means that I can keep working for longer -- which is a blessing and a curse!
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The bits have lasted well too, especially considering that they have been used on some already chewed-up fasteners.
ZDNET's buying advice
I can now say, without any doubt, that on top of being powerful and having some rather innovative features, this is one tough screwdriver. Mine has had a rough few months, and it still works like new. It doesn't look like new, but that doesn't matter.
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The Bosch GO 3 is usually priced at around $93 (it used to be over $100), but right now you can get 16% off, knocking the price down to $80. At this price, this is a total steal, making it a great tool for those starting out in the world of DIY to pros wanting something that can keep up with their busy day.
If you want a heavy-duty cordless screwdriver that will last, this is the one to go for!
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