The cordless power tool industry recently saw another leap forward in battery technology, but not every brand has kept pace with the latest advancements.
While most professional cordless power tool brands launched higher-performing tabless Li-ion batteries, some launched pouch cell batteries, and others’ best batteries still feature smaller form factor Li-ion tech from over 10 years ago.
There’s been a lot of activity, with more sure to come, and it seemed like a good idea to put together a quick summary of what major cordless power tool brands have been doing with respect to battery advancements.
Update History
January 2026 – updated with new details about Bosch Expert and Makita XGT 8Ah
October 2025 – updated with new details about Dewalt PowerPack 8Ah, Milwaukee FORGE 8Ah and 12Ah, Bosch Expert, and Metabo HPT
June 2024 – First publication
A Quick Primer on Tabless Batteries
You’re going to see the phrase “tabless” a lot in this post. “Tabless” refers to how the relatively newly-developed and highest-performing rechargeable Li-ion battery cells have a new electrode design that departs from more traditional “tabbed” designs.
Bosch’s graphics help to make the concept a bit easier to grasp.
The new approach creates more parallel electrical current pathways, which allows for lower internal resistance, cooler operation, and greater power delivery.
As depicted in this chart from Bosch, tabless batteries have the potential for broad and measurable benefits, even as drop-in replacements for existing batteries. We expect to see new tool technologies that are able to leverage the higher power delivery capabilities of tabless battery cells.
If multiple brands’ power and performance claims prove to be accurate, tabless batteries can in many cases be treated as instant upgrades.
Leading Cordless Power Tool Brands
Bosch – Bosch announced a tabless 18V 8Ah battery in Europe in 2023, but it never launched in the USA. Bosch later announced new EXPERT series batteries in Europe, and followed with announcements at the World of Concrete trade show in 2026. Bosch Expert batteries featuring tabless Li-ion cells will be available in 4Ah, 5.5Ah, 8Ah, and 15Ah sizes.
Dewalt – Dewalt recently revamped their 20V Max XR line of batteries, which features 2 sizes of pouch-cell batteries and a new tabless 8Ah battery, and later added a 4Ah battery with tabless cells.
Makita – Makita launched a tabless XGT battery that is advertised as delivering performance benefits for a wide range of tools. In 2026 they announced a new XGT 8Ah battery featuring tabless Li-ion cells.
Milwaukee – Milwaukee M18 FORGE 6Ah batteries feature pouch cell technology. They later added M18 FORGE 8Ah and 12Ah batteries with tabless Li-ion cells, updated housings, and special cooling slots that deliver rapid charging times with the also-new dual position Super Charger.
Ridgid – Ridgid announced a tabless 18V 4Ah battery, and was the first to have a compact 5-cell configuration, whereas most brands focused on higher capacity 10-cell batteries, such as 8Ah.
Ryobi – Ryobi launched a tabless 18V battery, and while they have not shown off any tools designed to leverage the higher power capabilities of this battery tech, tabless cell batteries have been tested to provide some benefits with demanding tools.
Metabo – Metabo announced a tabless battery pack for the European market, but not the USA.
Metabo HPT – Metabo HPT announced a tabless battery in 2024.
Lagging PRO Cordless Power Tool Brands
Festool – Some of Festool’s cordless power tools don’t fit the full range of their 18V batteries, and so it’s not too surprising that they haven’t moved to higher capacity batteries that might create further compatibility complications.
Flex – Flex was one of the first cordless power tool brands to embrace pouch cell technology, but it remains unclear whether they will seek to join competitors in offering batteries built with tabless cells.
Hercules – Harbor Freight has made impressive strides in the past few years, but it’s uncertain if the bargain retailer’s Hercules line of cordless power tools would even benefit from tabless batteries. The brand has “Extreme Performance” batteries in 8Ah and 12Ah capacity with older 21700 Li-ion technology.
Hilti – Many Hilti Nuron tools could certainly benefit from the increased power-to-weight ratio of tabless battery cells. They announced new 22V battery sizes in Europe, but have not yet shared any details about the battery cell technology.
Makita – While Makita was one of the first brands to launch a battery pack with tabless cells, their 18V LXT cordless power tool line have not yet received the same upgrades.
Lagging DIY Cordless Power Tool Brands
Craftsman – Craftsman’s V20 line of cordless power tools has steadily grown, but we haven’t seen higher capacity batteries or many tools that require them.
Dremel – Dremel’s cordless system is extremely limited to a couple of specialty tools. The brand seems to have shifted towards lower-cost hobby-type tools, and so higher-powered battery tech seems out of the question.
Hart – Can we really expect for a Walmart-exclusive cordless power tool brand to tap into premium battery technology?
Kobalt – Lowe’s Kobalt line of cordless power tools has been somewhat of a mystery over the past few years. Kobalt’s premium XTR cordless tools seem to go through cyclic availability. There is no indication that Kobalt will launch tabless cell batteries, or higher powered tools that would benefit from them.
Skil – Skil’s cordless power tool lineups delivers excellent value, and they have largely moved to USB-C charging. Tabless cells don’t seem fitting for the brand’s 12V or 20V Max lineups, but could perhaps help their 40V Max cordless outdoor power tools deliver boosted performance.
