# M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) vs 18V Gen5X Lithium-Ion Brushless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver: specs and price compared

A sourced, side-by-side comparison of the M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) (Milwaukee) and 18V Gen5X Lithium-Ion Brushless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Ridgid) among impact drivers. 18V Gen5X Lithium-Ion Brushless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver is the cheaper of the two at $119.

## Side by side

| Spec | M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) | 18V Gen5X Lithium-Ion Brushless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver |
| --- | --- | --- |
| US price | $149 | $119 |
| Brand | Milwaukee | Ridgid |
| Released | 2022 | 2019 |
| Voltage (V) | 18 | 18 |
| Max torque in (lb) | 2000 | 2250 |
| Max (rpm) | 3900 | 2750 |
| Max ipm | 4400 | 3500 |
| Brushless | Yes | Yes |
| Speed settings | 4 | 3 |
| Weight (lb) | 2.2 | 2.5 |

## Key differences

- Max torque in (lb): M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 2000 vs 18V Gen5X Lithium-Ion Brushless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver 2250
- Max (rpm): M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 3900 vs 18V Gen5X Lithium-Ion Brushless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver 2750
- Max ipm: M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 4400 vs 18V Gen5X Lithium-Ion Brushless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver 3500
- Speed settings: M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 4 vs 18V Gen5X Lithium-Ion Brushless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver 3
- Weight (lb): M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 2.2 vs 18V Gen5X Lithium-Ion Brushless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver 2.5

## What reviewers say

**M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only)** — Only one whitelisted tester, Pro Tool Reviews, yielded a readable hands-on review; TechGearLab was under maintenance and no Popular Mechanics test exists. PTR scored the Gen-4 2953 9.7/10, calling it their best all-around impact driver to date, praising near-top drive speeds, a 4.47-inch compact frame, and a shadow-killing tri-beam LED. No drawbacks flagged. (1 sourced review.)

## Sources

- M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only): https://www.milwaukeetool.com/products/details/m18-fuel-1-4-hex-impact-driver/2953-20 (milwaukeetool.com, verified 2026-06-19)
- 18V Gen5X Lithium-Ion Brushless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver: https://www.protoolreviews.com/ridgid-brushless-impact-driver-review/ (protoolreviews.com, verified 2026-06-19)

Canonical: https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/impact-drivers/milwaukee-2953-20-vs-ridgid-r86037/
Cite: Per The Front Desk Review, M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) ($149) vs 18V Gen5X Lithium-Ion Brushless 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver ($119) — sourced spec-by-spec comparison at https://frontdeskreview.com/gear/impact-drivers/milwaukee-2953-20-vs-ridgid-r86037/
License: CC BY 4.0.