We absolutely adored the Bosch IXO 6 Screwdriver when we tested it. It was stylish, rugged and took most of the pain out of simple DIY tasks. In fact, we concluded that the IXO 6 was a must-buy. Bosch is a market leader with its IXO range of electric screwdrivers, and we’ve got our hands on the new and improved IXO 7 series.
The IXO 7 represents a marked step-up in value for money, power and battery life, but loses points for its generic design and lack of USB-C charging. It’s an excellent tool for any DIYer and represents (mostly) smart innovation.
Investing in an electric screwdriver is one of the easiest ways of upgrading your DIY tool arsenal and the IXO 7 more than delivers. If you want to take the hassle out of most DIY tasks, you can’t do much better than the IXO 7.
Verdict: A number of meaningful improvements over the IXO 6 make the IXO 7 an even better electric screwdriver.
Score: 5/5
Pros
- Perfect for DIYers
- Improved motor
- Bullet-proof build
Cons
- Outdated charging port
- Loss of power selection
Specs
Battery voltage 3.6V
Charging time Three hours
Max RPM 235rpm
Weight 0.34kg
Max torque 5.5 Nm
Drill bits included 10 screwdriver bits (Phillips, flathead and Hex)
Extras Storage box, angled head adapter, right angle adapter, twin LED lights
What’s good?
The big news with the Bosch IXO 7 is that both the motor and battery have been improved to deliver a longer running time and more screwing power. The battery is now a 2.0 Ah Lithium-Ion option (the old one was 1.5 Ah) which means it lasts longer, with Bosch proudly claiming it can drive 190 screws before needing charging.
While we didn’t screw in 190 screws to test it, it survived a full December of minor furniture work, Christmas present assembly and attempts to remove the headlight from a Ford Fiesta (a seized bolt killed any chance of success), all without needing a single recharge.
The motor in the IXO 7 is also improved, offering 20% more torque compared to the old unit and a higher RPM (rotations per minute) for stronger and quicker screwing. Returning to the Ford Fiesta, the Bosch was just about powerful enough to remove the larger screws, even if it was running at its capacity. In all of the tests we performed with the IXO 7, it never was overwhelmed by a screwdriving task.
What’s so impressive is that the weight hasn’t changed despite these new features. It remains the same at 0.34kg, impressive considering the uprated battery size and clear performance advantage. It also retains that bank vault-like build quality, it’s definitely built to last.
Two attachments are included and both proved very useful. Both the offset and right-angle attachments make working in tight locations a lot easier and with far fewer scraped knuckles. These were all previously available for the IXO 6, but cost extra. Having them included as standard makes the Bosch IXO 7 so much more versatile and better value for money too.
What’s okay?
Style is always subjective, but with the previous IXO 6 being an award-winning design, the IXO 7 represents a step down in style. That’s not to say it’s offensively ugly or ungainly, it just looks more like a generic electric screwdriver. The enormous red Bosch logo and iconic green finish will still identify this as a quality product, but the minimalist design of the IXO 6 is sorely missed.
There is a meaningful improvement with this design with the inclusion of a second LED scatter light for low-light work. It’s just a pity that the IXO has lost some of its uniqueness with this new, generic finish.
Any negatives?
The removal of the Speed Control trigger is puzzling and a pretty big drawback, it was one of the standout features of the IXO 6, making more delicate jobs incredibly easy. The one-speed of the IXO 7 means that fiddly, more delicate jobs are best tackled with a manual screwdriver.
Bosch is still using the same rubber casing to hold the bits in place, meaning a fair amount of force was required to retrieve the desired head, annoying when there’s a piece of structurally unsound furniture that needs screwing together and time is of the essence. Another area that requires an update is the charging port, micro USB is getting long in the tooth and USB-C charging ports are both more robust and more universal.
Other items to consider:
WORX WX240 3.6V (4V MAX) Screwdriver Pen, RRP £54.99
HOTO Electric Screwdriver, RRP £94.95
Bosch IXO 6 Cordless Screwdriver, RRP £58
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