Lowe’s is rolling out a complete overhaul of its Kobalt 24V cordless power tool lineup for 2026, and it’s the most significant upgrade the Lowe’s house brand has seen in years. Six new brushless tools, a 30% smaller footprint, and a battery that charges over USB-C and doubles as a phone charger. They’re on shelves now.
What’s New in the Gen-3 Lineup
Every tool in the new Kobalt Gen-3 family gets a brushless motor — a big deal for a budget-friendly brand that was still selling brushed tools in the previous generation. Brushless means longer runtime, less heat, and more torque in a smaller package. The redesigned grip adds soft overmold for better control.
Here’s what’s in the lineup and what it’ll cost you:
- Drill/Driver — 850 in-lbs torque, $139 kit
- Hammer Drill/Driver — 850 in-lbs torque, $129 tool-only
- Impact Driver — 2,000 in-lbs torque, $149 kit
- 1/2″ Impact Wrench — 650 ft-lbs nut-busting torque, $229 kit; 30% lighter and 30% shorter than outgoing model
- 6-1/2″ Circular Saw — features an industry-first quick depth adjustment, $129 tool-only
- Reciprocating Saw — 45% lower vibration than previous gen, $129 tool-only
Two combo kits bundle things together: a 2-tool kit at $199 and a 4-tool kit at $229. That 4-tool price is hard to beat for an all-brushless setup.
The Battery Is the Real Story
Kobalt is shipping the Gen-3 tools with new 24V batteries that have built-in USB-C bi-directional charging. That means you can charge the battery over USB-C instead of hunting for a proprietary charger — and you can use the battery as a power bank to charge your phone or other devices in the field. The kits include a 100W USB-C cable and an adapter that lets older Kobalt 24V batteries charge via USB too, so existing users aren’t left behind.
The new 150W rapid charger ($49.98) handles faster top-ups, and Kobalt is also offering an 85W standard charger for everyday use.
The Big Picture
Kobalt is Lowe’s exclusive brand — you won’t find it on Amazon or at Home Depot. For a while, it was playing catch-up to Milwaukee, DeWalt, and Ryobi. This Gen-3 overhaul narrows the gap significantly. An all-brushless lineup at $229 for four tools is a strong value proposition for DIYers who aren’t ready to commit to a premium ecosystem.
The USB-C battery is a genuinely clever move for a category where proprietary chargers are the norm. If Kobalt can back this up with battery compatibility across future tools, they’ve got a real differentiator.
For a look at how Kobalt’s 24V system compares against the big brands, see our Battery Platforms Compared 2026 guide. And if you’re trying to decide whether brushless is worth the upgrade, our Brushed vs Brushless Motors breakdown explains when it actually matters. For combo kit value comparisons, check out our Best DIY Power Tool Combo Kits Under $250 roundup.
Kobalt Gen-3 tools are available now at Lowe’s stores and Lowes.com.
Source: ToolGuyd — New Gen-3 Kobalt 24V Cordless Power Tools at Lowe’s; ToolGuyd — Kobalt 24V Power Tool Battery Now has USB-C Charging
