Lowe’s just launched a new batch of Kobalt 24V cordless tools quietly. Lowe’s calls them “value” models, and the trade-off is right in the spec sheet: at $99 a kit, you get less torque and a slower charger than the Gen-3 Kobalt tools that cost the same. If you’re shopping Kobalt this holiday season, check which version you’re buying before you check out.
Same price, weaker specs
The new drill kit sells for $99. So does the new impact driver kit. Gen-3 kits were also on sale for $99 when we checked. What’s inside the box is the difference:
| Spec | Current Gen-3 kit | New value kit |
|---|---|---|
| Drill torque | 850 in-lbs | 500 in-lbs |
| Drill speed | 2,000 RPM | 1,800 RPM |
| Impact driver torque | 2,000 in-lbs | 1,800 in-lbs |
| Charger | 85W, USB-C battery | 45W, non-USB-C battery |
| Kit price | $99 on sale | $99 |
Chargers are the sleeper issue here. Gen-3 Kobalt batteries charge over USB-C, which means you can top one up from a power bank or a car charger. Value kits ship with a plain non-USB-C battery and a 45W charger, so you lose that feature too. And since the batteries don’t share the USB-C design, keep in mind that a value-kit battery is a second battery format to babysit if you already own Gen-3 tools.
Why Lowe’s is doing this
Lowe’s hasn’t said whether these replace the Gen-3 lineup or sit alongside it as holiday-season specials. Product names themselves hint at the intent: the impact driver listing literally includes the word “Promotional.” More listings have appeared for value-tier batteries, a circular saw, and a sander, so this looks like a coordinated batch rather than a one-off.
Two readings are possible: these are Black Friday loss-leader candidates that might drop below $99 in November. Two, Lowe’s is quietly rebuilding the Kobalt cordless line at a lower spec to protect margin, which would echo what happened when Porter-Cable and other house brands got cheapened before they were phased out. There’s no evidence of a phase-out today, but the pattern is worth watching. When we covered the Gen-3 Kobalt launch in February, the story was brushless motors and USB-C batteries across the board. These value kits walk that back.
What this means for buyers
If you’re a Kobalt owner, nothing changes. Your batteries still work and Gen-3 stock is still on the shelf today.
Buying a first kit? Read the box carefully. A shopper can find two $99 drill kits side by side at Lowe’s with very different spec sheets, and the store page won’t spell out which is which. Listing titles and model numbers are the tell: the value drill is a plain “1/2 in. Keyless Brushless” kit, while the other is the Gen-3 “Metal Ratcheting” brushless model. If the price ever crosses, the Gen-3 kit at $79 during spring clearance was a far better buy than a value kit at $99.
Not sure which platform fits your shop? Our battery platform comparison breaks down how Kobalt’s 24V system stacks up against DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Ryobi before you commit.
Both value kits are listed as available online and in stores at Lowe’s. Check the current listings before you go; prices and stock can change fast during holiday promos.