Ryobi Goes Dark: The Blackout Edition Is Here (And Already Gone)
Ryobi just celebrated 30 years of ONE+ 18V battery compatibility — and they did it the only way tool enthusiasts truly appreciate: with a limited edition that sold out before most people even knew it existed.
The Ryobi Blackout 30th Anniversary Edition dropped at Home Depot in early February 2026, featuring a murdered-out all-black color scheme that replaces the familiar Ryobi green. The flagship piece is a brushless compact 1/2-inch drill driver kit (model PSBDD02KSB30) that comes with a 4.0 Ah battery and a matching blackout charger. A blackout cordless vacuum also joined the anniversary lineup.
If you’re thinking “that sounds cool, I should grab one” — you’re too late. Probably.
Gone In a Flash
Most Home Depot stores received between 3 and 12 units. Online availability was limited to roughly 100 units across the entire country. Within hours of hitting shelves, store inventory pages shifted from “In Stock” to “Limited Availability” to the dreaded “Check Your Store” — the Home Depot equivalent of “good luck.”
Scalpers made things worse. Reports surfaced of Blackout drills appearing on eBay and Amazon third-party listings before the official launch date, suggesting resellers scooped up inventory early. Classic limited edition playbook, unfortunately.
What Made the Blackout Special
Beyond the all-black aesthetic, the Blackout drill kit is actually a solid value proposition:
- Brushless motor — more efficient, longer runtime, extended tool life (if you want to understand why that matters, check out our breakdown of brushed vs brushless motors)
- 4.0 Ah battery — double the capacity of the standard green kit’s 2.0 Ah pack
- Lightest in class — Ryobi claims it’s the lightest among their 18V cordless drills
- Metal chuck — a nice upgrade over plastic chucks found on budget drills
- Full ONE+ compatibility — works with all 300+ tools in the Ryobi 18V ecosystem
The Blackout kit was priced around $99, compared to $69 for the standard green version with a smaller battery. That $30 premium gets you double the battery capacity and the collector’s colorway — not a bad deal at all.
30 Years of ONE+ Compatibility
The anniversary itself is worth appreciating. Ryobi’s ONE+ platform has maintained backward compatibility for three decades — a battery from 2026 still works in a tool from the mid-’90s. In a world where phone chargers change every few years, that kind of commitment is genuinely impressive. It’s one of the reasons Ryobi consistently ranks well in our best cordless drills roundup, especially for DIYers building out a tool collection on a budget.
Will More Stock Appear?
Ryobi hasn’t officially confirmed a restock of the Blackout drill kit. Some community chatter suggests additional Blackout tools may roll out later in 2026, but nothing is verified. If you’re determined to find one, your best bet is checking local Home Depot stores in person — scattered units have been spotted at locations that got their shipments late.
One thing is certain: don’t buy from scalpers at inflated prices. It’s a great drill, but it’s still a Ryobi compact drill at heart. The magic is in the colorway, not some secret performance upgrade.
Why Limited Editions Hit Different
There’s a reason tool companies keep doing this. Milwaukee’s special editions, DeWalt’s anniversary kits, and now Ryobi’s Blackout all tap into the same collector psychology that drives sneaker drops and watch releases. Tool enthusiasts don’t just use their tools — they care about them. One buyer summed it up perfectly: “It’s too beautiful to use. My first drill for my collection.”
Whether you think collecting drills is brilliant or absurd, the Blackout sellout proves one thing: the power tool community is passionate, engaged, and willing to line up for something special. And honestly? That’s pretty cool.
If you missed the Blackout but still need a solid impact driver or drill for actual work, we’ve got you covered with picks across every budget and battery platform.
