Table of Contents

• Intro: More Voltage, More Problems?
• The Big Players in the Battery Game
• Platform Lock-In: The New Brand Loyalty
• LFP, Solid-State & What’s Next
• Is Bigger Better? Battery Size vs. Practicality
• Where Does Cobalt Still Matter?
• Cross-Compatibility & Licensing Battles
• FAQ: Batteries, Brands, and the Future
• Wrap-Up: Powering Ahead or Burning Out?

There’s a quiet war happening in your garage, job site, and/or tool trailer, and it’s not about drills or saws.

It’s about batteries.

Tool companies aren’t just competing on power anymore; they’re fighting for who can build the best, longest-lasting, fastest-charging battery platform. The winner doesn’t just sell more batteries; they lock in customers for life. Once you buy into a system, it’s hard (and expensive) to switch.

But here’s the catch: not all batteries are created equal.

Some brands are pushing higher voltage. Others are going bigger, literally, with massive packs for heavy-duty gear. A few are exploring new chemistry like LFP (lithium iron phosphate) or even whispering about solid-state.

And behind all that? A brewing resource crunch. As electric vehicles eat up lithium and cobalt, the tool world is being forced to adapt or fall behind.

So the real question isn’t just “who makes the best battery?”

It’s who’s ready for what’s next?

Most tool brands don’t make their own battery cells, they buy them from major suppliers like Samsung SDI, LG Energy Solution, Panasonic, Murata, or BYD. The real innovation comes in how they build the pack: cooling, durability, electronics, and how well it communicates with the tool.

Here’s where the big names stand:

• Milwaukee (TTI)
  M12 and M18 dominate the jobsite. MX FUEL is for their demand tools. I think they use Samsung and Murata cells.
• DeWALT (Stanley Black & Decker)
  FLEXVOLT lets users jump between 20V and 60V, but adds some platform confusion. Reliable runtime, and strong on distribution. Cells often come from LG or Samsung.
• Makita
  Runs both LXT (18V) and XGT (40V) platforms. XGT was meant to replace LXT, but most users are still on 18V. Innovation has slowed. I think they use Murata or Samsung.
• Bosch
  Bosch is pushing an open system, AMPShare, allowing multiple brands to use the same battery platform. It’s a different strategy than locking people in. Less flashy, more functional.  It's a great battery platform
• Hilti
  Probably the best built battery on the market.  Their Nuron line adds advanced features like battery tracking, diagnostics, and tool analytics. Built for high-end commercial use, not your typical homeowner setup. Premium price, premium features.
• Others - RIDGID / Ryobi - Owned by TTI, often use lower-tier cells, solid for DIY use. Metabo HPT - MultiVolt adds flexibility, especially for pros already on corded tools. Festool - Boutique quality, very locked-in ecosystem.

Back in the day with corded tools, you could mix and match tools however you wanted. Now? Your battery decides everything.

Once you invest in a brand’s platform buying a drill, impact, maybe a few lights, you’re locked in. That battery pack becomes the anchor. And brands know it.

This isn’t accidental. Battery platforms are designed to make switching painful:

• A new brand means new chargers, new batteries, and usually hundreds or thousands of dollars to start over.
• Most brands keep their batteries proprietary, no universal fit across companies.
• Accessories, cases, and storage systems are often tailored to the battery shape and platform.

It’s no longer about brand loyalty, it’s about platform dependency.

This is great for the companies. Once you're in, they’ve got you. But for the user, it means doing your homework before you commit, because switching later is expensive and frustrating.

Battery tech isn’t just evolving in size, it’s changing at the chemical level. One of the biggest shifts happening now is the move toward LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries. These packs are safer, last longer, and run cooler than traditional lithium-ion cells. The tradeoff? They’re heavier and store less energy, which can be a challenge in handheld tools. Still, for outdoor gear or applications where weight isn’t everything, LFP is starting to show up.

Then there’s solid-state, the holy grail of battery tech. Solid-state batteries promise higher energy density, faster charging, better safety, and smaller sizes. But while EV companies are investing heavily in this tech, it’s still years away from being practical in tools. They’re expensive, hard to scale, and not yet durable enough for jobsite use.

What’s next? Expect a slow rollout of LFP in select tools (my guess it will be the bigger tools where weight isn't as important), more smart features in battery packs like health diagnostics and usage tracking, and lots of behind-the-scenes research into making solid-state a reality.

Tool batteries keep getting bigger. More amp hours, more volts, more runtime. Sounds great, until you actually have to carry them around.

High-capacity packs like Milwaukee’s MX FUEL, DeWALT’s 15Ah FLEXVOLT, and Makita’s 8Ah XGT give you serious power. But they also add bulk, weight, and awkward handling, especially if you're on a ladder, in a crawl space, or using a tool all day.

Sometimes it makes sense. For core drills, table saws, or outdoor power equipment, bigger batteries are a win. But for most daily tools, like impacts, drills, or multi-tools, there’s a point where more power becomes more of a burden.

Brands love to advertise the biggest numbers. So no, bigger isn’t always better.

Cobalt is a critical ingredient in high-performance lithium-ion batteries. It helps stabilize the battery, extend its lifespan, and keep it from overheating. That’s why most high-drain tool batteries still rely on cobalt-heavy chemistries.

But here’s the problem: cobalt is expensive, scarce, and politically messy.

Most of the world’s cobalt comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and a large chunk of those mines are controlled or influenced by Chinese companies. This makes the supply chain questionable.

Now add electric vehicles to the equation. EV makers like Tesla, Ford, and GM are using massive amounts of cobalt for their car batteries. As demand explodes, tool brands are finding themselves in direct competition with the auto industry for the same raw materials. That pushes prices up and availability down.

Some tool companies are trying to reduce their cobalt use or explore cobalt-free chemistries like LFP. For now, if you want high power in a compact pack, cobalt still matters.

And until the supply chain improves, don’t expect prices to go down anytime soon.

We get emails and DMs all the time asking - Why can’t I use my DeWALT battery on my Milwaukee tool?

The answer? It’s not an accident, it’s intentional.

Tool companies keep their batteries locked to their own ecosystem for one reason: control. If their batteries only work with their tools, you’re more likely to stay in their system and keep buying their brand.

From a business perspective, it makes perfect sense. Proprietary battery platforms protect profits, guarantee future sales, and make it hard for users to switch brands. But from a user standpoint, it’s frustrating and expensive.

There are a few exceptions.
As I was researching this article I did find some information about the Bosch AMPShare. Bosch’s AMPShare and the Power For All Alliance allow certain brands to share battery platforms across tools. It’s a step toward flexibility but still a rarity.

Some companies make battery adapters that let you use one brand’s battery on another brand’s tool. These can work, but be careful: they often void warranties, and may not provide the right voltage or safety protocols.

The tool battery war isn’t just about volts and amp hours, it’s about control, chemistry, and the future of how we work. From cobalt shortages to EV competition, from smart packs to locked-in ecosystems, this is no longer just a tool story, it’s a global supply chain battle.

If you’re a pro or serious DIYer, choosing the right battery platform isn’t just a purchase, it’s a commitment. Make sure it’s one that fits your needs, your workload, and your future.  Make sure you like the line, trust the company and do your research before you jump into a platform.