Intro
Every home has that moment — a shelf that needs putting up, a curtain rail that's come loose, a flat-pack wardrobe that arrived in six boxes with a bag of screws and no pre-drilled holes. Reaching for a manual screwdriver in these situations quickly turns a small task into an aching wrist and a half-finished job. A cordless drill driver changes everything. It drives screws in seconds, drills clean holes through wood, metal and plastic, and spares your hands the repetitive strain. But you don't always need a heavy, high-voltage machine that weighs as much as a small dog and costs as much as a weekend away. For most household tasks — assembling furniture, mounting shelves, fixing fixtures — a compact 12-volt drill driver hits the sweet spot: light enough to use one-handed in a tight corner, powerful enough to drive a 50 mm screw into a door frame without breaking a sweat, and small enough to live in a kitchen drawer rather than a garage shelf. Pair it with a second battery that charges while you work, and you've got a tool that's genuinely ready whenever you are.
Generalities
Makita has been a heavyweight in the power tool industry for over a century, and their 12V CXT range is designed specifically for users who want professional-grade engineering in a compact, lightweight format. When choosing a cordless drill driver, the key specifications to weigh up are voltage — which affects raw power — battery capacity in amp-hours, maximum torque measured in newton-metres, chuck size and the number of speed and torque settings on offer. Beyond the numbers, practical details like whether the kit includes a second battery and a carry case can make the difference between a tool that's always ready to go and one that sits on charge when you need it most.
In this review, we examine a 12-volt cordless combi drill from Makita's CXT line-up that ships as a complete kit with two 2 Ah batteries, a charger and a moulded carry case. We look at its real-world drilling and screwdriving performance, how the 18 torque settings and two-speed gearbox handle different materials, battery life in practice, and whether the build quality lives up to Makita's reputation. We also assess how it stacks up against its 4.6 out of 5 star rating from nearly 5,000 customer reviews.
Description
Under the turquoise shell, the Makita HP333DSAX1 is a 12-volt cordless combi drill powered by Makita's CXT battery platform. It produces a maximum torque of 30 newton-metres and spins at up to 1,700 RPM in its higher speed setting — more than enough for drilling into wood and metal up to 10 mm in diameter. The kit includes two 2 Ah lithium-ion batteries and a charger, so one battery can be topping up while you work with the other. An 18-position torque clutch lets you dial in precisely the right amount of driving force for different screw sizes and materials, preventing stripped screw heads and over-driven fasteners. A two-speed gearbox — selectable via a slide switch on top — gives you high speed for drilling and lower speed with higher torque for screwdriving.
The design is classic Makita: functional, durable and unmistakably turquoise. The body is made from high-impact plastic with rubberised overmoulding at the grip points, giving a secure hold even with dusty or sweaty hands. At just 1.3 kg with a battery fitted, it's light enough to use overhead for extended periods without arm fatigue — a genuine advantage when you're fixing curtain tracks or ceiling light fittings. The 10 mm keyless chuck accepts both round-shank and hex-shank bits and tightens with a simple twist of the collar — no chuck key to lose in the bottom of the tool bag. A built-in LED工作灯 (work light) illuminates the drilling area as soon as you squeeze the trigger, which proves invaluable when working inside cupboards, under stairs or in poorly lit corners.
Day-to-day usability is where this drill really earns its keep. The variable-speed trigger gives you precise control — squeeze lightly for a slow start when driving delicate screws into softwood, or pull fully for maximum RPM when punching through metal. The forward/reverse switch is positioned within thumb reach, making it easy to back out a stuck screw without shifting your grip. The belt clip — often omitted on compact drills — is present here and properly sturdy, letting you hang the tool from your pocket or a ladder rung between tasks. The two 2 Ah batteries charge in around 60 minutes each on the included charger, and Makita's battery protection system guards against over-discharge, overheating and overload, which should help the cells last for years rather than months.
The kit's accessories elevate it from a bare tool to a ready-to-work package. The moulded plastic carry case has a dedicated slot for every component — drill, two batteries, charger and a small bit holder — keeping everything organised and protected during transport. It's compact enough to slide onto a shelf or under a workbench. The inclusion of two batteries rather than one is a genuine bonus at this price, effectively giving you uninterrupted runtime for all but the most demanding continuous jobs. While the kit doesn't include drill bits or screwdriver bits, the 10 mm chuck accepts any standard accessories you may already own or can pick up cheaply.
Physically, the drill measures 19.3 × 6.6 × 22.9 cm and weighs 1.3 kg — compact enough to tuck into a kitchen drawer yet substantial enough to feel like a serious tool in the hand. It's backed by a 2-year manufacturer's warranty, which is standard for Makita and can be extended to 3 years by registering the product online within 30 days of purchase. With 4.6 out of 5 stars from nearly 5,000 customer reviews on Amazon France and a bestseller rank of #121 in Drill Drivers, this is a tool that has clearly convinced thousands of DIYers and professionals alike. Given Makita's track record and the sheer volume of positive feedback, it's one of the safest bets in the 12-volt cordless drill category.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two 2 Ah batteries included in the kit — work continuously with one charging while you use the other, with no downtime for most household jobs
- 30 Nm of torque paired with 18 clutch settings gives precise control — from delicately driving small screws into softwood to boring 10 mm holes through metal
- Weighs just 1.3 kg with a battery fitted, making it comfortable for overhead work and one-handed operation in tight spaces
- 4.6 out of 5 stars from nearly 5,000 reviews and a #121 bestseller rank in Drill Drivers — real-world proof that delivers on its promises
- Built-in LED work light activates with the trigger and illuminates the work area — a lifesaver inside cupboards, under stairs and in dim garages
- Two-speed gearbox (0–450 / 0–1,700 RPM) lets you switch between high-torque screwdriving and high-speed drilling with a single slide of the switch
- Comes in a sturdy moulded carry case with cut-out compartments for every component — keeps the kit organised, protected and easy to grab for a quick job
- Makita's battery protection system guards against over-discharge, overheating and overload, extending the lifespan of the lithium-ion cells
Cons
- 10 mm maximum drilling capacity in wood and metal limits this to light and medium-duty tasks — it won't handle large spade bits or heavy masonry work
- No drill bits or screwdriver bits are included in the box — first-time buyers will need to purchase a starter bit set separately
- 12-volt platform means less raw power than an 18-volt drill — trades punch for portability, which is the right call for DIY but may frustrate heavy users
- The 2 Ah batteries, while fast-charging, will drain quicker under sustained high-torque use than the larger 4 Ah or 5 Ah packs available in Makita's 18V range
- Plastic body construction, though durable, lacks the premium cold-weather feel of tools with full rubber overmoulding — the grip points are rubberised but the main shell is not
Use cases
This cordless combi drill is built for DIYers and home improvers who want a lightweight, always-ready tool for furniture assembly, shelf mounting, and light drilling — with the bonus of Makita reliability backed by nearly 5,000 five-star reviews.
Flat-Pack Furniture Assembly
If you've ever assembled an IKEA wardrobe with the included Allen key, you know the pain. This drill — set to a low torque clutch position — drives cam locks, confirmat screws and wooden dowels in seconds without stripping the particleboard. The light weight means you can work inside a wardrobe carcass without your arm giving up halfway through.
Shelf and Fixture Mounting
From floating shelves in the living room to a towel rail in the bathroom, this drill handles wall plugs and screws up to 50 mm with ease. The two-speed gearbox gives you slow, controlled driving for precision and high speed for pilot holes. The LED light is particularly useful when marking and drilling under wall cabinets where shadows hide your pencil lines.
Light DIY and Craft Projects
Building a birdhouse, fixing a wooden gate or constructing a raised planter — the 10 mm drilling capacity covers most softwood and plywood projects. The 18 torque settings let you dial back the power for delicate tasks like screwing hinges onto a jewellery box without splitting the timber. The compact size also makes it ideal for model-making workbenches where a larger drill would be unwieldy.
Electrical and Plumbing Access Work
When you need to drill through a kitchen cabinet back panel to run a cable or screw pipe clips into a joist, the compact 19.3 cm length lets you work in confined spaces that a full-size drill simply can't reach. The keyless chuck makes swapping between a pilot drill bit and a screwdriver bit fast and frustration-free while you're crouched under a sink.
Vehicle and Light Metalwork
With a 10 mm drilling capacity in metal and 30 Nm of torque, this drill can handle fitting number plates, securing motorcycle accessories or drilling through thin sheet metal for custom brackets. The belt clip keeps it handy while you move around a vehicle, and the compact body doesn't catch on wing mirrors or bodywork as you work in an engine bay.