A full charge tool 1h 47m 23s, short of two hours which makes it rather painless to recharge, and the delivered charge was 1573mAh suggesting it has a linear charging architecture with an honest battery capacity. The charge current reached 1A. Conclusion If you're currently reading this while wearing a tool belt, knee pads, safety glasses and a mask, you are probably thinking, 'This seems totally underpowered for my requirements,' and you are probably correct.

Perhaps my biggest annoyance with all cordless screwdrivers of a similar design is simply how close the “head” of the unit is to the bit which, because the bit is centred, means that screwdriving close to a corner (or in recesses) becomes impossible. There is an offset “easy-reach” accessory for this, but the cost is significant compared to the cost of the unit. It would be nice if the design would have a “thinner” section near the head or an offset by default which would make it more applicable to precision screwdriver applications (e.g. repairing electronics) without needing extensions or accessories. The battery indicator has also had an upgrade. It comprises three LED lights instead of one, which gives you a better idea of how much power remains. If there’s one area that we wish Bosch had improved is the charging time which still stands at three hours to recharge an empty battery. The table below is a side-by-side comparison of what has changed and what has stayed the same. While I have previously owned cordless screwdrivers of the Ni-MH variety, moving over to Li-Ion brings a few benefits including lighter weight, low self-discharge so it should be ready to use when needed and the convenience of micro-USB charging. The biggest draw is the fact this unit offers a variable-speed trigger allowing for more careful driving of screws which should avoid the tendency of single-speed tools to strip heads at the end of travel. Of course, with care, even single-speed tools are adequate when used with care, but the older IXO V was not any cheaper with its garishly loud Bosch branding, so I opted for the IXO 6 instead.

What’s ok?

Now more reliable than ever, the new Bosch IXO (VIClassic) Screwdriver makes working in sensitive material such as lacquered wood simple and intuitive. Say goodbye to splintered wood, damaged screws, and over-spin on screw heads by simply matching speeds to each material. Variable speed control– The infinitely variable speed gives you full control when screwdriving. The IXO maintains sufficient power even at lower speeds. What else can I tell you about the IXO 6? The bits go in the end – the driver comes with 5 cross-head, 2 Allen, 2 Torx – the star-shaped ones – and only one flat head, as nobody uses them anymore. If you live in an older home, or have more demanding uses in mind, you will certainly need to buy additional bits, but for most modern purposes, the 10 bits provided may well prove to be all you need. Taken out of the box, I do like the fact the IXO 6 looks a lot more rounded and smooth compared to the angular IXO V and the Bosch logo is a more reasonable size. The unit weighs 336 grams, feeling well built but not heavy.

There's not a great deal of outwardly noticeable 'design' going on here. Bosch IXO 6 looks like a child's drawing of a gun and comes in any colour you like, so long as it's green. Apart from the new look, the other major upgrade to the IXO is the introduction of variable speed control. Thanks to some clever engineering, you can now adjust the speed of the IXO using the trigger. This new level of control helps to reduce the risk of damaging screws and surfaces, as you can operate the IXO at slower speeds when required. Gain full control over all DIY screw driving tasks with infinitely variable speed control to perfectly match the pace of each and every job.

How we tested this product:

But perhaps the biggest annoyance (and one common to all of a similar design) is the fact the bit is centred on a relatively “bulky” body, making reaching into corners and recesses impossible in some cases. Bosch does have an easy-reach adapter which provides an offset, but it is not cheap compared to the cost of the tool. Similarly, there are also other accessories including a torque limiter which might be nice but are also quite expensive. Keep a close eye on battery life with the 3-LED battery indicator for a detailed look at remaining work time. The IXO comes with a broad assortment of helpful attachments for a wide variety of jobs in and around the house for a more comfortable screwdriving process as well as many more that open up a new world of applications. From a blower for stoking barbecues, to a wine bottle opener and spice mill, these attachments enhance every occasion. Features and Benefits We’ve always been fans of the look and feel of the Bosch IXO. The previous version had a more complex design with a large Bosch logo on the side, which was in keeping with the style of Bosch’s other power tools. The new IXO has a simpler look with an understated two-tone colour scheme. It appears more elegant and sophisticated, which will appeal to a wider user base. New Features, Big Difference