Milwaukee M18 BLHX SDS Plus Drill Review – Tested and Rated for UK Buyers

The Milwaukee M18 BLHX is the brushless SDS Plus drill in Milwaukee’s M18 cordless range and one of the most highly regarded tools in that class among UK tradespeople. Milwaukee’s M18 platform has built a strong reputation in the UK professional market over the past decade, driven by the quality of the brushless motor technology, the robustness of the REDLINK PLUS intelligence system – which manages power delivery and protects both tool and battery under heavy load – and an ecosystem that covers well over 200 compatible tools. The BLHX fits the pattern: it is a premium-priced, premium-performing tool built for users who demand reliability day in, day out on a building site.

We tested the M18 BLHX alongside the DeWalt DCH273 and the Makita DHR202 on a sequence of masonry drilling and chiselling tasks representative of typical UK construction work. The aim was to establish whether the Milwaukee’s premium price translates into a meaningful performance advantage, and whether the REDLINK PLUS protection system makes a practical difference in real-world use.

Overview and first impressions

The M18 BLHX makes an immediate impression of quality and solidity. At 2.7kg body only it is slightly heavier than the DeWalt DCH273 and Makita equivalents, reflecting a more robust housing construction that feels noticeably more substantial in the hand. The rubberised grip areas are well-designed for both gloved and ungloved use, the three-mode selector collar is firm and precise, and the bit retention mechanism is fast and positive. Nothing about the tool feels cost-engineered – it feels like something built to take punishment and keep working.

The REDLINK PLUS intelligence is not visible in normal use but makes its presence felt under heavy load. When drilling into aggregate concrete and the motor starts to work hard, the tool manages its power delivery smoothly rather than producing the stuttering or speed variation that can occur with less sophisticated motor management. The anti-vibration system is among the best in the SDS Plus class at this energy level – sustained drilling sessions are noticeably more comfortable than with many competitors, which matters more than most users realise until they have spent an hour drilling fixings overhead.

Specifications and scores

How it performed in testing

Standard 10mm fixing holes in UK house brick are dispatched with complete authority. The BLHX moves through standard brick faster than either the DeWalt DCH273 or Makita DHR202 in side-by-side testing, and does so with noticeably less forward pressure required. The POWERSTATE brushless motor and REDLINK PLUS combination delivers a smooth, relentless drilling action rather than the staccato percussion feel of less refined SDS drills – it feels more like a precision instrument than a brute-force tool, which is a difficult balance to achieve in a hammer drill.

Dense aggregate concrete was where the M18 BLHX most clearly separated itself from the competition. While the DeWalt and Makita equivalents both slowed noticeably in hard aggregate, the BLHX maintained a more consistent pace, aided by the REDLINK PLUS system redistributing power delivery to maintain drilling speed without overloading the motor. Over a sequence of twenty holes in a concrete lintel, the time difference was material – roughly fifteen percent faster than the next-best performer in the test. For a tradesperson drilling dozens of fixings per day, that translates directly into time on site.

The chisel-only mode was tested on mortar removal for a small repointing job – removing degraded mortar from a section of exposed brickwork. The BLHX handles this well, with the anti-vibration system making extended chiselling far more comfortable than expected. The weight becomes the limiting factor before vibration does, which is a different problem – the 2.7kg body weight with a 5Ah battery fitted makes overhead chiselling tiring after twenty minutes or so.

Battery and runtime

The Milwaukee M18 platform is the second largest cordless ecosystem in the UK professional market after DeWalt XR, and for many tradespeople it is the first choice. M18 batteries are cross-compatible across Milwaukee’s full range of drills, impact drivers, jigsaws, circular saws and specialist tools including pipe cutters, press tools and inspection cameras. The platform’s HIGH OUTPUT batteries are specifically designed to deliver higher current for demanding tools like the BLHX, and Milwaukee strongly recommends using them for sustained heavy drilling work.

Performance and limitations

The M18 BLHX’s performance ceiling is the highest of any 18V SDS Plus drill we tested. It consistently outperforms on hard aggregate concrete and maintains drilling speed under load more effectively than either the DeWalt DCH273 or the Makita DHR202. The REDLINK PLUS intelligence system is genuinely effective in practice – it prevents the motor stalling under load in a way that is clearly more sophisticated than the competing platforms’ protection systems.

The main limitation is weight. At 2.7kg body only, the BLHX is the heaviest tool in the 18V SDS Plus class and that becomes apparent during overhead work and in confined ceiling spaces. For floor-level and wall work it is not an issue, but tradesperson feedback consistently identifies the weight as a fatigue factor in prolonged overhead applications. The trade-off is the robustness that contributes to that weight – the tool is built to absorb heavy use on site and the construction quality reflects that.

Final verdict – is it worth it?

The Milwaukee M18 BLHX is the best-performing 18V SDS Plus drill we have tested. In every measurable drilling metric – speed through standard brick, speed through hard concrete, consistency under load, vibration management – it either leads or matches the field, and in hard aggregate concrete it clearly outperforms. The REDLINK PLUS intelligence system justifies its existence in real use in a way that some marketing-heavy features do not, and the build quality is genuinely exceptional for the class.

The price reflects all of this. Body-only it is the most expensive 18V SDS Plus drill in our comparison, and once a HIGH OUTPUT 5Ah battery and fast charger are added for a new buyer, the total investment is substantial. For an existing M18 user with batteries already on the shelf, that calculation disappears and the BLHX becomes straightforwardly the right answer. For a new buyer deciding which platform to commit to, the M18 ecosystem’s breadth and the BLHX’s performance make a compelling case for starting there.

For tradespeople who use an SDS drill daily in demanding conditions, the BLHX earns its price premium. It is reliable, powerful, well-protected and built to last on site. For the occasional DIYer drilling a few fixings per season, the performance headroom is largely irrelevant and the DeWalt DCH273 at a lower price is the more sensible choice.