Milwaukee M18 FUEL 5-Tool Combo Kit vs Milwaukee M18 6-Tool Combo Kit

Buy the 3697-25 if you want brushless tools that last and the strongest cutting and fastening performance; its hammer drill, impact driver, recip saw and circular saw are the FUEL versions, and owners rate it 4.7 out of 5 across thousands of reviews. The 2696-26 adds a sixth tool, an angle grinder, but its tools use brushed motors, so they run hotter, wear faster and deliver less power per charge. For remodelers who grind often, the six-tool kit covers more jobs; for tradesmen who use the core tools daily, the five-tool FUEL kit is the better long-term buy.

• Choose the 3697-25 FUEL kit if you want brushless motors, two XC5.0 batteries included and the best drilling, driving and sawing performance in the M18 line.
• Choose the 2696-26 six-tool kit if an angle grinder matters more to you than brushless motors and you want the widest spread of tools in one bag.