Are "High Output" Batteries Better Actually Worse? 

31K views in first hour.... goes to show how many people trust in you and enjoy your product reviews. We appreciate you!

Hey, just as constructive feedback, those HP batteries from Ryobi are made to take advantage of the extra contacts on some hp tools

Yet another excellent product testing video PF! It always amazes me at how much time & effort you put into making these videos. Thanks & keep up the great work! 👍👍

Thanks for another great video PF. I can't tell you how gratifying it is to see someone put thought into applying ways to eliminate variables and potential bias from testing. Keep up the good work!

I really appreciate how concise you keep the presentations and the charts/graphs at the end of each testing group. It makes your channel one of the top ones I use when examining any product you have covered. Yours is so much better than those other channels where the person is in love with just hearing themselves talk without anything worthwhile. Keep up the excellent work.

This was a very valuable comparison. Especially the Milwaukee vs the Knock-off batteries, since most of my tools are Milwaukee. Thanks PF! You're the best!

You've probably been suggested this before, but a good cheap yet useful video idea would be to test waterproofing sprays. I need some and feel blind when I don't have a Project Farm video to guide me! Best waterproofing spray, whether for boots or tarps or just overall any fabric would be great!

Very interesting to see the differences in power and power draw in different temp settings as well. I love your videos, at this point in time you have tested so many things that every time I am looking for reviews for something from DIY to pro tool needs, you have a video for it and I will not chose a product without your testing and input. A big thank you for what you do!

I watch a lot of youtube videos week to week, but the absolute highlight every time is when I see the latest project farm video show up every Sunday. I'm not even entirely sure why I enjoy this channel so much...I think it's just Todd. Thanks for the videos Todd. Wishing you a happy and productive New year.

You sir will forever be a RU-vid genius! I love all the handy stuff you come up with for testing! I bet you’d be fun to sit around and brainstorm with. Keep the kick ass videos coming!

Thank you so much for these tests. I like that you put a lot of thought into the tests and go through an explanation. Way more than just giving a statistic.

Another extremely thorough product testing video that was right up my alley. :-) A++

From experience with the HO Milwaukee and the HP Ryobi, they last a little longer but that’s not the reason to buy. In the correct tools they have a fair bit more power (no difference in blower or chainsaw). My tests were with the Ryobi brushless 7 1/4” circular saw and the Milwaukee Fuel 6 1/2” circular saw. The rpm increase and power bump are noticeable in both applications with the HP and HO batteries. My M18 fuel hammer drill also gets more rpm for longer on a 8ah HO than a 5ah XC-same with the fuel 4 1/2” angle grinder. Love your videos!

Hey project farm! I love the critical data analysis you do on all your videos, and would love to see you review air purifiers in the future! Thanks again for all the effort you put into your vids.

A Project Farm video a week is a treat that never disappoints!

Great video as always. One advantage of the High Output Milwaukee is weight reduction. Fewer cells makes for a smaller and lighter package. Great for lower torque/less current hungry tools like 1/4” impact drivers.

I would love to see you do coolers! Maybe include tests about shade vs no shade, drain the water vs don't, frozen water bottles vs ice. Ice packs vs regular ice. And, of course, different brands. There are lots of good American made options. Thanks!

Ryobi HP batteries have 2 additional contacts at the base of the stem which take advantage of certain types of Ryobi tools, mostly Ryobi HP brushless branded tools.

Thank you 👍

The quality of your videos and the time that you take to present it are awesome. Thank you for your time and your devotion

Another great video. One thing I've found with the High Output Batteries, how well they perform can be based on what tool they're put in. If I have to drive a lot of long ledger locks, you can bet I'm putting a High Output Battery in my Milwaukee impact. A standard 5.0 might get it 95% of the way into the wood, but when you need a flush-set surface, the 6.0 High Output is able to put down the last inch reliably. Where as if I'm using my blower, the only real benefit I might see, is a slightly longer run time. All in all, it is really nice to have them when you need them, hot summers in particular are a pain when it comes to long periods of drilling. To me it seems like the HOBs keep the drill from burning up under heavy load in hot conditions.

Love your videos, hats off to you sir for doing all this testing with your own money to save us time and money, much appreciated

I did not expect those results. Interesting. Thanks!

Thank you for spending your time testing 👍🏻

I think others have mentioned it already, but the Milwaukee XC or High Output batteries only make a difference in the tools that can leverage them, they are usually the "Fuel" branded ones.

Thanks for all that you do, the videos you make are amazing and save money/ improve the lives of people who make a living with tools. Keep up the good work, it's very much appreciated.

Another!!! Well done, comprehensive test. Thank you again.👍👍

2:00 does anyone else have immense anxiety at see the free floating chainsaw with his hand to catch it? You’re really smart and I’m a dummy who owns few tools and does very little manual labor. I hope you did this safely or will in the future. I might trust myself to do something like that but, like I said, I’m a dummy. We need you to keep producing this awesome content. Don’t want to lose you to an injury. God bless you. Happy New Year.

Motorcycling season will soon be upon us. Could you and Cousin Eddy test some helmets, full-face and open-face, with and without communication capabilities, drop test, abrasion resistance, impact resistance (like getting hit with a small stone), and all the goodies you can dream up? That would be awesome. We love all you do, even if we have no need for the product. Thanks Todd.

Really appreciate these reviews sir! Unbiased testing is hard to come by. Keep up the great work! 👍🏿

This has been really educational and will save me lots of money with my future decisions, I appreciate your accuracy and complete honesty with your tests/reviews

Thank you for your no-nonsense testing and videos. I often have to watch other videos at 1.5x speed, but yours are always 'no fluff' and informative.

Just remember you need a ryobi tool with the HP contacts to see a difference

Good stuff as always. I have seen some other tests where certain tools benefit from a better battery. It wasn't a massive difference but probably enough to notice. I have a bunch of ryobi tools so I just got their special buy two pack of 4amp high output for $99. I couldn't resist since they are normally $110 each.

Just started this video but something that comes to mind is a REALLY good channel that compares tools and batteries in the process is torque test channel. Those guys do a great job. They even do flashlights and some other non torque things.

Thank you! This is what I was hoping you would do!

Thank you so much for doing this. I feel much better about my Ridgid batteries now.

About halfway through the video, I was starting to agree with your final assessment that the high output batteries are more suitable for the cold. So that’s a good data point for me. Thank you for taking time to do this test.

Thank you for another great test video!

The timing for this video is spot on as I was just looking at these batteries the other day in the store, and wondering if the price difference was really worth it. Thanks for doing some testing so we can make informed purchases!

The amount of dedication in this channel never fails so amaze me. Never stop the good work.

Would love to see you test levels Could do 2’ and 4’ levels. Could Test for accuracy, durability, magnetic strength, weight, etc Absolutely love the reviews! Most of my purchases are decided in these reviews. Keep up the great work!

Dude I just watched a video you did on hose clamps lmao. You test anything, this had become my favorite youtube channel. Retest low end knives and various AA & AAA batteries. I like that you state facts with no extra crap, straight to the point.

Another very smart and helpful test. And very impressive. Thanks for the test!

Great job putting the manufacturer claims to the test! That's why so many people love your channel!

Should do a test of OEM vs aftermarket batteries also! That would be very interesting.

THE VIDEO EVERYONE WAS WAITING FOR! THANK YOU!!!

Thanks for this vid! Its interesting to see this comparison along with the ones that TTC does. They seem to find improvement with the H.O. types, but the tool functions they test with are different.

Hey! Absolutely love your content. Looks forward to it every week. Just have a future suggestion. Test out some of the high weight gear oils. I'd love to know how Mobile One, Valvoline, Amsoil, and even Motorcraft stack up! Could be interesting to test the high weight oils vs conventional

Speaking of batteries. Testing UPS back up batteries would be interesting to test.

Awesome work! Can't wait for 2023 showreel!

Another enlightening segment. Thanks for sharing!

I really like the comparison within the same brands. I would love to see some changes comparisons between tools within the same brand.

Awesome video! Looking forward to the stacked lithium version down the road. Thank you very much for this!

I love how much care goes into your videos . Great content as always .

Thank you for this fantastic video presentation & public service!

Not much but if it helps you stay clear concise and unbiased I am happy to help, really appreciate your videos they give me REAL buying information!

Thank u for the video 😊.

Those results are surprising, thanks for testing so thoroughly!

Thank you for doing this test!

ryobi fanboy here. The Ryobi 1+ HP batteries make a huge difference in the high end HP tools. Especially in the Brushless models. They have an additional contact on the base of the battery, just at the beginning of the stem. My angle grinder often stalls using a regular battery, never with the HP battery. I would loved to have seen a comparison of a Fake Ryobi battery. But I can't assume it would be the same as the Fake Mil. Awesome testing. Thanks Todd.

I see a lot of comments on here about not testing HP tools with the HP batteries or not using impact guns for torque testing or so on. However I still found the test useful as it served to see what sort of impact high performance batteries have on tools that don’t necessarily use them. Great work and awesome video.

Your videos are always so fun and refreshing to watch. Thanks Todd!

Excellent job as always, you never disappoint. I appreciate all the testing you do.

I think the Max output batteries will become the new entry level behind Stacked batteries. Would love to see the MO vs the Stacked, I know you lose Amp hours but the power they are showing coming out of the Flex tools is pretty insane.

This will probably be one of your most important videos. Most people aren't leaving their tool family because batteries are so expensive, but buying better batteries is something a lot of people will be interested in.

Thanks Todd. Happy 2023 🥳

I love this whole channel is just an elaborate excuse to have ALL the tools. Thanks for the dedication to unbiased results though every video.

Love all the videos. I would love to to see some actual independent tests on silicone caulk with so many choices and grades. How does a person know what to choose I think a review like this could help out many home DIY people.

This PF video shows exactly what I expected. Nice to have it proven--again by Project Farm. This could be among the most valuable channels I watch regularly. I buy nothing without checking out PF to see if they have a review. The most honest testing available to the public, and I truly appreciate them.

Good set of tests, thanks

You are my new Consumer Reports. They used to test things, now not so much. Your testing is excellent, and we get to see you run the tests as well. Excellent content all around.

Hi there, first of all, love watching your videos! Okay, so I have the milwaukee M18 5.5ah high output (I'm in the UK) and I seem to be getting better performance from my m18 fuel grinder and m18 high toque with the 5.5ah over the 5ah, both tools are quite hard on batteries, but in my opinion, you need to be using the fuel range of tools to get the most out of them. However it did improve the performance of a non fuel circular saw, but not by much, certainly not by 60% which is the difference in price between the m18 5ah and the m18 5.5ah here in the UK. Keep up the good work.

Thank you for the effort you put in these videos! The are really enjoyable to watch and very Handy. Keep it up

Solid video!! The torque test channel have done a good battery output test!

Another great test and report! Thank you! I'll put my vote in also for a test on waterproofing sprays and treatments for boots, tarps, fabrics, etc. Thumbs up!

It's interesting how the higher outputs often draw the amps down quicker even if it started with a higher capacity. Good application of algebra lol Also quick note, I love your multiple trails of the same tests. I can see how it'd be hard to present that without putting people to sleep but you might have figured it out 🤠

Awesome tests Todd. Question: when you cooled the batteries down to around 0F how long were they in the freezer on average?

Thanks for doing these videos!

You have the best tool channel anywhere. Thank you.

Hey Todd, love your channel. Could you add parallel clamps and bar clamps (probably separate) to your long list of things to test? I think a lot of woodworkers would appreciate it greatly. It's hard to tell sometimes whether to pay a premium or if middle of the road is adequate. Thanks!

Another excellent video. So on the Milwaukee knock off, you get almost the same performance at regular temps (99%-100%) and about 75% the use per charge. However, it only costs 20% of the Milwaukee brand. That’s certainly math to consider! Thanks again for all these videos

Thank you. Great review

Thank you!

Nice work 👏

That was evidence to prove that, “you get what you pay for” is not always the case, right Ryobi? Thank you for sharing. And happy new year, everyone.

Excellent! And thanks for the bonus knockoff Milwaukee battery test!

Great job! Interesting results

Great work as usual! One question: you mentioned that you kept the Ryobi for this test. What do you normally do with all the tools you test?

Hey Todd, awesome video as always. I've been watching since you started, and finally have a few suggestions! I wonder if you could bust some "building envelope" myths. Maybe test different brands building paper/tar paper. Do they really allow moisture out? How tough are they when left on walls for long periods of time? I have just always wanted to get to the bottom of this one. Insulation would be a good one to test too, sprayfoam vs roxul vs fibreglass vs styrofoam etc... Did you test Oscillating Multitool blades? I forget. I swear, they're all trash, but maybe I'm using the wrong ones! Re: other user comment about doing coolers. Try the canyon cooler! They claim it's better than a yeti and cheaper. you should test that. A few other more popular ones make similar claims. What makes Yeti's so expensive? Are they worth it? Ever think of testing other auto parts? It would be cool to see house brands vs name brands for things like brakes and ball joints. With all the new online parts dealers, it's so hard to know if I should spring for the good ones or stick with the cheapo's. Thanks for all your hard work. We're all better off for it

Another very good, and informative video from PF. Excellent lab test A+ Thanks a million

Glad you tested these. Saved me some money.😁

Love your reviews! I make purchases based upon your objective test results. Unfortunately, I purchased a bunch of Ryobi hp batteries before this test😞

I love the channel! I think your tests did a great job showing that (for packs with the same capacity) "high output" really doesn't mean much under normal use (The total watt hours are the same). However, I feel there was a missed opportunity here. Both the Milwaukee and the Kobalt uses the larger 21700 cells in their 'upgraded' packs. Which to me directly implies they wanted the upgrade to provide better *peak current* output. But the both the blower & vacuum would have a cap on current draw to prevent damage to the fans. The chainsaw could peak more, but I suspect that since the motor drives a chain, they too have artificial current limits to ensure safety if extreme torque is applied to the chain. Only the circular saw (conceptually) seems like it would be able to continually draw more and more (since the motor is directly coupled to the blade and transferring it's torque directly to the wood). ---- I would love to know how much the better the 'upgraded' batteries are at handling 'extremes' where the torque (and current) are much higher than normal. ---- I think running each pair on a circular saw as it tries to cut increasingly tough material would show if the 'upgraded battery' is a cash grab or an actual benefit for the few who are the most demanding of their tools. That said I am no expert on the EE behind power tools. Perhaps every tool has an artificial current cap set well below what the normal battery could provide, which is entirely possible. In which case the upgraded battery of the same capacity is totally a cash grab (aside from some limited cold weather benefits). So I feel like that was a missed opportunity, but no hard criticism here... Your video still does an excellent job showing their behavior the way most people would use it. I love your work Todd! Thanks for putting these videos out there.

I always appreciate your videos, you have saved me so much time and money. I’m going to need a tapping tool soon and the self drilling & tapping but sets are not cheap. I’d love to see a review on them with a comparison to a (Klein 6-1) hand tapping tool. Keep up the great work! 🤝

Thorough testing as usual! Surprised the results were so close... But in a heavy load application I'd want my battery to run as cool as possible for longevity, so the high performance packs are all ahead there.

Great idea. I wonder if there’s any difference in how many cycles they can survive. Not a test suggestion, just wonder if there’s a difference.

Excellent test... thank you

GREAT VIDEO AND TESTING .. MY SON MAX 7YR.S OLD AND I LEARN ALOT ON YOUR VIDEO''S AND WHAT TO BUY.. YOUR SPEED TALK,, GETS THE VIDEO GOING AND YOU KNOW MORE TESTING ITEMS .. THANK''S..

Would love to see you test measuring calipers. I wonder how accurate my cheap husky digital calipers are compared to more expensive calipers