Makita GAD01M1 40V max XGT Brushless 1/2-in Right Angle Drill Kit review

GAD01M1 is a 40V max XGT brushless right-angle drill kit built around the GAD01Z. Its exact package page lists a single BL4040 4.0Ah battery and charger; it also names a chuck key. The product description identifies the model as a 1/2-in keyed-chuck drill and describes a side handle. This M1 suffix is not the bare GAD01Z package, so check the exact page and kit contents rather than assuming a battery or charger is bundled with every GAD01 listing.

Keyed chuck versus the nearby hex model

The most important choice is the bit interface. GAD01 uses a keyed 1/2-in drill chuck. That can hold compatible bits with shanks up to 1/2 in and the included kit names a chuck key. GAD02 is a separate right-angle model with a 7/16-in hex holder for hex-shank bits; it is not a half-inch chuck. Neither interface alone establishes the safe hole diameter in wood or steel. The manual lists material and bit-specific capacities: 1/2 in in steel, 2-in auger bits in wood, 4-5/8-in self-feed bits in low gear (2-9/16 in in high gear), and 6-1/4-in hole saws in low gear (4-1/8 in in high gear). Those are manufacturer limits, not independent tests or blanket recommendations.

Speed figures and package dimensions need context

The exact GAD01 product-page specification table and the linked GAD01/GAD02 manual agree on 400 rpm low and 1,500 rpm high. However, narrative product-page copy says 350 and 1,400 rpm, and a separate feature bullet contains a malformed 4,000-rpm entry. Because the table and manual agree while descriptive copy conflicts, this assessment uses 400/1,500 only as the table/manual figures and records the discrepancy rather than treating every page sentence as consistent. Choose gear based on the manual's bit-specific guidance; a maximum speed does not indicate useful torque at every task.

Makita's GAD01M1 page gives 21-1/4 in overall length and 12.8 lb with the battery; the manual lists 21-1/2 in with a BL4040 battery and up to 24-1/4 in with the front handle extended. It gives an 11.7–13.0 lb tool range depending on setup. The two overall-length values differ, and neither is a short nose-to-back tool-head dimension. A right-angle shape can help in certain framing or cabinet work, but the complete tool, hand, battery, handle and bit still need room. This is a substantial machine, not a validated six-inch-head fit.

What this kit supports

Makita's manual documents drilling rather than hammer drilling for GAD01 and GAD02. So GAD01M1 should not be chosen to satisfy an essential hammer-mode requirement. It is instead a specialist drill for applications where the right-angle form and keyed chuck suit the working geometry and bit supply. Its high claimed wood capacities call for careful handling and the manual's operating guidance, especially when a large self-feed bit can bind. Keep a firm stance and use the handle as instructed. The 4.0Ah capacity label describes the included battery, not predicted runtime.

Verdict from manufacturer evidence

Two other package checks are easy to miss in this family: the product image cannot resolve the battery model, and the exact Includes section does not list a bag or case. Match the BL4040 and charger against the order paperwork rather than relying on a marketplace bundle title.

GAD01M1 is the battery-included choice for the GAD01 keyed-chuck platform, with one BL4040 pack and charger listed. Its key strengths are the 1/2-in keyed interface, defined low/high operation, and detailed bit-specific manual capacities. Its limits include no hammer mode, a heavy and long assembled form, conflicting speed prose, and small published dimensions gaps that make clearance planning a physical check. Compare the GAD02M1 only if a 7/16-in hex holder is appropriate; the two models are not just package variants. This is documentary research, not hands-on use, and makes no claim about price, stock, measured performance or runtime.

Sources: Makita GAD01M1 product page; Makita GAD01/GAD02 instruction manual; Makita GAD02M1 comparison page.