Makita GAD01Z 40V max XGT Brushless 1/2-in Right Angle Drill (Tool Only) review

Makita GAD01Z is the tool-only sibling of the GAD01M1 kit: a 40V max XGT brushless right-angle drill with a keyed 1/2-in chuck. Its exact page labels it tool-only and says the battery and charger are not included. The product's Includes list names a drill chuck and chuck key; the product overview also describes a side handle. The separate GAD01M1 kit lists a BL4040 4.0Ah battery and charger. The shared drill family does not erase the purchase-package difference.

Why the keyed 1/2-in interface matters

A keyed chuck can secure compatible round- and hex-shank bits up to the maker's 1/2-in chuck capacity. That is useful when existing bits are not all hex-shank, but it is a shank-fit statement, not a promise to drill a half-inch hole in every material. Makita's linked manual lists 1/2-in steel capacity and distinct wood limits by accessory and gear: 2-in auger bits, 4-5/8-in self-feed bits in low gear versus 2-9/16 in in high, and 6-1/4-in hole saws in low versus 4-1/8 in high. These are manufacturer specifications. Match the bit, material, gear and operation rather than treating a large number as universal use advice.

GAD02Z looks similar in purpose but uses a 7/16-in hex interface, not this keyed chuck. If the planned bit is a standard round shank or requires a larger holder opening, the GAD01/GAD02 distinction matters before purchase. Adapters should not be assumed unless the tool maker confirms the combination.

Speed and length: keep the source conflict visible

The GAD01 product page specification table and the shared GAD01/GAD02 manual state 400 rpm low and 1,500 rpm high. The page's narrative description instead says 350/1,400 rpm, with one feature bullet carrying an apparent 4,000-rpm typo. The table and manual support 400/1,500 as the selected figures, while the prose discrepancy remains noted. Do not use the conflicting text as a reason to assume a different drill generation or to promise more speed than the manual states.

The exact Z page states a 21-1/4-in overall length and 12.8 lb with a battery sold separately. The manual lists 21-1/2 in overall length with BL4040 and 24-1/4 in when the front handle is extended; its weight spans 11.7–13.0 lb depending on configuration. That length mismatch is unresolved. More importantly for clearance, none of those values is identified as tool-head length. A right-angle housing may suit an obstructed work path, but the long assembly, chuck, bit, handle, battery, hand position and trigger access still need checking.

Tool-only choice, and where it stops

The manual names BL4025 or BL4040 batteries and a DC40RA charger as applicable equipment. A bare-tool purchase is appropriate to consider only if you already have or separately source a compatible pack and charger. It does not document a battery in this SKU. The drill's manual documents drilling operation without a hammer-drill mode, so this is not a choice for a required hammer function or a substitute for an SDS rotary hammer.

Large-hole capability deserves restraint. Manufacturer capacity guidance does not guarantee that the bit, material, operator, workpiece restraint or exact application is suitable. Follow the manual's warnings about reaction torque and binding, and use the side handle as instructed for supported work. The sources do not establish a short-head measurement or independent ergonomic evaluation.

Verdict from the pages and manual

GAD01Z is the tool-only keyed-chuck option for XGT users who need a right-angle drill body and a 1/2-in chuck; its basic merits must be balanced against a separately supplied battery/charger, the substantial assembled length and a speed-prose discrepancy. For a kit, compare GAD01M1's exact BL4040/charger list. For hex-shank users, separately assess GAD02Z. This is a source-based assessment, not a personal-use or test report, and it makes no claim about current price, availability, measured weight, seller condition or runtime.

Sources: Makita GAD01Z product page; Makita GAD01/GAD02 instruction manual; Makita GAD01M1 kit page.