Makita GPH01Z 40V max XGT Brushless 1/2-in Hammer Driver-Drill (Tool Only) review

GPH01Z is Makita’s current-reference 40V max XGT brushless 1/2-in hammer driver-drill in a tool-only package. Its exact U.S. page says the battery and charger are not included. The separate GPH01D suffix is an earlier, discontinued battery kit; its package contents do not transfer to this Z model. The GPH01 manual supplies model-family specifications and approved power equipment. The assessment below compares those documents, not a personal test.

Three operating modes, one 1/2-in chuck

GPH01Z provides drill, screwdriving and hammer-drilling modes. The manual lists low/high speeds up to 650 and 2,600 rpm and hammer rates up to 9,750 and 39,000 bpm. Makita’s product page also lists those two ranges and claims 1,250 in-lb maximum torque, with a digital clutch offering 41 settings in low gear and 21 in high. These are published maker figures, not independent measurements. The chuck’s 1/2-in capacity is a shank-fit limit, not a hole-size rating.

In the manual, masonry and steel capacity are each 13/16 in; wood capacities differ by tool: 2-in auger, 3-in self-feed and 6-in hole saw. Treat those as the maker’s specified bit limits, not permission to exceed the instructions or an assurance for every substrate. Hammer mode can help with the indicated masonry drilling, but the GPH01 is still a chuck-based hammer driver-drill, not an SDS rotary hammer or chipping tool. For repeated, larger or difficult concrete work, assess the appropriate rotary hammer and bit system instead. Follow the manual’s warnings for torque reaction and maintain control of the tool.

Tool-only means another purchase is needed

The exact GPH01Z page labels the item “tool only” and explicitly excludes battery and charger. The manual lists BL4025 and BL4040 battery cartridges and DC40RA as compatible family equipment. Before relying on an existing Makita battery, confirm its exact model and the charger against the manual; another platform or a similar voltage marking is not a substitute. The page’s product image does not add a kit battery or charger. If those items are needed, GPH01D is a distinct older kit with two 2.5Ah packs, a rapid charger and bag according to the official catalog’s suffix legend and the exact D page title; its discontinued status should not be confused with a current supply claim.

The manual gives 6.0–6.6 lb depending on the battery and attachments. That range does not state the bare-tool weight. Both the product page and manual give an overall length of 7-1/8 in; no source reviewed here states tool-head length. This is not a verified six-inch head. The chuck, installed bit, battery, side-grip requirements and access to the trigger can all affect actual clearance.

Strengths, limits and purchase checks

On paper, GPH01Z combines hammer mode, two speed ranges, an adjustable clutch, and a named 40V max system in a tool-only SKU. Its disadvantages are equally concrete: batteries and charger are absent; its manual’s bit/material capacities limit what should be assumed; it is heavier as a complete setup than a bare-tool label might suggest; and it cannot be treated as a rotary hammer. Published maximum torque and impact rates describe the manufacturer’s specifications, not observed work on a particular fastener or masonry surface.

Before choosing the Z package, verify the exact suffix and decide whether compatible XGT packs and charger are already available. Read the GPH01 manual for bit, mode and battery rules, and confirm whether the seller lists any accessory beyond the tool. If comparing the older GPH01D, check its actual condition, kit completeness and any included pack history; a discontinued designation does not establish current stock. The choice is between documented package configurations, not a claim that one will outperform another in your material.

Sources: Makita GPH01Z product page; Makita GPH01 instruction manual; GPH01D earlier kit page.