Users recommend avoiding the Ryobi USB Lithium Soldering Pen, Screwdriver, Rotary Tool, and Power Scrubber due to low power, stalling, and poor battery life.
Ryobi’s USB Lithium line is often marketed for its grab-and-go convenience, and to be fair, some of the tools in the series live up to that promise. But a handful of these tools have gained quite a reputation for performing poorly, particularly among users who expected more, or rather, something remotely close to what you get from rival brands like DeWalt or Milwaukee.
Users across r/Ryobi and similar forums seem to point out the same problem along the lines of, „These tools feel more like gadgets that [than] real tools for trade“. As one user put it in the thread: „I have several (Ryobi) tools . I’d never count on them for woodworking other types of DIY stuff and can’t see how they’d be useful in many of what I’d call „service-trades“. Given the compact battery format, we can’t say the limitations are surprising, though it appears some models struggle more than others.
Suffice it to say, these patterns matter, especially if you want to know which tools fail in real situations, which deserve space in your kit, and not just blindly going by what the spec sheets promise. On that note, here are a few Ryobi USB lithium tools you may want to avoid.1. USB lithium soldering pen
Ryobi’s soldering pen is one of the tools in the lineup that are consistently criticized, primarily for not maintaining a steady tip temperature under load. That inconsistency can lead to cold joints, especially in automotive or connector repair, and this is something that users notice right away.
„Really disappointed with this soldering iron [.] The main issue the device has is it can’t generate enough heat to do very much work [.] it struggled to melt existing solder I was removing of some led strip“, wrote one user on Amazon who also claims to be a Ryobi fan. Right below that comment was another user sharing his sentiments, and the same issue: „Too unpowerful“, they wrote. This issue was consistent with several other user reviews, with one even going to the extent of calling it „a useless gimmick“ whose initial idea was interesting but just unable to deliver in practical situations.
Even pro reviewers seem to agree. House Digest’s Ryobi tools buying guide bluntly states that „Ryobi tools aren’t designed for heavy use“ and that „other budget-friendly brands might be better for prosumers.“ Looking at all the feedback we could find, it’s safe to say that the Ryobi USB lithium soldering pen is a decent hobbyist option, „if all you want to do is tin and solder a few connections“, as well as reach awkward spaces. However, expecting anything even remotely close to pro-grade performance is overreaching.2. USB lithium screwdriver
There’s no denying that a USB-charged, pocketable screwdriver sounds perfect, particularly for quick panel screws or light interior trim.
