Black & Decker 20V MAX POWERCONNECT Cordless Drill/Driver + Circular Saw Combo Kit

First impressions and setup

I pulled the compact kit out of its soft bag and appreciated right away that both tools are light, straightforward, and ready to go with minimal fuss. The drill/driver feels balanced with the 20V MAX battery seated, and the circular saw is notably smaller than a full-size saw, which makes it approachable if you’re working in a garage or on a balcony. Setup took minutes: slide on the single 1.5 Ah battery, install the included 5-1/2 inch blade on the saw, and the combo is ready to work.

This is a brushed-motor, homeowner-focused kit. The 20V label is the typical “maximum initial voltage,” nominally an 18V platform, and it’s part of Black+Decker’s POWERCONNECT system. That means the battery can move across compatible tools—handy if you already own others or plan to add to the lineup.

Ergonomics and build

• Drill/driver: The grip is comfortable and the housing is slimmer than older Black+Decker models I’ve used. The 11-position clutch clicks positively and the 2-speed gearbox is clearly marked. The built-in LED is positioned high enough to wash the bit area with light without casting a harsh shadow. The keyless chuck tightens reliably; I didn’t encounter any noticeable bit looseness on typical DIY tasks.

• Circular saw: For a compact saw, the handle angle and trigger feel are natural, and the lower blade guard cycles smoothly. The stamped shoe isn’t fancy, but it’s flat enough for straight cuts with a square as a guide. The bevel and depth adjustments are tool-free, and both levers cam down securely. As with most smaller saws, the bevel scale is more of a reference than a precision instrument. I checked it with a digital angle gauge and a speed square and then scribed my own “true 45°” mark.

The soft bag isn’t rigid, but it’s a convenient catch-all. It fits the drill, saw, charger, and blade with room for a few bits and a speed square. If you toss your tools in a truck bed, a hard case would protect them better; for closet or garage shelf storage, the bag is fine.

Performance: Drill/driver

With a listed maximum torque of 310 in-lb and a 2-speed gearbox, the drill handles most home tasks comfortably:

• Driving: In low gear, it seats cabinetry screws and structural 2-1/2 inch deck screws without drama. The clutch does its job—dial it back and it prevents overdriving and stripping soft screws, dial it up and it delivers enough bite for typical framing screws. If you’re jumping to big structural fasteners, pre-drilling first keeps the motor from bogging and saves battery.

• Drilling: In high gear, it handles clean pilot holes in pine, plywood, and MDF. For larger hole saws in drywall and softwood, I switch to low gear and work steadily. In dense hardwood, you’ll want to step up hole sizes progressively and back out to clear chips. The LED is genuinely useful inside cabinets and closets.

Where it runs into limits is exactly where I’d expect for this class: big spade bits in hardwood, large-diameter hole saws, and long runs at high speed. It’s not a pro-grade torque monster, but for picture hanging, shelves, pocket holes, light framing, hardware installation, and household repairs, it’s easy to use and gets the job done.

Performance: Circular saw

The compact, 5-1/2 inch saw is designed for typical DIY cuts rather than framing all day. That said, it’s more capable than it looks:

• Crosscuts and rips: It makes clean crosscuts on 2x lumber and rips 3/4 inch plywood accurately with a straightedge. The included blade is serviceable for construction lumber. For veneer plywood or melamine, I recommend upgrading to a higher-tooth-count blade for cleaner edges.

• Bevels and depth: The tool-free depth lever is fast, and the bevel lock holds well. I set the depth so the blade clears the material by a tooth or two; the saw tracks straighter and wastes less energy that way.

• Cutline visibility: The shoe has a basic cutline indicator that’s close, but I got best results with a marked line and a guide. That’s standard fare in compact saws.

Limitations show up on long rips in wet pressure-treated lumber and dense hardwoods. The smaller blade and brushed motor don’t have the same momentum as a 7-1/4 inch, higher-amp saw, so I keep the feed rate steady and let the motor work. Plan cuts; don’t force it. For most homeowner cuts—deck boards, fence pickets, shelving, trim backers—it’s perfectly adequate and far less intimidating than a full-size saw.

Battery, charger, and runtime

The kit includes a single 1.5 Ah lithium-ion pack and a jack-plug charger. A few practical notes from use:

• One battery is the main bottleneck. The drill sips power; the saw is the hungry one. If I’m drilling pilot holes and driving screws, I can work a while between charges. Cutting sessions with the saw drain the pack faster, especially on thick stock.
• The charger is basic. It works, but it’s not especially fast, so I tend to top off the battery whenever I pause to measure or set up the next cut.
• POWERCONNECT flexibility is a plus. If you already have another 20V MAX Black+Decker battery, this kit feels twice as capable. If not, adding a second pack—ideally a 2.0 Ah or 3.0 Ah—turns the combo into a much more seamless setup.
• Shelf life is good. Lithium packs hold charge in storage, so the kit is ready for occasional weekend use without constant maintenance charging.

Durability and maintenance

Both tools are brushed, which keeps the price and complexity down. Brushed motors do create more carbon dust; I make a habit of blowing out the tools after cutting or drilling in dusty materials. The housings and levers have held up to normal DIY use. The shoe on the saw picks up scratches quickly, but that’s cosmetic, not functional. The keyless chuck still clamps tightly after repeated bit changes. With a 2-year limited warranty, it’s positioned appropriately for home use rather than jobsite abuse.

Tips to get the most from the combo

• Add a second battery. It changes the experience, especially if you’ll use the saw and drill back-to-back.
• Upgrade blades. Keep the included blade for construction lumber, but add a fine-tooth blade for plywood and a framing blade with more aggressive teeth for faster 2x cuts.
• Use guides. A clamped straightedge or an aluminum cutting guide improves accuracy and reduces wandering.
• Let the clutch work for you. Set it just below where you think you need; it’s easier to bump it up than extract a buried screw.
• Mark your bevel. Verify 45° with a speed square and mark the shoe once; it saves time on future bevel cuts.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners and DIYers who want a light, approachable combo for projects like shelving, light framing, fence and deck fixes, and general repairs.
• Apartment and condo users who value compact storage and don’t want corded tools or full-size saws.
• Anyone already in the POWERCONNECT ecosystem who needs a starter drill and a small saw for occasional tasks.

Who should look elsewhere: If you’re a remodeler or you routinely rip stacks of sheet goods or drive large structural fasteners, you’ll want higher-torque drills, larger saws, faster chargers, and multiple high-capacity batteries. This kit isn’t built for heavy, continuous duty.

Pros and cons

Pros
- Compact, easy-to-handle drill and saw that cover most household tasks
- Useful 2-speed gearbox and 11-position clutch for controlled driving
- Tool-free depth and bevel adjustments on the saw
- POWERCONNECT battery compatibility across other Black+Decker tools
- LED on the drill improves visibility in tight spots

Cons
- Only one 1.5 Ah battery included; runtime is the limiting factor
- Basic charger; plan ahead for recharges
- Smaller 5-1/2 inch saw has limited depth and less momentum than full-size models
- Bevel scale is more reference than precision

Recommendation

I recommend this Black+Decker combo for homeowners and DIYers who want an easy, budget-conscious way to cover the core tasks of drilling, driving, and making common cuts. The drill has enough torque and a forgiving clutch for everyday jobs, and the compact saw is confidence-inspiring while still capable of cutting 2x stock and plywood when used with a steady hand. The single 1.5 Ah battery and basic charger are the main compromises; add a second, higher-capacity pack and a better blade, and the kit becomes far more versatile. If your work leans pro or you need all-day runtime and maximum power, step up to heavier-duty tools. For typical home projects, this combo is a practical, friendly starting point that gets the essentials right.