Bosch GBH 18V-22X Review: One Drill for Every Bit

Introduction

Most cordless drills fall into one of two camps: SDS rotary hammers that take SDS Plus bits, and standard drills that take straight or hex bits. This new Bosch drill breaks that divide. The Bosch GBH 18V-22X is an 18V cordless SDS drill that can accept SDS Plus bits as well as standard straight bits, which alone makes it an unusual proposition in this class.

The GBH 18V-22 has been established for over a year as a lightweight cordless SDS drill. The X at the end of the name refers to the interchangeable chuck system, and this version is coming to market very soon. Here is what makes it interesting.

The One Chuck System

The chuck is essentially made up of two parts. The rear section works like a standard SDS Plus holder: the bit self-retains when inserted, and you simply pull it back to remove it. The front section is a standard keyless chuck. Wind it all the way out and you can fit small straight bits just like a conventional drill, tighten them by hand, and drill as normal. Wind the front chuck back out of the way and there is room for an SDS Plus bit to seat in the rear holder.

It is a simple idea, but it turns one drill into two tools. That is the core appeal of this drill and the main reason it stands out from every other lightweight cordless rotary hammer.

Core Specs and Standout Features

On paper, the numbers are what you would expect from a lightweight cordless SDS drill: two joules of impact energy, a no-load speed of just over 1,000 RPM, and an impact rate of just over 45,000 beats per minute. Maximum drilling diameters are 22 mm in concrete, 13 mm in metal, and 26 mm in wood. Weight is 2.6 kg without the battery, and it uses the same 18V batteries as Bosch’s standard drills.

Two features set it apart from cheaper SDS drills. First, there is an anti-vibration design with deliberate play between the main handle and the body to absorb some of the chipping vibration. Second, and genuinely rare at this level, is an anti-kickback system. If a bit snags in concrete, especially on rebar, the drill body can start spinning violently before you can react. This drill cuts out instead, which is the kind of protection you normally see on more premium machines.

There is also a clever chisel-orientation setting: a halfway position between drilling and chipping modes lets you rotate a flat chisel bit to exactly the angle you want before locking it into the chipping function, where it then stays put.

Dust Extraction on the Front

Bosch offers an optional companion attachment, the GDE 18V-12 dust extractor, which clips onto the front of the drill. Anything coming out of the hole gets drawn straight into this mini extractor, so drilling indoors does not require a separate vacuum unit.

For tradespeople who regularly work in customers’ homes, that combination is compelling: one compact drill that takes any bit type, with dust extraction attached, weighing a couple of kilograms with the battery. It covers everything from SDS chipping to standard drilling without hauling multiple machines.

How It Handles Real Work

In testing against hard, old, solid concrete, a two-joule chipping hammer is simply the wrong tool for demolition, and the drill performed as that limitation suggests. A comparable competitor with similar power produced essentially the same result. A 16 mm SDS bit, once run in forward rather than reverse, drilled horizontally into that hard concrete adequately, and a 20 mm bit drilled vertically with equal ease.

Where it truly came into its own was drilling into very old, saturated timber with a straight bit, something a conventional SDS drill physically cannot accept. The binding in the dense, damp timber triggered the anti-kickback cut-out more than once, and eventually it got through, with several holes passing straight through without issue. That is precisely the scenario where the interchangeable chuck earns its place.

For lighter indoor work such as plaster or normal brickwork, the chipping function works absolutely fine.

Things to Consider Before Buying

This is best described as a chipping hammer rather than a demolition tool. If you regularly need to break out hard, old concrete walls, a dedicated breaker is the right machine and hiring one is the sensible move. The drill is not yet on the market, and pricing has not been announced, so check availability before planning a purchase. Also note that the anti-kickback cut-out engages when a bit binds, which is a safety benefit, but it does mean the drill stops rather than powering through heavy binding.

Buying Advice

If you are a tradesperson or a serious DIYer who currently carries both an SDS drill and a standard drill, this one tool could replace both. Add the optional dust extractor and you have a complete indoor drilling kit in a single compact unit.

For buyers who only ever drill concrete with SDS bits, a conventional cordless SDS drill may still be the simpler and possibly cheaper route. But if you want the flexibility of any bit type plus anti-kickback safety in a lightweight 18V package, keep an eye out for this one, likely arriving around early summer.

Conclusion

The Bosch GBH 18V-22X is a genuinely clever solution to a long-standing limitation: one compact 18V drill that takes SDS Plus bits, straight bits, and small drill bits alike, with anti-vibration, anti-kickback, chisel orientation, and optional dust extraction on top. For anyone tired of carrying two drills to one job, it deserves a place on your shortlist.