Bosch GDS18V-350N vs GDS18V-780N: Two New 18V Impact Wrenches Tested

Introduction

Bosch recently launched two new 18V impact wrenches, and they represent two very different bets. The GDS18V-350N is marketed as a mid torque but is compact by most other brands’ metrics, while the GDS18V-780N is a full, chunky mid torque built around a genuinely heavy hammer assembly. Testing both showed one clear winner and one questionable reinvention, so it pays to know which one fits your work before spending money.

Bosch GDS18V-350N: The Compact That Overpromises

The GDS18V-350N sells for around $170 and measures 5.2 inches long, which is right at the average length for a cordless compact impact wrench. Bosch rates it at 410 ft-lbs of breakaway torque and about 250 to 258 ft-lbs of tightening torque. With a 4 amp hour battery attached, it lands in a handy size-and-weight category for quick fastener work.

In testing, though, the numbers did not hold up. It managed 177 ft-lbs in a forward working torque test, slotting in with rivals from Ryobi and DeWalt, and only 191 ft-lbs in the reverse max torque test, where the Ryobi compact and older Milwaukee M12 passed it by. Most telling: the older, cheaper Bosch GDS18V-230, bought at $149, scored 236 ft-lbs and beat this new model outright.

The explanation lies in its design. The 350 shares a manual with Bosch’s impact driver line, shows high impacts-per-minute figures, and behaves like a repurposed impact driver with a swapped anvil: lots of fast hits down low but not enough force per hit to keep making progress once things get tight. Anyone shopping for their first true mid torque should look elsewhere, though there may be some value in this form factor as a subcompact niche tool.

Bosch GDS18V-780N: The Real Star of the Lineup

The GDS18V-780N, bought for $199 with a current retail price near $279, claims 575 ft-lbs of tightening torque and 740 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque. It measures just over 6.6 inches long, actually shorter than the long-reigning DeWalt mid torque at 6.9 inches, and its weight gap closes up once a battery is attached. Its girthy nose housing hints at what is happening inside.

The results were genuinely impressive. On a standard 5-second working torque test it produced 410 ft-lbs, rising to 433 ft-lbs with the recommended ProFactor battery. In a 10-second reverse test it hit 487 ft-lbs, and 533 ft-lbs on the ProFactor pack. In the 15-second best-case test it reached 601 ft-lbs on a standard battery and 630 ft-lbs with the ProFactor, sandwiching the DeWalt depending on configuration. For context, Bosch’s previous mid torque, the GDS18V-300, managed only 282 ft-lbs and cost more at $219.

What Is Inside: Teardown Notes

The 780 earns its numbers through an unusually front-heavy design. The hammer assembly weighs 1.7 lbs, compared with 1.2 lbs on DeWalt’s mid torque, and its 20 percent larger hammer diameter places more mass further from the center, making each strike more forceful. A Teflon ring seal keeps grease in when the tool heats up, and a solid brass bushing spreads side loads on the anvil. The small brushless motor with heavy windings hits a slow 2,400 impacts per minute, but keeps delivering strong hits when everything else slows down, which is exactly what you want when breaking a stuck bolt free.

Quality-control quirks are worth knowing. The housing screws on both tested units arrived loose with no thread locker, and on the 780 one bolt even worked its way out during testing. If you buy either tool, snug up the side housing screws and add blue thread locker to the front hammer-case screws. Inside, the 780 impresses with potted electronics in the handle housed in a cast aluminum drop-in assembly that also braces the motor and helps heat dissipation, plus a quality trigger mechanism with a bellows to keep dust out.

Buying Advice

These two tools answer different questions. If you need a compact impact wrench for lighter fastener duty, the 350 underdelivers against both its own rating and Bosch’s older cheaper model, and is hard to recommend at its price. If you want a serious mid torque for automotive work, the 780 is a standout: it produced a new per-inch-of-length torque record in testing, ranks at the top of its class against long-established rivals, and offers strong value even at its higher current retail price. Pair it with the ProFactor battery line for best performance, as Bosch specifies.

Conclusion

Bosch’s new duo shows a brand experimenting boldly. The GDS18V-780N is a class-leading mid torque with a high-torque hammer and real breakaway muscle, easily the more exciting buy. The GDS18V-350N is a compact mislabeled as a mid torque and outperformed by its own cheaper predecessor. Choose the 780 for serious work, and skip the 350 unless you specifically want a niche subcompact.