New Milwaukee and Ryobi Tool Releases: A Backpack Sprayer and Two Cordless Nailers Worth Watching

Introduction

Spring tool drops are here, and this round includes a long-awaited redesign and two solid additions to a fastening lineup. Milwaukee is back with a second generation of its battery-powered backpack sprayer, this time leaning on an interchangeable tank system to fix the reliability complaints that plagued the original. Ryobi, meanwhile, keeps expanding its AirStrike family with a 16-gauge straight finish nailer and an 18-gauge narrow crown stapler, both cordless and hose-free.

These three tools target very different jobs, but they share a common pitch: skip the pump, the compressor, the hose, and the cartridges, and just pull the trigger.

Milwaukee M18 4-Gallon Backpack Sprayer with Switch Tank

Milwaukee’s first-generation backpack sprayers worked well at first, then developed a reputation for clogging and pump failures after about a year of use. The new M18 4-gallon backpack sprayer with Switch Tank is the company’s answer, built around instant, constant, and adjustable pressure up to 140 PSI with a 24-foot spray distance.

Because it runs off an M18 battery, there is no manual pumping at all. Anyone who has spent a day hand-pumping a traditional sprayer knows exactly how much fatigue that removes from the work. A five-mode flow rate knob adjusts output from 0.12 to 0.52 gallons per minute, giving enough precision for a wide range of applications. With the included M18 REDLITHIUM 3.0 battery, users can expect up to 20 tanks of spraying per charge on mode 3.

The real fix for the first-gen problems appears to be the Switch Tank design. The 4-gallon tank assembly features a dual diaphragm pump for long pump life, and the tank itself is interchangeable: a single M18 power base works with multiple accessory tanks, with an isolated pump, hose, and wand to prevent cross-chemical contamination. If you spray fertilizer one day and a cleaning solution the next, you simply swap tanks instead of rinsing residue out of one unit.

These sprayers are not just for landscaping and maintenance professionals. Homeowners dealing with green fungus on the side of a house, or anyone who needs to apply cleaning solutions or treatments regularly, will find the cordless convenience genuinely useful. The tank can even connect to a wet saw setup to help keep silica dust down when cutting concrete, and Milwaukee offers a separate M18 4-gallon water supply kit with Switch Tank for exactly that kind of use.

Comfort is addressed too, with padded straps, lumbar support, and a hip belt on the frame for extended spraying sessions. Pricing is set at $499 for the full kit, which includes the M18 power base, the 4-gallon sprayer tank assembly, an M18 REDLITHIUM 3.0 battery, and an M18/M12 multi-volt charger. The kit also comes with a stainless steel wand, an adjustable nozzle, and a fan nozzle. If you prefer to build your own setup, the bare tool runs $399, an additional tank assembly is $199, and the M18 4-gallon water supply kit with Switch Tank is $499.

Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP Brushless AirStrike 16-Gauge Straight Finish Nailer

Ryobi has been on a strong run with its cordless nailers, and plenty of professionals have reported good results even though these tools skip some of the premium features found on higher-end models. The newest addition is the 18V ONE+ HP Brushless AirStrike 16-gauge straight finish nailer, available in April 2025 for $249.

Like all AirStrike tools, it needs no compressor, no hose, and no gas cartridges, which means quiet operation and a much easier setup on smaller jobs. The brushless HP technology drives nails 20% faster than the earlier P326 model, and the nail range spans from 1-1/4 inch to 2-1/2 inch. That covers everything from delicate trim work up to larger finish applications.

Runtime is a genuine highlight: up to 1,800 nails per charge means you can work through most of a trim package without swapping batteries. And because it is part of the 18V ONE+ system with more than 300 compatible tools, anyone already invested in Ryobi batteries can add this nailer without buying into a new platform.

Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP Brushless AirStrike 18-Gauge Narrow Crown Stapler

The second AirStrike release is the 18-gauge narrow crown stapler, a compact tool aimed at a surprisingly wide variety of tasks, from poultry work to finish trim. It uses the same HP brushless formula, driving staples 30% faster than the earlier P361.

The staple range runs from 3/8 inch to 1-1/2 inch, and like its sibling nailer, it eliminates the need for bulky hoses, gas cartridges, and compressors. Runtime reaches up to 1,900 staples per charge, and it comes backed with a three-year manufacturer warranty. Pricing sits at $219 for the bare tool at The Home Depot.

For anyone doing upholstery, panel attachment, or light trim work, having a cordless stapler that matches the batteries you already own is a practical addition rather than a luxury.

Overall Buying Advice

The Milwaukee sprayer makes the most sense for anyone who burned out on manual pumping or got burned by first-generation reliability. The Switch Tank system directly targets the clogging and pump failure complaints, and the $499 kit price is competitive for a battery-powered 4-gallon setup, though it is worth waiting for real-world reports before fully trusting the longevity claims.

On the Ryobi side, both fasteners are easy recommendations if you are already in the 18V ONE+ ecosystem. They lack the refinements of professional-grade nailers, but user feedback suggests they hold up well in actual jobsite use. Choose the 16-gauge nailer for trim and finish carpentry, the narrow crown stapler for lighter fastening tasks, or both if your work spans both categories.

Conclusion

This spring’s releases cover a lot of ground: a redesigned battery-powered sprayer with a genuinely useful interchangeable tank system, and two hose-free fastening tools that keep Ryobi’s AirStrike momentum going. Match the tool to the work you actually do, and each of these earns its place.