I have many screwdriver solutions and I am convinced that they are all beautiful and special. Sometimes you need the power and endurance of the impact driver, other times the compact ratchet driver with the extra bits tucked away in the butt.
But one screwdriver I reach for more often than you might think is this USB-C rechargeable Hoto electric screwdriver with adjustable torque and a built-in ring light. And now it’s on sale with a big discount as part of Amazon Prime Day.
First (endlessly) recommended by my colleagues at The edgeI bought it because… well, again, all screwdrivers are fancy and special. But its convenience has earned it a spot in my office, rather than the garage, when I need to tinker with some gaming stuff. A short list of things I’ve used the Hoto Electric Screwdriver for:
- Upgrade the SSD in my Steam Deck
- Replace the screen and front and back of a perhaps too beloved Nintendo Switch
- Open retro controllers to give them a good shell. The most recent controllers are: an original Indigo Gamecube controller, a Sixaxis controller (don’t laugh) and a Japanese PC Engine controller
- Replace the swollen battery in my Razer Blade 14
- Craft with the MiSTer
Image: Hoto Tools
I can’t tell you what the right price would be for this level of convenience, that’s a matter between you and your accountant, but I can tell you that it currently on sale during Amazon Prime Day for $39.99or 43% off the list price. That’s not as cheap as last year’s Prime Day deal, but isn’t everything more expensive these days?
A few caveats: First, the Hoto electric screwdriver comes with 12 bits: one Phillips bit (PH1, PH2, PH3), four hex bits (H3, H4, H5, H6), three Torx bits (T15, T20, T25), one flat bit (SL4), and one Pozidriv bit (PZ2). This should be enough to perform many tasks, but if you don’t already have a set of electric bits, this is a good option. $19.99 iFixit Kit is a great addition (and you get the 3.8mm and 4.5mm Gamebits you need to open older Sega and Nintendo consoles and cartridges).
Secondly, it only comes with the USB-A to USB-C charging cable, and not a USB-A charger. You’ve probably been alive for the last 25 years and have a junk drawer full of these, but if you haven’t, there’s a Prime Day sale on this Anchor Two Pack for $12.99and it comes with two USB-C cables. You can put the extra cables in that junk drawer and start collecting now.
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