Einhell TC-CD 18/35 Li Review: The Bestselling Budget Cordless Drill
Few cordless drills appear at the top of bestseller lists as consistently as the Einhell TC-CD 18/35 Li. It is Einhell's entry-level 18V drill driver in the Power X-Change family, and its recipe is simple: cover the everyday jobs — furniture assembly, shelves, curtain rails, light repairs — at a price that undercuts almost every brand-name competitor.
Key Specifications
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Battery platform | 18V Power X-Change |
| Max. torque | 35 Nm |
| Torque settings | 20 + 1 (drill position) |
| Chuck | 10 mm keyless |
| Extras | LED work light, soft grip, belt-friendly compact body |
| Battery / charger | Sold solo or as kit — check the package before buying |
What Stands Out
The TC-CD 18/35 Li is light and compact, which matters more than raw power for most household tasks. The 20+1 torque ring prevents stripped screw heads in soft wood and flat-pack furniture, and the LED light is genuinely useful inside cabinets and dim corners.
Its biggest advantage is the ecosystem: the battery clicks into every other Power X-Change tool, so a starter kit bought once can power a jigsaw, grinder or lawn trimmer later.
Where It Falls Short
With 35 Nm of torque and no hammer function, this is not a masonry tool. Drilling into brick or concrete, driving long coach screws or daily jobsite use are beyond its class — for that, look at the brushless TE-CD 18/50 Li-i BL instead.
Who Should Buy It?
Homeowners and renters who need a reliable drill a few times a month. If your workload is furniture, wall plugs in plasterboard, and occasional wood drilling, the price-to-usefulness ratio here is hard to beat — which is exactly why it sells so well.
FAQ
Does it come with a battery?
The "solo" version ships without battery and charger; kit versions include them. Check the listing carefully — the very low headline price is usually the solo version.
Can it drill into concrete?
No. It has no impact/hammer function. For brick and light concrete you need a combi drill such as the TE-CD 18/50 Li-i BL.