Milwaukee M12 2494-22 Review: Compact 12V combo that punches above its weight

I’ve been using the Milwaukee M12 2494-22 combo as my small go-to kit for a while now, mostly for jobs around the house and some light automotive stuff. This isn’t my main heavy-duty setup – I also have 18V tools – but I wanted something lighter and easier to carry that still wasn’t a toy. That’s why I picked this kit up: one 3/8" drill driver, one 1/4" hex impact, two 1.5 Ah batteries, and a charger in a soft bag.

In practice, this kit sits by the door or in the trunk more than my bigger tools. When I’m going to help a friend hang shelves, assemble furniture, or mess with a bumper or small engine, this is the one I grab. It’s compact, it doesn’t kill your wrist, and it doesn’t take up half the car. I’ve used it for drywall anchors, light framing repairs, and a bunch of IKEA-level nonsense.

My first impression: it’s small but not weak. You definitely feel the difference compared to a 18V hammer drill, but for a 12V setup it pulls its weight. The impact driver especially surprised me for how quickly it runs screws and small bolts in, even on older wood. The drill is more of a straightforward, no-frills unit that just does what it’s supposed to.

It’s not perfect though. The 1.5 Ah batteries are on the small side, there’s no hammer mode on the drill in this kit, and if you try to use it like a full-size framing setup, you’ll hit the limits pretty fast. But if you see it as a compact, everyday kit instead of your only set of tools, it makes a lot more sense and feels like a pretty solid buy.

On the value for money side, this combo sits in an interesting spot. It’s not the cheapest 12V kit on the market, but you’re getting a known-brand system with decent power, two tools, two batteries, and a charger. Compared to some bargain brands where the batteries die in a year and the chucks wobble from day one, this feels like a smarter spend if you actually plan to use the tools regularly.

Where it shines is if you see it as a compact second setup. If you already have bigger 18V tools for heavy work and just want something lighter for quick jobs, this kit makes sense. It’s easy to carry, does most everyday tasks without drama, and plugs you into the M12 ecosystem, which has a ton of other tools (ratchets, lights, inspection cameras, etc.). In that context, the price feels justified, even good.

If this is going to be your only drill/driver kit, the value depends on what you do. For basic home use – shelves, furniture, minor repairs, car interior stuff – it’s honestly more than enough and will probably last you years. In that case, you’re paying a bit more than a no-name set, but you’re getting better performance and durability. If you think you’ll be doing a lot of heavy drilling, deck building, or masonry, I’d say your money might be better spent on a stronger 18V combo instead, even if it’s a bit bulkier.

So overall, I’d call the value pretty solid but not mind-blowing. It’s a smart buy for people who care about compact size and are okay with the power limits of 12V. If you expect it to replace a full-blown contractor-grade 18V kit, you’ll be asking too much of it and the value will feel weaker.

Design-wise, both tools follow the classic Milwaukee red-and-black look, nothing fancy. They’re compact, with a short head length that actually helps a lot in tight spaces, especially under sinks or inside cabinets. I’ve used the impact driver to drive screws inside a closet frame where my full-size 18V drill just wouldn’t fit, and the difference was night and day. The handles are fairly slim and the rubber overmold gives decent grip even when your hands are a bit sweaty or dusty.

The drill has a 3/8" chuck, which is enough for most common household bits, but if you’re used to 1/2" chucks for bigger bits, you’ll feel the limit. The chuck on mine tightens fine and doesn’t slip, but it’s not fancy – just a standard, functional chuck. You get a two-speed gearbox and a clutch ring with multiple torque settings, so you can dial it down for small screws in soft wood or crank it up for drilling. There’s also an LED light under the chuck, which is actually useful when working in dim corners.

The impact driver uses a 1/4" hex quick-release chuck, which is great for swapping bits fast. One thing I like is the built-in LED light that stays on for a bit after you release the trigger. Working under a dashboard in a car, that little bit of extra light time helps you see what you just screwed in without holding the trigger half-pressed. The forward/reverse switch is easy to reach with your thumb, and I haven’t accidentally bumped it mid-job.

The only design part that feels a bit dated is the fact that you only get small 1.5 Ah batteries by default and no onboard bit storage beyond the basics. Also, the bag is just a soft tool bag – no molded compartments or anything. It’s fine, but if you like super organized boxes, you might not love it. Overall though, the design is focused on being compact and comfortable rather than flashy, and on that front it does the job.

The kit comes with two 1.5 Ah M12 batteries, which are on the smaller side in the Milwaukee lineup. For quick tasks, they’re totally fine. I’ve done full afternoons of light work – like assembling cabinets, hanging shelves, and doing random fixes – swapping between the two batteries and never completely ran out. The charger is reasonably fast, so by the time you’ve drained one, the other is often close to full again, as long as you’re not working non-stop.

Where you start to feel the limit is on longer, more intensive jobs. For example, when I helped a friend put together a small deck extension, using the impact driver to run a ton of 3" screws, the 1.5 Ah packs drained pretty quickly. We were swapping batteries more often than I’d like, and I ended up grabbing my bigger 18V kit for the bulk of the work. The M12 kit still helped in tight spots, but I wouldn’t rely on just these 1.5 Ah batteries for an all-day screw-driving marathon.

One thing in its favor is that the M12 system is widely supported, so if you already have other Milwaukee M12 tools or plan to invest in them, you can always pick up higher capacity batteries later (like 3.0 or 4.0 Ah packs). With bigger batteries, this combo would feel a lot more comfortable for longer jobs. The tools handle the extra weight fine; they just won’t be quite as feather-light.

So in practice, I’d say the battery setup in the box is good for homeowners and casual use, and just acceptable for light pro use as a secondary kit. If you’re a tradesperson using it daily, I’d budget for at least one or two larger M12 batteries. As it comes, it gets the job done, but you’ll notice the limitations if you push it for hours without a break.

Build quality on this kit is better than the average homeowner set. Both tools have a solid feel, with metal gear housings inside and decent rubber overmolds on the outside. I’ve dropped the impact driver from about shoulder height onto a plywood floor and concrete garage floor more than once (because I’m clumsy), and it just picked up and kept going. No cracks in the housing, no weird noises afterwards. The drill has taken a couple of tumbles off a ladder onto grass and survived without any issues.

Over time, the only wear I really see is cosmetic: scuffs on the plastic, some dirt ground into the rubber grip, and a bit of fading on the printing. The chucks still tighten properly, switches still click firmly, and there’s no play in the head or handle. The LED lights still work fine. Considering the price and that it’s a 12V kit, I’m pretty happy with how it’s holding up. It feels like a tool you can actually throw in the truck and not baby.

The bag is the weakest part in terms of durability. It’s okay, but the fabric isn’t super thick, and the zipper feels like it’ll be the first thing to go if you overload it with too many extra tools. If you’re planning to carry a bunch of drill bit cases, sockets, and other stuff in the same bag, I’d be a bit careful or eventually upgrade to a tougher bag or box.

Overall, I’d rate the durability as solid for regular DIY and light trade use. I wouldn’t be shocked to see a heavily abused set eventually show some issues after a few years on job sites, but for normal use and even as a pro’s secondary kit, it feels dependable. It’s not a cheap-feeling, disposable combo – it’s closer to real pro-grade, just in a smaller format.

In terms of raw performance, you have to remember this is a 12V kit. If you compare it directly to a 18V or 20V max setup, it’ll obviously feel weaker. But within the 12V category, it holds up well. The drill’s 350 in-lbs of torque and up to 1700 RPM are enough for drilling pilot holes, running spade bits up to a moderate size in softwood, and drilling into thin metal. I’ve used it to drill 3/8" holes in steel brackets and it got through without choking, just not super fast. For furniture assembly, cabinet installs, and basic home repair, it’s more than enough.

The impact driver is where this kit feels more impressive. With up to 1000 in-lbs of torque, it has no trouble sinking 3" wood screws into studs or driving lag screws for small projects. I’ve used it to remove stubborn screws on an old deck and to loosen smaller bolts under the car, and it did fine. It’s not going to replace a high-torque impact wrench for suspension work or wheel lugs, but for brackets, bodywork, and interior panels, it’s very handy. Compared to a small 12V Dewalt impact a buddy has, this one felt slightly stronger under load, especially on longer screws.

One thing I noticed: under continuous heavy load, like driving a long string of big screws, the tools do start to feel the strain. The impact can get warm and the small batteries drain quicker, so this isn’t what you want for building an entire deck in one go. But for short bursts and mixed work (a bit of drilling, some screws, then a break), they keep up fine. The triggers are responsive, and it’s easy to feather them for more control when you don’t want to strip screws.

Overall, I’d say the performance is pretty solid for light to medium-duty work. If your main use is around the house, some light trade work, or as a backup kit in the van, it’s more than capable. If you’re a contractor doing framing or drilling into concrete all day, you’ll hit its ceiling fast and should be looking at a stronger 18V/20V setup or a hammer drill instead.

The kit is pretty straightforward: you get two tools – an M12 3/8 in drill driver and an M12 1/4 in hex impact driver. On top of that, there’s a REDLITHIUM CP 1.5 Ah battery, a second 1.5 Ah pack, a compact charger, and a soft zippered bag. Everything fits inside the bag with a bit of room left for a small bit set or a few screws. It’s not some fancy hard case, but it’s fine for tossing into a trunk or keeping in a closet.

The drill driver is the more basic piece of the set: 3/8" chuck, up to 350 in-lbs of torque, max 1700 RPM, and a clutch with multiple settings. It’s meant for drilling holes in wood and light metal, and for driving screws when you don’t want to over-torque them. The impact driver is the stronger-feeling tool, with up to 1000 in-lbs of torque and a 1/4" hex chuck for bits. That one is what I grab for decking screws, lag screws in smaller sizes, and anything rusty on the car that isn’t completely fused.

Power-wise, it’s a 12V system with lithium-ion batteries, so you’re not getting 18V brute force, but you are getting a much lighter setup. The included 1.5 Ah batteries are on the smaller side, but they recharge fairly quickly. For short jobs, one battery in the tool and one on standby is enough. For longer projects, I did notice I was swapping and recharging more than with my 4.0 Ah packs on other platforms.

This combo is clearly aimed at people who want a compact, everyday kit: homeowners, DIY folks, or pros who want a light secondary setup for tight spaces or quick service calls. If you’re expecting a monster framing drill or something to drill into concrete all day, this isn’t it. But as a basic, grab-and-go kit with two practical tools, the package makes sense and feels decently thought out.