My favorite 12-in-1 electric screwdriver is less than $50 for Prime Day

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I use a lot of screwdrivers, and I've found that while it's hard to beat a decent set of traditional screwdrivers -- here is a great set by Klein Tools that will last you a lifetime -- there are times when electric screwdrivers can take the strain off my hands and wrists. 

I believe in thoroughly testing tools, and one that I've been testing hard for over a year now is the Hoto 3.6V cordless 1500mAh electric screwdriver, and this has proved itself a worthy addition to my toolkit. Right now, you can get one on sale for Amazon Prime Day for $50 -- about 30% off of the usual price. There's also an additional coupon for 15% off, bringing it down to about $42 -- a great deal. 

Also: The best Prime Day deals: Live updates

Hoto electric screwdriver tech specs

Rotary knob switches the screwdriver between three different torque settingsFast driving, thanks to 220 RPM motorA massive 1500mAh capacity battery provides ultra-long endurance and, when fully charged, can drive in more than 1,000 screws before needing a rechargeThe screwdriver features a circular LED shadowless lamp, so you can see what you're doingHoto cordless screwdriver set contains a dozen two-inch long S2 tool steel long bits with hardness up to 60HRC The screwdriver and bits are stored in the anodized aluminum alloy storage box that has a soft, rubber top handleUniversal Type-C charging interface means you don't need a separate charger

Also: The best electric screwdrivers: Expert tested

On the one end of this superb screwdriver is a standard 1/4-inch socket that takes the various bits, and behind that is a rotary knob that switches the screwdriver off and on, and also switches between three torque settings. There's also a circular LED shadowless lamp, so you can see what you're doing, which is a nice touch because it means I don't have to wrangle a flashlight when I'm working in a dark area.

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On the other end of the screwdriver, there's a USB-C port for charging the unit -- a neat touch because it does away with the need for any proprietary charger (I don't need any more of those in my life). 

Also: My favorite electric screwdriver for heavy-duty jobs

In the middle of the tool are the controls, which are about as simple as they get. There's a button to screw a screw in, and a button to screw a screw out.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The screwdriver and bits are stored in the anodized aluminum alloy storage box that has a soft, rubber top handle. If you want more than the dozen bits, Hoto has a version with 25 bits in a different case for a few dollars more

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The three torque settings range from powerful enough to assemble a PC case or flat pack furniture (where you need quite low power), to powerful enough to put a fence up or screw down floorboards. 

What this screwdriver doesn't offer is a super-gentle setting for things such as electronic gadgets, which this screwdriver might be too powerful for. This is where a mini-precision electric screwdriver complements the Hoto screwdriver really well (and this is also on sale right now).

Also: This must-have screwdriver has two cool hidden tricks

Aside from the lack of a super-gentle setting, the Hoto electric screwdriver with a dozen bits is a great choice -- especially at this lower price point. Mine has already had well over a year of use now, undertaking tasks such as assembling PC cases, putting together flat-pack furniture, and being abused driving 6-inch screws into plastic door and window frames, and it is still going strong. 

It's more than paid for itself!