In the UK Milwaukee’s release schedule is around 6 months behind the USA. If you are on YouTube at all you’ll probably have noticed the hype in America around Milwaukee Gen 4 over the last few months. Watching the videos demonstrating the tools I couldn’t help but think to myself, what is Milwaukee gen 4? Which Set is gen 3? What gen tool do I have?
For anyone who wants a quick answer!
2018 = Milwaukee Gen 3 / Fuel Gen 2
2022 = Milwaukee Gen 4 / Fuel Gen 3
For everyone else, I’ve added specifics and gone into detail on the tools, explaining the different upgrades we have seen and more.
Where does the Milwaukee Gen 4 naming confusion come from?
Before the upgrade to fuel, Milwaukee already had a range of brushless drills and impact drivers. When Fuel was set to release in 2012 Milwaukee reset, calling their new range Fuel Gen 1. However, fans dubbed the release as Milwaukee’s 2nd gen (Milwaukee’s Second generation of tools). Fans have since named Milwaukee’s 2016 release as “Gen 3” and now this year’s (2022) release “Gen 4”.
Milwaukee have named their new tools “Fuel Gen 1, 2 and 3” so, although fans dub this new release Gen 4 it is more correct to call the tools in this article “Milwaukee Fuel Gen 3”.
A quick way to see if the tools you’re looking at are “Gen 4” is to take a look at the tool’s model number.
- Fuel Gen 2 / “Gen 3” Model numbers will end in a “2”
- Fuel Gen 3 / “Gen 4” Model numbers will end in a “3”
EG: Milwaukee M18FID3 = Milwaukee Fuel Gen 3 / “Gen 4”
Please Note: Milwaukee’s new M12 Tools were released around the same time as the 4th generation of M18 tools, this caused some content creators to lump all of Milwaukee’s new releases into “Gen 4”.
(For this article we are focusing on Fuel Gen 3 / Milwaukee’s 4th Generation of M18 tools, The M12 tools are currently on their 3rd generation and as such should be named Fuel Gen 3).
MIlwaukee’s “Gen 4” Impact Driver
Milwaukee M18FID3 – The “Milwaukee Gen 4” Impact Driver (Released 2022/2023 UK)
Milwaukee’s Gen 4 Impact driver the M18FID3 features many upgrades and quality-of-life changes from its predecessor the M18FID2. Upgrades include:
- Improved lights around the chuck with 3 LED’s reducing shadows cast by the tool
- 2.5mm shorter chuck for better accessibility
- 300 RPM increase – 8.3% upgrade
- 100 impact per minute increase – 2.3% upgrade
- Rubber Impact bit holder instead of plastic making it easier to insert bits
- Increased ball bearings to hold onto bits and bit holders better
What are the differences between Milwaukee’s gen 3 Impact driver and Gen 4 Impact driver?
MILWAUKEE GEN 3 IMPACT DRIVER VS GEN 4 IMPACT DRIVER
Milwaukee Gen 3 Impact Driver (M18FID2)
- Voltage: M18/18V
- Chuck: 1/4″ Hex
- Max torque: 226Nm
- No load speed: 0 – 3600rpm
- IPM (Impacts per minute): 0 – 4300ipm
- Length: 116mm
- Weight: 1kg
Milwaukee Gen 4 Impact Driver (M18FID3)
- Voltage: M18/18V
- Chuck: 1/4″ Hex
- Max Torque: 226Nm
- No load speed: 0 – 3900rpm
- IPM (Impacts per minute): 0 – 4400ipm
- Length: 113.5mm
- Weight: 1kg
You can find all our Milwaukee Impact Drivers here.
Milwaukee’s “Gen 4” Drills
With Gen 4 Milwaukee has opted to create 2 different tools, The MPFPD3 (Drill Driver) and M18FDD3 (Hammer Drill) this means that both tools are more specialised for the task at hand. The two variants come with slightly different chucks allowing them to hold onto the right bits for the job with improved precision.
Milwaukee M18FPD3/M18FDD3 – The “Milwaukee Gen 4” Drill driver and Hammer Drill Driver (Released 2022/2023 UK)
Milwaukee’s Gen 4 sees the release of 2 new Drills, the M18 Hammer drill (M18FPD3) and the M18 Drill driver (M18FDD3). Both the drill driver and hammer drill have the same specs but have different use cases and slightly different chucks to help with holding bits.
The drills both feature auto stop, Milwaukee’s new kickback protection feature which protects you in the case of over rotation, other improvements include:
- 23nm increase in torque (158nm max torque) – 17% increase in torque
- 100 increase in RPM – 5% in rotations
- 1000 Increase in BPM – 3% increase in beats per minute
- Slightly shorter chuck for accessibility
- Auto stop which protects from kickbacks when over rotating
- Rubber Impact bit holder instead of plastic making it easier to insert bits
What are the differences between Milwaukee’s Gen 3 Combi drill and Gen 4 Combi drill?
Gen 3 Combi Vs Gen 4 Hammer Drill/Drill Driver
Milwaukee Gen 3 Combi Drill (M18FPD2)
- Voltage: M18/18V
- Chuck: 13mm Metal chuck
- No load speed: 2000 RPM
- (BPM) Blows per minute: 32,000bpm
- Max torque: 135Nm
- Length: 175mm
- Weight: 1.5kg
Milwaukee Gen 4 Drill Driver / Drills (M18FPD3/M18FDD3)
- Voltage: M18/18V
- Chuck: 13mm Metal Chuck
- No load speed: 2100 RPM
- (BPM) Blows per minute: 0 – 33,000bpm
- Torque: 158Nm
- Length: 175mm
- Weight: 1.5kg
You can find all our Milwaukee Combi Drills here.
Milwaukee continues to set trends in the power tool scene and this year’s new releases haven’t disappointed. What do you think about the new features and upgrades with this new iteration of tools? Any questions? We would love to hear from you so leave us a comment below!
If you’re interested in more tools coming this year from Milwaukee check out this article here
I’m interested in the new Gen 4 tools, particularly the impact driver and drill driver. You mentioned that the Gen 4 impact driver has improved lights around the chuck with 3 LEDs to reduce shadows. How significant is this improvement in real-world usage, especially when working in low-light conditions
The 3 LED’s should eliminate shadow and you should see a significant improvement on the light on your work piece, especially in low lighting