KEELAT KCD012-18 18V drill review: four modes, one confusing model number

The KEELAT KCD012-18 is an 18V brushless impact drill with four modes, an anti-twist cutoff, two batteries, a charger and a case, at around ₱2,000. It’s a lot of kit for the money. The thing to watch is the name: KEELAT sells more than one KCD012, and they don’t share specs.

What do the four modes get you?

Drill, screwdriver, hammer, and pulse. The hammer setting is the one that expands what the tool can do, adding percussion so a masonry bit chips into hollow block rather than polishing it. Pulse is the quieter win: short bursts of torque that let a screw bite on a slippery surface like tile or steel plate, instead of the bit skating and scratching.

The claimed 70Nm is plenty on paper. We’d treat it as an indication rather than a measurement, because KEELAT publishes no rpm range, no impact rate, and no test standard. That’s the trade with Shopee-first brands: strong feature sets, thin engineering data.

Is the safety cutoff real?

It behaves like it. The anti-twist system senses the bit binding and cuts power before the body can spin in your hand. If you’ve ever had a large bit grab in plywood, or worked one-handed up a ladder, that’s the moment it earns its place. Paired with a brushless motor, which runs cooler and lasts longer than a brushed one, the KCD012-18 is better engineered than its price suggests.

The gap is what’s not stated. There’s no published chuck size for this version, and chuck size is exactly what limits masonry bit diameter. The 20V listing states 13mm; this one says nothing.

Is it sulit?

Around ₱2,000 as of July 31, 2026. Check the latest price on Shopee. Two 18V batteries, a charger, a case, a brushless motor, and four modes at that price is genuinely good value, and it’s why KEELAT sells as well as it does.

The honest caveat is support, not price. Our Best Overall, the INGCO 20V 55Nm brushless drill, costs about the same, publishes its full specs, and has dealer and spare-parts support across the Philippines. KEELAT gives you more features per peso; INGCO gives you more certainty. Which matters more depends on whether you’d rather have four modes now or a service center in two years.

Who should buy it

Buy this if you want the widest feature set for around ₱2,000 and you’re comfortable buying from a Shopee-first brand: four modes, two batteries, a safety cutoff, and light wall work all included. It suits an active DIYer more than a once-a-year user. See how it ranks in our best cordless drills in the Philippines roundup, or browse more on our Home Improvement page. Our cordless drill buying guide covers how to read torque claims that have no data sheet behind them.

Alternatives to consider

The closest match is its own sibling, the KEELAT KCD012 20V brushless drill, our Best for Concrete pick: a stated 13mm chuck and an 80Nm claim at a similar price, which makes it the better choice if wall work is the point. If you’d rather have published specs and PH service support, the INGCO 20V 55Nm brushless drill is our Best Overall.