Tool + battery + charger
Tool + battery + charger
Do you have any other battery powered tools? Stick with the same family. I have a DeWalt 890 impact because I have a ton of other Dewalts. Bare in mind, you can get adapters to link just about any tool to any battery system
If you are already invested in a battery system with other cordless tools I would stick with that brand so you can keep one system and not deal with charging different batteries all the time. That being said I like my Ryobi 1/2" impact driver.
We just did a bit of a comparison test on 1/2" electric impacts a couple months ago thanks to a Honda D16 crank bolt. My old Craftsman C3 19.2v didn't budge it. Cooper_tired's Ryobi was ineffective. Eastsidetim's Kobalt grabbed that thing by the short and curlies and ugga-dugga-ed that mother out of there.
I think the Kobalt was the big 24v version that is almost 2x your price range, though.
While I get that my C3 stuff is all old stuff that nobody likes, I have had very few things to ugga-dugga that my impact couldn't do. It always does fine with tires. Sometimes there are rusty suspension parts that it can't quite budge, but that's fairly unusual. Given that datapoint, I would guess that getting whatever electric impact is in your current battery family will do fine for you. If you don't have a bunch of battery tools already, I've been absolutely thrilled with the Ryobi stuff that I've started buying recently. They've got a couple different electric impacts that range in price and I don't think that cooper_tired has had any problems with his up until the crank bolt adventure.
I have a Makita drill using cheap Amazon replacement batteries. On its deathbed.
This is the start of a new era for me.
Another plus 1 for Ryobi. I have a very old set of tools (drill, sawzall, circular saw, router, and tight-space driver) that were top of the line ni-cad about 2 dozen years ago. I bought a lithium battery kit about 5 years ago when the oem batteries stopped taking/holding a charge, and they're still getting the job done. The reverse compatibility is great.
I converted the attic over the garage into a mancave with those 20+ year old tools about 2 years ago, doing everything but the drywall, and they never complained once. A Ryobi 1/2 impact is already in my letter to Santa this year
Another recommendation for the 1/2" Ryobi impact. The one I got for my birthday last year came with two 4Ah batteries and a charger for $179, I think. Great for zipping off lug nuts and hasn't broken a sweat with any suspension bolts or CV axle nuts yet.
I've been very pleased with the 18V Ryobi system. I keep adding to it each year.
The older Blue Ryobi 18v tools work with the newest batteries.
Home Depot has Ryobi tools on sale all the time , and there is a Ryobi outlet store with 40-50% off.
directtoolsoutlet.com
If you're starting from scratch, Mikwaukee seems to do a really good job of balancing price and performance.
Are you going for most torque, or most useful? If I didn't need to zip off Honda crank bolts, my Milwaukee M18 Mid-Torque is just about perfect. The new Milwaukee M12 stubby has 550 ft-lbs of torque and is tiny, so that could replace my Mid-Torque. I break out the beast (2767-20 M18 High Torque) when I'm dealing with the fun stuff. The high torque is heavy and cumbersome when doing small jobs, but it's fantastic when facing a challenge.
Milwaukee runs on the more expensive side, but they're great to use. My FIL was a contractor for years and would wear out his impact/drill driver every year or so. His Milwaukee set lasted for years and is still going strong. I've always bought mine on some kind of ridiculous sale - my 2767-20 was $199 with a 5.0ah battery and a charger. Patience and deal alerts (I use SlickDeals.com) are the key.
As others have said, look at the other tools in the brand/size and see what else you'll likely use.
TLDR - it all depends on your use case, and the overall system that works best for you.
I have porter cable battery tools. Im generally happy with them but the 1/2" impact sucked. Wouldnt break a lugnut loose then the tool died after not much use.
In reply to wae :
Can confirm, my Ryobi has been solid for all I've used it for, but Tim's 24v Kobalt is definitely stronger. I had a bunch of Ryobi 18v stuff already so it was convenient as well.
I'm in the Ryobi ecosystem, so I have their ONE+ brushless 1/2" impact. It does a very good job with 90% of the tasks I need it for. For that last 10%, I still have air tools and breaker bars.
There is a reason everyone buys Milwaukee stuff.
Go buy Milwaukee stuff.
This with a free battery is a screaming deal. I am sure you have a friend with a spare M18 charger - I just pitched 5 of them.
Thats the big boy, if you just want to do lug nuts and stuff the midtorque will do you well.
Believe it or not this little baby M12 is 550 ft/lbs and will stomp a mudhole in pretty much any cordless impact but the big M18.
I was looking to buy into a new platform when Milwaukee first came out with the M12/m18 systems. Didn't have the money for m18; didn't trust the m12 to do the job. I went a different way.
I was totally wrong! I'm slowly transferring over to the m12 (m18 still out of my reach, over all)
That m12. 3/8 stubby is awesome! And I still have the big 1/2 from last system (that and a light is all I use of it now) if I need more torque. It is surprisingly strong, but if it's stronger than a full size 1/2 from other brands, that'd be pretty sad.
But, sticking to the question you asked (since I actually read) I have no suggestions in the $150 range. And I don't want to suggest putting an LS in it ! 
Ryobi only recently came out with a new high torque impact. I think in either 2023 or 2024. Any Ryobi impact before that were pretty wimpy. They have a really good deal on it running right now with battery and charger for $159. I've heard good things about it though I already have the Milwaukee so I'm not in the market.
based on my other Ryobi tools you will not be disappointed.
Maybe hold out until black Friday deals. $150 is going to be difficult for a quality tool.
I favor the Red Tools. I have the M12 stubby 1/2" and it's good but not universally good even with a very robust battery. If I had this decision to make again I'd get a M18.
In reply to OHSCrifle :
Well put.
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