Review: Hoto SnapBloq Tools

Tools often have a utilitarian design. Their purpose is to get stuff done, so their shape is exclusively focused on getting stuff done. This is where the Hoto SnapBloq toolkit is unique: These tools emphasize style and design to prove that functionality doesn’t need to have a rugged, utilitarian, and (typically) unappealing style.

Hoto’s SnapBloq line is a set of three small power tools meant for tinkerers and hobbyists. The full set consists of a screwdriver, a rotary tool, and a drill, along with three cases for the tools and six magnetic accessory cases to hold bits. The entire kit features sleek, modern shapes that have become widespread in the world of tech today, bereft of fasteners, screws, and seams that reveal their manufactured and assembled nature. The bundle includes three tools (R-A04, D-A03, and S-A01) and has a $300 MSRP, although you can purchase each tool separately for $100.

Pretty Tools

Photograph: Henri Robbins

All three tools have an anodized aluminum outer housing with a plastic back plate. They feel fairly durable, being able to withstand basic drops without any damage, and weigh around 100 grams each. The grip areas have straight knurling to improve grip, and the buttons are a flexible rubberized panel with small switches underneath. There are no seams surrounding the buttons where dust or particles can become embedded, useful for tools that will likely create small, airborne particles.

Of the three, the electric screwdriver is the most convenient, practical, and useful. For casual tinkerers, this tool makes quick work of most small screws on and inside electronics. However, it’s not meant for much more than that—with just 0.5 newton-meter of torque, this device struggled to loosen even somewhat-tight screws in my tests, and I couldn’t get them particularly tight, either. I regularly found myself needing to rotate the screwdriver myself (or defer to a standard screwdriver) for anything that required a bit more force to tighten or loosen. On the other hand, the relatively low power of this screwdriver meant it was difficult to cross-thread, strip, or damage the screws during use, which gave me peace of mind. It's a convenient tool to have, but ultimately, it needs to be supplemented by a standard screwdriver.

Photograph: Henri Robbins

The drill was able to easily put holes in plastic, drywall, and even some brittle metals if you weren’t as concerned about cleanliness. The shape was easy to hold and aim for precise work, especially with the built-in light at the end. The circular shape meant the drill would often be slightly more difficult to precisely aim than a standard hand drill, but this trade-off was worth the more compact size and maneuverability. I used the drill to create guide holes for wall-mounted decorations, modify electronics, and customize model kits. During all of this, I never found the drill’s power or speed to be lacking, and I was impressed by how quickly it operated at the maximum speed.

The rotary tool works well, but it is the lowest-performing of the three. It quickly ran out of power and had trouble maintaining a consistent speed during extended use. As long as I was conscious about letting the tool cool down, it worked great for basic grinding, cutting, and even polishing. Cuts were clean, edges were smooth, and I was even able to polish some metal parts down to a consistent finish. My favorite small project was sanding down and polishing the exhaust on the underside of a model car.

The largest issue I encountered was a lack of information: The tool has a slider on the side to adjust the speed anywhere between 15,000 and 22,000 revolutions per minute, but no way to know what rpm’s you are currently set to besides looking at the slider and guessing—no readouts, displays, or lights. This isn’t a huge issue in theory, since the speed can be intuited. But it was hard to tell due to the tool’s occasional speed fluctuations in prolonged use.

Magnetized Cases

Photograph: Henri Robbins

The largest benefit this kit has over traditional tools is convenience. With an impressively small design and modular system of magnetized cases, these tools can easily be transported, maneuvered, and organized for use around the house or as a portable hobby station.

The cases themselves have an impressive selection of different accessories. The screwdriver includes 56 bits, with everything from tri-wing and Torx security to Phillips and JIS, all of which I found useful when tinkering with everything from retro consoles and custom keyboards to car electricals and cameras. The drill includes bits from 0.6 to 2.0 mm, along with a tool for alignment when drilling small objects, although I didn’t find myself using it often. The rotary tool includes 30 bits of various shapes for grinding, polishing, cutting, and drilling, along with a block of polishing compound. While the compound worked for some metals, most users will be better off sourcing their own compound for their specific needs.

The magnetized SnapBloq storage cases are functional but feel a bit contrived. Instead of being able to flip open the case and have all the components ready, the two halves need to be separated, meaning a flat surface with ample space is necessary unless you reassemble the case after removing the required components. In theory, the magnets will hold the two halves together side-by-side, but the magnetism between the two halves is not very strong unless they are stacked with all four magnets touching. While not terrible for a home hobbyist, this isn’t ideal for on-the-go use or in a compact space.

Photograph: Henri Robbins

USB-C charging is a major boon to these devices. All three tools can be charged using standard power delivery cables, and the exposed USB-C ports on the back mean they can be charged during use without cables getting in the way, or when sitting in their storage cases.

I only ran into battery life issues with the rotary tool. Because of the high spin speed and the near-constant operation that polishing, cutting, and grinding require, the battery did not last anywhere near as long as expected. I left the tool plugged in for any longer polishing or cutting sessions, which was more convenient but made the tool somewhat less maneuverable.

All three of these tools use brushless motors inside. These are entirely contact-free electromagnetic motors that can theoretically operate for over 10,000 hours of use. Brushless motors are more reliable, but also more expensive to implement compared to their brushed counterparts.

While each of these tools emits a small whining noise during use, I never found this particularly bothersome. All three are quieter than everyday tools that use brushed motors, and they feel incredibly smooth during operation; there’s hardly any physical sensation of rumbling or grinding, even when operating at full power.

Ironic Design

Photograph: Henri Robbins

With a lack of screws, fasteners, or external seams, these tools look straight out of a science-fiction film. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them appear as a background prop in a Star Wars series. More than that, they exist in an interesting cultural space. They are meant to take things apart; however, they share many design elements with technology that is actively meant to stay together.

The sleek designs of modern technology are impressive from a visual standpoint, but also represent a slew of anti-consumer design decisions where devices have to be taken apart in destructive and potentially irreversible ways: Adhesives, plastic clips, friction-fit components, and hidden fasteners all help to create a sense of cohesion, but hide the fact that products are assembled and manufactured. As a result, they hide the ability to disassemble them, and these devices become more opaque and disposable to consumers.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a reasonable way to take the Hoto tools apart for repairs. There are no exposed screws or fasteners, so I can only imagine that disassembly would require a lot of patience. The brushless motors inside are far less likely to fail compared to brushed motors, though, so maintenance is less of a concern overall.

There is a central irony to the existence of these Hoto products. They use the imagery and aesthetics of non-repairable technology to make the idea of repairing and modifying seem more approachable or stylish. And while there may be some conceptual qualms to be had, I still think anything that might get people to repair and fix their existing devices is cool and compelling.

Photograph: Henri Robbins

All three tools are entirely rounded, with no flat side or sculpted grip to orient them in your hands. While this isn’t a huge issue, I found I couldn’t always get the perfect grip, and that the tools would sometimes slip or twist when in use. However, this typically only happened when one of the tools was operating outside of its intended parameters, like over-tightening a screw or drilling into a hard metal surface. Because of the rounded shape, these tools like to roll when placed on inclined surfaces. The small wedge on the side of each tool prevented rolling on minor slopes, but bumping the tools could still cause them to roll further.

Something I always say about other devices I use (typically cameras and keyboards, but it extends to everything) is that the best device for you isn’t the theoretical “best” on paper; it’s the one you like using. This compels you to use it, so you can then focus on doing good work. Hoto's SnapBloq isn’t the “best,” but they fall into this category for me. The buttons are placed well with solid tactile feedback. The shapes feel comfortable to hold and are easy to maneuver. The design is modern, stylish, and looks cool. I found myself wanting to do more and wanting to take up new repair projects.

They're far from perfect, and won’t be an upgrade for a DIYer who already has a set of tools they enjoy. But they’re a solid, functional, and practical set of power tools that are enjoyable to use.