Hoto’s SnapBloq Power Tools Are Inviting, Even If They’re Not the Best

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

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