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Short Answer: Ryobi ONE+ HP tools use brushless motors instead of brushed, delivering 25-50% more power and up to 50% longer runtime on the same ONE+ 18V batteries. The HP line costs $10-30 more per tool. If you use tools regularly, the HP upgrade is worth it. If you use tools a few times a year, standard ONE+ is fine.
Ryobi's ONE+ lineup now includes over 300 tools on a single 18V battery platform — the broadest in the industry. But within that lineup, there are standard ONE+ tools and ONE+ HP tools, and the naming creates genuine confusion. Are HP tools just the same tools in a different color? Do they need different batteries? Is the performance difference real?
Here is everything that is actually different, with no marketing fluff.
## Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature |
ONE+ (Standard) |
ONE+ HP |
| Motor Type |
Brushed |
Brushless |
| Voltage |
18V |
18V |
| Battery Compatibility |
All ONE+ batteries |
All ONE+ batteries |
| Power Output |
Standard |
25-50% more |
| Runtime Per Charge |
Standard |
Up to 50% longer |
| Motor Lifespan |
Good (brushes wear) |
Longer (no brushes to replace) |
| Weight |
Similar |
Often slightly lighter |
| Price (bare tool) |
$49-129 |
$69-159 |
| Color Accent |
Green/black |
Green/gray or green/gunmetal |
## The Motor Is the Difference
Everything comes down to the motor. Standard ONE+ tools use brushed motors. ONE+ HP tools use brushless motors. That single change cascades into every performance metric.
**Brushed motors** use carbon brushes that physically contact a spinning commutator to deliver electrical current to the motor windings. This contact creates friction, generates heat, and wastes energy. The brushes also wear down over time and eventually need replacement (though most DIYers will never hit that point).
**Brushless motors** use electronic controllers to deliver current to the windings without physical contact. No friction means less heat, less wasted energy, and more of the battery's power going directly to the tool's output. The motor also adjusts its power delivery based on the load — it senses when you are driving a screw into softwood vs. hardwood and adjusts accordingly.
The result: a brushless Ryobi ONE+ HP drill delivers about 25% more torque than the equivalent brushed ONE+ drill, while running 30-50% longer on the same battery. That is not marketing — it is physics.
## Battery Compatibility — They Are the Same
This is the most important thing to understand: **ONE+ HP tools use the exact same batteries as standard ONE+ tools.** Every ONE+ battery made since 2004 works in every ONE+ HP tool. Every ONE+ HP battery works in every standard ONE+ tool.
The "HP" designation is about the tool, not the battery. Ryobi does sell high-performance batteries (like the 4.0 Ah HP compact battery), and those batteries give a slight extra boost to HP tools thanks to better internal cell chemistry. But standard 2.0 Ah or 4.0 Ah ONE+ batteries work perfectly fine in HP tools — you just get the brushless motor advantages, not the battery chemistry bonus.
Do not let anyone tell you that you need to buy new batteries for HP tools. You do not.
## Where the HP Upgrade Matters Most
The brushless advantage is not equal across all tool types. Here is where it matters most and least.
### Big Difference
**Drills and impact drivers.** You feel the extra torque and control immediately. The brushless motor adjusts to load, so driving screws is smoother and more consistent. Runtime is noticeably longer — important when you are driving hundreds of fasteners.
**Circular saws.** The extra power translates to cleaner cuts through thick lumber without bogging down. Runtime improvements mean you can cut more sheets of plywood per charge.
**Reciprocating saws.** More strokes per minute and better load handling. The brushless motor does not stall as easily in thick material.
### Moderate Difference
**Sanders.** The runtime improvement is welcome, but the sanding performance difference is subtle. A sander is not a high-torque application.
**Jigsaws.** Slightly smoother cuts and longer runtime. The difference exists but is not dramatic.
### Minimal Difference
**Leaf blowers and string trimmers.** These tools are already well-matched to brushed motors. The HP versions run a bit longer but do not feel meaningfully more powerful.
**Flashlights, fans, radios.** No practical difference.
## Price Gap
The HP premium varies by tool category. Here are typical bare-tool price differences:
- **Drill/driver:** Standard ~$49, HP ~$69 (+$20)
- **Impact driver:** Standard ~$59, HP ~$79 (+$20)
- **Circular saw:** Standard ~$99, HP ~$129 (+$30)
- **Reciprocating saw:** Standard ~$69, HP ~$89 (+$20)
For tools you use frequently, the $20-30 premium pays for itself through longer runtime and better performance. For tools you use once or twice a year, the standard version saves money without a meaningful sacrifice.
## Should You Upgrade Existing Tools?
If your current brushed ONE+ tools work fine and you use them occasionally, there is no urgent reason to upgrade. They are not going to stop working.
But if you are buying a new tool — especially a drill, impact driver, or circular saw — buy the HP version. The price difference is small relative to the performance gain, and brushless motors last longer. In 2026, there is no good reason to buy a new brushed drill when the brushless version costs $20 more.
If you are building a tool collection from scratch, start with HP tools. The batteries are the same, so you are not locked into a higher tier. You can mix and match freely.
## ONE+ HP Tools Worth Buying
If you are looking to upgrade or start fresh, these ONE+ HP tools offer the biggest improvements over their brushed counterparts:
## Bottom Line
Ryobi ONE+ HP is not a gimmick. The brushless motors deliver real, measurable improvements in power, runtime, and motor longevity. The batteries are fully cross-compatible, so upgrading is painless. For tools you use regularly — drills, drivers, saws — the HP versions are worth the extra $20-30. For tools you use rarely, save the money and stick with standard ONE+.
The best part: because both lines share the same 18V battery, you never have to choose one or the other. Mix and match based on how often you use each tool.