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Milwaukee power-tool batteries are finally getting the charging port they should've had years ago. Published Sep 28, 2026, 6:31 AM EDT Jonathon Jachura is a mechanical engineer with over 12 years of HVAC industry experience who specializes in translating complex home systems into practical advice for everyday homeowners. His background spans technical sales and product management for major manufacturers, combined with hands-on experience as a two-time homeowner who has tackled everything from system installations to troubleshooting repairs. Jon focuses on helping readers make confident decisions about their homes through clear, actionable guidance that saves both time and money. Every cordless tool brand charges an unspoken fee: a charger that only works with its own batteries. I've paid that fee for years on the Ryobi side, which is why Ryobi merging its 18V and 40V charging into one unit caught my attention. Milwaukee pushed the idea further with its M18 TOP-OFF Charger & Power Supply. It's a half-pound adapter that snaps onto any M18 battery and adds a USB-C port that works in both directions. Feed it from the brick already charging your laptop, and the pack fills. Pull the brick, and the pack starts feeding your phone instead. Milwaukee's red bench charger can stay in the garage. One USB-C port replaces the M18 bench charger. The bigger port charges the pack or your laptop. The 2847-20 has two USB-C ports. The 100W port is the one that runs both ways. Hook a USB-C Power Delivery (PD) charger to it and the M18 pack fills; hook a laptop to it instead and the pack drains into the laptop. The 15W port beside it is output only, meant for headlamps and earbuds. Together they deliver 115W continuously, and both can work at once, so a pack can refill while your phone charges beside it. The housing measures 3.71 by 3.04 by 1.9 inches, and Milwaukee says it's up to 65% smaller than the chargers it bundles in tool kits. It fits every M18 battery. That matters because Milwaukee's earlier TOP-OFF, the 175W model with a 120V outlet, can only drain a pack. It can't put a single watt back in. The new model drops the outlet and adds a charging circuit in its place. Your wall brick decides how fast the battery charges. The included 65W adapter is the slow lane. Inside the box sit a 65W wall adapter and a 3-foot cable good for 100W. That adapter needs 42 minutes on a 2.0Ah pack. An XC5.0 takes closer to 105, and a 12.0Ah crawls past 230. Bigger packs take proportionally longer, and Milwaukee's newer high-output packs complicate the math further, since its battery labels no longer track power the way they used to. Milwaukee sells a 120W two-port wall adapter for $79 that cuts M18 charge times by up to 30%. It pairs a 100W PD port with a 20W port, so one outlet covers the battery and a phone. You don't have to buy Milwaukee's brick, though. Any USB-C PD adapter that holds 100W continuously will charge at full speed. A small turtle icon on the TOP-OFF lights up when your adapter can't keep pace or starts throttling from heat. The 96W adapter that came with my 16-inch MacBook Pro sits just under that line, so it would work, only a bit slower. Every M18 battery doubles as a USB-C power bank. Phones, headlamps, and laptops run off the same pack. Reverse the direction and the TOP-OFF turns a tool battery into a portable charger. By Milwaukee's math, one XC5.0 refills a phone five times over, and the 100W port has the muscle to run a laptop rather than merely trickle-charge one. Everything I carry, my iPhone 16 Pro Max included, already charges over USB-C, so one cable would handle all of it. This is also why tool batteries belong in a power outage kit. Most people on a battery platform have a few charged packs sitting on a shelf and nothing to plug into them. Drop this adapter in the glove box beside them and the packs go from shelf clutter to a working power bank. Should the outage stretch past a day, a USB-C PD car charger or a folding solar panel will refill them, though not quickly. Ryobi and DeWalt owners still have to settle for less. Ryobi's version is bulkier and slower on output. Ryobi's answer exists, but it's the 18V ONE+ 150W Power Source (RYi150), and you have to buy the whole box to get USB-C charging. About $80 bare gets you a 120V outlet, two USB-A ports, and an LED task light along with it. It's a bulkier box, and Ryobi rates its fast-charging USB ports at up to 30W, well below what a laptop wants. Ryobi's USB Lithium line puts the USB-C port on the battery itself, but those are 4V packs for rotary tools and screwdrivers, not saws. DeWalt offers its own USB-C PD charging kit for 20V MAX packs. Milwaukee's TOP-OFF has flaws too. Milwaukee skipped the belt clip, the rafter hook, and even a lanyard hole, so expect it to wander around the bottom of your bag. And if your work calls for a 120V outlet, the older 175W TOP-OFF still has a place in the truck. M18 18V lithium-ion TOP-OFF Charger. * Voltage - 18 * Power Source - 100 W Charger A $119 puck makes the red charger optional. USB-C should have reached cordless tools years ago. Phones, laptops, and headphones all standardized on it, while battery platforms kept their chargers proprietary as part of the broader push to lock you into one brand's packs. The TOP-OFF doesn't end that lock-in, since your M18 packs still only fit Milwaukee tools. It does take the charger out of the equation. If you already own M18 batteries and a decent USB-C brick, $99 buys a charger, a power bank, and one less cord in the truck. I'd love to see Ryobi answer with a ONE+ version this small.

Milwaukee(R) transforms jobsite cleanup with groundbreaking NEXUS(TM) Modular Vacuum System expansion. Milwaukee Tool introduces the latest advancements in their NEXUS(TM) Modular Vacuum System, delivering groundbreaking innovations for jobsite cleanup. Article content provided by Milwaukee Tool. These revolutionary additions provide professionals across remodeling, carpentry, general contracting, mechanical, HVAC, electrical, and plumbing the ability to customize their cleanup experience. These vacuums deliver corded performance with over 40 minutes of continuous cleaning, so users can clean anywhere with no cord limitations. The system also features VACKLINK(TM) Wireless Dust Control for enhanced productivity and seamless remote activation, along with PACKOUT(TM) compatibility for unmatched versatility and mobility around the jobsite. With interchangeable motorheads for varying power, tanks for optimized holding capacity, carts for enhanced mobility, and add-on components for increased efficiency, users now have versatility in managing jobsite cleanup. Milwaukee expands their lineup with the new M18 FUEL(TM) NEXUS(TM) 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum with PACKOUT(TM) Compatibility, that delivers the power needed to tackle common jobsite debris while outperforming 3.5 Peak HP wet/dry vacuums. Equipped with a POWERSTATE(TM) Brushless Motor and REDLINK PLUS(TM) Intelligence, this vacuum delivers 95 CFM providing users with corded performance without the hassle associated with cords. With over 44 minutes of continuous cleaning on MAX RUN-TIME mode when paired with one M18(TM) REDLITHIUM(TM) FORGE(TM) HD12.0 battery pack, this vacuum can clean up to 1,800 sq ft on a single charge. Additionally, this vacuum is fully compatible with the Milwaukee PACKOUT(TM) Modular Storage System. This design enhances versatility and mobility, helping users save time both on and off the jobsite. The new M18 FUEL(TM) NEXUS(TM) 6 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum with PACKOUT(TM) Compatibility & VACLINK(TM) includes all the features outlined above, along with the addition of VACLINK(TM) Wireless Dust Control. This technology allows users to connect compatible VACLINK(TM) tools and vacuums, eliminating wasted runtime. The included VACLINK(TM) Remote enables users to connect this solution to non-VACLINK(TM) tools and wirelessly turn on/off the power control at the hose end of the vacuum, maximizing cleanup efficiency and reducing downtime. For users seeking enhanced performance and VACLINK(TM) capabilities, the new M18 FUEL(TM) NEXUS(TM) Dual Battery Wet/Dry Vacuum Motor Head with PACKOUT(TM) Compatibility & VACLINK(TM) is an ideal solution. This dual battery vacuum head can clean up more jobsite debris than 4.25 Peak HP wet/dry vacuums delivering corded performance to increase jobsite productivity. With two M18(TM) REDLITHIUM(TM) FORGE(TM) HD12.0 battery packs, this solution can clean up to 2,200 sq ft on a single charge with up to 49 minutes of continuous cleaning on MAX RUN-TIME mode, allowing professionals to work longer without interruptions. To further enhance the cleanup experience Milwaukee introduces the NEXUS(TM) Dedicated Debris Separator, first of its kind. This add-on component can pair with any Milwaukee NEXUS(TM) Wet/Dry Vacuum between the vacuum motor head and tank to create a fully integrated experience, eliminating the need to manage additional hoses and pieces. By directing debris away from the vacuum filter, the debris separator can separate up to 99% of jobsite debris before reaching the filter for less clogs and longer sustained airflow. This innovation helps reduce downtime and increase filter life for more productivity on jobsites. Additionally, the NEXUS(TM) Dedicated Filter Cleaner helps to bridge the gap between wet/dry vacuums and dust extractors. The filter cleaning process is fully contained for less dust exposure and allows for Table 1 OSHA compliance in light concrete applications. The filter cleaning process takes five seconds or less, resulting in less downtime than the standard filter cleaning process. This add-on component is also assembled between the vacuum motor head and tank, creating a fully integrated vacuum experience. Both NEXUS(TM) add-on components enhance the cleanup experience by increasing productivity, safety, and efficiency when cleaning up the jobsite. The NEXUS(TM) Dedicated Debris Separator and Filter Cleaner are fully compatible with existing medium capacity wet/dry vacuums. Have a question for Milwaukee Tool? Contact Milwaukee Tool here. Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation is a manufacturer and marketer of heavy-duty, portable electric power tools and accessories and test measurement products for professional users worldwide. Sep 28, 2026 - Products & Services Update