Choosing between these Milwaukee power tools comes down to the work you need to do first: drilling and fastening, or dedicated circular-saw cutting. The M12 FUEL 3497-22 is a two-tool cordless kit built around a drill/driver and impact driver. The M18 FUEL 2930-20 is a rear-handle circular saw with a 7-1/4-inch blade. They cost relatively close amounts, but they serve very different places in a tool setup.
Quick verdict
Pick the Milwaukee M12 FUEL 3497-22 Impact Driver & Hammer Drill 2-Tool Combo Kit when you want a ready-to-use M12 drilling and driving package. Its listed contents include two batteries, a charger, a drill/driver, an impact driver, and a contractor bag. Pick the Milwaukee 2930-20 M18 FUEL 18V 7-1/4-inch Rear Handle Circular Saw - Bare Tool when your priority is a dedicated cordless saw with a rear-handle layout and 7-1/4-inch blade. The listed-price gap is $32.11, so the deciding factor is tool type rather than a wide separation in cost.
| Decision point | M12 FUEL 3497-22 Combo Kit | M18 FUEL 2930-20 Rear Handle Circular Saw |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | $197.88 | $229.99 |
| Main format | Drill/driver and 1/4-inch hex impact driver kit | 7-1/4-inch rear-handle circular saw |
| Battery setup | 12V lithium-ion; batteries included | 18V; battery not included |
| Included accessories | Charger and contractor bag are included | Bare tool |
Where each Milwaukee option wins
Choose the M12 FUEL 3497-22 for drilling and fastening tasks
The M12 kit fits shoppers starting with, or expanding, a compact cordless setup for holes and screws. Having both a drill/driver and a dedicated hex impact driver separates drilling work from driving work without requiring a separate tool purchase. It also includes an M12 REDLITHIUM XC 4.0Ah battery pack and an M12 REDLITHIUM CP 2.0Ah battery pack, plus an M12 charger. That makes the kit the more complete choice for its listed drill-and-drive role.
Choose the M18 FUEL 2930-20 for a saw-focused purchase
The M18 2930-20 is the direct fit when the project calls for a circular saw rather than a driver. Its listed 7-1/4-inch blade diameter and rear-handle design identify it as the cutting-focused alternative. At 18V, it also belongs to a different battery platform from the 12V M12 kit. Select it for the specific need for a rear-handle circular saw, especially when adding a bare tool makes more sense than buying a multi-tool kit.
Product notes
Milwaukee M12 FUEL 3497-22 Impact Driver & Hammer Drill 2-Tool Combo Kit
The strongest reason to choose this kit is completeness. For $197.88, it pairs an M12 FUEL drill/driver with an M12 FUEL 1/4-inch hex impact driver and includes two lithium-ion battery packs, an M12 charger, and a contractor bag. That combination is well aligned with drilling holes and driving screws, while the two battery capacities offer a mix of XC 4.0Ah and CP 2.0Ah packs. The limitation is its scope: the named tools focus on drilling and fastening, not the dedicated 7-1/4-inch rear-handle cutting format offered by the M18 saw. Choose this set when a compact M12 drill-and-drive foundation is the immediate priority.
Milwaukee 2930-20 M18 FUEL 18V 7-1/4-inch Rear Handle Circular Saw - Bare Tool
Choose the M18 2930-20 when a circular saw is the missing capability in your setup. Its $229.99 listed price is for a new, tool-only 18V rear-handle saw with a 7-1/4-inch blade, giving it a clearly different purpose from the M12 combo kit. The listed dimensions include an 18.35-inch length and 7.87-inch height, details that may help shoppers looking for this particular saw format. Its concrete trade-off is the bare-tool configuration: no battery is included. It is also a single saw rather than a package containing a drill/driver and impact driver. Make it the pick for cutting-focused work on the M18 platform.
Final choice by use case
- For drilling holes and driving fasteners: choose the M12 FUEL 3497-22 combo kit.
- For a dedicated rear-handle circular saw: choose the M18 FUEL 2930-20.
- For included batteries, charging equipment, and two cordless tools in one purchase: choose the M12 kit.
- For adding an 18V bare circular saw with a 7-1/4-inch blade: choose the M18 2930-20.
