Swapped my $80 screwdriver set for a $15 precision kit, night and day

I do most of my work on laptops and small electronics, so I always used my big ratcheting set from Harbor Freight. Last month I picked up a cheap iFixit clone kit from Amazon for 15 bucks to get into a tight hinge area, and it had way better fit on the tiny Phillips heads. Stripped screws dropped almost to zero after I made the switch, which shocked me since the expensive set felt solid in the hand. Has anyone else found that cheaper niche tools beat general purpose ones for specific repairs?

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the_sam21d ago

And honestly I found the same thing with my work stuff, not just electronics. I grabbed a cheap set of offset ratcheting wrenches for a tight spot under a sink and they fit better than my good name brand ones that cost 3 times as much. The teeth just bite harder on the bolt heads without rounding them off, which is the whole point right? Sometimes the expensive ones are built for feel and durability, not for actually gripping the tiny stuff. It's wild how a random 15 dollar kit can outwork a pro grade set when you're in a cramped spot.