iFixit Mako Driver Kit Review: A 64-Bit Set That Earns Its Price

Opening a phone, a game controller or a laptop usually means finding a screw head you have never seen, and this iFixit Mako Driver Kit review is about a set built for exactly that problem. It is a 64-bit precision kit with a well-regarded reputation and a price that annoys some buyers. The bits and the warranty are strong, while the case and the extension are the weak spots.

I haven’t tested this unit; this review is based on published tests and shopper feedback. Some of those sources are roundups and aggregators and not hands-on lab tests, and I say so where it matters.

What the Mako kit is and who it’s for

The kit, part number IF145-299-4, holds 64 bits of 4 mm size in S2 steel. According to iFixit’s store page, they break down into 11 hex, 8 Torx Security, 6 flathead, 6 nut driver, 5 Phillips, 4 JIS, 4 Torx, 4 tri-point and 3 pentalobe bits, plus a gamebit, spanner, square and triangle and single specialty pieces.

A 4 mm anodized aluminum handle with a magnetic bit socket and a swivel top does the turning. SparkFun’s listing adds a flexible extension, given there as 150 mm, and a 1/4-inch to 4 mm adapter. Everything sits in an ABS case with an EVA foam insert and a magnet-held lid that includes a sorting tray. iFixit gives the whole kit a lifetime guarantee.

It is meant for home repairers and hobbyists who open phones, consoles, controllers, laptops and small appliances and want one organized set that includes the unusual security bits. PC builders are covered as well, since Amazon buyers mention that use.

A word on the number 64, because kit sizes can mislead. A large count often means many near-identical bits. Here, iFixit’s breakdown shows a real spread of head types, with only five Phillips and six flatheads among them. The bulk is made up of hex, Torx variants, JIS, tri-point and pentalobe, which are the heads you tend to meet inside consumer electronics. Few people will ever need all of them, and most will reach for a handful.

Reviewers keep returning to organization. Binaryfork found the foam insert practical, and the hinge-free lid is a sensible design choice since a hinge is one more part to wear out. The weakness is that the same lid does not hold screws, so tidiness of bits does not carry over to tidiness of fasteners. A cheap magnetic parts tray, which I’d buy separately, solves that.

What Amazon shoppers say

Amazon buyers rate the kit very highly across a very large sample, which is rare enough to deserve attention. Check the current price on Amazon before ordering.

Amazon’s summary of customer comments is mostly warm. Shoppers call the kit well made and comprehensive, with every bit they need, including for PC building. They think it is worth the price and useful across many projects. The one mixed category is the magnets, which some buyers like as a nice touch while others wish were stronger.

Other retailers show similarly strong scores, on iFixit’s own page and at Best Buy. Those are self-selected buyers and, on Walmart, several reviews were marked incentivized, so I give them less weight than the Amazon number.

A Google or Google Shopping rating was not checked for this post. Shoppers can compare it themselves before buying.

What independent reviewers found

Binaryfork gave the set 4.5/5 and recommends it. After more than three years of use, the reviewer says, the kit still looks and works like new. The site praises the foam insert that keeps bits in place even when the case is inverted, the lid that has no hinge to wear out, and the swivel top and magnetic socket that make bit changes easy.

Of Zen and Computing ranked the Mako first among eight precision sets in a September 2026 roundup and gave it an Editor’s Choice mark, citing bit coverage and S2 steel. It also notes that the kit costs more than budget sets and uses 4 mm bits. This is an affiliate-style roundup, not lab testing, so read it as an informed opinion.

The Hardware Connection reviewed the kit in February 2020 and was positive on build quality and the lifetime warranty, using it for household repairs. That piece lists no drawbacks, and it is old. ShopSavvy, an automated aggregator, rates the kit 7.7 out of 10 and mentions some reports of handle durability and occasional weak bits. I treat that as low-weight evidence.

What’s good

• Coverage is wide: pentalobe, Torx Security, JIS and tri-point bits handle phones, consoles and laptops.
• The S2 steel bits fit snugly, and buyers on Sam’s Club and Walmart credit that with fewer stripped screws.
• The case keeps bits organized, and its lid has no hinge to fail.
• The swivel top and magnetic socket give good control.
• iFixit backs the kit with a lifetime guarantee.

The fit point is the one I would weigh most. A bit that sits snugly in the screw head is what separates a clean repair from a stripped one, and it is the main thing a screwdriver set exists to do.

What’s bad

Price is the most common complaint, across Sam’s Club, Walmart and Best Buy reviews as well as Of Zen and Computing and ShopSavvy. The set costs more than generic kits that offer more than 100 pieces.

The case lid is not magnetic enough to hold screws, so they can spill if the case is bumped, Binaryfork says, and a Sam’s Club reviewer also notes the tray does not hold screws. That is a notable flaw for a kit sold to people who work on tiny fasteners.

The extension gets criticism. Pushing bits into its non-magnetized clamp takes force, Binaryfork found, and a Sam’s Club buyer who purchased the kit mainly for the extension was disappointed.

Small things: bit-size labels printed on the foam are hard to read in dim light, according to Best Buy and Walmart customers. The 4 mm bit standard may not match other brands’ bits, as Of Zen and Computing points out. And a few buyers mention hearsay of stripping bits or handle durability, although the reviewers who relayed this had not experienced it themselves.

Video reviews

Two hands-on videos cover the set. I haven’t watched them in full; the notes come from their titles and descriptions.

How it compares

Of Zen and Computing sets the Mako against several rivals. The iFixit Pro Tech Toolkit has a similar bit set plus extra tools, but it is heavier. The STREBITO 142-piece set is cheaper and has many more pieces, though its bits are softer CR-V steel. Klein’s 32717 is aimed at Apple repair, while the 32787 adds a micro-ratchet.

I did not test any of these, and I did not compare the Mako with premium fixed-handle sets from Wera or Wiha. If you want a ratchet feel or a higher-end handle, those names are where to look next.

Who should buy it and who should skip it

Buy it if you repair your own electronics, want unusual bits in one organized place, and value a lifetime guarantee. In my view, anyone who has already stripped a screw with a loose, generic bit will see the point of paying for a snug fit.

Skip it if you only need a Phillips and a flathead. Buyers on a tight budget can find cheaper kits, and anyone who wants a compact pocket set may find the 7-inch case more than they need.

Verdict

The Mako is a sound tool kit with a few irritations. Praise from reviewers is consistent, the very high Amazon buyer scores across a very large sample are hard to dismiss, and the faults, a weak lid magnet, a stiff extension and faint labels, are the sort you can work around.

My take: for a person who opens electronics more than once or twice, the extra cost over a generic set buys better fit and a guarantee, which is a fair trade.

Caveats apply to the evidence itself. I could not retrieve any Reddit threads, so the complaints here come from retailer reviews and roundups, and the release date of the kit is unverified. iFixit also sells other kits, including the Manta, the Pro Tech Toolkit and the Moxie and Minnow, and I did not check their current specs. The Mako name in this post means the 64-bit set only.

• iFixit Mako Driver Kit, 64 precision bits, the set reviewed above. See it on Amazon (affiliate link)

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