Dewalt launched a new 20V Max XR cordless drill and hammer drill, DCD801 and DCD806 respectively.
There are a couple of interesting things to go over, but what surprised me the most is that the new XR drill kit is the only way to get your hands on the new PowerPack 4Ah battery. Dewalt has confirmed that – at least for now – the new battery will not be available separately.
Details are scarce, but I think it’s fair to presume that the new Dewalt PowerPack battery, DCB2104, features the same tabless Li-ion cells as in their higher capacity 8Ah PowerPack battery.
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The new DCD801 cordless drill and DCD806 hammer drill look identical to the earlier DCD800 and DCD805 models that they’re replacing.
However, there is a bump-up in specs, with the new model XR brushless motor drills being rated at 1050 MWO (max watts out) of power delivery, compared to 900 MWO for the older models.
Dewalt has in the past rated their cordless drill power output based on the type of battery the tools are kitted with. This suggests that the 1050 MWO rating is for the new cordless drills when paired with the new PowerPack 4Ah battery.
Dewalt also says that the DCD801 is “up to 109% more powerful,” and upon checking their fine print, this is compared to their DCD777 cordless drill (see also: New Dewalt DCD777 20V Max Brushless Drill Looks Budget-Friendly from 9 years ago).
The DCD777 is rated at 340 UWO (unit watts out).
The older model DCD800 and DCD805 cordless drills are said to deliver “up to 40% more UWO vs the DCD791” when used with specific batteries.
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Basically, the new DCD801 and DCD806 cordless drills look the same but are rated as more powerful on paper, and it could be a function of battery selection.
Dewalt also has something to say about the new drill’s competitiveness. They say:
Competitive Advantage – Up To 25% More Powerful Vs. Milwaukee
According to the fine print, this is:
Based on MWO, using DCB2104 battery vs. Milwaukee M18 2903-20 1/2in. drill driver using 48-11-1840 4AH battery
That’s a bit unfair, in my opinion. Dewalt is comparing their new XR brushless drill with the new battery it’s kitted with, and is comparing it to the Milwaukee M18 FUEL model with a battery that the M18 is not kitted with. Milwaukee’s drill is often bundled with an XC 5Ah battery. Does it make a difference? Maybe, maybe not.
For the tool-only SKUs:
Based on MWO, using DCB2104 battery (sold separately) vs. Milwaukee M18 2904-20 1/2in. hammer drill using 48-11-1840 4AH battery.
However, as Dewalt has confirmed, the DCB2104 battery is not sold separately at this time. And so if you’re buying the tool-only versions of the DCD801 and DCD806, the comparison is faulty.
MWO also says nothing about applications speeds or torque. “Up to 25% more powerful.” It’s noteworthy that the Milwaukee M18 Fuel model delivers high enough torque that it must be bundled with an auxiliary handle. The new Dewalt XR cordless drills do not have this requirement.
We have an older post about drill torque and side handle requirements: Why Powerful Drills MUST Have Auxiliary Handles.
All that talk about an exclusive battery and on-paper specs boost aside, Dewalt also built an Anti-Rotation System into both new drills.
The Anti-Rotation System senses the rotational motion of the tool and shuts it down if the motion is excessive. From the sounds of it, there’s a gyro sensor built into the tool. If the tool rotates quickly such as in response to a large bit jamming in a hole, the anti-kickback measure goes into effect to help avoid user injury.
We typically see anti-rotation and kickback protection in larger high-torque drills.
- 1/2″ chuck
- 1050 MWO
- 0-650/0-2000 RPM (no-load)
- 15 position torque clutch
- 6.47″ length
- 70 lumen LED worklight
- Anti-Rotation System
The kit, DCD801QQ2 ($269), comes with 2x 4Ah PowerPack batteries, a charger and tool bag. Tool-only versions of the drill, DCD801B ($179) and hammer drill, DCD806B ($199) are also available.
Discussion
The new DCD801 looks identical to the DCD800. It’s the same length and has the same speed specs, but higher “max watts out” spec and an anti-rotation sensor.
Dewalt also says the new model is “up to 25% more powerful vs Milwaukee [M18 FUEL].”
It all sounds a bit messy.
Home Depot has the older model DCD800D2 cordless drill kit for around $203 right now, and the DCD800B tool-only for $159. There aren’t too many sources for the older DCD805B hammer drill, but Lowe’s has it for $179.
The new model tool-only drill and hammer drill are each $20 more than their predecessors.
We have seen that Dewalt’s cordless drills have at times had different specs depending on the battery they’re kitted with.
So here’s my question. What’s different about these new drills aside from the anti-rotation system, higher pricing, and kit batteries?
It seems to me that we’ve reached a point where cordless drills are about as good as they’re going to get.
Dewalt’s compact drills have been quite good over the years, and I have high expectations for this one. That it looks like little has changed compared to the predecessor models isn’t a bad thing.
I do find some of the marketing claims a bit strange, such as how this model is being compared to the power output of a the non-XR entry-priced DCD777 model that launched around 9 years ago. Why not compare it to say the Atomic or brushless models that launched more recently?
How much of the higher MWO rating is solely dependent on the new PowerPack 4Ah battery that you can’t buy separately? When you can buy the battery by itself, will it deliver an instant upgrade of higher power to Dewalt’s older model drills such as the DCD800?
Nathan
I wonder what the 1007 hammer drill comes kitted with now? I got one last summer for a project and I like it. Has that anti rotation system too. Works well. I use it without the handle a lot but in wood or thin metal. In masonry always handle. Or with a big auger bit I guess I don’t do that much.
801 might peak my interest on the smaller side or a sale priced 800
Stuart
A single PowerPack 8Ah. Amazon (direct) seems to have the best price on it right now, for just a little more than the new DCD801 kit. https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-Cordless-Battery-Charger-DCD1007WW1/dp/B0D8TM7XK8/?tag=toolguyd-20
The DCD1007 is in a much more powerful class of drill.
Bill
Lowe’s is offering the DVD1007WW1 kit in a “buy 1 get 1” deal with a second PowerPack 8ah battery for $349
MM
Like Bill said, the DCD1007 is often on sale with an extra battery thrown in as a freebie with purchase. I bought my DCD1007 from Acme a few months ago and it was that kind of deal: the drill came with an 8ah fast charger and one 8ah PowerPack, the second 8ah PowerPack was a free-with-purchase deal.
And yes, the 1007 is a whole different ballgame in terms of power. It’s quite impressive what it can do with a big auger or self-feed bit, and it’s very capable for mixing too. I used to recommend “full size” 18/20v drills as being one of the first tools that a new power tool user should buy. But the 1007 is big, heavy, and powerful enough that it’s really beyond a “general duty” sort of tool in my opinion.
Nowadays the “compact” drills are very capable, especially with the bindup protection.
OldDominionDIYer
I’m sure it’s a fine drill, Dewalt makes some beauties no doubt. I can’t help but wonder if anybody really pays any attention to the gaudy claims about increased performance though, seems pointless. Don’t get me started on Dewalt using their own measuring units for tool performance so the average consumer can’t compare apples to apples, you know something fishy is going on their for sure! Now it looks like they’re using UWO and MWO to further muddy the waters, you know, like 18V and 20V Max… the marketing manipulation is powerful with these folks!
Stuart
Apparently MWO is “power of the motor” and UWO is “power of the total drill.” It seems to me like the difference between tape measure standout and “max reach.”
You would be surprised as to how many people take all brand and retailer marketing claims at face value. I used to as well. I remember shopping for something years ago – maybe my first Dremel rotary tool kit – and I was going by the “$XYZ in total value if purchased separately” claims.
Peter
Yup, same with free shipping with prime which is not really free when it is included with something you have to pay for or free wifi at business’s.
Saulac
This is why Dewalt is losing on the job sites. Yellow tells the guys to keep a few spreadsheets to track which battery to go with which tool to “maximize the potential”. The Red tells the guys to follow a few rules of thumb. Be damned with missing some max potentials, you don’t need it.
Stuart
Milwaukee’s cordless drill specs and max power output have also been dependent on battery selection.
Don’t assume you’re going to get the same power delivery from the M18 Fuel hammer drill with a 1.5Ah battery as you would a Forge 8Ah.
Big Richard
DeWalt is providing transparency, stating which battery was used to achieve the results they measured and are advertising. That seems completely reasonable to me.
Jared
I was pondering that too. Selecting a battery the drill doesn’t come with IS somewhat misleading – it’s not comparing what consumers might buy instead. Yet they also stated what was used for the test – so it’s not deceitful.
Nathan
Example I don’t own any power stack batteries and I know I’m not getting all the 1007 can do. And that’s fine too.
Stuart
Dewalt ALWAYS qualifies their claims. I’m not sure if this is more for transparency or legal reasons, but it’s good to see.
Big Richard
Exactly my point, spinning that as ‘telling guys to keep a few spreadsheets to track which battery to go with which tool to “maximize the potential”’ is a really bizarre take.
Stuart
Manufactured indignation. Happens a lot.
Bonnie
Feels like all the brands do this shit though. I’ve got DeWalt and Makita tools, but Makita had the star label packs and the 4ah batteries with better power delivery than 5ah, etc. My brothers Milwaukee tools have all sorts of different battery types and sub brands that are marketed as working stronger with different tools.
It’s irritating across the industry, but I expect most users, even pros, just don’t give that much of a damn as long as the battery fits and runs longer than a few minutes.
PW
Milwaukee also has the same thing really. Some tools require high output batteries or throttle performance.
I don’t see what the big deal is – these are limitations based on physics, not some evil scheme. Some batteries support more current draw than others. You can make a pretty decent guess based on their size and underlying cell type. If the tool you’re using isn’t performing well enough, try a better battery.
This has been true for battery powered tools since they came out!
Consider a well-used battery with heavily cycled cells vs a new one. You’re probably going to see different performance between them in demanding tasks.
In the real world, as long as you’re chooching along and accomplishing your task, its OK if you haven’t perfectly optimized your battery/tool combo to match a lab test.
Jared
Interesting – I would have thought a Powerpack 4ah size would be popular and hence would be available separately.
The kickback tech is an important improvement in my opinion.
Luis
The kickback is highly welcome. Better late than never, though
Now I wonder how does this new PP 4Ah stack up against the new-ish PS 3.5Ah.
Lyle
I want to see a PS3.5 in person. I haven’t seen them anywhere yet. The form factor would make a difference to me. I love the PS1.7 form factor and not so much the PS5.0. Hopefully the PS3.5 is just a little taller than the PS1.7 and not wide like this PP4 and PS5.0 look.
Craig
The PS3. 5 is almost right in the middle between the 1.7 and the 5.0 width wise. A smidge taller than the 1.7. I too was hoping it was close in width to the 1.7 , but in my opinion it is a Goldilocks size. It is light and has enough ah to get some work done with a drill or impact, but not cumbersome like the PS5.0 on an impact. I like the PS5.0 on the circular saws and router.
Big Richard
It is very very similar in footprint to the 18650 packs, so it is not as wide or long as the 4Ah PP or 5Ah PS.. Height wise, it is taller than a single row pack (like the 2Ah DCB203), but shorter than a 2 row pack (like the 5Ah DCB205).
It is, as Craig said, a Goldilocks size.
Lyle
Thanks. I was hoping that it was a perfect size. I was very disappointed with the size and weight of the 5Ah. Not smaller or lighter than the 18650 version.
Robert
“It seems to me that we’ve reached a point where cordless drills are about as good as they’re going to get.”
Agree totally on power, that seems to be essentially true for a while now.
Ergonomics and quality will be the differentiators for knowledgeable.
For others, drills are getting to be a commodity item, where competition is on price.
blocky
Corollary to the more watts throughput– yes, a tool might be pushing more watts and have a little more power but it may be less optimized with respect to energy consumption. I definitely have used some newer brushless tools that do not get as much done between charges as their counterpart brushless tools from 5-10 years ago, or have runtimes that are more in line with their brushed predecessors.
Nathan
I might agree with that in terms of current magnet tech the motors are probably close to as much grunt per volt and amp they can get. Delivering that volt and amp is probably 2 or 3 generations from maximum effort. So you won’t see much different. Today the big ones are how compact they’ve become for what they do.
Part of why I want a 800 is got my general use it’s fairly tiny length wise for a 18v size capable device. Will easily do 80%of my needs faster and probably better than my 14 year old drill
MM
Just a quick heads-up: Acme just announced a 10% off flash sale on Dewalt and it applies to this new drill, both the kit and the bare tool.
eddiesky
I would like to replace my older Dewalt drill/driver/hammerdrill but man, DeWalt’s website is DOG SLOW, and I want a model similar to mine with external removable handle DCD1007B.
Here are the models numbers of the kits listed above: DCD801QQ2 but the hammerdrill 806 kit is not listed on their site. Just tool only.
Whoa, check out their masonary repair tool.. looks like horror movie prop: https://www.dewalt.com/product/allfg200kit20/cordless-masonry-and-brick-restoration-tool-powered-dewalt?tid=576846
MM
That masonry cutter is interesting, it looks like a cross between an OMT and an Alligator Saw.
Alligator saws are pretty interesting, for example, Dewalt DCS397. These are basically a giant electric carving knife, they have two blades that reciprocate in opposite directions. They can cut various materials including wood but their main purpose is cutting low-density masonry products, like aerated concrete and clay blocks. They don’t seem to be a thing in North America, however.
Will
One photo shows “powerpack” branding on the battery decal. One shows “tabless”on the decal. Wonder if one is for international markets or if they are changing the branding yet again.