A lot of people – myself included – see 14.4V cordless tools as a thing of the past. Today’s 10.8V and 12V Max drills and drivers are smaller, lighter, nearly as powerful, and the latest generation of Li-ion batteries are said to perform as well in cold weather as more resilient NiCd packs of yesteryear.
Even so, there’s still something appealing about cordless drills and drivers that fall between today’s 12V and 18V/20V offerings.
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A quick look at some of the 14.4V tools’ specs left me quite puzzled. Dewalt’s 14.4V tools (or 16V Max as they would probably be branded in the USA) deliver nearly as much power as Dewalt’s 18V/20V Max Li-ion tools, but they don’t really save much in terms of size or weight. So where’s the benefit?
My thoughts are that the 14.4V line is a way for Dewalt to better appeal to budget-conscious tradesmen and professionals. Fewer battery cells mean lower costs, thus lower prices. Maybe the motor and gearing performance is dialed down a bit as well, but probably not. More similarities between 14.4V and 18V/20V Max tools mean shared production and lower end-user prices.
I could only dig up details about two impact drivers – one standard and one brushless that’s listed as “coming soon” to the UK and with full specs on Dewalt’s Middle East site – a compact drill/driver, and a worklight.
Taking a look at the new (or at least newish) DCF825 14.4V Li-ion brushless impact driver, we see that it delivers 235 watts output, or 160 Nm (~1416 in-lbs) of maximum torque. This is not much lower than the 290W/170Nm/~1505 in-lb torque rating of their 18V/20V Max DCF895 brushless impact driver. The weights are listed as 1.6 and 1.7kg, which is a difference of less than 4 ounces.
It is unclear whether Dewalt will be bringing the 14.4V/16V Max line to the USA, but if they do, the line would probably still be limited to drills, impact drivers, and a work light.
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Rockwell is soon coming out with new “16V Max” cordless drills and drivers, but I can’t really see them gain popularity with tradesmen. Dewalt’s 14.4V line might have an easier time wooing pro’s over for one simple reason – their multi-voltage chargers can also handle Dewalt’s 10.8V/12V and 18V/20V Li-ion battery packs.
Back to the but you can’t have one part. Maybe it’s you can’t have one [in the USA] yet, but only time will tell.
What do you think, is there a market for Dewalt’s 14.4V Li-ion tools here in the USA?
Michael Quinlan
Milwaukee’s fuel lineup includes the M12 impact driver and the M18 impact driver, which max out at 1200 in-lbs and 1600 in-lbs, and retail for $169 and $229 (with compact batteries), respectively. I imagine most manufacturers will have similar ratios. Considering that these newer products include user-selectable speed/torque settings, I don’t really see any need for something to fill the gap. I’m not even sure there’s a gap to be filled, in performance OR price.
Stuart
I’m not convinced the gap needs to be filled in performance, which is why I’m led to believe that the 14.4V line is all about near-18V/20V performance at lower prices.
mnoswad1
No need for 14 0r 16 volt at all. Companies need to offer fewer items to more people rather than create needless niches to fill.
What this will do is keep the prices of 12 and 20 volt tools at their respective price points with little room for gradual price reductions.
dont bering this nonsense to the US.
Chris
I agree. It’s just another battery platform that you need to worry about.
I’m a tool fanatic and I’m overwhelmed just looking through (not even looking to buy) the various brands different models of tools.
For example dewalt has so many different drills availible. From brushed/brushless, /non hammer drill, 3 speed/2 speed, 12v/18v/20v, not to mention different output powers and other features. And or combinations of the various options. It’s extremely overwhelming even for a tool nerd.
josue
Agree with you Chris, imagine for rookies like me !!
Even got a headache trying to figure out which to buy !!
Jason
How much cheaper would the 14.4 tools be? The other problem I see is you won’t get nearly the same selection as the 18/20 volt tools. It seems like a solution to a problem that does not exist. I assumed the market had figured out what volt tools to market. I’m sure dewalt didn’t spend a ton of money on this, but they have some large gaps in the 20v max line like a multitool.
Will
They have a multitool. In fact I have one and it’s pretty good.
HammerDrillJoe
I have an old 14.4 drill driver. I would like to have the new li-ion batteries for this tool. Any idea if DeWalt will offer those batteries here?
Stuart
If they intended to release Li-ion batteries for their stem-format 14.4V platform, we would have seen them already.
Phil Phil
DeWALT has had 14.4 stem Li-ion batteries for several years already. The part number is DC9144 and you would need the yellow top charger, DC9310 to charge both battery styles.
Stuart
Oops, you’re right about that and I have seen these batteries before as well.
Even so, the 14.4V Li-ion packs are limited to 2.0Ah max and they likely don’t have the same cold-weather performance as the latest generation batteries.
Dewalt will support the 14.4V and 18V stem-pack lines for a while longer, but I wouldn’t expect to see any new innovations or tech. Related products are also becoming scarce in stores as retailers prefer to allocate space to the newer 20V Max products.
Will
14.4 brings back some nostalgia. Had those tools 25 or so years ago. If you’re still using one, you may want to consider an upgrade. The new 12v tools are way more powerful than those old 14.4 nicad tools.
HangFire
I agree- thing of the past. I wish Stanley/B&D/deWalt et al would stop messing around and bring out high capacity 12V LiIon batteries. I fear this product could prevent that.
Jason Offret
Dewalt needs to get cracking on the “40V Max” line…
Mati
The cheapest 36 volt battery for a Dewalt brand is more or less $100+, but a drill that can utilize that battery pack costs (again for the Dewalt brand) is several hundred dollars. Your average consumer probably isn’t willing to spend hundreds upon hundreds just to use the drill much longer, amongst other features.
Unless the person is a contractor or a mason, I don’t really see Dewalt really going out of there way to update their battery backs for the higher voltages.
Jason
Yea I don’t know about 36-40volt tools. I think they sell so few units because the prices are so high that they can’t justify updating the tools. It seems like 36 volt is pretty much being marketed for sds concrete drills and not much else.
Ted
That explains a thing or two.. been looking for 14.4v skins for a while to go with my bargain drills. Was hoping it was just a different sticker on the same products, down in AUS, only available at Masters (Lowes joint venture with some locals) last year, now on run-out.
Altan
Not necessary to have 14.4v or 16v (USA version), Makita does a lot of tools in that category, instead DeWALT should make 18v/20v Biscuit Joiner, Nibbler, Shears, Adhesive Gun, Die Grinder, Straight Grinder, Laser Labeling Engraver (Which can engrave on wood, metal and plastic), DeWALT Laptop (Which does have applications and programs related with trades with its tools, and also have all its books in that). It should develop its accessory range and organizers, 120v corded cordless vacuum cleaner and some more tools.