DeWalt Vs Makita Cordless Drill: Why Did The Winner Win?

Each time you come across a DeWalt or Makita drill, then you expect to deliver the best performance. Luckily, all the products from these two brands will mostly live up to the expectations of most users.

These brands put in much work during the development phase, so that the resultant cordless drill would be the right value for money.

That is what you experience when you pick either of the DeWalt DCD771C2 or the Makita XFD131 cordless drills. Before you can pick any, you should always consider the amount of drilling power you get out of the unit. Other factors include its controllability, ease of use, design, and any high-tech features.

The Comparison

DeWalt DCD771C2 20V MAX Cordless Drill

The DeWalt DCD771C2 cordless drill is one of the best in the market. It stands out for having a lot toque for its price. Also, it comes with better durability, making it ideal for years of use. Below are the other reasons why you might want to choose this cordless drill.

Compact and Ergonomics

The manufacturer understands most buyers would take the cordless drill to various job sites. It is why this model is compact and lightweight. The dimensions of the drill are 13.9 x 9.9 x 4.2 inches and weighs 3.6 pounds. For its petite frame, you can easily carry it in your tool kit and use it whenever necessary.

Other than being lightweight, the unit is also designed to give you better ergonomics. The handle is ergonomic and feels comfortable in your hand. The design also takes away the strain from the wrist. You can now easily control the drill with better maneuverability for drilling holes at different angles.

Speed

The speed of any cordless drill is important to determine its applications. The DCD771C2 model features two speed settings. The speed settings include 450 and 1500 RPM. You can always choose the speed depending on the material you have to drill. The low speed is for removing screws properly and some delicate applications.

The high speed is for those who need more power output and accomplish some tasks faster.

Power and Battery

As part of making sure the performance is amazing, this unit comes with a high-performance motor. The motor delivers up to 300 unit watts out. For such power, drilling into tough materials just got easier. To support this type of power delivery is a 20V battery. Amazingly, the battery has the same footprint as the 18V batteries, but still delivers more battery life.

The cordless drill also comes with a fast charger. It can fully charge the battery in 30 minutes to an hour. Once the battery is full, the charger automatically shuts off.

What We Like

• Good power output of 300 unit watts out
• Comes with better battery life
• It has a durable construction

What We Don’t Like

• Lacks a slot to store the drill bits

The Solution: Some models might have slots to store drill bits, but it is not a deal breaker. Most people owning drills will have a place to store their bits that they carry around to different job sites.

Makita XFD131 18V LXT Brushless Cordless Drill

The small form factor of the Makita XFD131 cordless drill is one of the reasons it is popular. That is not all as it also has a powerful motor. To understand more why the unit is loved, here are more key features.

Weight and Size

Being compact and lightweight are the top reasons you would want a cordless drill. You will not go wrong with the XFD131 model as it is only 6-5/8 inches front to back. As for the weight, it weighs 3.8 pounds only. That is the weight of the tool even with the battery installed. Such a lightweight drill reduces the chances of operator fatigue.

Ease of Control

There is no doubt having a compact drill will always be easy to control and work in tight areas. To further help with the ease of control is the rubberized soft grip handle. This makes it feel right and comfortable in your hand.

LED Lights

The built-in dual LED lights are a nice addition to the unit. The aim of such lights is to keep the workspace illuminated if working in dark areas. The lights are further strategically placed to ensure there is enough visibility.

Power and Durability

The BL brushless motor is ideal for making this model powerful. Its motor delivers up to 440 inch-pound of torque. Going through materials just got easier. Also, the motor is paired with a 2-speed transmission running at speeds 500 and 1,900 RPM depending on the mode you choose.

What We Like

• Multiple speed options for versatility
• Powerful brushless motor
• Feels comfortable in the hand for better control

What We Don’t Like

• Slightly louder than competitors

The Solution: Power tools such as cordless drills will always feel louder when used for extended periods. If you find the noise affects you, consider using ear muffs to keep the noise down.

Which Is Better?

From the product features above, it is easy to see that the two models are both ideal for multiple applications. They are also good in terms of durability. They can keep on working great for years down the line.

They vary slightly in terms of torque output with the Makita XFD131 model having more torque over the DeWalt DCD771C2 model. However, the DeWalt model has a comeback in terms of giving you more battery life and a faster recharge time.

The DeWalt model is seen as an entry-level unit. As such, it will be ideal for working on basic everyday tasks. If you want a drill that can handle more heavy-duty tasks, then the Makita XFD131 model will be your best option. We also find it as the best between the two.

Final Thoughts

Both models stand out for their features and performance for the money. Even though the Makita model is expensive, its performance is not far apart with the DeWalt model. For someone on a budget, the DeWalt DCD771C2 cordless drill can be an ideal option. However, you might be limited to working on tough applications. Nevertheless, it should give you enough power to handle various projects as a DIYer.