This Is Home Depot's Most Popular Power Drill. Is It Worth The Hype?

The power drill market can be very confusing. On the one hand, drills are one of the 10 must-buy tools for first-time homeowners. On the other hand, if you're new to DIY, how do you know which model to buy? Will a cheap and cheerful tool stand up over time, or should you shell out for one of the big-name brands like DeWalt or Milwaukee?

The most popular power drill over at The Home Depot right now is the DeWalt 20V MAX Compact Drill Driver Kit. It has over 10,000 reviews (more than four times its closest rival) at an average of 4.6 out of 5 stars. So, it's popular and comes from a brand with a stellar reputation. The big question is, is it worth the hype?

The simple answer has to be yes. People rightly ask whether DeWalt tools are worth the hefty price tag, yet this model is $99. That includes two batteries, a charger, and a useful canvas carry bag. Before you reach for your credit card, though, let's look beneath the skin and check out key features and performance. Is it really the bargain it seems, or has DeWalt cut corners to make it so affordable?

DeWalt actually produces several 20V power drills. To avoid confusion (and higher prices), the one that ranks as most popular at Home Depot is the 20V Max Drill/Driver Kit, part number DCD771C2. One of the reasons DeWalt offers this at such a competitive price is that it has the older-type brush motor rather than the brushless one in newer models. Brush motors were originally developed for corded tools. They still work fine in cordless, but they are less efficient than brushless motors, typically produce less power, and wear out more quickly.

The other issue you might want to look at is the batteries, which are 1.3Ah (Amp hour). With Amp-hours, bigger numbers mean the tool runs for longer between charges. 1.3Ah is pretty small. In fact, if you check out DeWalt's website, the smallest you can buy as a spare appears to be 2.0Ah. Our guess is that the 1.3Ah models are only supplied in kits.

Do these things really matter? For professionals, maybe. It might get frustrating to keep having to swap batteries if you were using the drill all day. For DIYers, probably not so much. As you'd expect from DeWalt, this is a very capable, reliable, and durable tool. We think it's one of the 5 best cordless DeWalt tools under $100. Although the drill/driver market is hugely competitive, right now you'll struggle to find a better value deal. For many, we expect it certainly will be worth the hype.