Buy This, Not That: Dewalt Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Comparison

Mass-media and tech websites have started promoting a new Dewalt cordless power tool combo kit – this 20V Max drill and impact driver combo, model DCK280C2.

This is actually a very good kit!

It comes with Dewalt’s decent DCD780 cordless drill and DCF885 impact driver.

This combo kit is “on sale” for $199.

Buy Now via Amazon

But, these are first-generation brushed-motor tools. Sure, they’re good tools and this is a good kit – I’m sure it’ll serve you well. But $199 for a long-in-the-tooth combo kit?

Here’s a better deal – the Dewalt DCK283D2 20V Max brushless drill and brushless impact driver kit.

The last time I bought this combo kit was in March 2017, for a reader giveaway, and I paid $260 plus tax. Before that, in December 2016, I spent $234 plus tax also on a reader giveaway prize, and that was after $25 off $100+ holiday season coupon.

Right now, this combo kit is on sale for $199, the same as last year’s holiday season low price.

You get the Dewalt DWS791 bruhsless drill, and DCF887 3-speed brushless impact driver. The kit is bundled with a charger, tool bag, and (2) 2.0Ah Li-ion batteries.

The brushless tools are more powerful and more compact, and should also be more energy-efficient. The drill has a better-featured LED worklight.

And, this brushless kit comes with 2.0Ah batteries instead of 1.5Ah for the first-generation brushed motor combo kit.

The DCK280C2 brushed motor kit does have one selling point over the DCK283D2 brushless model – it’s assembled in the USA.

Still, for the same $199, I’d buy the Dewalt 20V Max brushless drill and impact driver combo kit over the older brushed motor tools.

Price: $199

Buy Now via Amazon

Comparisons

DCK280C2 Pros:

Built in USA

DCK283D2 Pros: 

• Better Drill/Driver
  • More power (460 vs. 350 UWO – what’s that?)
  • More compact (6.9″ vs 7.5″)
  • Shadow-free LED positioning
  • Brushless motor
• Better Impact Driver
  • 3 torque/speed settings vs. 1
  • More power (1825 vs 1400 in-lbs max torque)
  • More compact (5.3″ vs 5.55″)
  • Brushless motor
• Batteries: 2.0Ah vs. 1.5Ah

BOTH Dewalt cordless power tool combo kits are great options, but at the same price, why not get the better one?

Buy Now: DCK283D2 via Amazon
Buy Now: DCK280C2 via Amazon

If you need help sorting out the differences between Dewalt’s various 20V max cordless drill options, check out this post:

The Best Dewalt Cordless Drills (2020 Update)

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