Best Impact Drivers · head-to-head

20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) vs V20 Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) is cheaper at $149. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) or V20 Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver?

They split the 2 specs we compare evenly.

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Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) V20 Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver
US price $149
BrandDeWaltCraftsman
Released20152018
Voltage (V) 20 20
Max torque in (lb) 1825 1500
Max (rpm) 3250 2800
Max ipm 3800 3500
Brushless Yes Yes
Speed settings 3 1
Weight (lb) 2 2.05

Sources — 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only): burnstools.com (verified 2026-06-19). V20 Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver: lifeandhome.com (verified 2026-06-19).

What's the difference between the 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) and V20 Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Max torque in (lb): 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) 1825 vs V20 Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver 1500
  • Max (rpm): 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) 3250 vs V20 Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver 2800
  • Max ipm: 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) 3800 vs V20 Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver 3500
  • Speed settings: 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) 3 vs V20 Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver 1
  • Weight (lb): 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) 2 vs V20 Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver 2.05

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only)

Based on one whitelisted hands-on tester (Pro Tool Reviews). PTR calls the DCF887 a 'tried and true' brushless driver that outperformed DeWalt's own lighter DCF850 Atomic, but its measured 12.6s RSS-screw, 3.8in lag and 6.6s nut-busting times all trailed the Milwaukee 2953 (8.6s / 1.7in / 2.5s) in the same head-to-head. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Consistently higher real-world drive/nut-busting performance than DeWalt's own lighter DCF850 Atomic in PTR testing; Proven 'tried and true' brushless platform with years on the market.

Flagged: Trailed the Milwaukee 2953 on all three PTR tests (RSS screw, lag screw, nut-busting); Bulkier and longer (5.3in head) than the same-spec DCF850 Atomic.

V20 Brushless 1/4 in. Impact Driver

No sourced tester review yet.

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