DeWalt
20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only)
$149
Released 2015
Best Impact Drivers · head-to-head
20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) vs M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only)
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.
Milwaukee
M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only)
$149
Released 2022
Which is better: the 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) or M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only)?
The 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) wins 2 of the 2 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0.
See 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) on Amazon See M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) on Amazon
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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) | M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) |
|---|---|---|
| US price | $149 | $149 |
| Brand | DeWalt | Milwaukee |
| Released | 2015 | 2022 |
| Voltage (V) | 20 | 18 |
| Max torque in (lb) | 1825 | 2000 |
| Max (rpm) | 3250 | 3900 |
| Max ipm | 3800 | 4400 |
| Brushless | Yes | Yes |
| Speed settings | 3 | 4 |
| Weight (lb) | 2 | 2.2 |
Sources — 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only): burnstools.com (verified 2026-06-19). M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only): milwaukeetool.com (verified 2026-06-19).
What's the difference between the 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) and M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only)?
Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (6 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.
- Voltage (V): 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) 20 vs M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 18
- Max torque in (lb): 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) 1825 vs M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 2000
- Max (rpm): 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) 3250 vs M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 3900
- Max ipm: 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) 3800 vs M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 4400
- Speed settings: 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) 3 vs M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 4
- Weight (lb): 20V MAX XR 3-Speed 1/4 in. Impact Driver (Tool Only) 2 vs M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only) 2.2
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.
M18 FUEL 1/4 in. Hex Impact Driver (Tool Only)
Only one whitelisted tester, Pro Tool Reviews, yielded a readable hands-on review; TechGearLab was under maintenance and no Popular Mechanics test exists. PTR scored the Gen-4 2953 9.7/10, calling it their best all-around impact driver to date, praising near-top drive speeds, a 4.47-inch compact frame, and a shadow-killing tri-beam LED. No drawbacks flagged. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)
Praised: Rated best all-around impact driver PTR has tested, with performance consistently near the top of the field (fast measured drive times, e.g. 8.6s RSS-screw average on a 5.0Ah pack); Class-leading compactness at 4.47 inches, 0.12 in shorter than the prior gen while keeping 2.2 lb bare weight; Tri-beam ring LED around the collet eliminates shadows better than trigger-mounted lights, plus one-hand bit insertion.