Professional Tool Reviews for Pros

While the specs are the same as the DCF887, the DeWalt Atomic 20V Max impact driver has slightly slower performance in tougher driving tasks. Don't let that dissuade you, though. The DCF850 is a seriously compact impact driver that still has plenty of speed and muscle to be the only impact driver you need in your tool bag.

At first glance, it’s pretty obvious the DeWalt Atomic 20V Max Impact Driver is very different. So how much performance do you have to give up to get such a compact design? We took a deep dive and tested the DCF850 against the 20V Max XR DCF887 to find out!

Out of the gate, the DCF850 sports some familiar specifications. With 1825 in-lbs of torque, 3250 RPM, and 3800 IPM controlled with 3 speeds and a variable speed trigger, the design team dialed the brushless motor in to match the larger DCF887/888.

With the design being so much smaller, we wanted to compare the two side-by-side to see how they do when the rubber hits the road.

The test we ran uses 8-inch RSS screws from GRK Fasteners. We run them into stacked OSB plywood to give us a consistent medium to work with. To make sure it was as fair as possible, both impact drivers started with a freshly charged 5.0Ah battery.

In this test, the Atomic was about a 1/2 second slower on average. Does half a second matter that much?

It’s up to you, of course, but we don’t mind it for the lighter weight and more compact design you get.

Taking over the title of the most compact impact driver, the DCF850 measures just 3.97 inches long. It’s so small, the battery would stick out beyond the collet. DeWalt deals with that by angling the head up slightly, so the battery kicks back a little.

On the weight side, it’s 2.1 lbs. With the 5.0Ah battery we used, the total weight is 3.5 pounds. If you want to go as compact as possible, pair it with a PowerStack battery and the weight is just 2.9 pounds.

In terms of design and specifications, here’s how the DeWalt Atomic DCF850 and XR 887 models compare:

DeWalt offers the Atomic 20V Max 1/4 in. Brushless Cordless 3-Speed Impact Driver in a few options. If you’re good on DeWalt batteries, you can pick up the bare tool for $149. The kit option is $199 and includes a 5.0Ah battery, charger, and carry bag.

DeWalt backs the tool with a 3-year warranty, 1-year free service agreement, and 90-day money-back guarantee.

While the specs are the same as the DCF887, the DeWalt Atomic 20V Max impact driver has slightly slower performance in tougher driving tasks. Don’t let that dissuade you, though. The DCF850 is a seriously compact impact driver that still has plenty of speed and muscle to be the only impact driver you need in your tool bag.

On the clock, Kenny dives deep to discover the practical limits and comparative differences for all kinds of tools. Off the clock, his faith and love for his family are his top priorities, and you'll typically find him in the kitchen, on his bike (he's an Ironman), or taking folks out for a day of fishing on Tampa Bay.

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Nice tool but this DeWalt or the M12 Stubby?

Considering its performance specs are identical to the current flagship XR model, one can’t help but think a new XR model is around the corner.

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Professional Tool Reviews for Pros