The recent Father’s Day deal on DeWalt’s DCD771 20V Max cordless drill/driver kit (offering the package for $99) has renewed some of the interest in the drill, including countless comparisons to its bigger brother the DCD780 (currently running at $179 at Amazon). We’ve had only good things to say about the 780, and the true competition here is which is a better value for the money.
Size and Weight
Both drills are advertised as compact drills, but the DCD771 pushes that boundary somewhat. Though the less powerful of the two (see below), the 771 pushes this boundary somewhat, being 8.7” long compared to the DCD780’s smaller 7.5” length. They are closer in weight than in length, with the 771 weighing 3.6 lbs with the battery pack in—0.2 lbs heavier than the 780.
Speed and Power
Though the 771 is the larger and heavier of the two, its lower price point is reflected in its power. The 771 delivers 0-450/0-1500 RPM, while the 780 can deliver a significantly more powerful 0-600/0-2000 RPM. Similarly, the 771 has 300 UWO of torque while the 780 has 350 UWO.
As portable drills, huge power is not a top priority among these two drills, but the 780 can still handle all but very large holes and bolts before struggling. The 771 predictably falls shorter than the 780, though can still handle the vast majority of holes you’ll need to fill with a sub-$100 cordless drill.
Usability
Construction-wise, both drills are built solidly with typical DeWalt quality. Both drills feature a 1/2” ratcheting chuck with 16 clutch settings that click solidly when tightened and has no problem holding even smaller bits.
The smaller DeWalt 12V series has been renowned for its ergonomics, and these two drills do a good job of meeting up to these standards. While they do carry the extra bulkiness and weight of 20V drills, you should have no problem using the drills.
Bundle Goods
The prices above are listed for the full bundle, and the drills differ here too. Fortunately, both kits include two of the removable batteries, but the 780 once again outdoes the 771 in what comes along with it.
The 780 includes a better battery than the 771 (1.5Ah rather than 1.3Ah), a faster charger (30 minutes instead of 60 minutes), and a hard case instead of the soft bag included with the 771. While the case is a matter of preference, the 780 clearly trumps the 771 in matter of power convenience.
Conclusion
While we’ve given the DeWalt DCD780 plenty of praise over the DCD771, it’s hard to ignore the $80 price difference between the two. The 780 is clearly the more capable of the two drills, but the value of the 771 is undeniable at under $100.
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If you know you’ll need a heavy-duty, pro-quality cordless drill, the DCD780 is the choice for you. However, we think that the value per dollar is better with the DCD771, making it an excellent choice if you need a cordless drill for DIY projects and small-scale contractor work.
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