DEWALT DCD799P2T-GB Review: a compact 18V drill that actually feels pro on site

I’ve been using DEWALT drills for a while, mostly the older brushed 18V models that get passed around on jobs. I picked up this DCD799P2T-GB kit because my old drill was starting to smell hot under load and the batteries were fading fast. I wanted something compact, still strong enough for masonry, and with batteries that last more than a morning. This kit comes with two 5Ah batteries, so on paper it looked like a decent upgrade for both DIY and site work.

Over a couple of weeks, I used it for typical stuff: drilling in brick for plugs, driving big wood screws into joists, assembling some stud walls, and general household jobs. Nothing crazy, but enough to see if it holds up or if it’s just another overhyped cordless drill. I also compared it to a mate’s older DEWALT combi and a cheap DIY-store drill I keep as a backup, just to see if the price difference is actually justified.

My overall feeling: it’s a pretty solid compact drill, with a few small quirks you need to know about. The power is there, the size is nice, and the two 5Ah batteries are a big plus if you work long days. It’s not some magic tool that replaces everything, but for a main drill/driver for home and light-to-medium trade use, it does the job well.

It’s not perfect though. The chuck on mine is fine so far, but seeing one Amazon review about a chuck failing after a few uses does make me raise an eyebrow. Also, for the price, I’d have liked a slightly better work light and a bit more clarity in the specs, because the torque numbers in the listing are a bit all over the place. Still, after using it in real conditions, I’d say it’s a good, no-nonsense workhorse if you already like the DEWALT XR range or plan to build around it.

In terms of value, this kit sits in that mid-to-high range where you’re paying for brand, performance, and the two big batteries. It’s not a budget drill, and you can definitely find cheaper 18V combos with smaller batteries. But when you factor in that you’re getting two genuine DEWALT 5Ah XR packs, a proper charger, and a TSTAK case, the price starts to look more reasonable. Buying two 5Ah batteries on their own already costs a fair chunk, so as a full kit, it’s not a rip-off.

Compared to a cheap DIY-store combi drill, the difference is clear: this DEWALT has more power, better runtime, and a more solid feel. You notice it when driving larger screws and drilling into brick – it just doesn’t struggle as much. If you only hang a picture frame twice a year, this is probably overkill and not great value for you. But if you’re doing renovations, building stuff regularly, or you’re on site a lot, the extra cost starts to make sense pretty quickly.

Against other pro brands (Makita, Milwaukee, etc.), it’s roughly in the same ballpark. You might find slightly cheaper kits with 4Ah batteries or one battery only, but then you lose the convenience of always having a spare charged. For me, the two 5Ah batteries are what tip the value into the positive. I barely had to think about charging during a typical day of work, which saves time and annoyance. The TSTAK case is a nice extra if you already use that system, but I wouldn’t buy the kit just for that.

So, is it the best deal on the planet? No. But as a solid, long-term main drill kit, I think the price is fair. If you already own XR batteries, you might consider getting the bare tool instead and save money. If you’re starting from zero, this full kit is a decent way to jump into the DEWALT ecosystem without feeling like you cheaped out on batteries and then regretted it later.

Design-wise, this drill is compact and well-balanced. Compared to my older DEWALT brushed combi, the body is a bit shorter, and you really feel that when working inside cupboards or between joists. It’s not tiny like some 12V drills, but for an 18V hammer drill with 5Ah batteries, it feels reasonably light and easy to handle. The weight with a 5Ah battery is not featherweight, but it’s manageable for long sessions if you’re used to cordless tools.

The grip is the usual DEWALT rubberised handle. It sits nicely in the hand, and the trigger is smooth. The forward/reverse selector is easy to hit with your thumb without thinking about it, and the two-speed gearbox switch on top is clear and firm. I never accidentally knocked it into the wrong speed, which happens on some cheaper drills. The torque collar has 15 clutch settings plus drill and hammer modes. It clicks positively into place, so you’re not guessing between settings.

The LED work light is placed above the trigger. It’s bright enough for most indoor jobs and cupboards, but it’s not a miracle lamp. In tight, dark corners, you still sometimes need a separate light if you want a really clear view, especially on darker materials. I’ve seen better-positioned LEDs on some other brands where the shadow is smaller, but this one is acceptable. It turns on with the trigger, which is standard, and stays on briefly after you release it.

One small detail I liked is the belt hook. It sounds minor, but when you’re up a ladder, being able to hang the drill on your belt instead of balancing it on a rung is handy. The magnetic bit holder is also useful, though I wouldn’t trust it with loads of bits. Overall, the design feels thought-through for real use: nothing fancy, just a compact, practical layout that works well in daily jobs.

The battery setup is one of the main strengths of this kit. Two 5Ah XR Lithium-Ion batteries is generous for this price range, especially compared to kits that throw in tiny 1.5Ah packs just to look cheaper. In real use, a single 5Ah battery easily lasted me through a solid half day of mixed work: drilling into brick, driving screws into timber, and some lighter tasks like fitting hinges and brackets. If you’re just doing DIY at home, you’ll probably charge once every few days rather than every job.

The batteries have a state-of-charge indicator, which is handy. Press the button, and you see roughly how much juice is left instead of guessing. I used that quite a lot when I was about to start a run of holes in masonry – it’s nice to know if you should swap batteries before going up the ladder. The multi-voltage charger isn’t lightning fast, but it’s reasonable. I could take a nearly flat 5Ah battery to full in roughly an hour-plus, which lines up with other XR chargers I’ve used. With two batteries, you can rotate them and basically keep working all day unless you’re really hammering the drill non-stop.

Because it’s part of the DEWALT XR range, the batteries are interchangeable with other tools. I already have an XR impact driver and a small grinder, so being able to share the 5Ah packs between them is a big plus. It means you don’t end up with four different chargers and random incompatible batteries. If you’re already in the XR ecosystem, this kit just strengthens that setup. If you’re starting from scratch, it gives you a good base to add more tools later without buying more batteries straight away.

In practice, I never felt held back by battery life during my tests. The only mild downside is the overall weight with 5Ah packs – they’re heavier than 2Ah ones – but for me, the extra runtime is worth the extra grams. For anyone doing longer jobs, these 5Ah batteries are a real advantage, and they’re a big part of why this kit feels like decent value despite not being the cheapest option out there.

On the durability side, the drill feels solid and properly built. The casing is the usual DEWALT hard plastic with rubber overmolds in the right spots, and there’s an all-metal gearbox inside according to the specs. In the hand, there are no creaks, no loose parts, and the switches feel firm. I dropped it once from about waist height onto a wooden floor (not on purpose), and it only got a small scuff on the plastic, no effect on how it worked afterwards.

The brushless motor is another plus for durability. Compared to my older brushed drill that started smelling burnt after heavy use, this one runs cooler and doesn’t give off that hot carbon smell. Over several longer sessions, the head of the drill got warm but not worryingly hot. Brushless motors also generally mean fewer internal parts to wear out, which is good if you plan to keep this drill for years instead of treating it as disposable.

The one thing that slightly worries me is that Amazon review mentioning the chuck failing after a few uses. My chuck has been fine so far: it tightens nicely, doesn’t slip under normal loads, and I haven’t seen wobble beyond the usual tiny amount you get on most drills. But I can’t ignore that someone had a problem. It could be a one-off faulty unit, but if you buy it, I’d recommend testing the chuck properly in the first week: try different bit sizes, give it some load, and see if it holds up. If something feels off, I’d send it back while it’s still under easy return.

Overall though, between the robust casing, metal gearbox, and XR batteries with shock-resistant housings, the whole set gives the impression of a tool meant for real work, not just the odd shelf. I wouldn’t be scared to take it on site every day for general drilling and driving. Just don’t expect it to replace a dedicated SDS or heavy-duty drill for constant hardcore masonry. For its intended role, durability feels good, with that small question mark on the chuck based on one user review.

In terms of performance, this drill is more than strong enough for most home and light trade jobs. The spec sheet says up to 74 Nm of torque, and while I’m not measuring that with instruments, in practice it drives long wood screws into studs and joists without fuss. I used it on 6 x 100 mm screws into softwood, no pilot, and it pushed them in cleanly on speed 1. On speed 2, it’s faster but easier to stall if you’re not pressing properly. For assembling framing and general carpentry, it felt solid and confident.

On brick and block, the hammer function does its job. I drilled several 6 mm and 8 mm holes for wall plugs in standard UK brick and block. It’s not as brutal as a dedicated SDS drill, obviously, but for occasional masonry work it’s fine. You feel the hammer doing the work and it doesn’t bog down unless you really lean on it or hit very hard brick. For someone doing shelves, curtain rails, TV brackets, and the usual household fixing, it’s more than enough. If you’re drilling dozens of holes in concrete every day, you’d still want an SDS on top of this.

The two-speed transmission works as you’d expect: speed 1 for torque, speed 2 for speed. I used speed 2 for drilling in wood up to about 13 mm and for smaller metal holes, and it felt smooth with no nasty vibrations. For metal, I tried 5 mm and 8 mm bits in mild steel, using cutting fluid and going steady. The drill kept a steady speed without making horrible noises, and the chuck held the bits securely during those tests.

One thing to mention: one Amazon review said their chuck failed after a few uses. Mine has been fine so far – it grips well and doesn’t wobble noticeably. But it’s still something I’d keep an eye on. If you abuse it with big hole saws all day, maybe that’s where problems start. For normal drill bits and standard wood/metal work, it felt stable. In short, performance is strong and reliable, not mind-blowing, but exactly what you expect from a mid/high-range 18V DEWALT combi.

Out of the box, this kit is pretty straightforward. You get the DCD799 brushless hammer drill driver, two 18V XR 5Ah batteries, a multi-voltage charger, a belt hook, a magnetic bit holder, and a TSTAK case. No drill bits, no extra fancy accessories, just the basics you actually use. Everything arrived sealed and clean, nothing rattling around or looking like it had been returned three times before.

The two 5Ah batteries are the real value here. A lot of cheaper kits throw in 1.5Ah or 2Ah batteries, which are fine for hanging pictures but not great when you’re drilling in brick for an hour. With 5Ah, I could do a half day of mixed drilling and screwdriving on one battery without stressing. The charger is the usual DEWALT multi-voltage one, so if you’ve got other XR tools, it’ll handle those batteries as well, which keeps things simple in the van or garage.

The TSTAK kitbox is decent. It’s not indestructible, but it’s sturdy enough, stackable with other TSTAK boxes, and it keeps the drill and batteries from rolling around. Inside, there’s a molded plastic insert so everything has its place. You don’t get much space for extra bits or a big set of drills unless you remove the insert or rework it, so if you like to keep everything in one box, that’s a small downside. For me, it’s fine – I keep bits in a separate case anyway.

Overall, the presentation feels like a proper pro kit rather than a bargain bundle. No flashy nonsense, just the essentials. What I liked most is that it’s ready to go out of the box – charge a battery and you’re working. No hunting for a compatible charger or worrying if the batteries are some weird low-capacity version. For the price, I think the content of the kit makes sense, especially if you don’t already own XR batteries.