DEWALT DCF887N & DCD796N Review: a no-nonsense 18V twin pack that actually pulls its weight

I’ve been using DEWALT 18V tools for a while, so this DCF887N impact driver and DCD796N combi drill twin pack slotted straight into my existing XR batteries. I picked the body-only kit because I already had batteries and a charger, and I didn’t feel like paying again for stuff I own. I’ve used these for about three weeks on a mix of DIY jobs: building a small deck, hanging kitchen cabinets, and general repairs.

On paper, the specs look strong: 205 Nm on the impact driver, 70 Nm hard torque on the combi drill, brushless motors, compact size, and the usual DEWALT yellow-and-black look. The Amazon rating is 4.7/5, so people clearly like them, but I wanted to see if they’re actually that good in day-to-day use or just “pretty solid but overhyped”.

In practice, I’ve pushed them quite hard: 6x100mm timber screws into treated joists, drilling 10–13 mm holes in steel, and hammer drilling in brick for wall plugs and fixings. I swapped between 2.0Ah and 5.0Ah XR batteries to see how they behaved in terms of balance and runtime. I’m not a professional tradesman, but I do enough weekend projects to spot when a tool is annoying or underpowered.

Overall, they get the job done without drama, but they’re not perfect. Some details are really well thought out, especially the impact driver control and the combi drill’s LED light. On the downside, buying them as bare tools can be poor value if you don’t already have batteries or if you don’t shop around. I’ll break down what actually works well and what feels a bit meh for the price.

On the value side, this pack sits in a slightly awkward spot. The tools themselves are good—no argument there—but the way this kit is bundled (bare tools only, no case, no batteries) means the value really depends on your situation. If you’re already deep into the DEWALT XR ecosystem with several batteries and a charger, this twin pack can be a pretty solid deal for upgrading old brushed tools to brushless ones.

If you’re starting from scratch, it’s a different story. You’ll need at least one battery and a charger, and maybe a case. By the time you add those, you might match or even exceed the price of a full kit from somewhere like Screwfix, where you get the same drill and impact driver, plus batteries, charger, and a box. One Amazon reviewer mentioned exactly that: they paid about £150 for the body-only kit and then found a full kit with batteries and case for roughly the same price elsewhere. That stings.

In terms of what you actually get for the money: you’re paying for performance, durability, and compatibility with a big ecosystem of 18V XR tools. You’re not paying for fancy extras, bits sets, or storage. So for a DIYer who just wants a simple, ready-to-go kit, the value might feel a bit weak. For someone upgrading within XR, the value is much better, because you’re not duplicating chargers and packs.

Personally, since I already had XR batteries, I think the value is acceptable but not mind-blowing. The tools do their job well and feel like they’ll last, so over time the cost spreads out. But I’d absolutely say: check bundle deals before buying this exact pack, because it’s easy to overpay if you don’t compare with kits that include batteries and cases.

Design-wise, both tools follow the classic DEWALT pattern: black and yellow, chunky rubber overmould, and a fairly compact body. The DCF887N impact driver is noticeably short, around 134 mm in length, which makes a difference when you’re working inside cabinets or between joists. I used it to drive screws inside a tight corner behind a radiator, and it actually fit where my older, bulkier driver wouldn’t.

The DCD796N combi drill is also on the compact side for a hammer drill. It’s not tiny, but for an 18V hammer drill with metal gearbox and 2-speed transmission, it feels manageable. The handle angle is comfortable, and the rubber grip doesn’t feel cheap or slippery, even with slightly sweaty hands. The 3-position LED under the chuck is a smart design choice: on the highest setting (60 lumens), it basically acts as a mini work light, which I found handy drilling into a dark brick wall in a hallway.

Controls are straightforward: usual trigger, forward/reverse, a two-speed slider on the top of the drill, and a torque ring with 15 settings plus drill and hammer modes. On the impact driver, you’ve got three speed/torque modes that you can cycle through with a small button at the base, plus the PrecisionDrive mode for more control. The only thing I don’t love is that the mode button on the impact driver is a bit small and not very obvious with gloves on.

Overall, the design is practical and focused on use, not looks. No flashy gimmicks, just stuff that works. If you’re used to heavier, older drills, you’ll notice how compact these are. If you’re coming from cheaper brands, the design will feel more thought out, but not mind-blowing. It’s just a well-executed, work-focused design that makes sense on site or at home.

These tools are 18V XR and run on standard DEWALT Li-ion XR batteries. There’s no battery included in this pack, so your experience will heavily depend on what batteries you pair them with. I used a mix of 2.0Ah and 5.0Ah XR packs I already had from other DEWALT tools. With a 5.0Ah battery on the impact driver, I got through a full afternoon of decking work—easily a couple of hundred screws—without killing the battery.

With a 2.0Ah battery, you feel the difference. The tools still perform fine, but runtime is obviously shorter, and the balance is a bit more nose-heavy on the drill. For quick jobs around the house—putting up shelves, assembling furniture—the 2.0Ah is enough and keeps the weight down. For longer or heavier work, 4.0Ah or 5.0Ah is just more practical. The good thing is: if you’re already in the DEWALT ecosystem, you just grab whatever pack you have and go, no compatibility drama.

The tools themselves don’t have fancy battery readouts; that’s on the battery packs (if you have the ones with a charge indicator). In use, I didn’t notice any weird power drop-off. They run full power until the battery is basically empty, then just stop, like most modern Li-ion tools. No overheating issues either, and the improved airflow the brand mentions seems to do its job—I didn’t get any worrying smells or hot housings, even after repetitive driving.

The catch is value: if you don’t already own XR batteries and a charger, you need to factor that cost in. Buying batteries separately is not cheap, and that’s where this twin pack can go from “good value” to “why didn’t I just buy a full kit with batteries and a case?”. So battery life and performance are good, but the overall battery story is only positive if you’re already committed to the XR platform.

I obviously haven’t had these for years, but after a few weeks of fairly rough use, they’re holding up well and feel like they’ll last. Both tools have a metal gear housing and tough plastic bodies with thick rubber overmould in the right areas. I’ve had them rolling around in the back of the car, bumped them on brickwork, and they’ve taken it fine—no cracks, no loose parts, no weird noises from the gearbox.

The chuck on the DCD796N feels solid. It’s a metal 13 mm chuck that grips bits well. I did some drilling in steel where weaker chucks tend to loosen slightly, and this one stayed tight. Switching between drill, hammer, and screw modes feels positive, not sloppy. On the impact driver, the 1/4" drop-in bit holder works as it should: one-handed bit changes are easy, and bits stay locked in. I haven’t had any bits randomly falling out, which I’ve had with cheaper drivers.

Dust and debris resistance seems decent. After some masonry drilling, I blew the tools off with compressed air and checked the vents. No obvious buildup inside, and nothing sounded gritty. The brushless motors should also help long-term, as there are fewer wear parts compared to brushed motors. That said, like any tool, if you abuse them daily on a building site, you’ll eventually find their limits; but for heavy DIY and light trade, they feel up to the job.

Long story short: build quality feels solid and trustworthy, not fragile. Compared to cheaper brands, these feel like they’ll handle years of normal use. They’re not indestructible, but nothing about them feels flimsy or rushed. If durability is a priority and you don’t mind spending a bit more upfront, they make sense.

In terms of raw performance, both tools are strong enough for what most people will throw at them. The DCF887N impact driver with 205 Nm of torque has no problem driving long screws. I used it with 6x100mm and 5x80mm structural screws into treated timber for a small decking frame. In speed mode 2, it drove them cleanly without stalling. In mode 3, it’s honestly a bit overkill for basic DIY; it just hammers them in very fast.

The nice bit is the PrecisionDrive / lower speed settings. When I was putting in smaller screws for cabinet hinges and door hardware, I switched to mode 1 and it gave much better control, avoiding the usual problem of snapping small screws or burying them too deep in soft wood. You can feather the trigger easily, and the brushless motor responds smoothly. So it’s not just brute force; you can actually tone it down when needed.

The DCD796N combi drill also pulls its weight. I drilled 10 mm holes in steel angle with a decent HSS bit in speed 1, and it went through fine. In brick, with hammer mode on and an 8 mm masonry bit, it drilled holes for wall plugs without feeling like it was struggling. It’s not as fast as a dedicated SDS drill in masonry, obviously, but for a compact hammer drill, it’s solid. The 2,000 rpm in speed 2 is good for smaller bits and wood drilling, and the 15-position clutch is handy when driving screws without the impact driver.

If I nitpick, the hammer action in masonry is decent but not mind-blowing, so if you do tonnes of drilling into concrete, you’ll want an SDS on top. But for mixed use—wood, metal, brick, screws—it’s more than enough. Overall, the performance is strong, and the control options (speeds, clutch, PrecisionDrive) make these tools usable for both heavy and more delicate work.

The first thing to be clear about: this is a body-only twin pack. In my case, the box had exactly what the listing said: one DCF887N impact driver body and one DCD796N combi drill body. No batteries, no charger, no case, no bits, nothing else. If you’re new to DEWALT, that’s a bit of a rude surprise, so you really need to know what “body only” means before buying.

Each tool comes wrapped in plastic with some paperwork and that’s it. It feels closer to a trade-style supply than a classic consumer kit. Compared to the usual DIY store combo sets that come in a plastic case with at least one battery and charger, this looks a bit bare. The upside is you’re not paying for stuff you might already have. The downside is that, as one Amazon reviewer said, if you later realise there’s a full kit with batteries and charger for roughly the same price elsewhere, you’ll feel a bit stupid.

In terms of first impression, both tools feel compact and solid. No rattling, no weird play in the chucks or bit holder, and the rubber overmould is decent. They look like proper tools, not budget specials. But the packaging itself is basic, so don’t expect fancy presentation or a nice carry case. It’s very much “here are the tools, off you go”.

If you already have XR batteries and a case, this format is fine and kind of practical. If you don’t, I’d honestly say this pack on its own doesn’t make much sense. You’ll end up spending extra on batteries, charger, and storage, and you might as well get a full kit from Screwfix or similar. So the presentation is simple and honest, but you need to know what you’re getting into.