Selecting power tools starts with a practical question: do you need one tool for a specific job, or do you need a drilling-and-driving setup that is ready to cover both roles? This group spans a new two-tool DEWALT kit with batteries and charger, individual Milwaukee M18 brushless tools, and a lower-priced DEWALT cordless impact drill driver sold without a battery. The key distinction is not simply voltage or brand name. It is whether you need a 1/2-inch drill/driver, a 1/4-inch hex impact driver, or both-and whether battery equipment is part of the package.
Quick take
- For a complete starting setup: Choose the DEWALT DCK277D2 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit New. It combines a drill/driver and impact driver and includes two batteries, a charger, and a contractor bag.
- For a dedicated drill/driver: The Milwaukee 3601-20 M18 Brushless 1/2-inch Drill/Driver Tool Only is the focused choice when a 1/2-inch drill/driver is the priority.
- For a dedicated fastening tool: The Milwaukee 3650-20 M18 Brushless 1/4-inch Hex Impact Driver Tool Only is the straightforward pick when the title-specific 1/4-inch hex impact-driver format fits the work.
- For the lowest listed price: The DEWALT DCD805 20V Brushless Cordless Impact Drill Electric Screwdriver Only is listed at $48.99, but it is a tool-only purchase with no battery or charger.
Listed price comparison
The listed prices run from $48.99 to $136.51. The lowest-priced option is 64% below the highest-priced combo kit, but the lower-cost choices omit batteries, while the DEWALT combo kit includes two.
| Power tool | Listed price | Relative price |
|---|---|---|
| DEWALT DCK277D2 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit New | $136.51 | |
| Milwaukee 3601-20 M18 Brushless 1/2-inch Drill/Driver Tool Only | $68.99 | |
| Milwaukee 3650-20 M18 Brushless 1/4-inch Hex Impact Driver Tool Only | $54.99 | |
| DEWALT DCD805 20V Brushless Cordless Impact Drill Electric Screwdriver Only | $48.99 |
Decision matrix: match the tool format to the job
Pick the combo kit when you need two distinct formats. A drill/driver and an impact driver address different tool roles in a single package. The DEWALT DCK277D2 is the only choice here titled as a two-tool combo kit, and its included batteries and charger make it the clearest fit for someone who does not want to begin with a tool-only format.
Pick a 1/2-inch drill/driver when drilling is central to the task. The Milwaukee 3601-20 is explicitly a 1/2-inch drill/driver. It is an open-box, tool-only selection, so it makes the most sense for someone deliberately choosing that format rather than seeking a full multi-tool package.
Pick a 1/4-inch hex impact driver for an impact-driver-specific role. The Milwaukee 3650-20 is explicitly titled as a 1/4-inch hex impact driver. It is also brushless, 18 V, open box, and sold as tool only. Choose it when that dedicated format is more important than having a drill/driver included.
Pick the DCD805 for a new, brushless 20 V tool-only entry point. Its description calls out a variable-speed trigger, ergonomic grip, and built-in LED light. It is described as a cordless impact drill driver, but the package includes neither battery nor charger.
Concise product notes
DEWALT DCK277D2 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit New
This is the broadest all-in-one choice because the package pairs a drill/driver with an impact driver rather than asking you to choose just one format. It also includes two 20V MAX 2.0Ah lithium-ion batteries, a charger, and a reinforced canvas contractor bag, which gives the kit a complete equipment list for drilling and fastening tasks. The brushless motor architecture aligns with the other brushless choices in this comparison. Its limitation is the higher listed cost: at $136.51, it is the most expensive option here. It is best suited to shoppers who want both tool roles together and place more importance on included battery equipment than on the lowest initial tool price.
Milwaukee 3601-20 M18 Brushless 1/2-inch Drill/Driver Tool Only
The Milwaukee 3601-20 is the direct answer for someone shopping specifically for a brushless 1/2-inch drill/driver. Its M18, 18 V format and drill/driver type keep the choice clear: this is a single-purpose tool selection rather than a kit that combines multiple formats. The open-box condition may appeal to shoppers comfortable choosing outside a new-in-box option. The tradeoff is equally clear in the title and attributes: it is tool only, with no battery included. At $68.99, it sits well below the combo kit while costing more than the standalone Milwaukee impact driver and the DEWALT DCD805. Choose it when the 1/2-inch drill/driver format is the deciding requirement.
Milwaukee 3650-20 M18 Brushless 1/4-inch Hex Impact Driver Tool Only
Choose the Milwaukee 3650-20 when a dedicated 1/4-inch hex impact driver is the tool format you want. Unlike the Milwaukee drill/driver, this model is explicitly an impact driver, making it a more targeted option for jobs centered on driving with a hex interface. It has a brushless motor, uses the M18 18 V platform, and is described as open box. The limitation is that it does not include a battery and does not provide the separate drill/driver found in the DEWALT combo kit. Its $54.99 listed price places it close to the least-expensive option, so it offers a lower-cost way to select a named impact-driver format without moving to a two-tool package.
DEWALT DCD805 20V Brushless Cordless Impact Drill Electric Screwdriver Only
The DEWALT DCD805 earns attention as the lowest-priced choice in the group and as a new brushless 20 V cordless tool. Its description highlights a compact, lightweight design, variable-speed trigger, ergonomic grip, and built-in LED light-features aimed at controlled work in household repair, woodworking, and workshop use. The package is deliberately minimal: it includes one impact drill driver only, with no battery and no charger. Its attributes categorize it as a cordless screwdriver, while the title and description use impact-drill-driver wording, so its appeal is strongest for shoppers who want this specific DEWALT tool format rather than a complete drill-and-impact-driver set. It is the economical pick only if tool-only packaging matches your plan.
Final recommendation
For the most complete purchase in this comparison, select the DEWALT DCK277D2 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Drill Impact Driver Combo Kit New at $136.51: it is the only option that brings together two tools, two batteries, a charger, and a bag. Choose the Milwaukee 3601-20 when the 1/2-inch drill/driver format is essential, or the Milwaukee 3650-20 when a 1/4-inch hex impact driver is the specific need. If keeping the listed tool price as low as possible is the priority, the DEWALT DCD805 at $48.99 is the clear choice, provided a battery and charger are not part of the required package.
