Hey everyone! I'm considering switching from Dewalt mainly because the M12 line offers great portability without sacrificing performance. For instance, the 2563-20 stubby impacts perform better than expected. However, I'm a bit disappointed with the current M12 impact drivers; my Dewalt DCF850 has been fantastic in terms of power. It's strange that Milwaukee can pack so much power into the M12 stubby but hasn't released a new impact driver in the M12 series. Since impact drivers are meant to be compact, the size of the M18 batteries is a concern for me. I'm interested in the M12 tools like the speaker and fan, and I'm hoping to see a new impact driver soon. If anyone has updates or news about upcoming releases, I'd love to hear it! Thanks!
3 Answers
Just a word of caution, though—the M12 fan tends to be quite a battery hog. I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking to save battery life.
Just a heads up on the M12 impact drivers, the current model, M12 Fuel impact (3453), was released in mid-2022. It has a good amount of torque for most tasks. While the DCF850 is an 18V tool designed for heavier work, the M12 tools, especially the new stubby, are more similar to compact versions in the M18 lineup. So, they serve different purposes!
You can pair the DCF850 with the compact PowerStack battery; it's actually super compact and gets you performance without the bulk.
But like I mentioned, the M12 stubby seriously outperforms most other cordless stubbies, including the 20V Dewalt. There's just no comparison!
So, just so you know, the M12 Gen 3 impact was released last year, and it performs really well for me. It's no match for 18V (20V) in sheer power, but unless you need heavy-duty stuff, the M12 should serve you fine. No word on another M12 Fuel impact right now, so you might want to hang on to your DeWalt until something new drops.
Honestly, I'm looking to sell all my Dewalt gear soon, so that might complicate things a bit for me!
True, but if it lasts about 7 hours on the lower setting, that’s still decent for me! I've heard it can even reach 16 hours on the lowest setting.