DEWALT ATOMIC DCD708C2 Review
Pros: Compact, powerful, good battery life
Cons: No battery level indicator
Manufacturer: DEWALT
Our Verdict
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DEWALT ATOMIC DCD708C2 | |||||
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Awards | ![]() | ||||
Price | $160 List $117.99 at Amazon | $160 List $149.00 at Amazon | $160 List Check Price at Amazon | $180 List | $160 List $99.00 at Amazon |
Overall Score ![]() |
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Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Compact, powerful, good battery life | Powerful, great battery life, fantastic integrated worklight | Excellent drilling performance, tons of driving power, decently convenient | Burly construction, tons of power | Phenomenal driving performance, solid drilling power |
Cons | No battery level indicator | Expensive, only includes a single battery | So-so battery life, somewhat pricey | Heavy, costly | Subpar battery life |
Bottom Line | The Atomic DCD708C2 has tons of power in a compact package | If you are searching for a top-notch drill that can accomplish the hardest tasks with ease, then the Kobalt is our top recommendation for you | The DCD777C2 is a burly drill with tons of power but we wished it did a bit better in our battery tests | Although it finished just behind the best drills, the M18 still has tons of drilling and driving power | While being absolutely amazing at driving in fasteners, the below average battery life of the DCD771C2 precluded it from winning an award |
Rating Categories | DEWALT ATOMIC... | Kobalt KDD 1424A-03 | DEWALT DCD777C2 | Milwaukee M18 | DEWALT DCD771C2 |
Drilling (35%) | |||||
Driving (35%) | |||||
Included Battery (20%) | |||||
Convenience (10%) | |||||
Specs | DEWALT ATOMIC... | Kobalt KDD 1424A-03 | DEWALT DCD777C2 | Milwaukee M18 | DEWALT DCD771C2 |
Battery Capacity (Included) | 1.5 Ah | 2 Ah | 1.5 Ah | 1.5 Ah | 1.3 Ah |
Battery Voltage | 20V | 24V | 20V | 18V | 20V |
Max Chuck | 1/2" | 1/2" | 1/2" | 1/2" | 1/2" |
Battery Chemistry | Lithium-Ion | Lithium-Ion | Lithium-Ion | Lithium-Ion | Lithium-Ion |
Drill Model Tested | DCD708 | KDD 524B-03 | DCD777 | 2606-20 | DCD771 |
Box Model (Kit) Tested | DCD708C2 | 672823 | DCD777C2 | 2606-22CT | DCD771C2 |
RPM | Low: 0 - 450 High: 0 - 1650 |
Low: 0 - 550 High: 0 - 2000 |
Low: 0 - 500 High: 0 - 1750 |
Low: 0 - 450 High: 0 - 1800 |
Low: 0 - 450 High: 0 - 1800 |
Peak Torque | 340 UWO | 650 in-lbs | 340 UWO | 500 in-lbs | 300 UWO |
Measured Length | 6-3/16" | 7-3/8" | 7-1/4" | 7-1/4" | 8-3/8" |
Measured Weight | 3 pounds 3.7 ounces | 3 pounds 15.2 oz |
3 pounds 4.1 oz |
3 pounds 12.6 oz |
3 pounds 7.3 oz |
Measured Charge Time | 68 minutes | 75 minutes | 65 minutes | 31 minutes | 58 minutes |
Battery Indicator Location | N/A | Battery | N/A | Battery | N/A |
LED Location | Above the battery | Above the battery | Above the trigger | Above the trigger | Above the trigger |
Included Belt Clip | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The DEWALT ATOMIC might not be the most powerful cordless drill we have tested to date but it is definitely the most compact of the top-tier tools. It's a great choice if you are working on projects in confined areas, especially when combined with its solid integrated work light.
Performance Comparison
Drilling
Responsible for 35% of the DEWALT ATOMIC's overall score, our trio of drilling performance tests are some of the most significant of our entire review process. We rated and scored the ATOMIC's performance at drilling through a solid door with a 5" hole saw, drilling through some dimensional lumber with a 1" paddle bit, and at making some holes in a steel sheet with some twist drills. It did very well with all three tasks, earning one of the better scores of the group.
This tool made quick work of the 2x12 with the paddle bit, punching through without much of a struggle. It did occasionally get hung up and stall but never failed to drill the hole. It also did very well at drilling through the 16 gauge metal sheet. We used a ¼" and ½" twist drill for this, with the ATOMIC only taking 1.5 seconds to make it through with the ¼" drill and 3-4 seconds with the ½" one.
Of our three drilling tests, the ATOMIC did the worst with the 5" hole saw. It drilled to the full depth but did require a little convincing. Its fastest time was a very respectable 35 seconds but required more than a minute when it was struggling. It can stall if you push too hard, forcing you to let go of the trigger completely before it will restart again.
Driving
Matching drilling performance in terms of significance, our Driving metric is also responsible for 35% of the final score for each tool. To compare performance, we used the ATOMIC to drive in both a ½" diameter, 5" long lag screw and some standard wood screws. We used an appropriate size pilot hole for the lag screw and scored based on the amount of effort it took for the ATOMIC to drive the screws to their complete depth. It again did very well, scoring close to the top of the group.
The ATOMIC did very well with the typical wood screws, driving them in extremely quickly and easily. It goes fast enough that it even took a bit of time to get used to it to not drive the screw head well below the surface of the wood. The clutch has 15 different torque settings you can also use to prevent this.
Unfortunately, the ATOMIC didn't do quite as well with the giant lag screw. It seemed like it wasn't struggling at all but stalled out with about 1" remaining to drive in.
We eventually were able to muscle it in all the way but it sure wasn't easy and you could tell by the smell that the ATOMIC was working hard.
Included Battery
Responsible for 20% of the final score, our next metric focused on the battery life of this cordless tool. We compared the battery life of each product by alternating between drilling three 1" holes with the spade bit and driving in 16 of the normal wood screws, then awarding points based on the number of completed cycles. We also timed how long it took a dead battery to recharge and the number of batteries included. The ATOMIC continued its impressive performance, again scoring in the top part of the group.
The ATOMIC made it through about 7.5 of our drilling/driving cycles, which was significantly more than most tools. It included a pair of 1.5 amp-hour batteries that took a little over an hour to recharge when completely dead in our tests.
Convenience
For the remaining tenth of the ATOMIC's total score, we looked at all the little features and functions that make this tool a little easier and less of a hassle to operate. It is missing a few features compared to the top products, putting it roughly in the middle of the group overall with its slightly above average score.
The ATOMIC has a built-in belt clip and work light, which is quite good. It provides adequate illumination for your work area and stays on for 20 seconds or so when you hit the button.
It's about average in weight, tipping the scales at just over three pounds. The chuck can hold bits up to ½" in diameter and you have two different speed/torque ratios to choose from. It's also quite easy to swap the batteries in and out but we were disappointed by the lack of a battery charge level indicator.
Value
The ATOMIC isn't the best value option, as there are much less expensive drills that performed comparably.
Conclusion
Overall, the DEWALT ATOMIC is an excellent cordless drill that we found very little to complain about. It's a good option if you have other DEWALT tools and want to stick with the black and yellow or if you need a pint-sized drill with plenty of power.
— Austin Palmer, David Wise, and Jenna Ammerman