Some new details have emerged about the new Dewalt Xtreme Sub-Compact cordless power tool line that we talked about earlier this week. (Thank you Linus for the tip!)
Dewalt Sweden has issued a press release that details the first wave of Dewalt 12V XR cordless power tools. At this time, it appears that the new wave of compact cordless power tools will be branded as Dewalt 12V XR internationally (or at least in Europe), and Dewalt Xtreme Sub-Compact in the USA. Regardless of branding or potential branding, the new tools fit within the larger Dewalt 12V Max (10.8V) cordless system.
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In the above image, Dewalt is showing off the drilling and fastening tools that will be included in the first wave of Xtreme Sub-Compact and 12V XR launches.
- DCD701 brushless drill/driver
- DCF801 impact driver
- DCF902 impact wrench
- DCF601 screwdriver
- DCD706 brushless hammer drill
Here is how Dewalt describes the new cordless power tools (translated from Swedish):
The new 12V XR series is an update of DEWALT’s previous battery-powered 10.8 V tool and if you compare it the size is up to 20% less and the engine up to 45% stronger.
The new tools are said to be up to 20% more compact, and with the new brushless motors making them up to 45% more powerful.
Dewalt emphasizes that the new tools are several centimeters shorter when compared to previous models, which helps them fit better into tight work spaces.
There is also a noteworthy change in marketing language concerning the tools’ operating voltage. Previously, Dewalt 12V-class Li-ion cordless power tools were branded as 12V Max in North America, and 10.8V everywhere else. 12V Max cordless power tool batteries operate at 10.8V nominally. We have seen Bosch make the change to “12V” branding previously, in how they discuss their compact cordless power tools in European press releases and product marketing, and it seems that Dewalt is following the trend.
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What this means is that Dewalt 10.8V and 12V should be considered part of the same system.
The new 12V XR series, including the new battery, is, of course, also fully compatible with all DEWALT’s existing 10.8V tools, batteries and chargers.
It remains to be seen whether Dewalt will bring the naming changes to their 18V XR/20V Max cordless power tool system as well.
Dewalt has also announced a brand new battery to the 12V XR/Xtreme Sub-Compact cordless power tool system – a new 3Ah battery, DCB124. Preorder listings for the new battery have started to appear at European power tool retailers.
At this time, there is no information as to whether the new Dewalt 12V XR 3Ah battery is equipped with legacy 18650 Li-ion cell technology, or next-gen 20700 or 21700 cells found in all of their more recently-released 20V Max and FlexVolt cordless power tool batteries.
The new Dewalt 12V XR and Xtreme Sub-Compact cordless power tools, at least those revealed so far, feature brushless motors, and all of the marketing language we have seen so far emphasizes the compact size of the new tools. Even with improved specs compared to older Dewalt 12V Max cordless power tool offerings, the new tools likely have modest power requirements that fall well within the capabilities of 18650-sized 3.0Ah cells.
Next-generation Li-ion cells are physically larger, resulting in physically larger battery packs, and while the 3Ah battery appears to be comparable in size to the existing 2.0Ah battery, it is inconclusive from product imagery alone.
We might see future battery releases to satisfy users’ desires for longer runtime, especially if the new 12V cordless power tool roadmap includes more power-hungry tools like saws or other cutting tools. Dewalt is also set to release an Xtreme Sub-Compact Series brushless oscillating multi-tool, one of many such cordless tools that typically benefits from higher capacity batteries and longer runtime.
The new 3.0Ah battery is a welcome addition to the 12V Max cordless system, and it does not preclude the possibility of additional battery releases.
Lastly, please keep in mind that this information comes from Dewalt Sweden. It is uncertain about whether there will be any regional differences in product availability or in the timing of releases.
Stanley Black & Decker and Dewalt have not yet been able to meet our requests for more information, but we’ll keep you updated as we learn more.
Our excitement about the new Dewalt 12V XR /Xtreme Sub-Compact cordless power tool lineup continues to build. What tools do you think will be included in the 2019/2020 roadmap? What tools do you want to see them bring to the new product family?
BigGelectrician
If they don’t bring those to America that would be a huge mistake for them. I think the more stuff saying dewalt in a toolbox leads to more sales of all of the dewalt branded stuff, plus thes look like they might actually be usable in some instances in a professional setting. The electrical company I work for has dewalt 12 volt impacts for all the electricians, they’re good, but miles behind any 12 volt impact from Milwaukee. An updated 12 volt line for them would do wonders here in my opinion. Don’t think they will beat that stubby M12 impact wrench though, that thing is stout.
Altan
This is a good policy to release some new tools in North America and some in Europe and some in Australia, becomes a bit fair!
Thom
Hopefully they drop their silly UWO power measurement and go back to inch/lbs like every other company. Honestly that is what keeps me from buying more yellow tools.
Corey Moore
Drills are the only thing they put uwo on, impacts have always been in/ft lbs. Uwo is an odd take on presenting the data, though. I don’t really buy into any companies’ drill strength marketing at face value, be it uwo, in lbs, hard+soft torque nm, whatever. Getting it in hand or getting testimonials/demonstrations from places like toolguyd or colleagues is infinitely more valuable, I think.
NZ Tom
Specs for the EU tools:
Drill: DCD701 Max torque 57.5Nm
Impact Driver: DCF801 Max torque 163Nm
Impact Wrench DCF902 Max torque 168Nm
Screwdriver: DCF601 Max torque 8Nm
NZ Tom
While 57.5 Nm for the drill doesn’t sound much these days, it’s up from 24 Nm for the previous brushed model. And the venerable brushed 3 speed DCD985 only delivered 55 Nm! I’ve drilled a lot of big holes with a 985.
glenn
If they actually achieve 57.5nm for the DCD701 that would be very impressive as the Makita CXT and Milwaukee M12 brushless equivalents are 35nm and 39.6nm respectively.
Robert Adkins
UWO or LB/Ft doesn’t matter if the drill will twist your arm like a pretzel.
Jared
Well they need a ratchet obviously, judging by the popularity of Milwaukee’s. Some type of small saw too, probably a jigsaw or maybe a one-handed reciprocating saw.
I don’t expect, but would be thrilled if there was: a glue gun, a soldering iron, an inflator/compressor, a vacuum, a stapler, a grease gun, a finish sander, a trim router…
Altan
You can get a ratchet from Facom or MAC tools and it works with DeWALT 12V batteries. There is no need to make it with DeWALT name also, that would be just a copy basically and you are going to give an idea to DeWALT of having an excuse that they make more tools, they better concentrate on new things. For me any tool that works with DeWALT batteries is considered as DeWALT, specially if they are SBD tools!
I give you guarantee very soon you will see Jigsaw and Circular saw in 12V platform, it is clear they have started to improve this line. These two is/are clear for me, but I want them to make a 12V Tile saw. This is the most important tool I think they can surprize us with.
They already have a small 12V Reciprocating saw, I have used it for a while, it is very handy and the handle can stand with 90-180 (roughly) degree to the body.
12V Glue gun is an amazing idea, Soldering iron also, but I am not sure for vacuum or inflator, nothing related with air would really work with 12V batteries I think. Stapler is amazing idea, Bostitch has a stapler which works with 12V DeWALT batteries but it is a carton stapler:
https://www.nailandstapleguns.co.uk/bostitch-dsa-3519-u-cordless-carton-stapler-15-18mm-141-p.asp
Not a Grease gun but a Caulking gun would be nice in 12V platform, 12V trim router would be also good, but sanders are the tools you use them for longer time for continues work, I think minimum they should be 20V or maybe 60V Flexvolt.
Tim D.
I see the tools you’re “hoping” for, and it seems like they already have most of them in a 20v platform.
The Milwaukee thought process of 12v is mainly in place to replace hand tools, and the 18v line is mainly in place to replace corded power tools make so much sense to me. Obviously you have to have a drill/impact in both lines since people are investing in a battery platform.
Are you invested in 12v dewalt but not 20v?
Also, the 12v milwaukee setup with smaller batteries makes a lot of since too. You can do tubular shaped batteries for smaller tools or have larger capacity with a flat bottom. These 12v batteries look oddly shaped to hang off the back of a “hand tool” replacement style tool.
What am I missing?
Altan
No, not all are available in 20V platform and I am not interested fully in 12V platform, I am in all 12V, 20V and 60V platforms. But I know some of my friends are interested in 12V line mostly and less in 20V line, that’s why I said 12V circular saw and jigsaw would be good.
I am not attracted by Milwaukee tools at all, I would say the same thing to Bosch tools as well, very rarely I see some good tools from these two brands. I had Makita cordless Oscillating Machine, Sander, Caulking Gun and Planer which by time I replaced them with DeWALT ones, now I just have a cordless Makita Biscuit Joiner because DeWALT does not have one, Makita has made new good tools very recently, such as Cordless Rebar Tier which is a very useful tool. I don’t know DeWALT is going to make one or not. I don’t mean the reason to replace Makita tools with DeWALT ones was that Makita tools were bad, I just want my tools to be in one battery platform as much as possible.
Not all hand tools can turn to small power tools, but some can do, Stapler is one of them and the power tool version is much quicker.
DeWALT does not have any cordless tile saw in any platform, the reason that I like it to be in 12V platform is that for precise cut you need a lighter tool to hold and handle easily, but it would be nice to see this tool in 20V platform also as some very hard and thick stone and porcelain tiles can not be cut with 12V tile saw.
Yes, you are right, they have Grease gun in 20V platform but they may come up with a 12V version of it as some mechanics use their 12V Impact Wrench and Mac Tool/Facom 12V Ratchet Which works with DeWALT 12V batteries and they would like to have the Grease gun also in 12V platform to be just in one battery platform. I am not sure if 12V inflator would work for mechanics or not.
A 12V Caulking gun would be good for Maintenance guys.
DeWALT does not have a cordless Soldering Iron in any platform also, for this you don’t need a 20V tool, 12V is more than enough.
DeWALT has tubular batteries in 8V platform, these batteries are good for some tools like screwdrivers and torch (which they have already) and would be good to see a rotary tool similar to the Dremel ones in 8V platform which I believe a rotary tool should be tubular and light as much as possible to be able to have a full control on it.
DeWALT had 3.6V (4V) tools also, but I don’t see anything in that platform anymore.
Corey Moore
The grease gun always seemed niche to me, even though we had one for our mini ex years ago. I’d be surprised to see it rereleased in 12v, but then again I hear there’s a pipe threader coming out in response to Milwaukee’s, and I never expected that one, so who knows. Aside from that, I will say that the 12v red soldering iron is among the worst I’ve used and I sincerely hope that any yellow one would be 18v+ and preferably in the form factor of Ryobi- I really think they nailed that. I had a hakko cordless soldering iron a few years ago that I really liked, come to think of it. Charging took a few hours, but I kept it on its dock in my office, and it never died on me when I needed to modify some hardware out in bfe or underground.
Tim D.
I didn’t say “all” were available. I said most.
I think a cordless tile cutter would benefit from the most voltage and amperage that could be mustered, and would not benefit from a smaller form factor.
I also did not state that “you” should buy milwaukee.
I’m stating that it sounds like you’re basically asking for all of the same tools again in 12v that are available in 20v, and that’s what I don’t understand. And I’m not saying “you” are the only one. Clearly dewalt and milwaukee and makita are interested in this overlap as well, because they are making these tools in both lines. I did like Milwaukees initial m12 philosophy, but the longer it’s around the more overlap there is with their lines as well.
The 12v stuff isn’t “that” much smaller and it isn’t “that” much cheaper. I don’t understand why any brand would release two different platforms that basically mirrored each other in function. I especially don’t understand it if you’re still using square batteries that don’t lend themselves to any alternate form factors.
So, again, what am I missing?
Kizzle
It’s hard to compare the sizes if the Atomic line and the 12v. You could use the batteries as the constant to extrapolate and estimate tool sizing, but I don’t have a 12v DeWalt battery. Can you post a picture of a 12v and 20v battery side by side at different angles? Thanks!
Altan
12V batteries are very small compared to 20V ones. Very small, first I saw I said to myself they are toy, but they do the job.
Kizzle
Do you use any photo hosting services? Like imgur, photobucket, etc.? Can you link to pictures of them next to each other? Maybe with rulers too? I would really appreciate it! Thanks
Altan
I really don’t use these things, I am a medieval Turk when it comes to these things, maximum technology I use is email and recently I joined facebook. If you want I can help you with emails.
Kizzle
Thanks 😀 maybe just the dimensions of a DeWalt 12v? You can just type them out as a comment here. Just length, width, and height?
Altan
I found I good link with some nice photos for you, you can see 10.8V (12V), 14.4V and 18V (20V) batteries all together in one photo, check photos one and two, you will see 12V batteries 1.5Ah (black) and 2Ah (yellow), 14.4V 3Ah (black) and 18V (20V) 2Ah and 4Ah and 5Ah batteries. If you are not satisfied with the photos let me know I will measure them for you.
https://www.sgshop.com.my/taobao/tao-bao/details?tbid=550475888212
Kizzle
Thank you! That is helpful. Dimensions would be nice, but only if it’s not an inconvenience or hassle. Don’t go out of your way to get them.
Adam
What I got out of the press release was they are now putting engines in their tools instead of motors. ?
I know it’s the translation…
Altan
They will definitely come up with a 12V Circular saw and Jigsaw soon, no doubt!
12V Tile saw is what I want, with a water can on it for wet cut. 80mm blade diameter and also a different blade for porcelain tiles with different accessories.
Glue gun and Soldering iron as another guy mentioned would be good also.
Makita has a 12V SDS+ drill, a DeWALT version of it can be useful for DeWALT 12V users, Milwaukee and Bosch have a 12V mini grinder, DeWALT can make something similar in this platform. They should make Touhsystem insert foam for 12V tools also.
Altan
We see some new 12V tools in UK first, then in USA and now in Sweden, probably we will see some new tools in Australia also.
20V Heat gun I saw in Australian websites first.
Nelson Flores
They need to get a better 3/8 20v on the market
Steve
Man, those are nice. Milwaukee needs to come up with a similar form factor; I really don’t like how their m12 stuff is nearly as large as the m18 line.
Chris
When converting the NM too in lbs or ft lbs for the impact wrench they are all more powerful then their 12v Milwaukee fuel equivalents which is excellent…
Rob
Any release date? Trying to avoid buying the brushed 12V line.
Stuart
No idea.
If I had to guess, I’d hope to see the first launch by October or November. If I were Dewalt, I’d be working on winter holiday season promo arrangements right now.
Big Richard
“Available in summer 2019 at LOWES Home Improvement Stores as well as independent channels”
Straight from the recent US press release.
Diamond Dave
Dewalt 12v Re-launch…too little and way too late! Switched from Dewalt 12v to Milwaukee M12 a few years ago and truly love the Milwaukee line up! No way can Dewalt come back from their dismal 12v introduction and sitting on their butt for the last 6-7 years while Milwaukee constantly comes forward with new M12 tools! The ship had sailed and Dewalt is not aboard regarding 12v . Now every tool manufacturer has 12v including Skil! Put a fork in the Dewalt 12v line…it’s done. Love my 20v Dewalt tools but My Milwaukee M12 tool collection has surpassed my 20v Dewalt line.
Bill
I guess Dewalt finally realized they had miscalculated the 12 volt market. They put all there eggs in the 20v and 60v basket and plowed ahead. Maybe they just saw it as and either/or market, where most buyers would either buy into 12v or 20v, but not both. And that the 12v buyers would simply cannibalize from the 20v market. While some of that does no doubt happen, we now know that many buyers love and use both in complement.
Diamond Dave
Good points. The Dewalt 12v lineup came shortly before the SBD conversion and was then followed by the 20v lithium lineup. I agree about Dewalt dropping the ball as they focused exclusively on the 20v and then the 60v with a little 40v dabbling. They promised more 12v tools were coming down the pipeline when new but that never happened. I initially (and still do somewhat) like the grip better when the battery is a slip on along with the ability to stand the tool up however Milwaukee countered with the “L type” push in batteries and all was good. Reviewing my Milwaukee M12 Tools I believe Milwaukee has the upper hand as some tools just don’t work well in tight spaces with the “L type” battery and Milwaukee gives you a choice. I have both types of batteries for my M12 tools.
Robert Adkins
Not interested in a new battery format, I am heavily invested in 20v max. I can see where a small person may be interested in 12v, if they don’t already have DeWalt tools that use 20v.
Big Richard
Official US press release from DeWALT. Includes some prices and interestingly claims Lowes as the home for this new line.
https://www.mynewsdesk.com/us/dewalt-usa/pressreleases/dewalt-r-announces-xtreme-subcompact-series-tools-2881327
Altan
This 3Ah 12V battery I think comes with 2 years warranty, not one year. How about the new compact 3Ah 20V batteries?! Or 6Ah and 8Ah batteries?