DEWALT XTREME 12V MAX Brushless 3/8-in Drill/Driver Kit review

Research-based assessment · DEWALT US DCD701F2 page and linked DCD701/DCD706 manual checked 28 October 2026

DCD701F2 is the battery-and-accessory package for DEWALT's 12V MAX DCD701 brushless 3/8-in drill/driver. The important distinction from DCD701B is what arrives with the exact SKU, not a different drilling mechanism. This is a source-based review, not an ownership account or a hands-on test.

What the exact F2 kit lists

DEWALT's US page names the DCD701B drill, two DCB122 12V MAX batteries with charge indicators, a 12V MAX–20V MAX charger, a belt clip and a tool bag. The charger model is not identified on the page, so don't assume a particular charger number from the broad platform description. The page lists two 2.0Ah packs; that is a useful package distinction, not evidence of a specific runtime or number of holes per charge. Verify the full DCD701F2 suffix and box contents against the seller's offer, especially if a photograph shows only one loose battery or a different bag.

Compared with DCD701B, F2 removes the need to source a battery and charger separately if those listed items are what you need. It remains a 12V MAX kit, not a 20V MAX kit. DEWALT's footnote explains that 12V MAX is the maximum initial voltage measured without a workload; nominal voltage is 10.8V. Treat the name as the manufacturer's battery-system label, not a direct performance ranking against another voltage family.

The drill itself is still a DCD701 drill/driver

The kit page describes the DCD701 as brushless and lists a 3/8-in ratcheting chuck, two speeds, 15 clutch positions and an LED foot light. In the linked DCD701/DCD706 manual, DCD701 has drilling and screwdriving modes. The hammer-drilling position is marked “DCD706 only,” so buying the F2 battery kit does not add hammer action. That is an important distinction from DCD706F2, which bundles a different 12V drill with a documented hammer mode. Shared battery voltage and a similar suffix do not make those machines interchangeable in function.

The manual labels speed 1 the higher-torque range and speed 2 the higher-speed range, with DCD701 no-load ranges of 0–425 and 0–1,500 rpm. Stop the tool fully before shifting. For screws, the collar's settings 1–15 provide a torque range, but the best setting depends on the fastener, material and pilot hole. In drill mode the clutch does not engage; the manual cautions that overload can stall the tool and cause a sudden twist. Keep the workpiece secured, maintain a controlled grip, and follow the manual's bit-changing and workholding safety instructions.

Bit fit, not a promise about hole size

The 3/8-in chuck is a shank-fit limit. It does not state that the drill can bore a 3/8-in hole through any material. DEWALT's maximum-recommended-capacities table for the DCD701/DCD706 manual family lists metal drilling at 1/4 in in low gear and 1/8 in in high; flat boring in wood at 3/4 in and 1/2 in; and hole saws at 3/4 in and 5/8 in. These are manufacturer recommendations, not our performance measurements. The table does not specify a masonry-hole capacity, and this DCD701 configuration has no hammer mode. A buyer facing masonry should check whether a different tool type and its own approved bit are needed.

Size, weight and the evidence limits

DEWALT states 5.97 in front-to-back and 1.9 lb tool-only on its product page. That is the drill measurement, not a measured 1.9-lb F2 kit; it excludes the attached battery and does not describe a complete clearance envelope with the bit, hand and approach angle. The page also advertises 32% more power versus DCD710 under a named comparison using DCB122 2.0Ah against DCB120 1.3Ah, and a 20% shorter body. These remain manufacturer claims with stated comparison context, not independently reproduced results.

Two included packs can mean a spare is available while one is in use, but no runtime, charging time, heat, real drilling rate, balance or endurance has been measured. The page identifies the charger as covering 12V MAX–20V MAX but omits its model number; identify the supplied unit on the packaging and confirm its instructions if the exact charger model matters.

Where this package makes sense

DCD701F2 is most relevant when a buyer wants the documented DCD701 drill/driver on DEWALT 12V MAX and values the two named 2.0Ah packs plus charger and bag as part of the purchase. A buyer already equipped with compatible packs may prefer the DCD701B tool-only SKU to avoid buying another bundle. A buyer who needs hammer mode should consider a DCD706 configuration instead, while a 1/2-in bit-shank requirement calls for a chuck-capacity check against a different machine. Those alternatives have different operating functions or package contents and should be compared model by model.

The archived DEWALT US safety-notice index showed no DCD701 entry on the review date, which does not certify safety or rule out a later notice. Confirm current package contents, exact battery/charger fit, bit suitability and manual limits before purchase. The F2 suffix is the key: it denotes this particular kit rather than the DCD701B bare-tool package.

DEWALT DCD701F2 product page · DCD701/DCD706 Type 10 manual