DeWalt 20V MAX XR POWERSTACK Compact Battery

A compact battery that genuinely changes tool balance

I’ve been swapping the PowerStack compact battery onto a mix of 20V MAX tools for a few months—impact driver, compact hammer drill, oscillating multi‑tool, and a 6‑1/2 in circular saw for light cuts. The first impression is immediate: it’s noticeably lighter and shorter than my standard compact packs, and that shift in balance matters more than I expected. Overhead work feels less fatiguing, and the front of the tool tucks into tight spaces more easily. For tasks where you’re in and out of fasteners or up a ladder all day, that matters as much as raw runtime.

What stands out

• Power delivery: This pack hits harder than a typical compact. Under load it sags less, keeps the tool in its power band longer, and tends to recover quickly between bursts.
• Size and balance: Smaller footprint and about 0.8 lb keep tools nimble. You feel it most on compact drivers and multi‑tools.
• Build details: The overmolded base is grippy and protective. I can set a drill down on finished surfaces with more confidence, and the pack shrugs off scuffs.
• Fuel gauge: On‑pack LED gauge is quick and accurate enough for job pacing.
• Compatibility: It’s just a 20V MAX battery—no drama on chargers or tools. It has played nicely with my DCB115 and DCB112 chargers and every 20V MAX tool I’ve tried.

Power and performance in the real world

On an XR impact driver, the PowerStack compact battery feels like stepping up a motor class even though you’re still on a compact pack. Driving 5/16 in structural screws into framing, the driver stayed in a higher speed setting longer than with a 2.0Ah cylinder‑cell pack. It’s not magic; you’ll still stall if you overshoot the tool’s lane, but the battery’s low internal resistance gives punches of current that compact cylindrical cells typically can’t hold for as long.

The hammer drill told a similar story. Using a 1 in spade bit through SPF studs, I could keep the trigger pinned without nursing the throttle to avoid bogging. The drill’s thermal cutoff kicked in later than I expected for a compact setup, which I attribute as much to steady voltage as to the pack staying relatively cool.

With a compact circular saw, the limits show—but they’re usable limits. On 3/4 in ply rip cuts, I could make several clean rips if I paced the feed and kept the blade sharp. It’s not a framing‑day battery, but for punch-list cuts or trim-to-fit moments, it’s perfectly serviceable. That aligns with what PowerStack seems designed for: short, high‑demand bursts rather than long, continuous draws.

Runtime and expectations

This is a 1.7Ah pack. No amount of smart cell packaging changes the watt‑hours in the tank, and you’ll notice that on longer tasks. Against a 2.0Ah compact, my runtime was consistently shorter in like‑for‑like tasks—usually by a meaningful but not night‑and‑day margin. Against 4.0Ah or 5.0Ah packs, the gap is large, as expected.

Where the PowerStack compact battery compensates is efficiency under load. Because it sags less, tools often finish a task more quickly, and you’re in high gear more often. In fastener‑driving work, that efficiency sometimes narrowed the runtime gap more than the raw capacity would suggest. Still, if your day is largely continuous cutting, grinding, or drilling with large bits, this is not the pack to bet the day on. For that, step up to a higher‑capacity battery and treat the PowerStack as your finesse option.

Charge time on a standard compact charger was roughly an hour from one bar to full, in line with the spec. Heat during charging was moderate; the pack never tripped a hot/cold delay for me in typical Pacific Northwest shoulder‑season temps.

Ergonomics and durability

The overmolded base isn’t just cosmetic. It adds useful grip when the tool is stood upright on a bench and provides a little insurance when setting tools down on finished trim or countertops. I drop‑tested the pack from waist height onto plywood and concrete a handful of times; the casing scratched but didn’t crack, and the rail engagement remained tight.

The LED fuel gauge is easy to hit with a thumb while the pack’s on the tool. I found the gauge honest enough, though like most packs it spends a long time at mid‑charge before dropping quickly near the end.

As for weather, I used it in cold mornings around 35°F without notable sluggishness. Pouch cells can have different thermal behaviors than cylindrical cells, but in practical use I didn’t see a penalty in the cold compared to my standard compacts.

Pouch cells vs. cylindrical cells

This pack’s core trick is pouch‑cell construction, which lowers internal resistance and allows higher instantaneous power from a compact footprint. You feel that as longer sustained torque and less bogging. The flip side is you still have a small gas tank. The design also relies on careful physical protection; DeWalt’s housing seems robust, and I didn’t see any hint of swelling or deformation after repeated cycles and heat.

I can’t verify the exact “50% more power” or “longer life” marketing claims with lab equipment, but in everyday tasks the stronger punch is real. Longevity is the question time will answer. So far, my sample is holding up, but I’ll be watching cycle life more closely than I would a mature cylindrical pack.

Compatibility and adapters

It’s compatible with every 20V MAX tool and charger I own. If you keep older 18V XRP tools in the rotation, a slide‑to‑pod adapter lets this battery run them, which is a nice way to breathe life into legacy tools for light duty. As always with adapters, mind the balance and be realistic about high‑draw tasks.

Value and who it’s for

The PowerStack compact battery carries a premium street price. If you’re primarily concerned with dollars per watt‑hour, larger XR packs win every time. But if your work rewards lighter tools with strong punch—service work, finish carpentry, electrical, HVAC, assembly, overhead fastening—the premium can be justified by reduced fatigue and faster task completion. It’s a classic “time vs. tank” decision.

Shoppers who will be disappointed are those expecting a compact battery that behaves like a 5Ah pack. It doesn’t. Think of it as a compact “performance” pack: maximum burst power, minimum bulk, modest runtime.

If you’re buying into the 20V MAX system fresh, a mixed quiver makes sense: one or two PowerStack compacts for everyday driving and install work, plus 4–6Ah batteries for saws, grinders, and marathon sessions. If you already own several higher‑capacity packs, adding one PowerStack compact as your daily driver battery is a smart upgrade.

Shortcomings

• Capacity: 1.7Ah limits continuous work. You’ll be swapping or recharging more often.
• Price: Premium for the watt‑hours. Look for sales or combo kits.
• Early‑tech jitters: As a newer cell format in this ecosystem, long‑term reliability is something I’m still monitoring. Mine’s fine so far, but I wouldn’t purge all my cylindrical packs just yet.

The bottom line

The PowerStack compact battery makes 20V MAX tools feel sharper and more controllable without weighing you down. It doesn’t rewrite the laws of runtime, but it reliably delivers more power in a smaller, lighter package and changes how pleasant compact tools are to use—especially over your head, in cabinets, or anywhere space and fatigue matter.

Recommendation: I recommend the PowerStack compact battery as a high‑performance, everyday driver for tradespeople and DIYers who value balance and burst power over maximum runtime. Pair it with higher‑capacity packs for saws and all‑day tasks, and watch for deals to soften the price premium. If your work is dominated by long, continuous cutting or grinding, skip this pack and invest in more amp‑hours instead.