DeWalt 20V MAX XR POWERPACK 4Ah Battery Kit

Why I reached for the XR 4Ah kit

I’ve been rotating through a lot of 20V packs lately, and this XR 4Ah kit has settled into an interesting sweet spot. It’s light enough that I don’t notice it on compact tools, yet stout enough to keep mid‑duty gear running without the voltage sag I associate with older 18650-based packs. The promise here is a tabless cell design for better power delivery and cycle life, an impact-resistant base, a clear LED gauge, and full 20V MAX compatibility—all in a kit with a charger so you can drop it into a workflow immediately.

Design and build

At 1.2 lb and about two inches tall, the pack keeps a lower profile than most 5Ah bricks and balances well on compact drills, drivers, and oscillating tools. The overmolded base is more than a stylistic touch—it adds a bit of grip on smooth surfaces and has shrugged off a couple of test drops onto plywood and one unfortunate tumble off a tailgate onto packed gravel. The housing scuffed but didn’t crack, and the rails stayed true.

The LED state‑of‑charge indicator is bright and easy to read outdoors. It updates predictably: if I check midway through a cut with a circular saw, it will still show the “under load” state, but give it a second afterward and it settles to an accurate reading. That may sound minor, but a reliable gauge is the difference between swapping proactively and getting caught on the last inches of a rip.

Power delivery and the “tabless” difference

Marketing around tabless cells often reads like a buzzword. In practice on this pack, the benefit shows up as less sag during sustained loads and quicker recovery between bursts. On an XR impact driver driving structural screws into LVL, I noticed fewer moments where the tool felt like it was “breathing” to catch up. On a compact 6‑1/2 in circular saw, ripping 3/4 in plywood, the cut pace stayed consistent until the last bar. Under the same tasks with an older cylindrical‑cell 4Ah, I can usually feel the slowdown earlier.

Thermally, the pack stays composed. After a series of heavy cuts and some hammer drilling in concrete with a compact rotary hammer, the case was warm but not hot, and the pack didn’t trigger thermal protection. That’s consistent with a lower internal resistance design: the heat is there, just better managed.

Runtime in real work

If you’re moving from a 2Ah compact, you’ll notice the step up in runtime immediately—roughly double, as the math suggests. Compared with a 5Ah, you give up a bit of endurance but get a more nimble tool with less wrist fatigue. In my week of mixed tasks:

• Drill/driver: Plenty of juice for an afternoon of 1‑1/4 in spade bit holes through SPF studs, layout drilling, and general fastening.
• Impact driver: No stutters with ledger and structural screws; consistent torque delivery until the pack rolled over to one bar, then a predictable finish.
• Oscillating multi‑tool: A full trim session with intermittent cutting and sanding without a swap.
• Compact circular saw: Steady power through repeated crosscuts and several rips in sheet goods; I swapped to a second pack only because the saw invites longer, continuous cuts.

For grinders and full‑size saws, I’d still reach for higher capacity. The XR 4Ah will run them, but those tools benefit from more watt‑hours—and usually a larger thermal mass—on sustained heavy work.

Charging performance

The included charger in my kit brought the pack from empty to full in about an hour, which lines up with a mid‑range charge rate that’s kinder on cell longevity than an all‑out fast charge. From one bar to full took roughly 30–35 minutes. The charger footprint is compact, wall‑mountable, and quiet enough that it disappeared into shop background noise.

If you’re already standardized on a faster bench charger, this pack plays nicely there too. But it’s useful that the kit stands alone without needing additional accessories.

Ergonomics and compatibility

The XR 4Ah footprint works across the 20V MAX platform: compact drills and impacts feel balanced rather than tail‑heavy, oscillating tools gain a stable base when you set them down, and even compact saws are manageable one‑handed when needed. The overmolded base is easy on benchtops and prevents a tool from skating around during bit changes.

Slide fitment is tight with no rattle. Contacts are clean and robust, and the latch clicks positively—no wiggle that sometimes shows up on heavily used packs.

Durability notes

Jobsite packs get abused. Beyond the drop tests, I left this one on damp OSB during a drizzly morning; moisture beaded and didn’t creep into the seams. After a week of dust and shavings, the LED button still had a crisp action, and the indicator remained clear. I won’t pretend a single week is a lifetime assessment, but combined with the three‑year limited warranty, one‑year free service, and 90‑day satisfaction guarantee, there’s some cushion if your use is hard and frequent.

What could be better

• One battery in the box: For serious production work, I like starter kits with two packs so you can charge‑and‑swap without thinking. Here, you’ll want to pair it with a second 4Ah or a higher‑capacity pack.
• Capacity sweet spot, not a brute: If you’re feeding a 7‑1/4 in saw, grinder, or SDS‑Plus hammer all day, this pack will do the job but won’t be the most efficient choice.
• No rubber overmold on the top shell: The base is protected, but the top housing can show scuffs more quickly when tossed into a tote with metal bits and blades.

Who it’s for

• Remodelers, carpenters, and installers who live on drills, impacts, oscillating tools, nailers, and compact saws.
• DIYers stepping up from compact 2Ah packs who want more runtime without making tools feel bulky.
• Pros who already keep a couple of 5Ah or FlexVolt bricks around for heavy tools and want a lighter, everyday driver pack.

Value and platform play

In a mature 20V ecosystem, the pack matters more than it used to. Tool electronics can only do so much with inconsistent power. This XR 4Ah brings a noticeable refinement to how brushless tools behave under load without pushing the weight penalty of higher‑capacity packs. The included charger lowers the barrier for anyone expanding a kit or bringing a new user onto the platform.

If you’re platform‑agnostic and chasing maximum watt‑hours per dollar, there are bigger packs out there. If you care about daily ergonomics and predictable output, this one lands well.

Bottom line

The XR 4Ah kit strikes a practical balance: light and compact enough for all‑day use, stout enough to keep mid‑duty tools on pace, and refined in how it delivers power. The tabless cell design isn’t just marketing—it shows up as steadier output and cooler operation in the kinds of tasks that make a difference on site. Add a clear gauge, an impact‑resistant base, and an hour‑ish charge cycle, and you get a dependable “first out of the case” battery.

Recommendation: I recommend the XR 4Ah kit as an everyday driver for anyone on the 20V MAX platform who prioritizes balance and consistent performance over sheer capacity. Pair it with a second pack or a higher‑capacity sibling for uninterrupted workflows, and you’ll have a flexible setup that covers most tasks without weighing you down.