DeWalt 20V MAX XR Brushless Cordless Impact Driver with TOOL CONNECT Kit

My first hour with the DCF888 told me two things: it’s every bit a modern compact impact driver, and the Tool Connect smarts aren’t a gimmick if you actually put them to work. I’ve been using it across punch-list repairs, cabinet installs, and light mechanical work, and it’s become the driver I grab when I want precise control without carrying a separate tracking tag or fiddling with tape-on labels.

Build, fit, and feel

The DCF888 shares the bones of DeWalt’s proven compact impacts. At 5.3 inches front-to-back and 2.8 pounds bare, it stays nimble between studs and inside cabinetry. The grip is familiar DeWalt—secure overmold, neutral angle, and a balance that feels right with the included 2Ah XR packs. With the smaller packs, the tool stays svelte; swap on a 5Ah if you want more runtime and the nose dips slightly, but the chassis still feels planted.

The 1/4-inch hex chuck is genuinely one-handed: bits eject positively, and short power-tip bits seat without wobble. The LED worklight sits in a good spot and, importantly, you can tweak brightness and the afterglow in the app so you’re not staring at a blinding hotspot in glossy cabinetry.

The kit I tested ships with two 2Ah XR packs, a charger, and a hard case. If you prefer a soft bag for toss-and-go storage, note that this is a molded case setup—which protects better but eats space in a crowded van.

Performance and control

On the performance side, the DCF888 is exactly what I expect from a compact 20V impact driver: fast, strong for its class, and easy to modulate. It tops out at 3,250 RPM with 1,825 in-lbs of torque, which is more than enough for structural screws, cabinet installation, Tapcons, and self-tappers in light gauge steel. Buried deck screws back out cleanly, and long construction screws set flush without drama when you keep the bit true.

What sets this driver apart is how predictable it feels across its modes:

• Speed 1 is calm and deliberate—great for small hardware, outlet covers, and anything where you’d rather add a second or two than repair a stripped head.
• Speed 2 is my general-purpose setting for cabinet screws, pocket-hole fasteners, and most interior framing connections.
• Speed 3 is the “don’t blink” mode that makes short work of ledger and structural screws and most lag bolts when you pre-drill.

Precision Drive is the sleeper feature. It ramps the impact in slowly to reduce cam-out and then transitions into full impact as the fastener seats. On soft materials and small fasteners, it noticeably reduces damage, especially with Phillips screws that are prone to climbing out of the head. Through the app, you can adjust how aggressively Precision Drive behaves; I tuned mine to be a hair gentler for hinge screws, and it’s paid off in fewer rework moments.

Vibration and sound levels are in the normal range for a compact impact—protect your ears in tight rooms or when running lots of fasteners. The brushless motor is smooth off the trigger, and the trigger itself has a wide, controllable range that makes feathering easy in all three speeds.

Tool Connect: useful if you use it

Bluetooth features on tools can feel like window dressing. On the DCF888, they’re actually practical.

• Custom profiles: You get three speed modes on the tool, including a default “Home” profile. Through the Tool Connect app, you can program the behavior of the other modes—top speed, ramp rate, impact aggressiveness, LED brightness and delay, and Precision Drive behavior. Once I set these, I didn’t need the app day to day; the driver just behaved the way I wanted.
• Last-seen location: The tool updates its last known location when it’s in range (about 100 feet) of a phone with the app or a Tool Connect hub. It’s not GPS, and it won’t tell you where it is across town, but it has saved me a cold walk back to a previous unit because I could see the last room where it pinged.
• Assignments and alerts: You can assign the driver to a job or user in the app. I like the out-of-range alerts as a nudge when I leave a site. There’s also an optional lock-out setting that disables the tool when it’s out of range. It works, but I’d use it thoughtfully—loss of connectivity in a dense building can briefly block the trigger until you’re back in range or you change the setting.
• Diagnostics: Runtime, trigger counts, and temperature show up in the app, plus the internal coin cell’s status that powers Bluetooth when the main battery is off the tool. Those diagnostics won’t change your life, but for fleet management or warranty tracking, they’re genuinely helpful.

Connectivity has been reliable for me in open areas. In crowded concrete interiors, Bluetooth range (like any Bluetooth) can shrink; plan on 30–60 feet through walls. Pairing is straightforward: create a Tool Connect account, add the tool, set your profiles, and forget about it until you need tracking or changes.

Batteries and runtime

The included 2Ah XR packs keep the tool light. For service work, cabinetry, electrical rough-ins, and finish hardware, they’re the sweet spot—weight matters when you’re reaching overhead or maneuvering in a toe-kick. For deck builds or structural framing where you’re burying long screws for hours, I switch to a 5Ah pack to cut down on swap stops. The brushless motor makes good use of whatever you clip on; the difference you feel in-hand is more about weight and balance than raw power.

Charging on the standard DeWalt charger is uneventful—solid, predictable, and compatible with the rest of the 20V MAX lineup. If you already live in the ecosystem, the DCF888 slides right in.

In use: jobs that suit it best

• Finish carpentry and cabinetry: Precision Drive and programmable ramp rates keep small hardware intact. The compact head clears face frames and corners.
• Electrical and low-voltage: With appropriate bits and care, Speed 1 and a gentle ramp help avoid overtightening device screws.
• Residential framing and remodeling: Speed 2 handles most interior framing screws; Speed 3 is there when you need some “go.”
• Light mechanical and metal: Self-tappers in light gauge steel and nut-setters feel composed; watch your speed to avoid over-spinning.

If you’re regularly running massive structural fasteners or heavy lag bolts without pilot holes, a high-torque impact wrench is a better fit. For most fastener work in wood and light steel, this driver is the right tool.

Small gripes and practical notes

• Hard case vs bag: The molded case protects well but is bulkier than a soft bag. I prefer bags for day-to-day service work; your storage system might differ.
• App nuance: Not every setting applies to every mode exactly the same way. Expect to do a bit of trial and error to get your profiles dialed in the first time.
• Lock-out caution: The out-of-range disable is powerful, but understand how it behaves before relying on it in mission-critical moments.

None of these are dealbreakers; they’re things to know so you can set the tool up for how you work.

Durability and service

DeWalt’s compact impacts have a good track record on durability, and the DCF888 feels no different. The anvil shows minimal play, the nose housing shrugs off common jobsite scuffs, and the electronics haven’t hiccuped in temperature swings. Having temperature and runtime visible in the app adds a small layer of confidence when a tool has been shared around.

Who benefits most

• Trades or shops managing multiple tools who want simple, low-effort tracking without adding separate tags.
• Techs who value dialing in speed and torque profiles for different materials and want those settings to stick without thinking about them.
• Anyone already on 20V MAX who wants a compact driver that doesn’t give up performance to save an ounce.

If you don’t care about tracking or programmable behavior, you can live happily with a non-connected compact impact. But the DCF888’s connectivity does more than tick a checkbox—it meaningfully improves day-to-day control and gear management.

Recommendation

I recommend the DCF888 for pros and serious DIYers who want a compact, strong impact driver with genuinely useful smart features. It performs to expectations as a driver—fast, controlled, and comfortable—and its Tool Connect extras add real value: customizable behavior that sticks, practical last-seen tracking, and light-touch fleet diagnostics. The included 2Ah batteries keep it nimble, and you can pair larger packs when the job demands more runtime. If you prefer soft bags over hard cases, plan on swapping storage, and if you enable lock-out, understand its behavior before relying on it. Taken as a whole, this is an impact driver that earns its place on the belt and in the inventory list.