DeWalt DCD778 18V XR Brushless Combi Drill vs Makita DHP484 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill (2026)

✍️ By the 247Verdict Editorial Team📅 Updated 05 October 2026

Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.

DeWalt DCD778 18V XR Brushless Combi Drill

9.3/10 Excellent

4.7★ (12,400 owners)

18V brushless, 2-speed, 65Nm, compact 174mm. The professional home DIY drill benchmark.

Full Review

Makita DHP484 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill

9.2/10 Excellent

4.7★ (9,800 owners)

18V brushless, 2-speed, 54Nm, 187mm. The lightest and most ergonomic professional combi drill.

Full Review

At a Glance

	DeWalt DCD778 18V XR Brushless Combi Drill	Makita DHP484 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill
247Verdict Score	9.3/10	9.2/10
Owner Rating	4.7★ (12,400)	4.7★ (9,800)
Verdict	Excellent	Excellent
Voltage	18V XR	18V LXT
Motor	Brushless	Brushless
Torque	65Nm	54Nm
Length	174mm	187mm
Clutch	15 positions + drill mode	16+1 positions

Quick Verdict

This is a genuine draw — both score within 0.15 points of each other. DeWalt DCD778 18V XR Brushless Combi Drill: 18V brushless, 2-speed, 65Nm, compact 174mm. The professional home DIY drill benchmark. Makita DHP484 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill: 18V brushless, 2-speed, 54Nm, 187mm. The lightest and most ergonomic professional combi drill. Choose based on your specific needs. Check the current price on Amazon →

Pros & Cons Side by Side

DeWalt DCD778 18V XR Brushless Combi Drill

Brushless motor rated 100x longer lifespan than brushed equivalents
65Nm torque handles structural fixings and dense hardwood without binding
174mm length fits into tight spaces standard drills can't access
2-speed gearbox optimises for driving (speed 1) and drilling (speed 2)
Compatible with entire DeWalt 18V XR battery ecosystem — 200+ tools

Body-only pricing requires existing DeWalt batteries or kit purchase
Heavier than Makita DHP484 at 1.7kg with battery
Premium brand pricing vs Ryobi entry equivalents

Makita DHP484 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill

1.6kg with battery — lightest professional brushless combi drill in its class
54Nm is adequate for all home DIY and most professional work
Makita's ergonomic handle is the most comfortable for extended use
187mm length balances access and control better than shorter competitors
Makita LXT 18V ecosystem covers 300+ tools — the largest professional platform

54Nm trails DeWalt DCD778's 65Nm for the hardest materials
187mm is longer than DeWalt's 174mm for tight space access
Body-only pricing requires existing Makita batteries

FAQ

Which is better, DeWalt DCD778 18V XR or Makita DHP484 18V LXT?

Is the DeWalt DCD778 18V XR worth the extra cost?

Yes — DeWalt DCD778 18V XR Brushless Combi Drill scores higher at 9.3/10 vs 9.2/10.

Who is the DeWalt DCD778 18V XR best suited to?

18V brushless, 2-speed, 65Nm, compact 174mm. The professional home DIY drill benchmark.

Who is the Makita DHP484 18V LXT best suited to?

18V brushless, 2-speed, 54Nm, 187mm. The lightest and most ergonomic professional combi drill.

What are the main downsides of each?

DeWalt DCD778 18V XR Brushless Combi Drill: Body-only pricing requires existing DeWalt batteries or kit purchase; Heavier than Makita DHP484 at 1.7kg with battery. Makita DHP484 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill: 54Nm trails DeWalt DCD778's 65Nm for the hardest materials; 187mm is longer than DeWalt's 174mm for tight space access.

Do owner ratings agree with our verdict?

Largely, yes — DeWalt DCD778 18V XR Brushless Combi Drill sits at 4.7★ from 12,400 verified Amazon owners, and Makita DHP484 18V LXT Brushless Combi Drill at 4.7★ from 9,800.

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