If you had to choose just one tool for everyday jobs, would it be a cordless drill or an impact driver?

I’ve seen a lot of people say once they start using an impact driver they hardly touch their drill for screw driving anymore.

But for DIY work around the house I still find myself using the drill most of the time.

What’s everyone else’s experience?

I’ve noticed there are quite a few replacement batteries available for DeWalt 18V / 20V MAX tools that are a lot cheaper than the genuine DeWalt ones, my 3Ah DeWalt battery has decided to stop charging!

Some of these third party battery listings claim the same capacity (for example 5.0Ah or even higher) and say they’re compatible with the whole XR range of tools. The price difference can be pretty big though — sometimes less than half the cost of the official batteries.

I’m curious what people’s real-world experience has been with non-OEM batteries.

A few things I’m wondering about:

• Do they actually deliver the same runtime as the genuine batteries?

• How well do they hold charge over time?

• Are there any safety concerns or reliability issues?

• Do they work properly with DeWalt chargers and all tools?

I mainly use my tools for DIY projects and occasional repairs around the house, so they don’t get heavy daily trade use, but I still want something reliable.

Interested to hear if anyone here has tried them and whether they’re a good alternative or if it’s better to stick with the genuine DeWalt batteries.

Thanks!