DeWalt vs Makita for a new drill: which one is worth it?

Hey everyone, I'm looking to pick up a new cordless drill for general DIY and some light pro work. I've narrowed it down to DeWalt's 20V MAX XR or Makita's 18V LXT line. I'm not brand-loyal, just want something rugged with good battery life. Any real-world experiences? Also, I heard some 3rd party batteries are okay, but I'd stick with OEM. Thoughts?

Hands down Makita. I've used both and Makita's build quality is superior. Their motors last forever and the batteries don't die after a year like DeWalt. I've got a coworker who swears by Dewalt but he's always swapping batteries. Plus Makita has that nice ergonomic grip. Go with the XPH14Z if you can find it.

I gotta disagree Gary. DeWalt's been killing it with their hammer drills lately. The DCD999 is a beast and the 20V batteries are lighter than Makitas. Plus Home Depot always has deals on DeWalt kits. I've used my 996 for like 5 years now with no issues. Both are good though, can't go wrong. But honestly? Just hold both and see what feels right.

Thanks both! That's helpful. I'm leaning Makita for the longevity but the DeWalt weight is appealing. Any experience with the newer brushless models? Also, how's the warranty on each? I've heard mixed things.

Makita has a 3-year warranty on tools and batteries, DeWalt is 3 on tools but 2 on batteries if I remember right. Brushless is great for runtime but not a huge deal for drills. My Makita brushless is still going after 6 years. DeWalt's battery warranty is a bit short IMO. Go with Makita and you'll thank yourself later.