Dewalt is launching a new 20V Max XR 5Ah battery that’s built with tabless Li-ion cells.
As you might know, “tabless” battery cells are a relatively new technology that delivers higher power and runs cooler than traditional battery cells of the same form factor.
Shown here are 3 types of Dewalt 20V Max 5Ah cordless power tool batteries:
- “Standard” 5Ah battery with 18650 cells
- New XR 5Ah battery with tabless 18650 cells
- XR PowerStack 5Ah battery with pouch cells
The standard 5Ah battery, for lack of a better way to phrase it, launched years ago and remains a popular battery in a familiar size.
The new XR battery features upgraded tabless cells, and is capable of greater power delivery compared to the standard battery.
The PowerStack battery features pouch cells, which can also deliver higher power delivery than the standard battery. It has a shorter bit wider form factor than the standard and new XR 5Ah batteries.
When connected to low-demand tools, such as a jobsite radio, all of the batteries should deliver approximately the same runtime, given that their charge capacity is 5Ah.
But in demanding applications where the standard 5Ah battery might struggle or overheat, you should expect to see greater power and endurance from the XR tabless and pouch cell batteries.
The new XR 5Ah tabless cell battery will replace the existing XR 5Ah pouch cell battery.
Other Dewalt XR PowerStack pouch cell batteries, a compact 1.7Ah battery and mid-size 3.5Ah battery, will remain within the 20V Max cordless power tool battery lineup.
I was told that the cells within the new tabless battery are slightly more powerful than those in the PowerStack battery, but official performance claims have not yet been finalized.
The new battery features tabless-style 18650 cells. All of the tabless power tool batteries I have seen so far feature 21700-sized cells. This is one of the first examples of a cordless power tool battery pack with tabless 18650-sized cells.
As a reminder, cylindrical Li-ion battery cells are categorized according to nominal diameter (such as 18mm) and length (such as 65 mm).
I believe one of the on-site product managers or engineers at the Dewalt Black & Yellow 2026 media event said that the new battery will also be priced lower than the PowerStack battery.
At the least, it has the same familiar size and (approximate) weight as the popular 5Ah battery.
With the new battery replacing the PowerStack 5Ah battery, users will be able to choose the same charge capacity in value (non-XR) and performance (XR) options.
Pricing and availability will be available when the battery is closer to launching.
