There aren't many lasers out there that can do as much as this one -- ie, level line, plumb line, plumb dots, and forward / left / right dots. For the last few years I've owned a Bosch GCL25 (that also shares these features) and so I feel qualified to compare the two. Case: The Bosch is available in a soft [barely] padded case, with target card, or an L-Boxx. The Dewalt comes in a good T-Stak compatible hard case, with foam insert. Mine arrived with the cardboard around the box damaged, but the case seems to have done its job protecting the tool. Accessories: The Bosch did not come with anything other than a target card, although some packages may include a detachable wall mount. The Dewalt includes a target card, glasses, ceiling bracket for suspended ceiling, batteries, and some "magnet enhancement plate" that seems insignificant. Mount: I paid $70 for a Bosch BM1 mount as it wasn't included with my laser -- The Dewalt comes with an integral one that is better on some ways, and worse in others. The magnets on the Dewalt are significantly stronger. I would have no qualms about leaving it on a magnetic surface. The horizontal adjustment is better on the Dewalt -- ie, it's easier to align the unit with a specific point than it is with the Bosch. And I like that the Dewalt sits at 3" above the floor or surface it's sitting on -- The Bosch is 3-1/8" without the mount, and can be adjusted when on the mount. This is one small shortcoming of the Dewalt -- It's hard to adjust vertically in small increments, to align with something. Batteries: The Bosch only runs on AA batteries. As a recent convert to Dewalt 12v tools, I love that this laser can take AA or 12v Max batteries. More convenient, and environmentally-friendly. Pendulum lock: the Bosch has 3 modes: Off (locked), on (locked), and on (unlocked). The Dewalt only has 2 -- Off (locked) and on (unlocked). The Dewalt feels like it locks more solidly. And if the Dewalt is tilted enough, it will project the line on an angle, while blinking to inform you that it isn't level. The mode exclusive to the Bosch could be advantageous by comparison if one was trying to follow a small slope, as the Dewalt wouldn't be able to do so as it would self-level if out less than 4 degrees. I don't anticipate this being an issue, as with the possible exception of sloped concrete slabs, most intentionally sloped lines would would project would be far enough out of level that the Dewalt would be able to match them (i.e., ~30 degrees on a stair handrail). Visibility: The line on the Bosch gets thicker at distance more so than the Dewalt line does. And it fades more than the Dewalts line, as well. I mounted both lasers to a tripod to compare the projection angles, and the Bosch plumb line projects more toward the ground than the Dewalt does, but the Dewalt projects further upward, and further horizontally in both directions. There are also larger "blind spots" on the Bosch, where the corner posts of the laser prevent the laser from being seen in that direction. Accuracy: As far as square goes, both are as accurate as I could measure in my house, using a triangle with 12 foot, 16 foot, and 20 foot legs to compare to. As far as level goes, I compared both lasers to my builder's level, and the Bosch is dead-on. The line may be harder to see, and wider, but the center of line is dead on at 35 feet. The Dewalt is off by about 1/16th, or the thickness of the line at 35'. It's within its specified tolerance. Bottom line: I like the Dewalt better. It may not be perfect, but it's easy to get caught up in needing the "best". While I wish the laser was perfect for level, the minor inaccuracy isn't enough to outweigh all the other benefits, and it won't cause a problem for any of the work I'll be doing with it. The only things I wish it could do are pivot along a plumb point, and project another plumb line 90 degrees to the first, like the Stabila LAX400. But you can't have everything. And if you're doing anything outdoors or in very bright buildings, get the green version of this laser! It has the same features but is more visible, at nearly twice the cost.
