Makita 18V X2 LXT XSH06 Circular Saw vs DeWalt FlexVolt DCS578 Circular Saw
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Quick take: The DeWalt FlexVolt DCS578 Circular Saw costs $10 less bare; the DeWalt FlexVolt DCS578 Circular Saw is lighter (8.2 vs 10.5 lbs); they live on different battery platforms (Makita 18V LXT vs DeWalt 20V Max), so the deciding factor is usually which batteries you already own.
| Spec | Makita 18V X2 LXT XSH06 Circular Saw | DeWalt FlexVolt DCS578 Circular Saw |
|---|---|---|
| Price (bare tool) | $259 | $249 |
| Kit Price | $379 | $549 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (523) | 4.7★ (1,976) |
| Category | Circular Saw | Circular Saw |
| Battery Platform | Makita 18V LXT | DeWalt 20V Max |
| Voltage | 36V | 60V |
| Motor | Brushless | Brushless |
| Weight | 10.5 lbs (with 2 batteries) | 8.2 lbs (bare) |
| Released | 2018 | 2020 |
| Blade | 7-1/4 in | 7-1/4 in |
| No-Load Speed | 6,000 RPM | 5,800 RPM |
| Max Cut Depth (90°) | 2-5/8 in | 2-9/16 in |
| Bevel | 56° (stops at 22.5°/45°/56°) | 57° (stops at 22.5°/45°) |
Pros & cons
Makita 18V X2 LXT XSH06 Circular Saw
- ✓Genuinely corded-class power — Pro Tool Reviews clocked it third-fastest in an 8 ft rip through 4x pressure-treated lumber, smoother even than Makita's rear-handle saw.
- ✓2-5/8 in cut depth at 90° is the deepest of the mainstream 7-1/4 in sidewinders — it clears stacked 2x material other saws can't.
- ✓6,000 RPM blade speed matches Makita's XGT flagship and leaves cleaner edges on finish-grade material.
- ✓Runs on the two 18V LXT batteries you already own — no new platform buy-in for the huge LXT ecosystem.
- ✓Die-cast magnesium base and guard keep weight reasonable for a dual-battery saw while shrugging off jobsite drops.
- ✓Excellent runtime — Makita rates it at up to 610 crosscuts in 2x4 SPF per charge on two 5.0Ah packs.
- ✓Electric brake, dust blower, and dual LEDs lighting the cut line from both sides are all standard.
- ✓56° bevel with positive stops at 22.5° and 45° covers rafter and stair work.
- ✗Needs two charged 18V packs to run — one dead battery sidelines the whole saw, and it ships with a dual-port charger for a reason.
- ✗10.5 lbs with batteries is noticeably heavier than single-battery rivals like Milwaukee's 2834 (~9 lbs loaded).
- ✗The rafter hook is an optional accessory rather than standard equipment — an odd omission at this price.
- ✗The design dates to 2018; there's no AWS dust-extractor link (that's the XSH07) and no guide-rail base like Makita's own XGT GSH02.
- ✗Bare-tool street price has crept from $199 at launch to about $259.
- ✗The side-by-side battery tower makes the saw wide, which can foul against the fence in tight crosscut jigs.
- ✗X2 tools drain packs in pairs, doubling how many batteries you cycle through on a framing day.
DeWalt FlexVolt DCS578 Circular Saw
- ✓Rips LVL and wet PT lumber without bogging — owners consistently describe it as indistinguishable from a corded saw.
- ✓The 2-9/16 in cut depth clears 2x material at 45° where 18V-class saws come up short.
- ✓FlexVolt batteries back-feed the whole 20V Max ecosystem, so the big packs pull double duty.
- ✓Electric brake stops the blade fast enough to trust setting the saw down mid-rhythm.
- ✓The rafter hook and blade-left sightline get called out as framer-friendly details.
- ✓Deals routinely put the bare tool under $200, absurd value for the power class.
- ✗FlexVolt batteries are heavy and expensive — the saw is only as cordless as your budget for 9Ah+ packs.
- ✗At 8.2 lbs bare (more with the big pack) it out-weighs every 18V sidewinder here.
- ✗Overkill for trim and sheet-good work where a compact 20V saw is handier.
- ✗The kit at ~$549 is the most expensive way into this comparison.
- ✗No Tool Connect tracking on this model.
- ✗FlexVolt-only tools fragment the yellow lineup — this saw won't run on your regular 20V packs.