Makita 40V XGT GSH02 Circular Saw vs Makita 18V X2 LXT XSH06 Circular Saw
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Quick take: The Makita 18V X2 LXT XSH06 Circular Saw costs $150 less bare; they live on different battery platforms (Makita 40V XGT vs Makita 18V LXT), so the deciding factor is usually which batteries you already own.
| Spec | Makita 40V XGT GSH02 Circular Saw | Makita 18V X2 LXT XSH06 Circular Saw |
|---|---|---|
| Price (bare tool) | $409 | $259 |
| Kit Price | $519 | $379 |
| Rating | — | 4.7★ (523) |
| Category | Circular Saw | Circular Saw |
| Battery Platform | Makita 40V XGT | Makita 18V LXT |
| Voltage | 40V | 36V |
| Motor | Brushless | Brushless |
| Weight | 10.5 lbs (with 2 batteries) | |
| Released | 2021 | 2018 |
| Blade | 7-1/4 in | 7-1/4 in |
| No-Load Speed | 6,000 RPM | 6,000 RPM |
| Max Cut Depth (90°) | 2-3/8 in | 2-5/8 in |
| Bevel | 56° (stops at 22.5°/45°/56°) | 56° (stops at 22.5°/45°/56°) |
Pros & cons
Makita 40V XGT GSH02 Circular Saw
- ✓The guide-rail-compatible base is unique in this class — clean sheet-good cuts without buying a separate track saw.
- ✓6,000 RPM is the highest blade speed here and it shows in cut quality on finish-grade material.
- ✓AWS auto-starts a Makita extractor when the trigger pulls, which dust-conscious remodelers love.
- ✓XGT power delivery stays flat as the battery drains rather than fading like 18V saws.
- ✓Dual LEDs light the cut line from both sides of the blade.
- ✓Triple bevel stops (22.5/45/56) are machined accurately enough to trust without a square.
- ✗At $409 bare it costs more than a DCS578 kit's street deals — XGT's price premium at its bluntest.
- ✗2-3/8 in cut depth is the shallowest of the flagship saws, occasionally short on stacked 2x cuts.
- ✗The guide rails and AWS extractor that justify the saw are each their own significant purchase.
- ✗XGT batteries remain expensive and the US ecosystem thin next to M18 and 20V Max.
- ✗Sparse big-box stocking means try-before-buy is rarely possible.
- ✗No LXT compatibility — Makita 18V loyalists start from zero on batteries.
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.