Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2834 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 $20 less bare; the Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2834 Circular Saw is lighter (7.9 vs 10.5 lbs); they live on different battery platforms (Milwaukee M18 vs Makita 18V LXT), so the deciding factor is usually which batteries you already own.
| Spec | Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2834 Circular Saw | Makita 18V X2 LXT XSH06 Circular Saw |
|---|---|---|
| Price (bare tool) | $279 | $259 |
| Kit Price | $449 | $379 |
| Rating | 4.7★ (930) | 4.7★ (523) |
| Category | Circular Saw | Circular Saw |
| Battery Platform | Milwaukee M18 | Makita 18V LXT |
| Voltage | 18V | 36V |
| Motor | Brushless | Brushless |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (bare) | 10.5 lbs (with 2 batteries) |
| Released | 2024 | 2018 |
| Blade | 7-1/4 in | 7-1/4 in |
| No-Load Speed | 6,000 RPM | 6,000 RPM |
| Max Cut Depth (90°) | 2-5/8 in | 2-5/8 in |
| Bevel | 57° | 56° (stops at 22.5°/45°/56°) |
Pros & cons
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2834 Circular Saw
- ✓Noticeably faster than the outgoing 2732 — Pro Tool Reviews cut three stacked sheets of 3/4 in. OSB in one pass without the motor losing RPM.
- ✓Class-leading 2-5/8 in. depth of cut for a top-handle 18V saw lets owners cut 3x lumber in a single pass.
- ✓At 7.9 lbs bare it is lighter and more compact than the 2732 it replaced, which owners appreciate for overhead and all-day cutting.
- ✓Positive depth detents at 1/2, 3/4, and 1-1/2 in. plus bevel detents at 22.5 and 45 degrees make repeat setups fast on site.
- ✓Owners say it genuinely feels like a 15A corded saw and doesn't bog in wet pressure-treated lumber or LVL with a high-output battery.
- ✓Electric brake stops the blade almost instantly after the trigger is released, which reviewers call out as a real safety win.
- ✓Slimmer main grip and wider front pommel give better two-handed control on bevel and plunge cuts than the previous generation.
- ✓Integrated rafter hook, LED cutline light, and onboard blade-wrench storage cover the jobsite conveniences pros expect.
- ✗Multiple Home Depot reviewers report the shoe/depth lock not staying locked, letting the depth setting slip mid-cut.
- ✗Some owners complain the trigger safety lock rides against the hand in normal operating grip.
- ✗At $279 bare it is priced well above the outgoing 2732 and most 18V/20V competitors.
- ✗Needs a High Output or Forge battery to hit its rated performance — it runs noticeably weaker on compact and standard packs.
- ✗With the 12.0Ah Forge battery the kit setup weighs over 11 lbs, which owners find fatiguing for trim-level work.
- ✗The included 24T thick-kerf framing blade is rough for finish cuts, so most owners budget for a better blade immediately.
- ✗The $449 kit only comes with the big HD12.0 battery — there is no cheaper kit option with a mid-size pack at launch.
- ✗A handful of buyers report it can bog momentarily on light scoring cuts, and 2732 owners note the upgrade is incremental if you already own the older saw.
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.