Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2880 Angle Grinder vs Makita 18V LXT XAG04 Angle Grinder
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Quick take: The Makita 18V LXT XAG04 Angle Grinder costs $30 less bare; 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 2880 Angle Grinder | Makita 18V LXT XAG04 Angle Grinder |
|---|---|---|
| Price (bare tool) | $199 | $169 |
| Kit Price | $329 | $259 |
| Rating | 4.8★ (2,326) | — |
| Category | Angle Grinder | Angle Grinder |
| Battery Platform | Milwaukee M18 | Makita 18V LXT |
| Voltage | 18V | 18V |
| Motor | Brushless | Brushless |
| Weight | 5.6 lbs (with battery) | |
| Released | 2020 | 2017 |
| Wheel Size | 4-1/2 / 5 in | 4-1/2 / 5 in |
| No-Load Speed | 8,500 RPM | 8,500 RPM |
| Switch | Paddle, no-lock | Slide, lock-on |
| Spindle | 5/8-11 | 5/8-11 |
Pros & cons
Milwaukee M18 Fuel 2880 Angle Grinder
- ✓Genuinely replaces an 11A corded grinder for cutting and light fab work — the cordless-parity claim holds in owner use.
- ✓The Rapid Stop brake halts the wheel in seconds, and crews cite it as the reason safety managers approve this model.
- ✓Paddle switch with no lock-on satisfies jobsite safety rules that ban lock-on grinders.
- ✓Tool-free guard adjustment actually stays put under vibration, unlike many rivals' detent guards.
- ✓Shares batteries with the rest of M18, and it pulls hard on High Output packs without tripping protection.
- ✓Overload protection prevents the burned-out-armature death that kills corded grinders in heavy use.
- ✗It devours batteries — sustained grinding drains a 6.0Ah High Output pack fast enough that corded still wins for bench work.
- ✗Street price around $199 bare is a big step over corded grinders of equal power.
- ✗No variable speed on this model; you need the 2888 for RPM control on polishing work.
- ✗Heavier than corded equivalents once a big battery is fitted, which fatigues overhead cutting.
- ✗The paddle takes acclimation if you're coming from a slide-switch grinder — some owners find long sessions hand-cramping.
- ✗Wheel-change wrench storage is nonexistent; owners improvise.
Makita 18V LXT XAG04 Angle Grinder
- ✓Automatic Speed Change torque management keeps the wheel from bogging in deep cuts — owners call the power delivery unusually smooth.
- ✓Slide switch with lock-on is the preferred format for long weld-grinding sessions where paddle fatigue sets in.
- ✓Street price around $169 makes it the value pick among the pro-brand brushless grinders.
- ✓Extreme Protection Technology sealing has a strong track record in dusty metal-shop use.
- ✓Runs on the giant LXT battery ecosystem, and dual-battery LXT grinders exist if you need more power later.
- ✓Electric brake stops the wheel quickly for a slide-switch design.
- ✗8,500 RPM and 18V power now trail the DeWalt Power Detect and Milwaukee Fuel on peak output.
- ✗Lock-on slide switch is banned on some commercial sites, forcing the paddle sibling instead.
- ✗At 5.6 lbs with battery it is the heaviest of the three flagship grinders here.
- ✗The design dates to the late 2010s and lacks the anti-kickback electronics rivals now fit — a real safety-feature gap.
- ✗No variable speed.
- ✗Makita's US promo cadence is thin, so the street price moves less than Milwaukee/DeWalt deal pricing.