Ridgid
Ridgid 18V Brushless R8657 Circular Saw
Ridgid's flagship 18V sidewinder replaced the Octane version in 2022 with a brushless motor that Pro Tool Reviews found genuinely capable of replacing a 15-amp corded saw — 35% faster cutting than its predecessor at 5,400 RPM. It checks every feature box (electric brake, LED with dust blower, rafter hook, vacuum-ready shoe) and undercuts the big pro brands at $179 bare, with Ridgid's registered Lifetime Service Agreement sweetening the deal.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓Standout value — $179 bare or $249 with a 4.0Ah Max Output battery and charger, well under equivalent DeWalt/Milwaukee saws.
- ✓Registered Lifetime Service Agreement covers the tool AND batteries for life — free replacement packs is a perk no other brand matches.
- ✓Genuine 15-amp-corded-class power: Pro Tool Reviews (8.0/10) found it powers through cuts far easier than the old Octane and fit for professional work.
- ✓2-9/16 in depth of cut at 90° and 1-7/8 in at 45° out-cuts most single-battery rivals and clears stacked 2x at square.
- ✓Full feature set with nothing missing: electric brake, LED light with dust blower, integrated rafter hook, and a vacuum port accepting 1-1/4 in and 1-3/4 in hoses.
- ✓8.8 lbs bare is light for the power class, and the aluminum shoe holds up to jobsite abuse.
- ✓56° bevel with positive detent stops covers rafter and stair stringer angles.
- ✓4.5/5 across 380 Home Depot reviews, with owners repeatedly saying it 'mows through everything' the Octane stalled on — and it runs on every Ridgid 18V battery ever made.
Cons
- ✗Home Depot exclusive — one retailer controls pricing, stock, and clearance timing.
- ✗Needs Max Output 6.0/8.0Ah packs to deliver the corded-class claims; on small packs it bogs in dense material.
- ✗Pro Tool Reviews dinged the plastic lower blade guard as feeling flimsy next to metal-guard competitors.
- ✗The overmold grip has less cushion than the old Octane model.
- ✗5,400 RPM trails the 6,000 RPM class leaders slightly in raw cut speed.
- ✗Lifetime Service Agreement requires registration within 90 days and isn't transferable — miss the window and you get only the 3-year warranty.
- ✗Ridgid's 18V line skews prosumer, so there's no track compatibility, connectivity, or rear-handle-style torque option in this saw.
- ✗Resale value on Ridgid tools is weak compared to the big pro platforms.
Common Questions
Does Ridgid's Lifetime Service Agreement really cover the batteries?
Will my older Ridgid 18V batteries run this saw?
Is the R8657 powerful enough for real framing work?
What do you give up at this price versus DeWalt or Milwaukee?
Where can I actually buy Ridgid power tools?
Compare the Ridgid 18V Brushless R8657 Circular Saw
Related tools
More from Ridgid →
Third generation of Metabo HPT's MultiVolt sidewinder (superseding the award-winning C3607DA), "The Stud" spins at 6,000 RPM and adds a Torque Boost button that drops to 4,300 RPM while redirecting power into 40% more torque for LVL and dense engineered lumber. It was the fastest of twelve saws through double-stacked 3/4-in OSB in Pro Tool Reviews' 2026 shootout, and like all MultiVolt tools it can run corded via the ET36A AC adapter.
Flex's 24V in-line sidewinder is one of the sleeper hits of the cordless saw world: 5,800 RPM, a 2-5/8 in depth of cut that clears 3x lumber in one pass, and Pro Tool Reviews' 9.5/10 'elite cutting performance' verdict. The balanced in-line design gives a clear view down both sides of the blade, and with a 10.0Ah Stacked Lithium pack Flex claims up to 610 cuts in 2x4 lumber. Magnesium footplate and guards keep it durable without the bulk.
Ryobi's brushless ONE+ HP sidewinder brought a full 7-1/4 in blade to the value platform. It shares blades with every pro saw and cuts standard framing lumber in one pass — the spec that separates it from compact 6-1/2 in budget saws.
Craftsman's V20 flagship sidewinder pairs a Brushless RP motor — up to 75% more power than the brushed CMCS550 it supersedes — with a 2-9/16 in depth of cut that out-specs most 18V pro saws. In Pro Tool Reviews' testing it ripped two stacked sheets of 3/4-in OSB in 20.22 seconds, placing third against far pricier competition while coming in second-lightest, making it one of the strongest value plays in cordless circular saws.
DeWalt's FlexVolt 60V worm-style-power sidewinder, the saw that made corded 7-1/4 in saws optional for framing crews. FlexVolt batteries auto-switch between 20V and 60V, so packs bought for this saw also run every 20V Max tool.
Bosch's flagship ProFactor sidewinder pairs a BiTurbo brushless motor with an onboard HMI offering six speed settings (2,500-5,000 RPM) and an Eco mode that stretches runtime up to 30%. Its party trick is a base that rides Bosch and select third-party guide rails with no adapter, and it keeps full 2x cut capacity across the entire 0-50° bevel range. One-touch depth adjustment, an electronic brake, and a 360° pivoting dust port round out a genuinely corded-class package.