
Ryobi
Ryobi ONE+ HP PBLRS01 Reciprocating Saw
Ryobi's brushless ONE+ HP recip saw — the highest stroke rate in this comparison at 3,200 SPM and the lightest tool in it at 5 lbs, for roughly half the price of the pro flagships. Runs on the same ONE+ batteries as 300+ other Ryobi tools.
Specifications
Features
Pros
- ✓At around $99 bare it delivers most of the pro saws' cutting speed for half the money — the classic Ryobi value story.
- ✓3,200 SPM is nominally the fastest stroke rate in the class, and owners confirm it moves through studs and PVC quickly.
- ✓Five pounds bare makes it the easiest saw here for overhead and cramped-position cuts.
- ✓The ONE+ ecosystem spans 300+ tools on one battery — unmatched breadth for a homeowner platform.
- ✓Direct Tools outlet and Home Depot promos regularly put the kit near $100.
- ✓The pivoting shoe and easy blade lever are genuinely well-executed, not cost-cut.
Cons
- ✗Under sustained heavy load it bogs where the pro saws power through — thick hardwood and cast iron expose the gap.
- ✗Vibration damping is minimal; extended demo sessions are noticeably harsher than on the Makita or Milwaukee.
- ✗Build plastics and the shoe feel less durable, and pro users report shorter service life under daily abuse.
- ✗No rafter hook and no orbital action.
- ✗Ryobi's 3-year warranty requires registration and its service network is thinner than the pro brands'.
- ✗Lime-green tools hold resale value poorly compared to Milwaukee and DeWalt.
Common Questions
Is a $99 recip saw actually capable of real demo work?
Will my old blue Ryobi batteries from years ago fit?
How heavy is it for overhead cuts?
What pro features are missing?
Does Ryobi's warranty require anything from me?
Compare the Ryobi ONE+ HP PBLRS01 Reciprocating Saw
Related tools
More from Ryobi →
The flagship of Craftsman's V20 recip lineup, the Brushless RP CMCS351B (launched with the RP line in 2022, superseding the CMCS350) delivers up to 75% more power than the brushed CMCS300 and tops the value class at 3,200 SPM. A two-speed selector, tool-free blade release, and LED light cover the essentials, and Ace Hardware buyers rate it 5.0 stars across 76 reviews — though it skips pro features like orbital action and a rafter hook.

Ridgid's brushless flagship recip pairs the class-leading spec combo of a 1-1/4 in stroke and 3,200 SPM with a switchable orbital mode, and Pro Tool Reviews clocked it cutting a nail-embedded roofing sandwich faster than Milwaukee's comparable saw (9.2/10 review score). Tool-free side-lever blade release, adjustable shoe, LED, and rafter hook are all standard, and Ridgid's Lifetime Service Agreement covers parts and service free with registration. At $169 bare it undercuts most premium-brand recips by $80-$120.

Milwaukee
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Sawzall 2821
The Gen 2 M18 Fuel Sawzall, Milwaukee's mainstream cordless recip saw since late 2020. Marketed as the fastest-cutting saw in its class and lighter than the generation it replaced. The 2822 Super Sawzall sits above it for all-day demolition with orbital action.

The only cordless super saw that also runs corded: Metabo HPT's 36V MultiVolt flagship accepts batteries or the ET36A AC adapter for unlimited runtime. In Pro Tool Reviews' February 2026 head-to-head it scored 9.8/10, finishing within hundredths of a second of Milwaukee's M18 Fuel Super Sawzall in wood while posting top-tier vibration scores from its dual-counterweight User Vibration Protection system.

Flex's full-size flagship pairs a sensor-free 24V brushless motor with a long 1-1/4 in stroke at 3,000 SPM and selectable orbital action. Pro Tool Reviews scored it 9.2/10 and found it out-cut most of the cordless field, and Bob Vila named it the top pick of seven saws tested — with vibration damping that reviewers consistently single out as best-in-class.

Makita's full-size 40V XGT recip saw, rated for 145 cuts in 2x10 SPF per 4.0Ah charge. Two speed ranges, an electric brake, and Makita's crank-balanced drivetrain aimed at all-day demolition.