Quick verdict
Both are blade-left kits with corded power; the Makita is a rear-handle framing saw with two packs and a full yard platform, the Bosch a lighter sidewinder on one big pack. For deck framing and a yard system the Makita is the better buy. For a lighter blade-left saw on Bosch 18V, the PROFACTOR.
Makita XSR01PT 18V X2 LXT Rear Handle 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw
The XSR01PT is the Makita 18V X2 LXT 36V rear-handle 7-1/4 inch saw: brushless, 5,100 RPM, electric brake, 2-9/16 inch depth of cut, 53 degree bevel, blade left, sold as a kit with two 5 Ah packs and a dual charger. It has corded worm-drive power and control.
Makita XSR01PT X2 LXT rear-handle circular saw kit versus Bosch GKS18V-25GC PROFACTOR blade-left circular saw kit: layout, power, depth of cut, bevel, kit contents and platform compared.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Makita XSR01PT 18V X2 LXT Rear Handle 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw | Best Framing Saw and Yard Platform | 9.1 | Check price |
| Bosch GKS18V-25GC PROFACTOR 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw | Best Single-Pack Blade-Left Sidewinder | 8.8 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Makita XSR01PT 18V X2 LXT Rear Handle 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw
The XSR01PT is the Makita 18V X2 LXT 36V rear-handle 7-1/4 inch saw: brushless, 5,100 RPM, electric brake, 2-9/16 inch depth of cut, 53 degree bevel, blade left, sold as a kit with two 5 Ah packs and a dual charger. It has corded worm-drive power and control.
Reasons to buy
- Worm-drive power and control
- Blade left
- Kit with two 5 Ah packs and charger
- LXT yard platform
Reasons to avoid
- Long and heavy
- Needs two packs
- Kit price
Bosch GKS18V-25GC PROFACTOR 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw
The GKS18V-25GC is the Bosch PROFACTOR 18V 7-1/4 inch blade-left sidewinder: brushless, 5,500 RPM, electric brake, 2-1/2 inch depth of cut, 50 degree bevel and Bluetooth, sold in the B14 kit with a CORE18V 8 Ah pack. It gives corded power from one pack.
Reasons to buy
- Corded power from one 8 Ah pack
- Blade left
- Lighter sidewinder
- Kit with pack and charger
Reasons to avoid
- Few Bosch yard tools in the US
- Less depth and bevel
- CORE18V packs cost more
Where these two differ
Both are blade-left saws sold as kits with corded-class power. The Makita XSR01PT is a rear-handle saw on two LXT packs with the push and control of a worm drive; the Bosch GKS18V-25GC is a sidewinder on one CORE18V 8 Ah pack, lighter and faster spinning. The Makita cuts a touch deeper and bevels further, and its packs run a full yard of tools.
This comparison is based on the published specifications and manuals for both saws and on recurring owner feedback. We have not run either saw ourselves.
| Specification | XSR01PT | GKS18V-25GC |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Rear handle | Sidewinder |
| Blade side | Left | Left |
| Batteries | Two LXT 5 Ah in kit | One CORE18V 8 Ah in kit |
| Speed | 5,100 RPM | 5,500 RPM |
| Depth at 90 | 2-9/16 inch | 2-1/2 inch |
| Bevel | 53 degrees | 50 degrees |
Layout
Both show the line to a right-handed user. The Makita rear handle gives push on a long rip through a 2×12; the Bosch is lighter and quicker for crosscuts and easier on a ladder.
Power
Both rip wet pressure-treated 2x without slowing on their kit packs. Neither leaves a deck builder wanting.
Weight and handling
The Makita is long and heavy with two packs and lives on a sawhorse. The Bosch is a normal sidewinder weight and carries around a fence line.
Batteries and runtime
Two LXT 5 Ah packs last an afternoon of joists and run the Makita X2 mower, blower and chainsaw. The Bosch 8 Ah pack lasts similarly and runs few outdoor tools in the US.
Blades and setup
Both take 7-1/4 inch blades with a 5/8 inch arbor. A 24-tooth framing blade for joists on the Makita; a 40-tooth blade for deck boards on the Bosch. The Bosch Bluetooth reports tool status to a phone.
Yard jobs this decides
Deck framing and a pergola in 4x lumber favor the Makita. Fence pickets, rails and deck boards favor the lighter Bosch. The platform decides the rest; LXT runs the yard.
Warranty and support
On the Makita XSR01PT, Makita covers LXT tools and batteries with a three-year limited warranty. On the Bosch GKS18V-25GC, Bosch covers it with a one-year warranty that registration within the first weeks extends to three years. Both makers run service networks in the US and both honor the warranty only with proof of purchase, so keep the receipt with the manual. Registration takes a few minutes online and is worth doing the day the tool arrives.
Common owner complaints
XSR01PT owners mention length and weight. GKS18V-25GC owners mention pack cost and the thin Bosch outdoor range. Both are durable.
Which one should you buy
Buy the XSR01PT kit for framing and for starting the LXT system with packs included. Buy the GKS18V-25GC kit only if Bosch 18V packs are already in the shed or a light blade-left saw is the priority.
Our verdict
The Makita XSR01PT takes this comparison on framing power and platform. The Bosch GKS18V-25GC is the lighter saw for a Bosch owner.
How we research
This comparison is built from the published specifications, manuals and warranty terms of both products and from recurring owner feedback. We have not run either product ourselves; where the makers do not publish a figure we say so rather than guess.
What to look for
Layout
Rear handle on the Makita; sidewinder on the Bosch.
Platform
LXT runs the yard; Bosch 18V largely does not in the US.
Kit
Two 5 Ah packs with the Makita; one 8 Ah pack with the Bosch.
Weight
The Bosch is lighter.
Our verdict
Both are blade-left kits with corded power; the Makita is a rear-handle framing saw with two packs and a full yard platform, the Bosch a lighter sidewinder on one big pack. For deck framing and a yard system the Makita is the better buy. For a lighter blade-left saw on Bosch 18V, the PROFACTOR.
FAQs
Both are corded class. The Makita rear handle gives more push on rips.
The Bosch sidewinder by a clear margin.
The Makita at 2-9/16 inch, by a sixteenth.
A few, mostly outside the US. Makita LXT has a full range.
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