Quick verdict
A light single-pack sidewinder against a two-pack rear-handle kit. The Milwaukee suits most homeowners for boards, fences and ladders; the Makita suits a deck builder framing in wet lumber and arrives with packs. Buy for the job, then the platform.
Milwaukee 2732-20 M18 FUEL 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw
The 2732-20 is the M18 FUEL 7-1/4 inch sidewinder: brushless, 5,800 RPM, electric brake, 2-1/2 inch depth of cut, 50 degree bevel, magnesium shoe and guards, blade right. One High Output pack gives it near 36V power.
Milwaukee 2732-20 M18 FUEL sidewinder circular saw versus Makita XSR01PT X2 LXT rear-handle circular saw kit: layout, power, weight, cut capacity, kit contents and platform compared.
The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Score /100 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee 2732-20 M18 FUEL 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw | Best All-Round Single-Pack Saw | 9.0 | Check price |
| Makita XSR01PT 18V X2 LXT Rear Handle 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw | Best Rear-Handle Framing Kit | 9.1 | Check price |
The picks, reviewed
Milwaukee 2732-20 M18 FUEL 7-1/4 Inch Circular Saw
The 2732-20 is the M18 FUEL 7-1/4 inch sidewinder: brushless, 5,800 RPM, electric brake, 2-1/2 inch depth of cut, 50 degree bevel, magnesium shoe and guards, blade right. One High Output pack gives it near 36V power.
Reasons to buy
- Light sidewinder
- One pack
- Magnesium build
- 5,800 RPM
Reasons to avoid
- Blade right
- Less depth and bevel
- Less push on rips
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
- Corded worm-drive power
- Rear-handle control
- Kit with two packs and charger
- LXT yard platform
Reasons to avoid
- Long and heavy
- Needs two packs
- Kit price
Where these two differ
The Milwaukee 2732-20 is a light blade-right sidewinder on one M18 pack with a magnesium build. The Makita XSR01PT is a heavy blade-left rear-handle saw on two LXT packs with worm-drive power, sold as a kit with two 5 Ah packs and a charger. Both are brushless 7-1/4 inch saws with electric brakes. Layout, weight and kit contents decide.
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 | 2732-20 | XSR01PT |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Sidewinder | Rear handle |
| Blade side | Right | Left |
| Batteries | One M18 | Two LXT in kit |
| Speed | 5,800 RPM | 5,100 RPM |
| Depth at 90 | 2-1/2 inch | 2-9/16 inch |
| Bevel | 50 degrees | 53 degrees |
Power
The Makita rips wet pressure-treated 2×12 without slowing and the rear handle pushes it through. The Milwaukee on a High Output pack rips the same board with a little less reserve. Dry lumber and deck boards cut cleanly on both.
Layout and handling
The Milwaukee is light and quick for crosscuts and easy up a ladder. The Makita shows the line to a right-handed user and lives on a sawhorse.
Batteries and runtime
One M18 High Output pack lasts an afternoon of joists and runs the Milwaukee yard range. The Makita kit arrives with two 5 Ah packs that last similarly and run the X2 yard tools.
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 Milwaukee.
Yard jobs this decides
Fence pickets, rails, raised beds and deck boards favor the Milwaukee. Deck framing and a pergola in 4x lumber favor the Makita. The platform decides the rest; both run full yards.
Warranty and support
On the Milwaukee 2732-20, Milwaukee covers M18 FUEL tools with a five-year warranty and M18 packs with three years. On the Makita XSR01PT, Makita covers LXT tools and batteries with a three-year limited warranty. 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.
Care and storage
Both are brushless battery tools and both last longest with the same habits: blow the vents clear after dusty work, store packs indoors at partial charge rather than empty or full for months, and keep the tool out of a hot truck in summer. Neither needs lubrication or brush changes. A pack left on the charger for weeks is not harmed by either maker, but a pack left at zero through a winter often is.
Common owner complaints
2732 owners mention wanting High Output packs. XSR01PT owners mention length, weight and kit price. Both are reliable.
Which one should you buy
Buy the 2732-20 on M18 or for an all-round light saw. Buy the XSR01PT kit for framing and for starting on LXT with packs included.
Our verdict
The Milwaukee 2732-20 edges this comparison for most homeowners on weight. The Makita XSR01PT kit is the better framing saw and the better kit.
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
Sidewinder or rear handle.
Weight
The Milwaukee is much lighter.
Kit
The Makita includes two packs and a charger.
Platform
M18 or LXT decides.
Our verdict
A light single-pack sidewinder against a two-pack rear-handle kit. The Milwaukee suits most homeowners for boards, fences and ladders; the Makita suits a deck builder framing in wet lumber and arrives with packs. Buy for the job, then the platform.
FAQs
The Makita by a little, with rear-handle push on rips. The Milwaukee on a High Output pack is close.
The Milwaukee by a wide margin.
The Makita at 2-9/16 inch.
The Makita kit for someone without packs; the bare Milwaukee for an M18 owner.
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