Best Angle Grinders · head-to-head

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) vs Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only)

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) is cheaper at $49.97. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) or Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only)?

The Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) wins 1 of the 1 specs we compare head to head; the other wins 0. The Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) is the cheaper at $49.97. Get the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) for the stronger spec sheet, the Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) to spend less.

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Full spec sheet

marks the stronger figure where "more" — or "less", for price and weight — is unambiguously better.

Spec Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only)
US price $229 $49.97
BrandMilwaukeeRyobi
Released
Disc size (in) 5 in 4.5 in
Power source cordless cordless
Amps or voltage 18 V 18 V
Max (rpm) 8500 6500
Brushless Yes No
Switch type paddle trigger
No volt release
Weight (lb) 3.1 4.8

Sources — Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only): milwaukeetool.com (verified 2026-06-20). Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only): ryobitools.com (verified 2026-06-20).

What's the difference between the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) and Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only)?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (5 of 8). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Disc size (in): Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) 5 in vs Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) 4.5 in
  • Max (rpm): Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) 8500 vs Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) 6500
  • Brushless: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) true vs Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) false
  • Switch type: Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) paddle vs Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) trigger
  • Weight (lb): Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only) 3.1 vs Ryobi P421 18V ONE+ 4-1/2 in. Cordless Angle Grinder (Tool Only) 4.8

What reviewers say

Sourced tester consensus for each — the "what people who used it think" layer, not just specs.

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 2880-20 4-1/2 in./5 in. Grinder Paddle Switch No-Lock (Tool Only)

Only one whitelisted tester, Pro Tool Reviews, covers the exact 2880-20, and only inside a Milwaukee lineup comparison rather than a standalone bench test. Editors endorse its runtime and safer paddle-switch design, but every performance figure (135 rebar cuts, 11A, 8,500 RPM, $199) is Milwaukee's own claim, not independently measured. (1 sourced review.)

Praised: Paddle switch gives a safer setup for shorter grinding and cutting bursts; Editors endorse the runtime (Milwaukee-claimed 135 cuts in 1/2-inch rebar per XC6.0 battery).

Flagged: Coverage is a lineup buying-guide, not a standalone bench test, so there is no independently measured performance for this exact model.

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