Best Circular Saws · head-to-head

Makita XSH06Z 18V X2 LXT (36V) Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw vs Ridgid R8654B 18V OCTANE Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw

A sourced, side-by-side comparison. Ridgid R8654B 18V OCTANE Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw is cheaper at $169. Every spec and price links to its source.

Which is better: the Makita XSH06Z 18V X2 LXT (36V) Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw or Ridgid R8654B 18V OCTANE Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw?

On the specs we track, they're closely matched. The Ridgid R8654B 18V OCTANE Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw is the cheaper at $169.

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Full spec sheet

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

Spec Makita XSH06Z 18V X2 LXT (36V) Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw Ridgid R8654B 18V OCTANE Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw
US price $259 $169
BrandMakitaRidgid
Released20182019
Power source cordless cordless
Blade size (in) 7-1/4 in 7-1/4 in
Voltage or amps 36 V (18V X2) 18 V
Max (rpm) 6000 5600
Bevel capacity (°) 56 deg 56 deg
Brushless Yes Yes
Weight (lb) 10.5 lb 9.5 lb
Release 2018 2019

Sources — Makita XSH06Z 18V X2 LXT (36V) Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw: makitatools.com (verified 2026-06-20). Ridgid R8654B 18V OCTANE Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw: homedepot.com (verified 2026-06-20).

What's the difference between the Makita XSH06Z 18V X2 LXT (36V) Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw and Ridgid R8654B 18V OCTANE Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw?

Where the two actually differ on the specs we track (3 of 7). Matching specs are omitted.

  • Voltage or amps: Makita XSH06Z 18V X2 LXT (36V) Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw 36 V (18V X2) vs Ridgid R8654B 18V OCTANE Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw 18 V
  • Max (rpm): Makita XSH06Z 18V X2 LXT (36V) Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw 6000 vs Ridgid R8654B 18V OCTANE Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw 5600
  • Weight (lb): Makita XSH06Z 18V X2 LXT (36V) Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw 10.5 lb vs Ridgid R8654B 18V OCTANE Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw 9.5 lb

What reviewers say

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

Makita XSH06Z 18V X2 LXT (36V) Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw

Only one whitelisted hands-on tester, Pro Tool Reviews, covers this exact Makita XSH06 (36V) saw, scoring it 9.3/10 and praising unusually smooth cutting and strong value. In its 8-ft rip-cut test the saw finished in 13.54 seconds, the third-fastest PTR had tested at the time. Its sole real gripe: no standard rafter hook (optional add-on 199386-8). Non-whitelisted hands-on reviews were excluded. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Very smooth, refined cutting action; Fast cutting, third-fastest rip time in PTR's test pool; Strong value, especially the 4-battery kit.

Flagged: No rafter hook standard; only an optional add-on (199386-8).

Ridgid R8654B 18V OCTANE Brushless Cordless 7-1/4 in. Circular Saw

Only one whitelisted tester, Pro Tool Reviews, published a hands-on head-to-head review of the exact R8654B; no other whitelisted hands-on reviews were found. Their verdict: a solid brushless upgrade over Ridgid's Gen5X with excellent blade sightlines and shoe glide, but middling raw power (lowest of three power tiers in their test), a guard that hangs on thin cuts, and heavy weight. (1 sourced review, 1 lab-tested.)

Praised: Excellent, unobstructed blade sightline aided by LED; Magnesium shoe coating glides smoothly over material; Comfortable, well-offset handle with Hex Grip overmold; included vac/dust port.

Flagged: Lower guard hangs on thin shave, miter and compound cuts; Shoe notches off ~1/8 in at 0° and 45°, plus slight crosscut tracking wander; One of the heaviest cordless sidewinders (9.5 lb bare, 12.0 lb with 9.0Ah pack).

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