DeWalt Cordless Circular Saws Compared: DCS565, DCS573 and DCS578

Introduction

DeWalt currently offers three cordless Sidewinder circular saws that look remarkably similar at a glance, but they serve noticeably different needs: the compact 6-1/2-inch blade-left DCS565, the 7-1/4-inch blade-right DCS573 with FlexVolt Advantage, and the Gen 2 60V Max FlexVolt DCS578. All three are brushless, and the differences come down to blade size, orientation, platform and cutting capacity.

This comparison walks through what each saw does well, where each falls short, and which one fits the way you actually work.

What All Three Saws Share

Every saw in this trio has a brushless motor, a rafter hook, an LED work light, an electric brake and a dust port. The lower guards across the range are plastic, and that is not a drawback: this guard style has proven remarkably durable over years of hard jobsite use without cracking.

One practical note: only the 6-1/2-inch saw ships with the dust port attachment in the box, and it works well, collecting the majority of the dust when connected.

If dust collection matters for your workspace, factor that included attachment into the decision.

DeWalt DCS565: 20V Blade Left, Compact and Light

The DCS565 is the 6-1/2-inch, 20V, blade-left model. Its magnesium shoe pairs with a plastic lower guard, and it offers a 0 to 50-degree bevel with no detents or stops. At 45 degrees, maximum depth of cut is 1-5/8 inches, which is enough to bevel through standard 2x material in a single pass.

The blade-left orientation is worth thinking about. For right-handed users, a blade-left saw gives increased blade visibility and better control on rips, because the shoe rides on the waste side of the material.

It is also the only saw of the three that includes the dust port attachment out of the box, which makes it the more workshop-friendly option for anyone cutting indoors or wanting cleaner work.

DeWalt DCS573: 20V FlexVolt Advantage, Blade Right

The DCS573 steps up to a 7-1/4-inch blade and a blade-right layout, running on DeWalt’s 20V FlexVolt Advantage platform. You get an aluminum shoe with an aluminum lower guard, a 0 to 57-degree bevel with detents at 22-1/2 and 45 degrees, and a maximum depth of 2 inches at 45. That extra capacity means it can two-pass bevel through a 4x, which the 6-1/2-inch saw cannot do.

The FlexVolt Advantage design pays off with a 6.0Ah FlexVolt battery: DeWalt claims up to 77% more power compared with running a 5.0Ah 20V battery. In real ripping through double sheets of 1/2-inch plywood, the difference between those two batteries was clearly noticeable, and larger than the same swap made on the standard 20V saw.

One design quirk: the front grip is plastic rather than rubber over-mold, but it works well in practice, giving a full grip while the large rear cutout keeps a clear visual line to the blade. That wide sight path is genuinely helpful for starting a cut.

Blade-right also means more control when cross-cutting for right-handed users, for the same reason blade-left helps on rips.

DeWalt DCS578: FlexVolt 60V Max Power

The DCS578 is the latest-generation (Gen 2) 7-1/4-inch FlexVolt saw running on a 60V Max battery. It shares the aluminum shoe and aluminum lower guard, the 0 to 57-degree bevel with 22-1/2 and 45-degree stops, and the 2-inch depth at 45 degrees of its 7-1/4-inch sibling.

In side-by-side rips against the FlexVolt Advantage saw, both running a 6.0Ah FlexVolt battery, the two were effectively equal in speed and power. The difference shows up in how they behave when pushed: the FlexVolt saw simply slows down past its cutting sweet spot, while the Advantage saw tends to stall out. The FlexVolt saw also cuts noticeably smoother under load.

This is the saw for anyone already invested in the FlexVolt battery platform, or who wants maximum cutting headroom in a Sidewinder form factor.

Blade Left or Blade Right?

The orientation question is simpler than it sounds. If you are right-handed, a blade-left saw gives you better blade visibility and more control on rips, while a blade-right saw gives you more control on cross-cuts. For left-handed users, it is the reverse.

Neither orientation is objectively better; it comes down to whether rips or cross-cuts dominate your work.

Overall Buying Advice

If you want the lightest, most compact option and value dust collection out of the box, the DCS565 covers everyday carpentry well. If you want 7-1/4-inch capacity on the standard 20V platform with a genuine power boost from FlexVolt batteries, the DCS573 is the flexible middle ground. And if you are running FlexVolt batteries already and want the smoothest cutting under load, the DCS578 is the natural pick.

Conclusion

All three DeWalt Sidewinders share the same sensible foundation: brushless motors, electric brakes, LED lights, rafter hooks and proven durable lower guards. Choose by blade size, platform and orientation, and any of the three should serve you well.