New Makita Tools Worth Knowing: The XDT20 Impact Driver and the 16-5/16" XGT Circular Saw

Introduction

Makita brought a pair of genuinely interesting releases to a recent trade event, and both are worth a closer look if you are already invested in the platform. One is a redesigned flagship impact driver loaded with thoughtful features, and the other pushes cordless cutting into territory that used to belong exclusively to corded saws. Here is what stands out about each, and who they actually make sense for.

Makita XDT20: The Redesigned Flagship Impact Driver

The XDT20 is Makita’s new LXT impact driver, and the first thing you notice is the layout. The speed and mode controls have moved to the back of the tool, so you can switch modes without twisting your grip or fumbling with side dials. The redesign also gives the driver a straight up-and-down balance with no forward or backward tilt, which makes it feel noticeably steadier in hand during long fastening sessions.

Mode selection is handled with a button on the front of the tool, and the mode list is deep. There is an assist mode that starts slowly and then hammers the screw home once it senses torque, a self-shutting fastening mode for reverse so removed bolts do not go flying, and two tech modes for metal that stop the screw based on steel thickness or gauge.

The halo light is a genuine highlight: a ring of light around the chuck with no dark spots or dead zones, and it is bright. Fewer people know that you can dim it down to high, medium, or low using the light button on the back, and fewer still know the flashlight trick: put the driver in lock position, press the trigger, and the light stays on for a full hour before shutting off. That turns the driver into a hands-free work light you can stand on its base while you use hand tools nearby.

A Quick Note on the New Dual-Battery Fan

Makita also showed a new jobsite fan that deserves a mention even though it is not our main focus here. It runs on either XGT or LXT batteries and can be plugged in, so you keep your existing batteries whichever platform you own. It oscillates at 60, 90, or 120 degrees, has a timer up to four hours for set-and-forget drying after drywall mudding, and runs remarkably quiet. On medium with an 8 amp hour battery, it has been run for over 10 hours, and when one battery dies it automatically switches to the next without shutting off. It works as a jobsite airflow tool and doubles as a camping or cabin companion.

Makita XGT 40V 16-5/16” Circular Saw: The Largest Blade on Battery Power

This is the headline act: a 16-5/16 inch cordless circular saw running on a single XGT battery pack, described as the largest circular saw in the world. The cutting capacity is 6-1/4 inches at 90 degrees, which means it clears a full 6x6 post in one clean pass with no pilot holes. Spinning a blade that size on battery power alone is the kind of thing that would have seemed far-fetched not long ago.

It comes in a kit with a 5 amp hour battery, chosen for the power and run time this saw demands. There is a brake so you are not waiting ages for the big blade to spin down, a thumb-activated safety switch, and a nicely open line-of-cut window for following your cut line. Even the saw casing carries the cut line marking, a small detail that shows how thoroughly the design has been worked over.

One under-the-radar feature is the blade deflection mechanism: push it down and turn it in, and it helps reduce blade chatter. Chatter on large saws typically comes from underpowered stalling or a dull blade slowing through the cut, but with this much torque on tap, the deflection control is a useful extra safeguard.

The AWS capability is another practical win. Pair it over Bluetooth with a compatible vacuum and the vacuum starts automatically when you pull the trigger, giving you dust collection without extra steps. It is also claimed to be 30 percent faster than the long-standing corded version of the same saw size, and lighter as well, which is a striking combination for a saw this big.

Buying Advice

If you drive screws and fasteners all day, the XDT20’s balance, back-mounted controls, and smart modes make it an easy recommendation for anyone already on the LXT platform. The 16-5/16 inch saw is a more specialized buy, but if you regularly cut thick timbers, posts, or stacked lumber and want to leave the cord behind, there is currently nothing else in this class. Makita’s habit of long field testing before release tends to show up in how well these tools hold up in daily work, which matters when you are investing at this level.

Conclusion

Both tools show the same design philosophy: heavy research time, details worked out before launch, and features that solve real jobsite annoyances. The XDT20 refinements are easy to appreciate the moment you pick it up, while the 16-5/16 inch XGT saw makes a case that cordless has genuinely caught up where it once lagged. Match the tool to your actual workload and both are easy to justify.