Makita XAG04 vs XAG25: Is X-Lock Worth It on a Cordless Angle Grinder?

Introduction

Makita’s X-Lock angle grinders have been on the market for a while now, and the reviews remain genuinely mixed. To see whether the X-Lock system lives up to its convenience promise, this comparison puts two nearly identical grinders head to head: the Makita XAG04, a proven brushless design with a traditional disc mount, and the Makita XAG25, which swaps the old spindle nut for the X-Lock quick-change system.

If you are trying to decide between convenience and long-term running costs, this breakdown should make the choice clearer.

What Stays the Same

From the head down, these two grinders are practically identical. Both carry battery indicator lights at the base, metal vents, identical handle designs, brushless motors, and the same toggle-style power switch. If you already like the feel of one Makita cordless grinder, the other will feel familiar in the hand.

The real differences show up once you reach the head, where the guard design and the disc mounting system diverge.

Traditional Disc Changes: Simple and Proven

On the XAG04, changing a disc follows the process most users already know. Loosen the flange nut while holding the spindle pin, seat the disc on the groove, screw the nut back down, and tighten it with the included wrench. That is the entire procedure: a guard with a simple latch and a single nut.

That simplicity matters more than it might seem. There is very little to fail, and the guard’s basic latch mechanism has proven itself over years of heavy daily use.

X-Lock Disc Changes: Faster by Design

The XAG25 changes the equation. Its guard uses an entirely different mechanism: a small release button connected to a spring-loaded pin, plus an internal circular spring. Press the button, rotate the guard up, and it lifts off. It is a clever design, but it introduces springs, pins, and moving parts where the traditional guard has almost none.

Disc changes are where X-Lock earns its name. Open the lever, drop any X-Lock disc onto the mount, spin it until it seats, and press down to lock it in. No wrench, no nut, no pin. Swapping between a cut-off wheel and a flap disc mid-project takes seconds.

The Real Cost: Discs Make the Difference

Convenience has a price, and with X-Lock that price is the consumables. X-Lock discs cost significantly more than standard ones. Individual grinding discs can approach the ten-dollar mark by themselves, while standard discs from brands like Benchmark Abrasives sell in multi-packs for roughly the price of a single X-Lock disc. Availability is another consideration: some hardware stores stock only a couple of X-Lock disc types, and many do not carry them at all.

For occasional users doing sharpening or light fabrication, spending well over a hundred dollars to stock X-Lock discs is hard to justify when a single disc at a time covers most jobs. Users running large projects with frequent disc swaps see the appeal more clearly, though some of them simply buy multiple grinders and keep a different disc mounted on each.

Which One Should You Buy

For most buyers, the answer is straightforward: the standard grinder is the safer bet. Cheap, widely available discs, a simpler guard with fewer parts to wear out, and a proven platform make the XAG04 the more practical choice unless you already know you will benefit from rapid disc swapping.

The open question with X-Lock is long-term reliability. The guard mechanism has significantly more moving parts, and heavy daily use will reveal whether the added complexity leads to a higher failure rate over time. The technology may well go mainstream, or it may remain a niche convenience.

Conclusion

Both grinders share the same excellent brushless core, so your decision comes down to the disc system. Choose the XAG04 for lower running costs, easy disc availability, and proven simplicity. Choose the XAG25 if fast, tool-free disc changes are worth the premium discs and the added mechanical complexity for your workflow.