Makita XGT 36V Rear Handle Circular Saw Kit: Worth It at the Right Price

Introduction

The Makita XGT 36V rear handle circular saw kit has been around almost as long as the XGT platform itself, and for a long stretch it carried a price that made it hard to recommend over the older 36V LXT rear handle saw. Recent promotions have changed that math considerably. With current discounting, the kit has been available for around $299 with a 4Ah battery, and in some cases buyers have effectively landed the saw for as little as $179 before tax after returning the included battery. That finally puts this saw in genuinely compelling territory.

This review looks at what you actually get, how it performs against the outgoing 36V LXT saw, and who should consider making the jump.

Who This Product Is For

This saw makes the most sense for a few groups of buyers:

• Framers and remodelers who want a rear handle saw with more cutting power and are already invested in or considering the XGT battery platform.
• Existing LXT owners who can pick up the kit on promotion, get a new tool, an extra rapid charger, and another 4Ah battery for close to the cost of the battery and charger alone.
• Anyone replacing an older 36V LXT rear handle saw who wants a lighter tool with a bit more muscle.

If you already own the 36V LXT rear handle saw and are happy with it, the upgrade is nice but not urgent. The XGT version is roughly a pound lighter and noticeably more powerful, but the two saws are very close in everyday handling.

What Comes in the Kit

The kit ships in a surprisingly large box, larger than the equivalent 36V packaging, and includes the saw, a tool bag, a rapid charger, and a 4Ah XGT battery. The XGT tool bags are noticeably tougher than earlier versions and hold up well on their own.

One thing worth knowing: new XGT batteries often arrive showing no charge bars at all. This is completely normal. Pressing the button may show nothing, but the batteries work fine and simply need a full charge on the charger, which takes a while from fully depleted.

Also note the build date printed on the tool. If you lose your receipt, Makita’s warranty coverage goes by that build date, so keep your paperwork.

A quick note on the included Makita blade: many users find these blades dull quickly. Swapping to an aftermarket framing blade is a common first move and tends to hold an edge significantly longer.

Cutting Performance

On a treated 4x4, a common test piece, the saw sounds and cuts very similarly to the 36V LXT version at first. The difference shows up under load. Cutting through material deeper than the full height of the blade, where the older saw would bog down, the XGT keeps pulling with clearly more power on tap.

On 2x6 framing lumber, another everyday cut for this class of saw, performance is strong, and the electronic brake stops the blade quickly when you let the trigger go. The saw only stalled when it was deliberately pushed hard, and even then it recovered with authority. For a rear handle saw in this class, the power reserve is genuinely impressive.

Handling and Ergonomics

With two batteries installed, the XGT saw comes in at just under 12 pounds, about a pound lighter than the 36V LXT version. In practice, though, it still feels heavy and bulky in the same way the older saw does, so do not expect a dramatic difference in feel.

The main ergonomic change is the main handle, which is wider than before. That makes one-handed control a bit easier, which is noticeable right away when picking the saw up repeatedly. The soft grip remains bulky as ever, and a rafter hook on top is there for hanging the saw between cuts.

Visually, the saw looks very similar to the outgoing model. The biggest physical differences are the battery interface and the added power.

Things to Consider Before Buying

A few practical points before you commit:

• Pricing varies by promotion. The kit has hovered around $400 for a long time, which was hard to justify. Current sales have brought it to around $299 with a 4Ah battery, and buyers who return the included battery have sometimes brought the effective cost down to around $179 before tax. If you can catch a promotion, the value changes completely.
• Weight is still substantial. At nearly 12 pounds with two batteries, this is not a lightweight saw. If you came from the 36V LXT version, it will feel familiar rather than dramatically lighter.
• Store availability is limited. Retailers frequently do not stock this kit in stores, so it often arrives as a special order or online purchase in a very large box.
• Plan on a blade swap. The included Makita blade is serviceable but dulls quickly compared to aftermarket options, so budget for a replacement framing blade.

Buying Advice

If you see this kit on promotion, it is one of the better ways to enter the XGT platform. The combination of a new saw, an extra rapid charger, and another 4Ah battery makes the effective cost of the tool itself very low. Rapid chargers on their own carry a meaningful resale and replacement cost, so having another one on the wall for faster multi-battery turnaround after a job is a real benefit.

If you already run the 36V LXT rear handle saw, selling the older kit and applying that money toward the XGT deal can make the upgrade nearly cost-neutral, since older LXT rear handle kits tend to hold their value well on the used market.

Conclusion

The Makita XGT 36V rear handle circular saw is not a radical redesign. It looks and feels much like the saw it sits above, and it is still a heavy, bulky tool. What it adds is a clear step up in cutting power, a slightly lighter overall package, a wider more comfortable main handle, and the flexibility of the XGT battery platform. At full price it was a tough sell. On promotion, it becomes one of the most sensible XGT entry points available, especially for anyone who can use the extra battery and charger that come in the box.