Makita XGT GJ02 vs Metabo HPT Reciprocating Saw: Can a New Battery Topple the King?

Introduction

The Makita XGT GJ02 has earned a reputation as the king of cordless reciprocating saws. It has out-cut nearly everything thrown at it, which makes it the benchmark for any challenger. The interesting question is whether the Metabo HPT reciprocating saw, fitted with its newer tabless battery pack, can close the gap when the Makita is deliberately given a disadvantage: the smallest battery pack available in the XGT line.

This comparison matters because the answer is not obvious on paper. Tabless battery technology is still built on cylindrical cells, and Makita also has its own tabless packs. What follows is a practical look at how these two saws perform, what the trade-offs are, and which buyer each one actually suits.

The Head-to-Head Test

The comparison was run under controlled conditions: both saws with orbital action on, both set to max speed, both running fully charged batteries. The only intentional imbalance was the battery setup. The Makita ran its smallest XGT pack, a 2.5Ah battery, while the Metabo HPT ran the latest tabless battery pack.

Cutting through wood with orbital action enabled, the Metabo HPT won the test by about one second. That is a genuinely interesting result, because it shows that with a modern tabless pack, the Metabo can edge past even a handicapped Makita in a straight cutting test. With apples-to-apples batteries, though, the Makita remains the stronger saw, and the smaller 2.5Ah pack is clearly holding it back in this scenario.

Real-World Performance

Numbers from a single cutting test only tell part of the story. On an actual job site, in this case a gazebo demolition with some genuinely thick lumber, the Metabo HPT with the tabless pack felt noticeably faster in hand than before. Thick wood that would slow down lesser saws was handled without much complaint.

Durability also showed up in an unexpected way. Part of the roof was dropped onto one of the saws during the job, and it took the hit with no damage at all. Both of these saws are built like absolute beasts, and that kind of resilience matters more on a working site than a second saved in a test.

Vibration is the other real-world factor that separates these two. The Makita is noticeably smoother to run than the Metabo HPT, which matters a lot for comfort on long cutting sessions. If you spend hours with a recip saw in hand, that difference is worth paying attention to.

Why Battery Packs Matter

The newer tabless battery packs are the wildcard in this comparison. The manufacturer has shown that tools run quicker with the new packs, though in real-world use the improvement is subtle rather than dramatic. Scientific testing may show gains, but the question worth asking is whether you feel a difference on an actual job. Here, the answer was a small but real one: the tabless pack gave the Metabo enough of a boost to win a controlled cut against a smaller-battery Makita.

It is worth noting that this technology is not unique to these two brands. DeWalt and Milwaukee have offered their own upgraded battery packs for several years, and Makita has since released tabless packs for the XGT line as well. The catch is cost: pairing a Makita saw with its own tabless packs will make an already expensive setup even more expensive.

Price, Theft Risk, and Long-Term Value

This is where the picture flips. The Makita XGT GJ02 sits at around 300 dollars or more for the saw alone, with XGT batteries also carrying a premium, making it one of the most expensive reciprocating saws you can buy from a big box store. The Metabo HPT, on the other hand, can often be found for around 100 dollars, lightly used or even new in the box, through marketplace channels.

That price gap changes the calculus on a job site. Losing or damaging a Makita with a larger battery attached could mean an expensive loss. Replacing the Metabo HPT costs far less, which makes it an easier tool to take onto rough jobs without worrying. For many buyers, that peace of mind alone tips the decision toward the Metabo.

Overall Buying Advice

If you want the most powerful reciprocating saw money can buy and budget is not a concern, the Makita XGT GJ02 is still essentially the best you can get, and adding Makita’s own tabless battery packs can push it further, at a price. If you want serious cutting performance at a fraction of the cost, the Metabo HPT with a tabless battery pack is now putting up a genuine fight, winning a controlled cut and feeling faster in hand on real lumber.

Conclusion

The legendary Makita keeps its crown when batteries are equal and money is no object, with smoother operation as a bonus. But the Metabo HPT has proven that with the latest tabless pack it can beat a handicapped Makita in a straight cut, all while costing roughly a third of the price. For most working buyers, that combination of performance and value is hard to argue with.