New Makita 40V Tools Worth Knowing About: 8 Releases Covered

Introduction

Makita has been busy expanding its 40V Max XGT lineup, and this batch of releases covers a surprisingly wide range of jobs: arborist chainsaws, polishing, concrete work, metal cutting, and even campsite lighting. Most of these tools are launching first in Japan, so availability elsewhere may lag, but the specs are already worth studying if you are planning an upgrade. Here is what each new tool brings to the table.

Makita UC004G 40V Top-Handle Chainsaw

The 40V chainsaws have finally arrived, and the headline model is the UC004G, a 350 mm (14-inch) arborist-style top-handle saw. Model numbering varies by region: it is the UC004G in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and most of the world, and expected to follow a different numbering in the US and Japan. It sits in a family of eight or nine similar saws with different bar lengths, roughly from 250 mm up to 400 mm, though only this model has been released in New Zealand so far.

It is a natural step up from the 18V DUC254, sharing the same top-handle style and similar size while running on the higher-voltage platform. A second 40V redesign of a rear-handle saw has also been announced: same basic shape, an overhauled design, a metal top handle instead of plastic, a 42 cc gas equivalent rating, and a chain speed of 25.5 m/s, available in teal and orange. The one-handed arborist-style 40V model sits around a 30 cc gas equivalent.

Makita PV001G Polisher

The PV001G is a 180 mm (7-inch) polisher, a substantial step up from the previous 18V 125 mm version. It is IPX6 rated, weighs 3.2 kg, and runs variable speed from 600 to 2,200 rpm. Smaller 100 mm and 150 mm attachments are available if you want more precision, and a 230 mm pad seems plausible given the power on hand.

The handle design is the most obvious change: instead of the DPO500’s side handle and front grip, the new polisher uses an over-the-top D-shaped handle positioned directly above the center of the pad, right where pressure matters most during polishing.

Makita VR001G Concrete Vibrator

The VR001G, sold as the GRV01 in the US, is the first Makita 40V concrete vibrator. Compared with the 18V predecessor’s 25 mm tip, the 40V version offers 28 mm or 32 mm vibrating heads, so you can choose based on the application.

Shaft flexibility is another real advantage: three lengths are offered (800 mm, 1.2 m, and 1.7 m), and they are interchangeable on the 40V tool, whereas the 18V model was effectively fixed to its shaft.

Makita HG181D Heat Gun

The 18V heat gun has been announced under several model numbers depending on region (HG181D, DHG181, and an equivalent in the US), but it has been repeatedly delayed. Originally slated for release months earlier, it now looks like it will not arrive in New Zealand until around April. If you have been waiting for this one, patience is still required.

Makita GS01 Metal Cutting Saw

The GS01 is a 185 mm 40V metal cutting saw with a 67 mm depth of cut, and it addresses the most common complaint about the 18V versions: chip management. The front chip collection area can be removed and tipped out, which should stop filings from dropping out of the guard all over the floor.

It is IP56 rated, weighs around 4.3 kg (apparently bare tool), and spins at 3,500 rpm. The handle wraps from the front around to the left side of the tool, and like the 18V versions there is no bevel capacity, which is rarely needed for metal. For anyone still running an older 18V metal saw, this looks like the upgrade to jump to.

Makita MR008G Lantern, Torch and Radio

This oddball release is a lantern, torch, radio and USB charger that clips directly on top of a battery, with a retro camping-lantern look. It is coming in 12V, 14.4V, 18V and 40V versions, with the 40V model numbered MR008G, the 18V the MR054, and the 12V the MR053. The 40V version will come in standard teal or a new olive green aimed at the outdoor camping market, while the 12V and LXT versions are teal only.

Details are still thin, but the lantern appears to use 20 LEDs (24 on the 12V model), the top torch has high and low settings, and there are three color temperature options: 2,500 K, 3,500 K and 5,000 K, so you can pick warm white over bright white.

Makita JR002G Reciprocating Saw

The JR002G is the new 40V reciprocating saw, and it looks like an absolute beast. If you missed the earlier coverage, it is one of the 40V releases currently rolling out, and it is worth watching for if demolition work is part of your routine. Like most of this batch, it is a Japan-first release, so check availability in your region.

Makita HS011G Circular Saw

Rounding things out is the HS011G, a 10-1/4-inch track-compatible circular saw with a cutting depth of 97 mm, just under 4 inches. That depth makes it a serious option for beam and thick-timber work where most cordless circular saws run out of capacity. It is another 40V release aimed at catching the XGT platform up to what the 18V LXT range already offers.

If you have been waiting for a high-capacity track-compatible saw on the 40V system, this is the one to keep an eye on.

Buying Advice

Most of these tools are Japan-first releases, and some, like the heat gun, are still tricky to find in much of the world. If you are eager to get Makita tools before anyone else, importing from Japan is currently the only route for several of them. If you would rather wait, the model numbers and specs are likely to shift slightly as they roll out regionally, so it may pay to hold off until your local version is confirmed. The 40V platform is clearly where Makita’s development effort is right now, and an 80V chainsaw seems likely to follow eventually.

Conclusion

This wave of Makita releases shows the 40V Max system maturing fast: from arborist chainsaws and metal cutting to polishing, concrete work, and even campsite lighting. Whether you should buy now depends mostly on where you live and how badly you need the tool, but the direction of the lineup is clear.