Makita XAG04Z 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 4-1/2” / 5" Cut-Off/Angle Grinder, Tool Only
Best for
Best overall
Amazon rating
Amazon aggregate, one input among many in the Verdict Score
Based on 1 trusted source
Updated May 18, 2026 · 1 min read
Sources behind this verdict
10 reviewers weighted by source trust
The consensus
What reviewers found
Synthesized across the trust-weighted source mix below.
Across the reviewers we read, the Makita XAG04Z is the cordless 4.5/5-inch grinder with the broadest cross-source endorsement. protoolreviews.com, a high-trust specialist publication, wrote that the brushless XAG04 has 'proven itself to be a better tool for the job than my 13 amp corded model,' and high-trust r/Tools threads describe it as smooth, powerful under load, and quality-feeling, with one long-term user noting it doesn't bog until the battery is nearly dead. Verified-purchase reviewers on amazon.com and homedepot.com (4.8 average across ~3,000 ratings) emphasize Active Feedback Sensing, the electric brake, and the soft-start.
What reviewers liked
- High-trust protoolreviews.com rates it above a 13A corded grinder
- r/Tools and r/Makita consensus: smooth power, holds RPM under load
- Electric brake, Active Feedback Sensing, and soft-start widely praised
- Strong verified-purchase track record (4.8 across ~3,000 amazon.com reviews)
Where it falls short
- Conventional locknut rather than the newer X-Lock system reviewers increasingly prefer
- Tool-only; battery and charger sold separately, raising entry cost
- Reviewers note Makita's premium pricing versus comparable DeWalt and Ryobi 18V options
- Like all cordless grinders, r/Tools threads warn it eats through batteries on heavy grinding
Across the reviewers we read, the Makita XAG04Z is the cordless 4.5/5-inch grinder with the broadest cross-source endorsement. protoolreviews.com, a high-trust specialist publication, wrote that the brushless XAG04 has 'proven itself to be a better tool for the job than my 13 amp corded model,' and high-trust r/Tools threads describe it as smooth, powerful under load, and quality-feeling, with one long-term user noting it doesn't bog until the battery is nearly dead.
Verified-purchase reviewers on amazon.com and homedepot.com (4.8 average across ~3,000 ratings) emphasize Active Feedback Sensing, the electric brake, and the soft-start. r/Makita commenters consistently recommend the XAG04Z over other variants as the do-everything pick in the LXT 18V lineup.
The trade-off, raised across the same communities, is that the X-Lock generation from Bosch and Makita is increasingly preferred for accessory swaps, and the XAG04Z uses the conventional locknut. Buyers already in Makita's 18V LXT ecosystem will find the strongest trust-weighted consensus here.
- Automatic Speed Change technology adjusts speed and torque during operation for optimum performance
- Active Feedback-sensing Technology (AFT) turns the motor off if rotation of the wheel is suddenly forced to stop
- The BL Brushless Motor eliminates carbon brushes, enabling the BL Motor to run cooler and more efficiently for longer life
- Efficient BL Brushless motor is electronically controlled to optimize battery energy use for up to 50% longer run time per charge
- The electronically-controlled BL Brushless Motor efficiently uses energy to match torque and RPM to the changing demands of the application
You can chose paddle or thumb switch, and speed adjustment or no adjustment. Regardless I say get one of the X-Lock models. It's fantastic.
The XAG04Z is your best bet. I have it and its a very nice quality tool to work with. Very smooth operation and feels like a super safe tool.
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