Makita XSL05Z 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless 6-1/2" COMPACT Dual-Bevel Compound Miter Saw with Laser, TOOL Only

Across the reviewers we read, the Makita XSL05Z is the cordless miter saw trim carpenters keep recommending to each other. At 14.6 lbs it's the lightest saw in the field, and verified-purchase reviewers on homedepot.com describe it as "light yet powerful and so much easier to transport than 10 or 12" saws." An r/woodworking thread on smaller power miter saws singled it out with "only 15 pounds and great reviews," and r/Makita owners using earlier LXT versions describe it as "the best miter saw I have owned."

Makita's automatic speed-change technology, which adjusts torque mid-cut, is cited across mainstream reviewers as a real differentiator for clean cuts in trim stock. The trade-off is obvious: the 6-1/2" blade rules it out for anything wider than narrow framing or 1x stock at 90°. Specialist-community threads also note it's expensive for a small saw, and the rated 270 cuts per charge in 1/2" x 3-1/2" baseboard requires Makita's larger 6.0Ah battery, which adds cost.

We did not find a dedicated high-trust expert review of this exact model in the supplied signals, so the score leans on Amazon volume, verified-purchase consensus, and Reddit specialist sentiment rather than independent lab testing.