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Rankings re-checked weekly · Last re-checked 19 October 2026
·Prices updated daily·AI-assisted, run by Jaco Olwagen
3 quick taps — we'll match you to a pick using the same scores we rank with.
The picks, in order
7 picks
Number one at the top, number 7 at the bottom. The tier label on each card says which price bracket it sits in.
★Editor's Choice
1
DeWalt
DeWalt FlexVolt 60V MAX 7-1/4" Brushless Circular Saw DCS578B (Skin)
60V MAX Brushless184mm Blade5800 RPM
Premium
Rank #1
DeWalt FlexVolt 60V MAX 7-1/4" Brushless Circular Saw DCS578B (Skin)
Our Verdict
FlexVolt 60V MAX brushless circular saw - 5,800 RPM, electronic brake, 2,456 unit watts out, and up to 47% more power than the DCS575.
Why it's number one: The only saw here to clear the top cutting band (54 V FlexVolt, 2,456 watts out, 67 mm at 90 degrees) with a brake, LED, rafter hook and magnesium shoe, a 9.2/10 from Pro Tool Reviews as its single critic score, and a 4.7-star Amazon rating from 1,380 owners.
The DCS578B is DeWalt's answer to the rear-handle Milwaukee, delivering 2,456 unit watts out and 5,800 RPM through the FlexVolt platform - which uses 60V MAX (54V XR) batteries that step down to power existing 18V XR tools. That cross-compatibility is the killer feature: a single FlexVolt 6.0Ah battery powers this saw, your DCS887 impact, your DCD805 drill, and any other XR tool in your ecosystem. Electronic brake stops the blade in under a second, and the 7-1/4" blade delivers 67mm at 90° and 49mm at 45°. Listed on Amazon AU as a US-spec import (DCS578B), with the AU equivalent being DCS577N-XJ in domestic DeWalt retail - confirm warranty with the seller if local AU coverage matters.
Cutting
10.0
Build
9.3
Battery
8.9
Owners
8.9
Owners is the 4.7★ Amazon AU rating from 1,390 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cutting 10.0 (rubric 10): Card: 184 mm brushless saw on a 54 V FlexVolt pack with 2,456 unit watts out and 5,800 rpm, cutting 67 mm at 90 degrees; DeWalt's page confirms 2-9/16 in at 90 and 5,800 rpm.
Build 9.3 (rubric 9): DeWalt's page: electric brake, integrated LED, rafter hook, magnesium shoe, bevel to 57 degrees with stops at 22.5 and 45; no bare weight is published and the card calls it heavier than the 18 V saw.
Battery 8.9 (rubric 8.5): Brushless skin on DeWalt FlexVolt, a professional platform with large packs sold in Australia (8), plus 0.5 for running a 54 V pack; the card cites no tool count or runtime figure.
Current Gen 3 18V FUEL 184mm (7") sidewinder - POWERSTATE brushless motor, REDLINK PLUS intelligence, magnesium shoe and FORGE-battery support, replacing the now-discontinued FCS66-0.
The M18FCS66G30 is Milwaukee's current-generation FUEL sidewinder, the direct successor to the discontinued M18 FCS66-0 (Milwaukee AU has retired that SKU). The Gen 3 keeps the POWERSTATE brushless motor and corded-equivalent output through a 184mm blade - 66mm depth at 90 degrees rips structural timber in a single pass - and adds support for the newer M18 FORGE high-output packs for longer runtime under load. REDLINK PLUS intelligence protects against overload and shuts the motor down on bind, while magnesium guards and an aluminium shoe survive sustained framing and decking work. The integrated rafter hook keeps it parked between cuts. This is the AU-spec M18 FUEL skin, so it ships from Amazon AU with standard local fulfilment, and it drops straight onto the 200-plus-tool M18 platform.
Cutting
9.3
Build
9.6
Battery
9.3
Owners
8.4
Owners is the 3.9★ Amazon AU rating from 5 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cutting 9.3 (rubric 9): 184 mm brushless saw at 6,000 rpm with a corded-equivalent claim, but Milwaukee's AU release rates the cut at 64 mm at 90 degrees, one short of the 65 mm needed for the 9.5 band.
Build 9.6 (rubric 9.5): Milwaukee AU release: electric blade brake, LED work light, rafter hook, all-magnesium guards and shoe, bevel detents at 22.5, 45 and 50 degrees, 3.6 kg; no bevel past 50 or belt hook stated.
Battery 9.3 (rubric 9): Brushless skin on M18 (8), the card cites a 200-plus tool platform (+0.5) and Milwaukee publishes a per-charge figure of up to 750 cuts on a FORGE 12.0 Ah pack (+0.5).
Pros
+ Current Gen 3 FUEL - replaces the discontinued FCS66-0
+ POWERSTATE brushless delivers corded-equivalent power
+ 184mm blade rips 66mm structural timber in a single pass
+ FORGE high-output battery support for longer runtime
Cons
− Sidewinder balance trails a rear-handle on long rips
− Skin only - M18 battery and charger separate
− Premium price for the current-gen FUEL
18V FUEL Brushless184mm BladePOWERSTATE MotorFORGE ReadyM18 PlatformSkin Only
M18 FUEL brushless 165mm circular saw - 6,000 RPM, 57mm cut depth, electric brake, magnesium guards and belt plus rafter hooks. The current-generation M18 value pick.
This is the sensible way onto the M18 platform when you don't need the 184mm rear-handle flagship. The FCS5520 runs a FUEL brushless motor to 6,000 RPM and takes a 57mm bite at 90 degrees, which covers decking, framing and sheet goods without complaint, and Milwaukee rates it at up to 300 cuts per charge on a 6.0Ah High Output pack. The details are what sell it on site: an electric brake that stops the blade the moment you release the trigger, an integrated LED so you can see the cut line in a dark subfloor, and both belt and rafter hooks so it parks on a stud bay between cuts instead of going down in the sawdust. Magnesium guards keep the weight off without giving up impact resistance, and bevel detents land at 22.5 and 45 degrees. It is a skin, so the battery and charger are separate - which is exactly the point if you already own M18 packs. Stock on this listing has been thin, so it is worth checking availability before you plan a job around it.
Cutting
8.5
Build
9.3
Battery
9.3
Owners
8.6
Owners is the 5★ Amazon AU rating from 1 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cutting 8.5 (rubric 8): Card: 165 mm FUEL brushless motor at 6,000 rpm cutting 57 mm at 90 degrees, the rule's 165 mm brushless at 5,000 rpm or more band.
Build 9.3 (rubric 9): Card: electric brake, integrated LED, belt and rafter hooks, magnesium guards and bevel detents at 22.5 and 45 degrees; no bare weight or bevel past 50 degrees is published.
Battery 9.3 (rubric 9): Brushless skin on M18 (8), the card cites a 200-plus tool platform (+0.5) and Milwaukee rates it at up to 300 cuts per charge on a 6.0 Ah High Output pack (+0.5).
Pros
+ FUEL brushless motor at 6,000 RPM with an electric brake
+ Up to 300 cuts per charge on a 6.0Ah High Output pack
+ Belt and rafter hooks plus an integrated LED cut-line light
+ Runs on the 200-plus tool M18 platform you may already own
Cons
− Skin only - M18 battery and charger sold separately
− 165mm blade gives 57mm depth, less than a 184mm saw
− Sold through a third-party seller with thin stock levels
18V Brushless57mm Cut Depth6000 RPMElectric BrakeM18 FUELSkin Only
The DCS570N is the 18V XR answer to the FlexVolt saw sitting at the top of this list: same 184mm blade, same 65mm cut at 90°, but running on the standard XR batteries most DeWalt owners already have from a drill or impact driver. The brushless motor holds 5,500 RPM through framing pine and 18mm ply without the bog-down you get from brushed budget saws, and the bevel runs to 57° with detents at 22.5° and 45°. It replaced the Makita DSS611Z in this slot after that listing spent four consecutive checks with no buyable offer on Amazon AU. Note this is a skin-only listing sold by a marketplace tool retailer rather than Amazon AU directly - check the seller's warranty terms at checkout, as support is handled by the seller rather than DeWalt Australia on some parallel stock.
Cutting
9.3
Build
8.5
Battery
8.5
Owners
8.5
Owners is the 4.6★ Amazon AU rating from 760 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cutting 9.3 (rubric 9): Card: 184 mm brushless saw at 5,500 rpm with no power claim, the rule's 9 band; the card says 65 mm at 90 degrees while DeWalt Australia's page says 64 mm.
Build 8.5 (rubric 8): DeWalt Australia's page: electronic motor brake, bright LED, dust blower, tool-free depth and bevel to 57 degrees; shoe material, weight and rafter hook are not stated.
Battery 8.5 (rubric 8): Brushless skin on DeWalt 18V XR, a professional platform with 5.0 Ah and larger packs in Australia (8); the card cites no tool count or per-charge figure.
The GKS 18V-57-2 L is the Bosch Pro brushless 165mm skin most cabinet-makers and second-fix carpenters end up loving. Left-side blade gives you a direct line of sight to the cut from the right-hand grip position - a small thing that matters across thousands of cuts. Brushless motor delivers 57mm depth at 90° and soft-start to reduce blade walk on cut entry. Bosch Pro batteries cross-compatible across the 18V range since 2008 - unmatched in this market. Supplied in an L-BOXX which stacks with the rest of the Bosch Pro Click-and-Go system, and registers for the Bosch Pro 3-year warranty.
Cutting
8.5
Build
7.8
Battery
8.5
Owners
8.9
Owners is the 4.9★ Amazon AU rating from 21 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cutting 8.5 (rubric 8): Bosch's GB page rates the 165 mm brushless saw at 5,000 rpm with 57 mm at 90 degrees, exactly the rule's 165 mm brushless at 5,000 rpm or more band.
Build 7.8 (rubric 7): Bosch's page lists an LED light, soft start and 2.8 kg without battery; no brake, hook, bevel range or base-plate material is stated on the card or the maker page.
Battery 8.5 (rubric 8): Brushless skin on Bosch Professional 18V, a professional platform with 5.0 Ah and larger packs sold in Australia (8); no tool count or runtime figure on the card. The L-BOXX adds no pack.
Pros
+ Left-side blade for direct cut-line visibility
+ Bosch Pro batteries compatible across 18V range since 2008
+ Soft-start reduces blade walk on cut entry
+ L-BOXX storage included - stacks with Click-and-Go system
Cons
− 165mm blade caps depth at 57mm at 90°
− Skin only - battery and charger separate
− Smaller AU pro ecosystem than Milwaukee / DeWalt / Makita
18V Brushless165mm BladeLeft-Side BladeSoft StartBosch Pro 18VL-BOXX Included
With the brushless DHS680Z out of stock on Amazon AU, the XSS02Z is the LXT 165mm saw you can actually buy today - and at roughly A$215 it undercuts what the brushless model sold for. The trade-off is honest: this is a brushed Makita-built motor spinning 3,700 RPM rather than the DHS680Z's brushless drive, so it has no automatic torque drive and will bog sooner in wet 90mm hardwood. For sheet goods, decking, framing and second-fix work it cuts cleanly and accurately, helped by a heavy-gauge precision-machined base that stays flat where cheaper stamped bases flex. Depth is 57mm at 90deg and it bevels to 50deg, a touch more than most 165mm rivals. At 3.3kg with a battery it stays comfortable overhead. Note this is the US-spec XSS02Z listing rather than Makita's AU DSS-series part number: it is a parallel import, so it carries no Makita Australia warranty and you would deal with the seller for any claim. It runs the same 18V LXT batteries as the rest of the platform, which is the reason to buy it if you are already invested.
Cutting
7.0
Build
7.4
Battery
6.3
Owners
8.9
Owners is the 4.7★ Amazon AU rating from 2,339 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cutting 7.0 (rubric 6): Card: 165 mm brushed motor at 3,700 rpm cutting 57 mm at 90 degrees, the rule's 165 mm brushed under 4,000 rpm band; it bogs sooner in dense hardwood.
Build 7.4 (rubric 6.5): Card: heavy-gauge precision-machined base that stays flat and a 50 degree bevel, but no brake, LED or hook is claimed; 3.3 kg with a battery.
Battery 6.3 (rubric 5): Brushed skin on Makita 18V LXT: the rule scores a brushed skin 5 on any platform, and the card cites no tool count or runtime figure.
Pros
+ Actually in stock and shipped by Amazon AU, unlike most LXT 165mm listings
+ Cheapest way into a genuine Makita LXT circular saw
+ Heavy-gauge machined base keeps cuts accurate
+ 50deg bevel beats the typical 45-48deg limit
Cons
− Brushed motor - no brushless efficiency or automatic torque drive
− US-spec parallel import: no Makita Australia warranty
− Skin only - LXT battery and charger separate
− Bogs sooner than brushless rivals in dense hardwood
18V LXT165mm Blade3700 RPM57mm Depth at 90deg50deg BevelSkin OnlyParallel Import
The Ryobi R18CSP-0 that held this slot has gone hard-unavailable on Amazon AU, so the budget pick moves to Bosch's Power for All entry saw. The trade is honest: this is a DIY tool, not a trade one. Bosch publishes a 150mm blade, a 4,200rpm brushed motor and a 48mm cut at 90 degrees falling to 31mm at 45, which clears 19mm ply in a single pass, decking boards, fence palings and worktops. That is the same class of work the Ryobi did, with 3mm more depth. What you gain over the old pick is supply and support: this listing is sold and shipped by Amazon AU rather than routed in from Amazon UK, so it arrives on local stock instead of as an EU-spec parallel import. The box includes the 150mm blade, a parallel stop and a dust extraction adapter, which is more than most skins at this money. Bosch's CutControl sight line with 90 and 45 degree markings makes the cut line easier to follow than the Ryobi's, and at 2.40kg bare it is a genuinely light saw to hold at arm's length on a sheet. The limits are real. It is brushed, so long rips through hardwood will heat it and drain packs faster than the brushless saws above; bevel stops at 45 degrees rather than the Ryobi's 56; and there is no electric brake, no LED and no rafter hook. It is also the 18V Power for All alliance rather than a trade platform, which is a fine place to be if you own Bosch green garden kit and a poor place to start if you already hold M18 or LXT packs. Battery and charger are separate, and Bosch recommends at least a 2.5Ah pack.
Cutting
6.3
Build
6.3
Battery
6.3
Owners
8.6
Owners is the 4.6★ Amazon AU rating from 37 reviews, weighted toward the category average when there are few. Fewer than two published reviews of this exact model, so the owner rating carries that weight too. Tick marks show the category average.
How we scored it
Each measure is marked against the category's rubric, where 10 is the best you can buy, 8 is strong, 6 is basic but sound and 4 falls short. The bars show that mark on the Top7 scale (a 6 reads as 7.0, an 8 as 8.5); the notes quote the rubric mark.
Cutting 6.3 (rubric 5): Card: 150 mm blade on a brushed motor at 4,200 rpm cutting 48 mm at 90 degrees and 31 mm at 45, Bosch's published figures, which is the rule's 150 mm brushed band.
Build 6.3 (rubric 5): Tool-free depth setting, a CutControl sight line and 2.40 kg bare weight, but no brake, no LED, no hook, and bevel stops at 45 degrees. Provisional: Bosch does not publish the baseplate material.
Battery 6.3 (rubric 5): A brushed skin scores 5 on any platform; Power for All is listed at 150-plus devices, short of the 200-tool bonus, and no per-charge runtime figure is published.
Pros
+ A$120 and sold and shipped by Amazon AU, not a parallel import
+ 150mm blade, parallel stop and dust adapter all in the box
+ 48mm depth at 90 degrees, 3mm more than the saw it replaces
+ 2.40kg bare, and CutControl markings make the line easy to track
Cons
− Brushed motor, so it bogs and drains packs on long hardwood rips
− Bevel stops at 45 degrees and there is no brake, LED or hook
− 18V Power for All is a DIY alliance, not a trade platform
− Skin only, and Bosch recommends a 2.5Ah or larger pack
18V Brushed150mm Blade48mm Depth4,200rpmPower For AllBlade IncludedSkin Only
We score circular saws across four category-specific dimensions: Cutting Power (RPM under load, depth at 90° and 45°, brushless motor efficiency), Battery & Runtime (platform size, included Ah for kits, cuts per charge under sustained load), Build & Ergonomics (weight, balance, magnesium vs aluminium shoe, LED line-of-sight, electric brake), and Value (skin/kit completeness vs price tier). Specs come from manufacturer data and are triangulated against Pro Tool Reviews benchmarks, Tools In Action long-term testing, and current Australian retailer listings (Sydney Tools, Total Tools, Tool Kit Depot, Bunnings). Customer feedback is drawn from Amazon AU review aggregates and Australian trade-forum threads. We only rank tools readily available on Amazon Australia with reasonable shipping.
Scored on Cutting power 45%, Build and ergonomics 30%, Battery and runtime 25%, plus owner ratings and critic reviews
165mm (6-1/2") saws are lighter, more compact, and ideal for sheet goods, plunge work, and one-handed overhead cuts - typical depth of cut is 52-57mm at 90°. 184mm (7-1/4") is the workhorse blade size for framing and decking, with 60-66mm depth at 90° - enough to rip 90mm structural pine in a single pass. 235mm worm drives are heavy specialist saws used for thick beams and stair stringers - overkill for most Aussie work. For most buyers, 165mm is plenty unless you frame for a living.
Cordless vs Corded
Corded circular saws are dead. Modern 18V brushless and 54V FlexVolt cordless saws match or exceed 15-amp corded performance, with 300-600+ cuts per charge on a 5.0Ah+ battery. The only argument left for corded is the lower upfront cost if you don't already own batteries on a platform - and even that gap closes once you add a charger and a single 5.0Ah pack. Buy cordless on a platform you'll grow with.
Brushless Motor
Brushless is now standard above A$200 and worth every dollar. You get 30-50% longer runtime per charge, the motor lasts 2-3x longer before service, and performance under load is dramatically better - especially on long rips through dense hardwood. A brushed circular saw is acceptable for occasional DIY but stretches under sustained framing or decking work. If you're using the saw weekly, go brushless.
Battery Platform
The platform decides this purchase more than the saw itself. Milwaukee M18 (200+ tools) and DeWalt 18V XR (100+ tools) dominate the AU pro segment. Makita LXT is the most popular Australian trade platform with the deepest tool range here. Bosch Professional 18V batteries are cross-compatible with every 18V Bosch Pro tool sold since 2008. Ryobi ONE+ has by far the largest consumer ecosystem (250+ tools). Once you're in, switching is genuinely expensive - so pick the platform whose tool range fits the work you'll actually do.
Bevel & Depth Capacity
Modern circular saws bevel up to 50-57° (handy for compound angles on rafters and bevelled edges on sheet goods) and depth-adjust without tools. Look for a magnesium or aluminium shoe (not stamped steel - it warps), a bright LED on the cut line, an electric blade brake (stops the blade in under a second when you release the trigger), and a rafter hook. Track-saw compatibility is a bonus on Bosch and Makita 165mm skins.
A circular saw is the tool that turns a pile of sheet goods into a deck, a wall, or a piece of furniture - and the gap between a great cordless circular saw and a mediocre one is the difference between a clean straight cut and a binder full of charred plywood offcuts. We've compared every cordless circular saw worth buying on Amazon AU - cross-referencing manufacturer specs against Pro Tool Reviews benchmarks, hands-on AU tradie feedback, and the live listings from Sydney Tools, Total Tools, and Tool Kit Depot.
The market has split cleanly. At the top, FlexVolt and rear-handle 7-1/4" platforms from DeWalt and Milwaukee now match or exceed the performance of 15-amp corded saws - 5,800 RPM, 60mm+ cutting depth, and battery runtimes that genuinely outlast a day of framing. In the middle, the 165mm and 184mm brushless skins from Makita, Bosch Professional, and Milwaukee occupy the sweet spot most Aussie tradies actually buy. And at the bottom, the Ryobi ONE+ and Ozito PXC ecosystems give DIYers a credible circular saw on a battery they probably already own.
Where you land depends on the work and the platform you're already on. Framing crews and second-fix carpenters need a 184mm or 7-1/4" tool with rear-handle balance and 60mm+ depth at 90°. Renovators and joiners get away with a 165mm skin on whatever LXT, M18, or XR batteries are already in the box. Weekenders cutting fence palings and sheet ply for shed projects don't need brushless - they need a sensible 165mm skin under A$200. We've ranked all seven across Premium, Best Value, and Budget tiers, so you can match the saw to the work and the platform without overspending.
Compare Top Picks
Can't decide between our top two? See how they stack up head‑to‑head.
What blade size do I actually need - 165mm, 184mm, or 235mm?+
165mm (6-1/2") is the right size for almost every weekend DIYer and most renovators - it gives 52-57mm depth at 90°, which handles sheet goods, decking, and 90mm pine framing in a single pass. 184mm (7-1/4") is the size most professional framers and second-fix carpenters use, giving 60-66mm depth at 90° - enough to rip 90mm hardwood in a pass or trim joists. 235mm worm drives are specialist tools for thick beams and stair stringers - heavy, slow to use, and overkill for everything except heavy framing or timber-yard work.
Can I cut metal or masonry with a circular saw?+
Only with the right blade and only on saws rated for it. Most 18V brushless circular saws on this list will cut thin steel with a metal-cutting blade (carbide-tipped, not abrasive) - check the manufacturer's spec sheet first. Masonry cutting requires a dedicated diamond-tipped blade and ideally water suppression - safer to use a dedicated angle grinder or wet-cut saw. For metal stud framing and Tek-screw fastening into thin steel, a brushless circular saw with a metal blade is fine; for tiles, pavers, or brick, get the right tool.
Cordless or corded for site work?+
Cordless, every time. The 18V brushless and FlexVolt cordless saws on this list match or exceed the cutting performance of 15-amp corded saws, with 300-600+ cuts per battery charge and no extension lead to trip over. The only argument left for corded is if you don't already own batteries on a platform and want the cheapest possible saw - even then, the gap closes once you factor in a charger and a single 5.0Ah pack. Pick a cordless saw on a platform you'll grow with.
Skin or kit - what should I buy?+
Buy the kit if it's your first tool on that battery platform - you need at least one battery and a charger to use the saw, and standalone battery prices for premium platforms (Milwaukee M18 HD12.0, DeWalt FlexVolt 6.0Ah) are punishing. Buy the skin if you already own batteries on the same platform - you'll typically save A$150-A$300 vs a kit with duplicate batteries you don't need. Almost every circular saw on this list is sold as a skin on Amazon AU because that's what tradies actually want.
Worm drive vs sidewinder - what's the difference?+
Sidewinder (inline) saws have the motor mounted alongside the blade - lighter, more compact, and the standard design on every 18V brushless circular saw on this list. Worm drive (and rear-handle hypoid) saws have the motor mounted behind the blade and drive through a 90° gearbox - heavier, but with rear-handle balance that suits long rips and framing work. The Milwaukee 2830-20 at the top of this list is a rear-handle design that delivers worm-drive-style balance in a cordless package. For 90% of buyers, a sidewinder is the right choice; for framers and decking crews doing long rips all day, the rear-handle is worth the extra weight.
What blades come included with these saws?+
Most skins ship with a 24-tooth carbide-tipped general-purpose blade pre-installed - fine for framing, rough cuts, and most sheet goods. For finish work (joinery, melamine, hardwood) swap to a 40-60 tooth thin-kerf blade. For metal, use a dedicated metal-cutting carbide blade. Diablo, Freud, and Bosch make the highest-rated aftermarket blades sold on Amazon AU - expect to pay A$25-A$60 per blade depending on tooth count and quality. Don't run a 24-tooth ripping blade on melamine or you'll get chip-out on the visible face.
